USA won a HSBC Series title and the Americas Rugby Championship in two days, demonstrating the strength of the US grassroots gameThat the USA is the sleeping giant of rugby union has come to be something of a cliche. But events in Montevideo and Las Vegas this weekend suggest there is life in the old phrase yet. If the deciding game of the Americas Rugby Championship or finals day at the USA Sevens did not jolt the ogre fully awake, it seemed at least to give it a start. Related: Houston? No problem – SaberCats bullish about latest US rugby venture Related: Meet Phaidra Knight: free radical flanker in World Rugby Hall of Fame Related: Wales to play South Africa...
Our first power rankings since the 2015 World Cup mark two years to go until Japan 2019. England lead the chasing pack while Australia and Wales struggleBefore the All Blacks’ record 57-0 victory over South Africa, Steve Hansen felt the need to defend his side’s uneven performances in 2017. The response was emphatic. It used to be the case that the All Blacks peaked at this stage of the World Cup cycle but Hansen is adamant they will improve in the next two years. Twelve months ago they struggled to maintain their remarkable form through the autumn and as they have crammed five matches into their schedule this year, an upset is not out of the question. But if New...
Academy director Tony Diprose led a delegation from south-west London to San Francisco as part of an investment in the burgeoning if unsettled US gameLast weekend in California, the former England and Lions No8 Tony Diprose and other Harlequins staff attended the finals of the Cal Cup, at the home of the San Francisco Golden Gate club. Related: US PRO Rugby league insists it will not close over clash with governing body Related: USA third place at Dubai Sevens gives notice of growing stake in global game | Martin Pengelly Related: US union voices support for PRO Rugby league in light of foreign interest Continue reading...