rugby – Page 20

Sexton: Ireland winning Six Nations is job only half done

DUBLIN (AP) To Jonathan Sexton, the job isn’t over.

6N: England loses to France 22-16 and relinquishes title

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) Defending champion England conceded the Six Nations title to Ireland after losing to France 22-16 on Saturday.

6N: Ireland KO Scotland 28-8 to stay on Grand Slam track

DUBLIN (AP) The Grand Slam is on for Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day. The Six Nations trophy could be in Irish hands even sooner after they dispatched Scotland 28-8 at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Hurricanes beat Crusaders 29-19 in Super Rugby

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The Hurricanes overcame an exhaustive travel schedule to beat the defending champion Crusaders 29-19 in Super Rugby on Saturday, the Crusaders’ first loss of the season.

6N: Italy makes 1 change for Wales in Cardiff

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) Italy has made just one change from the loss in France for the Six Nations rugby match against Wales on Sunday.

6N: Best says Ireland won’t be affected by any distractions

DUBLIN (AP) Ireland can’t let itself be affected by possible distractions as it did last year when it lost to Scotland, captain Rory Best said on Friday.

Highlanders beat Stormers 33-15 in Super Rugby

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) The Dunedin-based Highlanders continued an unbeaten start to Super Rugby by beating the Cape Town-based Stormers 33-15 on Friday.

6N: Ringrose, Furlong recalled by Ireland for Scotland test

DUBLIN (AP) Garry Ringrose has made a timely return to fitness to play in the seemingly unlucky No. 13 jersey for Ireland against Scotland in Six Nations rugby on Saturday.

6N: Injured Hartley out, Farrell to captain England

LONDON (AP) Owen Farrell will captain England against France in Six Nations rugby on Saturday after regular skipper Dylan Hartley’s tight calf failed to come right.

6N: Scotland makes one enforced change for Ireland in Dublin

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) Winger Blair Kinghorn will make his first start for Scotland against Ireland in Six Nations rugby in Dublin on Saturday.

6N: Hardie back for Scotland after 3-month ban

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) John Hardie is back in the Scotland squad ahead of round four of the Six Nations after serving a three-month ban for gross misconduct following alleged cocaine use.

United States beats Argentina to win Las Vegas Sevens

LAS VEGAS (AP) Danny Barrett scored two tries to lift the United States to a 28-0 win over Argentina in the final of the Las Vegas Sevens on Sunday, giving the Americans only their second title in rugby’s World Sevens Series and first on home soil.

Crusaders, Rebels win in Super Rugby

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) The defending champion Crusaders raced to a 26-0 lead after 18 minutes and held on to beat the Cape Town-based Stormers 45-28 on Saturday, continuing their unbeaten start to the Super Rugby season.

Chiefs beat Blues 27-21 in Super Rugby

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) The Chiefs scored 17 unanswered points at the start of the second half to set up a 27-21 win over the Auckland-based Blues to open the third round of Super Rugby on Friday.

Scottish Rugby condemns fan abuse of England coach

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) Scotland’s rugby federation says it is ”appalled” by video footage showing England coach Eddie Jones being verbally abused and intimidated following a Six Nations match between the two countries over the weekend.

Rassie Erasmus confirmed as new Springboks coach

Rassie Erasmus was confirmed as the new head coach of South Africa on Thursday on an unusually long six-year contract, with the former Springboks loose forward given the chance to lead the team through the next two Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023.

Eddie Jones to avoid public transport after abuse on train

LONDON (AP) England rugby coach Eddie Jones says he will no longer travel by public transport after being targeted with verbal and physical abuse after his team’s loss to Scotland in the Six Nations.

6N: No action against Scotland, England for tunnel incident

DUBLIN (AP) Six Nations organizers will not take any disciplinary action against Scotland and England following an investigation into an alleged scuffle between players in the tunnel before their match on Saturday.

Cheika will quit if Wallabies don't win 2019 Rugby World Cup

SYDNEY (AP) Michael Cheika says he plans to quit as coach if Australia doesn’t win the Rugby World Cup next year in Japan.

All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino to quit New Zealand rugby

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino has confirmed he will quit New Zealand rugby to play in France at the end of the current Super Rugby season.

Six Nations: Irish lose another center as Farrell ruled out

DUBLIN (AP) Ireland has lost another center in its bid to win the Six Nations, with Chris Farrell set to miss the rest of the tournament because of a knee injury.

Australian league great Steve Folkes dead at 59

SYDNEY (AP) Steve Folkes, who won premierships as a player and coach with the Canterbury Bulldogs in Australia’s National Rugby League and who played five tests for Australia, has died aged 59, the Bulldogs club said.

Crusaders beat Chiefs, Brumbies top Sunwolves in Super Rugby

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) The Christchurch-based Crusaders made a scratchy start to the defense of their Super Rugby title on Saturday, weathering two yellow cards and relying on a disputed penalty try and two late intercepts to beat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 45-23.

6N: Best urges ref to "protect" Ireland scrum from Wales

DUBLIN (AP) Ireland captain Rory Best is urging referee Glen Jackson to ”protect” their scrum when they play Wales in Six Nations rugby on Saturday.

Highlanders beat Blues 41-34 in Super Rugby

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) Tei Walden came off the bench to score two second-half tries and lift the Dunedin-based Highlanders to a 41-34 win over the Auckland-based Blues on Friday in the first match of the Super Rugby season in New Zealand.

6N: Scots still learning to handle hype England is used to

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) At the Six Nations launch in January in London, Eddie Jones had Scotland pegged.

6N: Wales welcome back 3 Lions, Irish lose 3 of theirs

DUBLIN (AP) Wales has back three of its Lions.

6N: Hughes back at No. 8 for England v Scotland

LONDON (AP) No. 8 Nathan Hughes will start for England against Scotland in Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Crusaders kick of Super Rugby title defense against Chiefs

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The Christchurch-based Crusaders open the defense of their Super Rugby title on Saturday in a tough New Zealand derby against the Chiefs as the first full round of the season tests the effectiveness of reforms forced on the tournament in the past six months.

France makes 5 changes to face Italy in 6 Nations

PARIS (AP) France has made five changes to face Italy in the Six Nations on Friday, with coach Jacques Brunel’s side looking to stem an eight-match winless streak amid disciplinary problems.