rugby – Page 22

Fiji, NZ, Kenya and South Africa top pools at NZ Sevens

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) South Africa, New Zealand, Fiji and Kenya topped their groups Saturday at the New Zealand leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series, staged for the first time in Hamilton.

Jalibert, Palis make debuts in France team against Ireland

PARIS (AP) Teen flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert and fullback Geoffrey Palis will make their test debuts in France’s Six Nations opener against Ireland on Saturday.

Scotland hands Harris 1st start for Six Nations opener

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) Scotland center Chris Harris will make his first start for his country in its opening Six Nations match against Wales on Saturday.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd to join Northampton

Super Rugby-winning coach Chris Boyd will leave the Wellington-based Hurricanes at the end of the tournament to join England club Northampton as its director of rugby.

Australia wins men's, women's titles at Sydney Sevens

SYDNEY (AP) Australia swept the men’s and women’s titles at the Sydney Rugby Sevens on Sunday, becoming the first nation to win both trophies in one tournament in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Australia, New Zealand to meet in Sydney women's 7s final

SYDNEY (AP) Trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand will meet in Sunday’s women’s final of the Sydney Rugby Sevens after steering unbeaten paths through the tournament’s pool and knockout rounds.

Injured Rhys Webb released from Wales squad

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) Scrumhalf Rhys Webb might have played his last game for Wales after being released from its Six Nations squad because of a knee injury.

Injured Wales fullback Liam Williams could miss 6 Nations

LONDON (AP) Wales could be without Liam Williams for the entire Six Nations tournament because the fullback may require surgery for an abdominal injury.

Police raid French rugby federation headquarters

PARIS (AP) Police conducted raids at the French rugby federation headquarters on Tuesday amid an investigation into an alleged conflict of interest involving federation president Bernard Laporte.

Parra out of France's 6 Nations opener with knee problems

PARIS (AP) Clermont scrumhalf Morgan Parra will have to wait a bit longer before making his long-awaited international return after being ruled out of France’s opening Six Nations match against Ireland because of pain in his knees.

Depleted England selects 8 uncapped players for 6 Nations

LONDON (AP) A slew of injuries and suspensions has forced England to select eight uncapped players in its 35-man squad for the first match of its Six Nations title defense.

Parra and Fall recalled to France 6 Nations squad

PARIS (AP) Scrumhalf Morgan Parra and winger Benjamin Fall have been recalled by France coach Jacques Brunel for the Six Nations.

Jones extends England rugby contract until 2021

LONDON (AP) England coach Eddie Jones signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday that will keep him in one of rugby’s most high-profile jobs until 2021.

6 Nations: Top try-scorer in English league gets Wales call

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) The top try-scorer in England’s domestic league was one of two uncapped players called up by Wales on Tuesday for the Six Nations rugby tournament starting next month.

Toulon captain Bastareaud apologizes after homophobic slur

PARIS (AP) France center Mathieu Bastareaud has apologized after using an anti-gay slur during a Champions Cup match.

Wales flanker Lydiate out of 6N and season after bicep hurt

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) Wales flanker Dan Lydiate will miss the Six Nations and the rest of the rugby season after agreeing he needed surgery on a bicep injury.

New coach Brunel wants to put France back among elite

PARIS (AP) New France coach Jacques Brunel says he wants to put the Tricolors back where they belong, among the elite of World rugby.

France rugby team signs shirt sponsorship deal with Altrad

PARIS (AP) The French rugby federation has signed a multi-million deal with construction equipment group Altrad, which will become the shirt sponsor of the Tricolors.

Wallaby Karmichael Hunt arrested for drug possession

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Australia rugby star Karmichael Hunt has been charged with two counts of drug possession after being searched and arrested by police in the early hours of Saturday in Brisbane.

Scotland prop Berghan to miss 6N opener after 6-week ban

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) Tighthead prop Simon Berghan will miss Scotland’s Six Nations rugby opener in February after receiving a six-week ban for stamping on the head of international teammate Fraser Brown.

Noves fired as France coach and replaced by Brunel

France rugby coach Guy Noves has been fired two years after taking the job and replaced by Jacques Brunel.

All Blacks captain Kieran Read to undergo back surgery

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) All Blacks captain Kieran Read will undergo surgery to repair a prolapsed lumbar disc in his back and will make a delayed return to rugby in the 2018 season.

Australia bids for Rugby World Cups, launches women's league

SYDNEY (AP) Rugby Australia announced plans to bid for the women’s and men’s World Cups on the same day it launched a national women’s competition.

Raelene Castle appointed as Rugby Australia CEO

SYDNEY (AP) Raelene Castle will take over as chief executive officer at Rugby Australia next month, becoming the first woman to lead one of the major national unions in world rugby.

SAfrica, England, Fiji, NZ win Dubai 7s pools on day one

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Defending champion South Africa warmed up for the Dubai Sevens rugby quarterfinals with three wins of increasing potency on Friday.

NZ-born center Parkes to debut for Wales vs Springboks

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) New Zealand-born center Hadleigh Parkes will make his debut for Wales amid five changes to the starting lineup playing South Africa on Saturday in Cardiff.

Tonga fans sign petition to protest World Cup semi defeat

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) More than 35,000 fans have signed an online petition calling for an explanation of the no-try call Saturday that cost Tonga an historic victory over England in a semifinal of the Rugby League World Cup.

Clinical All Blacks beat Wales 33-18 for unbeaten tour

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) New Zealand scored tries from its only two real attacks of the first half then found its stride in the second to beat Wales 33-18 on Saturday for an unbeaten rugby tour of Europe.

Scots thrash 14-man Wallabies by a record 53-24

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) Scotland earned its biggest win over Australia when it thrashed the 14-man Wallabies 53-24 at Murrayfield on Saturday.

England holds out Tonga 20-18 to reach World Cup final

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) England conceded three tries in the last eight minutes but held on to beat Tonga 20-18 in the second semifinal of the Rugby League World Cup Saturday to join defending champion Australia in a final match-up next weekend which is both expected and unexpected.