Latest news with #RugbyUnion
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Rugby live updates: British & Irish Lions v Argentina
Tomas Albornoz of Argentina is challenged by Maro Itoje of British & Irish Lions. Photo:The Lions starts their campaign with a rare home game against the Pumas of Argentina, before embarking on their highly anticipated tour of Australia in a fortnight.
Scotsman
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ex-Scotland winger Rufus McLean called up by USA after domestic abuse conviction
Rufus McLean playing for Scotland against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2021. | Getty Images Three-times capped international could play against Scots at Murrayfield Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rufus McLean, the former Scotland winger who pleaded guilty to domestic abuse charges, has been called up by the USA national team and could play against Scotland at Murrayfield in November. The ex-Glasgow Warriors player has been named in the US squad for their summer series which includes a match against England. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rufus McLean playing for Scotland against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2021. | Getty Images The player moved to the United States and played for American Raptors before joining Houston SaberCats. McLean, who was born in Boston and grew up in Scotland, is now set to resume his international rugby career with the USA Eagles. He won his last Scotland cap in the summer Test against Argentina on July 16, 2022, and is able to switch international allegiance after a three-year 'cooling off' period under World Rugby regulations. The USA have three matches scheduled for next month, against Belgium on July 5, Spain on July 12 and England on July 19. It means McLean could make his debut in the latter fixture at Audi Field in Washington DC. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rufus McLean scored two tries on his Scotland debut against Tonga on October 30, 2021. | AFP via Getty Images The USA will tour Europe in the autumn and are due to play Scotland at Murrayfield on November 1. McLean first played for Scotland at the Edinburgh stadium in October 2021, scoring two tries on his debut in a 60-14 win over Tonga. He then featured in the 30-15 loss to world champions South Africa the following month. McLean engaged in a campaign of 'aggressive' and 'controlling' domestic abuse against his former partner. He admitted in court he had regularly sworn at her and been verbally abusive towards her, pushed her to her injury, tracked her movements via her phone's location service, requested passwords for her social media accounts and dictated what she could and couldn't wear.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Keep it going & you'll get beaten' – Virgin Media pundit warns ‘arrogant' Irish rugby public Lions could get humbled
MATT Williams reckons the Irish rugby public have grown "arrogant" and warned the Lions "could get beaten" as a result. Since it is 2 Andy Farrell's best of Britain and Ireland side will be fancied to win the series 3-0 Credit: Sportsfile 2 Aussie Williams feels this general sense could negatively impact how the Lions perform Credit: @VMSportIE But sporting history is littered with countless examples of upsets occurring with it only afterwards that the favourites admit complacency seeped in from fans and media alike. Regular Though he acknowledged his rugby union in his nation remains at a low ebb, he told With a wry grin, he then added: "Keep it going guys because you'll get beaten! Read More On Irish Sport "I've been involved with Irish rugby for 25 years and I've never seen Irish rugby become so arrogant. "We've seen the English be arrogant for a long, long time - 800 years even! But I've never seen Irish rugby like this. "Think back to November and all of the talk was 'Awh we should've beaten New Zealand, they've lost their aura'. "And of course New Zealand ended up smacking our bums." Most read in Rugby Union The former Williams emphasized: "What Joe is trying to is reignite an Australian way of playing. Our voice and how we go about things, which is unique in the world. 'Cried like a baby didn't ya-' - Watch Andy Farrell embarrass Ireland star over reaction to Lions call-up "We lost that voice for so long and Joe deserves a lot of credit for bringing that back." In total there are 16 Irish players in the Lions squad. Farrell's charges begin their 10-game slate Yesterday saw him The headline item from it was that The prop has not played since IRISH EYES He is joined in the replacements by Rónan Kelleher, the only other Leinster player involved because they were involved in There are still three Irish players in the starting XV with 2021 tourists Bundee Aki of Connacht and Munster's Tadhg Beirne included, along with Bealham. Aki and Bealham's provincial teammate Farrell has not included any Bath representatives with the side involved in the Premiership final against Leicester Tigers on Saturday. Lions: M Smith (England), Freeman (England), Tuipulotu (Scotland), Aki (Ireland), van der Merwe (Scotland), F Smith (England), Mitchell (England), Genge (England), Cowan-Dickie (England), Bealham (Ireland), Itoje (England), Beirne (Ireland), Curry (England), Morgan (Wales), Earl (England). Replacements: Kelleher (Ireland), Schoeman (Scotland), Furlong (Ireland), Cummings (Scotland), Pollock (England), Williams (Wales), Daly (England), Hansen (Ireland).test
