World Rugby’s new two-tier competition has been branded “ridiculous, shameful, farcical and scandalous” by a former US coach October 24, 2023 World Rugby’s new two-tier competition has been branded “ridiculous, shameful, farcical and scandalous” by a former United States international coach after the sport’s major nations voted in a closed-shop system until 2030. A new global competition due to begin in 2026 will see the six Six Nations teams, four Rugby Championship sides, Fiji and Japan [...]
England Rugby lodge complaint over South Africa alleged “White C***” slur October 24, 2023 England Rugby have officially filed a complaint over Bongi Mbonambi’s alleged racial “white c***” slur against Tom Curry, City A.M. can reveal. Sources close to the situation have confirmed that the Rugby Football Union have officially filed a complaint. The move takes the issue beyond the realms of disciplinary and citing commissioners and into the [...]
Premiership Rugby: Saracens slow off the mark, Bath heating up October 24, 2023 The knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup have largely allowed for the start of the English Premiership to go under the radar. But after two rounds the defending champions are bottom, a trio of West Country teams occupy the top three spots and internationals are slowly returning to action after their escapades across the [...]
Curry race row: Mbonambi given glowing reference by coach October 23, 2023 A South African coach has praised the character hooker Bongi Mbonambi after he was accused of pointing a racial slur at England’s Ben Curry in the Springboks’ 16-15 World Cup semi-final win. Mbonambi was accused of calling Curry a “white c***” in audio picked up on the microphone of referee Ben O’Keeffe on Saturday night [...]
Former Premiership side Wasps moving to KENT but will play in Worcester October 23, 2023 Wasps rugby are to set up shop in Kent but play and train in Worcester in the short term as the former Premiership rugby side look to rebuild having gone bust last season. The club failed to pay a number of valuable bonds taken out to fund their move to Coventry a number of seasons [...]
Rugby race scandal: Morning deadline to report alleged slur to England player by South Africa hooker October 23, 2023 England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to South Africa on Saturday has descended into a race scandal after Red Rose flanker Tom Curry accused Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi of using a racial slur against him. South Africa fought back to beat England 16-15 in Paris on Saturday to book themselves a spot in the World Cup [...]
England: Where does team go now after Rugby World Cup exit? October 23, 2023 England produced their best performance of the Rugby World Cup on Saturday but fell to a 16-15 defeat at the hands of reigning champions South Africa in Paris. Here are three takeaways from the hard-fought semi-final. Beef with O’Keeffe Scrums are difficult things to understand at the best of times but on occasion the dark [...]
Sportspeople ‘perilously close’ to limit, says major player group chief October 22, 2023 Professional sportspeople are “perilously close to going over the limits of what is sustainable” according to a top player association executive. Simon Taylor of the Professional Players Federation has insisted that player welfare has not been given enough priority within the international game. Footballers in the past have spoken of the demands of a full [...]
South Africa forward accused of racial slur against England player October 22, 2023 South Africa forward Bongi Mbonambi has been accused of directing a racial slur at England’s Tom Curry in his side’s 16-15 World Cup semi-final win on Saturday. Curry was heard asking referee Ben O’Keeffe: “Sir, Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c**t what do I do?” The New Zealander replied: “Nothing please. I’ll [...]
Springboks should dismantle England by 20 points in World Cup October 20, 2023 Watching South Africa edge France in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday evening was extraordinary, maybe one of the very best games of oval ball I have ever seen. And I am in no doubt that the Springboks will beat England this weekend, despite my run of poor predictions last week in the quarter-finals. South [...]