#rugby-union

#rugby-union

The IRFU may be disconnected from a chunk of their audience on the price of Test rugby at Lansdowne Road but at least those who ponied up large can claim to have witnessed a truly crazy match. In the 2013 Six Nations in Rome Ireland had their backline sundered by a freakish run of injuries, leaving holes being filled by men who didn't know how to hold a shovel.

This latest one was 52-26, and if you missed it, it will look like just another in their long list of losses to New Zealand, which now stretches back 34 matches to 1953. But it's just possible, too, that, for the men who coached it and played in it, for the tens of thousands in the ground, and the hundreds of thousands watching on TV,

The numbers are not on Wales' side. - Wales have won only two of their last 21Tests - New Zealand have scored 40 or more points in four of their last five games against Wales. - The first half has been the highest scoring period in seven of Wales' matches in 2025 - Kiwi winger Will Jordan has scored 43 tries in 52 Tests. I expect he'll add at least one or two more today.

Deaves's ascent is one of the game's more uncommon career paths in the era of professional rugby. He joined the Ospreys Academy from his local club, Pontyclun, in the Rhondda after a brief civil engineering course at Bridgend College. His early days at Ospreys, alongside British & Irish Test Lions Alex Cuthbert, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb, saw him turn up for morning training sessions in his van ahead of afternoon work as a roofer.

Image source, Shutterstock Bristol Bears lock James Dun has signed for Harlequins and will join the London club at the end of the season. The 26-year-old second row came through Bristol's academy and has made 57 appearances for the club, scoring five tries. The Bears announced last week that Dun would leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Speak to anyone who has worked with Andy Farrell and they will tell you he embraces chaos and wants anyone in his teams to do the same.

Stormers 35 Leinster 0

Image source, Getty Images Harlequins have completed the signing of prop Boris Wenger ahead of the 2025-26 season. Wenger, 23, joins from the Argentine club Dogos XV in Cordoba, where his performances earned him a place in the Super Rugby Americas team of the season for 2024. He made his international debut in June as Argentina beat the British and Irish Lions 28-24. Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson described the signing of Wenger as "a major boost".

Louis Rees-Zammit's unexpected departure from the NFL back to rugby union was influenced by injuries, coaching changes, and emerging options in rugby, enhancing his career prospects.

Ben Te'o doesn't follow rugby union closely now, but he made sure to attend the Lions match in Brisbane. He looked forward to reconnecting with former teammates.

Andrew Porter embodies the rugby union prop forward role, characterized by his impressive physique and well-defined cauliflower ears, a testament to the sport's physicality.

The moment occurred in the 59th minute of Australia's match against Fiji, where a minor officiating misjudgment disrupted what should have been a crucial try for Fiji.

Leicester's wingers shone in a dominant display against Harlequins, with Adam Radwan scoring a hat-trick and Ollie Hassell-Collins contributing two tries.

Megan Jones is set to join Trailfinders Women for the 2025-26 season, bringing experience and leadership after a successful tenure with Leicester Tigers.