A year from the World Cup, New Zealand look good for a hat-trick of titles but Ireland, South Africa and Wales are all on the rise with England and Australia heading in the other directionDefeat by South Africa in Wellington reminded the world that the All Blacks can be beaten – no bad thing with 12 months to go until the World Cup – but they are still the overwhelming favourites for a third straight win. They were not brilliant against France over the summer but then thrashed Australia twice, displaying an ability to find a gear their opponents cannot live with. It will be fascinating to see their response to defeat; do they add a dose of pragmatism to...
At AT&T Park, men and women will share the stage. Under sudden-death rules, there will be no second chances for anyoneIt is perfectly possible that the USA men’s and women’s sevens teams will bring home two world titles this weekend, when the Rugby World Cup Sevens is played in San Francisco. Related: Perry Baker took USA to sevens gold in Vegas – now the hard work begins In sevens, seconds count. Everyone’s going to throw the kitchen sink from the start. I’m excited for it Related: 'It's in my blood': how rugby managed to unite America's elite Continue reading...
The US professional competition staged its final in San Diego on Saturday and will be in Los Angeles and New York next yearAs Major League Rugby commissioner Dean Howes put it, the trophy the Seattle Seawolves lifted on Saturday night “looks and feels like rugby”. Related: Gary Gold's blazing Eagles beat Scotland – US rugby has momentum Related: 'It's in my blood': how rugby managed to unite America's elite Related: HR McMaster on rugby: 'The warrior ethos is what a good team has' Continue reading...
With a professional squad thanks to the advent of Major League Rugby, the USA have taken their first major scalpOut of chaos, Nietzsche said, comes order. Of late, American rugby union has been particularly chaotic: political upheaval at the governing body, a lawsuit from the owner of a dormant professional league. But on Saturday night in Houston the men’s national team put all that aside, achieving a historic win over Scotland. Related: USA beat Scotland in Houston for first win over major rugby nation Related: HR McMaster on rugby: 'The warrior ethos is what a good team has' Continue reading...
When Wales play South Africa at RFK Stadium in Washington on Saturday, a few well-known faces could be in the crowdWhen Candace Gingrich met Bill Clinton in 1996, half-brother Newt was two years into a political war with the White House. At a fundraising event, the president worked his way down a line of guests. When he got to the young Human Rights Campaign staffer with the Republican House Speaker for a relative, he got a welcome surprise. Related: HR McMaster on rugby: 'The warrior ethos is what a good team has' George W. Bush plays a little dirty rugby for Yale in 1966 pic.twitter.com/R1uPDXz4ABYou play rugby for yourself … but you also play for the other people with you...