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Decision made on Finn Russell's future as three-year deal agreed for Scotland stand-off
Russell helped Bath win their first English title in 29 years Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Finn Russell has ended speculation about his future at club level by signing a new contract with Bath which ties him to the team until June 2028. The Scotland stand-off helped Bath triumph in the Gallagher Premiership final on Saturday, adding the trophy to the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Cup they won earlier in the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Russell, 32, has been an integral part of the success and his fine form has seen him linked with a number of clubs, including a return to Racing 92 in Paris where he spent five seasons. Finn Russell enjoys Bath's Premiership final win over Leicester with his daughters. | Getty Images But Russell has opted to extend his stay at Bath, signing a new three-year contract. "I have loved my time here at Bath," said Russell. "It's a great team and a great club. We've come a long way over the last couple of years, and I am really looking forward to staying here and seeing what the club can achieve." Russell joined Bath from Racing on a three-year deal in summer 2023. He helped them reach the Premiership final in his first season but they lost to Northampton Saints at Twickenham. They went one better this season, beating Leicester in the final to become English champions for the first time in 29 years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "The fans have been outstanding since I got here," added Russell. "We've had some big results at home and that's just our way of giving back to the fans and trying to represent them in the right way. 'The way the club is developing and with the young players coming through, the belief and confidence that we've got week-to-week is just growing. There are some brilliant new signings coming in as well who will be great additions to the club, and I can't wait to get started next season.' Scotland's Finn Russell has signed a new three-year contract with Bath. | PA Russell has made 45 appearances for Bath in two seasons, scoring 420 points across all competitions, including four tries. He ended 2024-25 with 183 points in the Premiership. Head coach Johann van Graan, who has transformed the club's fortunes, said tying Russell down on a new deal was a great bit of business. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "It's amazing news," van Graan told the Bath website. "Finn is one of the world's best 10s, a player who performs in the big moments and more importantly he's an incredible team man and a family man."
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish Rugby chief wants Gregor Townsend to remain head coach beyond 2026 Six Nations
Desire for 'continuity' extends to Edinburgh and Glasgow coaches Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Gregor Townsend has been given a vote of confidence by Scottish Rugby chief Alex Williamson who intends to begin contract talks with the national coach during next month's tour to New Zealand and Fiji. Williamson also wants Franco Smith and Sean Everitt to remain in charge of Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh respectively, stressing the need for 'continuity' as the sport undergoes an overhaul of its pathway system in Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We really like the three guys we've got and we'd really like to keep them,' said Williamson, who succeeded Mark Dodson as chief executive and has been in post for around five months. Scottish Rugby chief executive Alex Williamson. | SNS Group / SRU Townsend has been Scotland's head coach for eight years and led them to a fourth place finish in this season's Six Nations, winning two and losing three games, for the second year in a row. His contract expires in April and Williamson indicated he would like Townsend to remain beyond that. 'I'm touring with Scotland and I'm going to have plenty of time with Gregor, and his manager is in New Zealand as well so that's all helpful,' said Williamson. 'And we're talking to Franco and Sean as well.' Scotland have failed to qualify from the pool stage of two Rugby World Cups under Townsend, albeit after a very difficult draw in 2023. If he were to sign a new contract he would almost certainly take charge for the 2027 tournament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Williamson believes Townsend is the right man to 'produce our best outcomes going forward' and thinks he will benefit from the revamp currently underway in Scottish rugby which is being led by David Nucifora, the performance director credited with helping transform Ireland's fortunes. Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend's contract expires in April 2026. | SNS Group Explaining his thinking, Williamson said Scotland had played some 'exceptional rugby' over the past year and had been unlucky to lose to South Africa, England and France. 'So there's two parts,' said Williamson. 'One: I think that the change we're making now, he will be a beneficiary immediately of that clarity with his senior team. Two: I think that we'd all accept that there were a number of games last season whether it be South Africa, England or France, where Scotland were one very small twist away from some great outcomes off the back of some exceptional rugby. 