rugby – Page 26

Court allows Western Force to appeal Super Rugby axing

SYDNEY (AP) A Supreme Court judge has granted the Western Force the right to appeal the Australian Rugby Union’s decision to axe the team from the Super Rugby competition.

Leali'ifano set for Ulster stint amid recovery from cancer

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Wallabies utility back Christian Leali’ifano is set to join Irish club Ulster on a short-term contract as he bids to make up for lost time in his recovery from leukemia.

Reaction to the death of rugby great Colin Meads

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Reaction to the death of rugby great Colin Meads:

8 tries for NZ, beats Australia 54-34 in Rugby Championship

SYDNEY (AP) Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane and Liam Squire had starring roles as New Zealand ran in eight tries to four to beat Australia 54-34 Saturday in the first test of the Rugby Championship.

Rugby Championship: 8 tries for NZ in 54-34 win v Australia

SYDNEY (AP) Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane and Liam Squire had starring roles as New Zealand ran in eight tries to four to beat Australia 54-34 Saturday in the first test of the Rugby Championship.

Storm clinch 1st place in the National Rugby League

SYDNEY (AP) The Melbourne Storm have clinched first place in the National Rugby League with two regular-season rounds remaining.

All Blacks security consultant not guilty in bugging case

SYDNEY (AP) A security consultant working for New Zealand’s rugby team has been found not guilty of making up claims he found a bugging device at the team’s hotel in Sydney a year ago.

National Rugby Championship: Fiji "Drua" to make debut

SUVA, Fiji (AP) Fiji’s new team in Australia’s National Rugby Championship will be known as the Drua, named after a historic double canoe from the Pacific Island nation.

Jordie Barrett ruled out of Rugby Championship

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) All Blacks utility back Jordie Barrett likely will miss the remainder of the rugby season after sustaining a shoulder injury that may require surgery.

Melbourne Rebels re-sign Japan rugby international Mafi

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Their Super Rugby future may be in doubt, but the Melbourne Rebels are certain they want Tonga-born Japan international Amanaki Mafi back for next season.

England rugby players sent home for 'culture issues'

LONDON (AP) England’s Rugby Football Union says Denny Solomona and Manu Tuilagi have been sent home from a national team training camp.

Savea dropped from New Zealand's Rugby Championship squad

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Winger Julian Savea has been dropped from the All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship.

Canberra beats Cronulla to maintain playoffs charge in NRL

SYDNEY (AP) Canberra continued its late drive toward the National Rugby League playoffs with a 30-12 win over defending champion Cronulla in the weekend’s 22nd round.

Springboks captain Whiteley out for another 6 weeks

JOHANNESBURG (AP) Springboks captain Warren Whiteley will be sidelined for another six weeks with a groin injury and will likely miss South Africa’s first four games of the Rugby Championship, including the trip to New Zealand.

Ieremia resigns as Samoa national coach

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The Samoa Rugby Union says it has accepted the resignation of national coach Alama Ieremia after the Pacific nation’s disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign.

European rugby competition adds 2 South African teams

Europe’s Pro12 has confirmed it will add two South African teams dropped from Super Rugby and expand to a 14-team, two-continent competition from this season.

Mauger hired as Highlanders head coach on 3-year deal

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) Former All Blacks center Aaron Mauger has been hired as head coach of the Highlanders on a three-year deal from the 2018 Super Rugby season.

French rugby secures financial backing for 2023 WCup bid

PARIS (AP) The French rugby federation says it has secured a commitment from the French state to pay the tournament fee to organizers in its bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Crusaders beat Chiefs 27-13 in Super Rugby semifinal

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) Winger Seta Tamanivalu scored two tries against his former team as the Crusaders beat the Chiefs 27-13 on Saturday to reach the Super Rugby final for the 12th time and to move within a match of their eighth championship.

New Zealand to appeal decision on Sonny Bill Williams ban

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand will appeal World Rugby’s ruling that All Blacks center Sonny Bill Williams won’t complete a disciplinary suspension in time to play next month’s Bledisloe Cup test against Australia.

Super Rugby semifinal lineups

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Teams for Saturday’s Super Rugby semifinals:

2018 Commonwealth Games chief joins rugby league commission

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) Peter Beattie, the chairman of the 2018 Commonwealth Games organizing committee and a former Queensland state premier, is one of two additions to the Australian Rugby League Commission.

St George beats Manly to keep NRL playoffs bid on track

SYDNEY (AP) St. George Illawarra withstood a Manly fightback to win a thrilling National Rugby League match 52-22 on Sunday to keep the team in contention for the playoffs.

Crusaders beat Highlanders 17-0 in Super Rugby quarterfinal

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) The Christchurch-based Crusaders edged closer to an eighth Super Rugby title when they beat the Dunedin-based Highlanders 17-0 Saturday in a quarterfinal played in conditions which were among the worst in the tournament’s history.

Hurricanes beat Brumbies 35-16 in Super Rugby quarterfinals

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Hooker Dane Coles helped the defending champion Hurricanes to a 35-16 win over the ACT Brumbies in the first Super Rugby quarterfinal match.

Super Rugby: All Blacks return to Crusaders, Highlanders

The Crusaders and the Highlanders will be strengthened by the return of leading All Blacks when they meet Saturday in the first round of Super Rugby playoffs.

Manly in 3rd place in Australia's NRL after 28-16 win Sunday

SYDNEY (AP) The Manly Sea Eagles moved into third place in Australia’s National Rugby League on Sunday with a come-from-behind 28-16 win over the Wests Tigers, moving to within four points of first-place Melbourne.

Hurricanes end Crusaders' unbeaten run in Super Rugby

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The Christchurch-based Crusaders lost 31-22 to the Hurricanes on Saturday, forfeiting their unbeaten record in the final round of Super Rugby’s regular season and likely surrendering the No. 1 seeding in playoffs which begin next weekend.

Fiji beats Samoa 38-16 in Pacific Nations Cup

APIA, Samoa (AP) Scrumhalf Henry Seniloli scored a hattrick of tries as Fiji beat Samoa 38-16 in the final match of the Pacific Nations Cup Saturday to propel Tonga into the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

All Blacks to bolster NZ teams in Super Rugby's last round

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) As many as a dozen All Blacks who played in last weekend’s third test against the British and Irish Lions will line up for either the Crusaders or Hurricanes on Saturday in a crucial New Zealand derby in the last round of the Super Rugby regular season.