'And also the feedback from the players through the review that Gregor does was very good. I genuinely believe that he has the potential to produce our best outcomes going forward so that's why we're excited to have Gregor in the team. And we also really think that Franco and Sean will continue to develop the quality of our player groups through the clubs.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Smith's and Everitt's contracts run until the end of the 2025-26 season. Smith, who led Glasgow to the United Rugby Championship in 2024, has been linked with other jobs, most notably Leicester Tigers and Wales, and has indicated a desire to return to international rugby. He is former head coach of Italy and assistant coach of South Africa, and appeared to cast doubt on his Glasgow future earlier this month when he said he would 'sit down and reflect a little bit'. Franco Smith, head coach of Glasgow Warriors. | SNS Group Smith, who has also been touted in some quarters for the Scotland job, was speaking in the immediate aftermath of Glasgow's loss to Leinster in the semi-finals of the URC. He pointedly referred to 'budget restraints' and the loss of influential overseas players, such as Henco Venter and Sebastian Cancelliere. 'Our squad's been reduced,' an emotional Smith said. 'We've lost some of the foreigners. I'll be as honest as possible: that's going to put a lot of pressure on every aspect of our environment.' Scottish Rugby is in the throes of revamping its pathway system in an attempt to improve the supply of players into the national set-up. Nucifora was appointed last August on a two-year deal and the search has already begun for a new performance director to continue the Australian's work when he steps down in 2026. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stressing again his desire to retain the services of Townsend, Smith and Everitt, Williamson would not be drawn on a timescale. 'I haven't got into that, I'm just opening up conversations and saying we want continuity,' he said. 'I need to have those conversations with guys, I just haven't got into any detail.' Scottish Rugby chief executive Alex Williamson, centre, with Edinburgh Rugby coach Sean Everitt, right. | SNS Group / SRU Pressed if he wanted them to stay beyond their current contracts, Williamson added: 'Yeah …. when we identify a new performance director we would really like to have continuity in the coaching already nailed down so that the first thing they're doing is not hiring new coaches.' Williamson sees Nucifora's pathway revamp as an overarching project, the benefits of which will be felt not at the next men's and women's Rugby World Cups but at the tournament beyond that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We're doing this once and we're doing it with a view to '29 and '33 [World Cups] for the women and '31 and '35 for the men,' he said. 'That's a non-negotiable from my point of view. It's the most important thing we'll do. 'I've reviewed those plans hundreds of times to make sure that I'm comfortable that plan is solid. From that, the next thought process is we know that David [Nucifora] is going in a relatively short time frame from now, some time towards the end of next year, so the key hire is going to be a performance director who is willing to stick to the plan. We cannot afford to bring a performance director in who's then going to basically say 'I don't really like that plan we'll do another one'. We can't do that. 'We have to stick steadfast to that, so my preoccupation in many respects is making sure that we're absolutely aligned on sticking to the plan because I think it will make a massive difference in the long term. 'Off the back of that [we] absolutely want continuity with the coaches. So we really like the three guys we've got and we'd really like to keep them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Performance director David Nucifora has been hired by Scottish Rugby for two years. | SNS Group / SRU 'So when we're talking about Franco we absolutely want him in. In fact I fully respect his emotional frustrations. You kind of want your coaches to be loaded and charged and emotional and frustrated, particularly in moments like those, but I don't actually think there is a huge gap between what Franco wants and what we're talking about. 'The challenge is probably that the structures aren't bedded in and as a consequence we've not really had the opportunity to test and stress test the thinking. We all believe that there is a place for foreign players, they just have to be the right ones in the right moments.' Smith noted earlier that in the season the budgets weren't down but had remained the same while the value of players had gone up but Williamson remains confident the pro teams can remain competitive, helped by the new pathway plan which should produce more young Scottish players. 'What we're trying to do is we're trying to intensify the investment in a slightly smaller group of players who propel more quickly and there is a question absolutely as to whether that has a short-term impact on performance but, when you really look at the the number of high quality young players that are sitting in and around both those squads, I think that we should feel confident that whilst they may need some sort of blooding in to first team rugby, we've got a ton of quality. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
