Rugby

Saint-Andre France will grow again

Benjamin Fall's early red card - rescinded by a World Rugby judicial committee 48 hours later - left Les Bleus a man light in the second Test against an All Blacks side who, to say the least, have had their number in recent years. At the Westpac Stadium in Wellington - a venue known as 'The Cake Tin' - the visitors were cooked after 12 minutes, eventually going down 26-13 to lose the series with a game to spare.

Wales make five changes to line-up

Aled Davies, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis and Owen Watkin also come into Warren Gatland's line-up, with Hadleigh Parkes (finger) and Samson Lee (back) ruled out through injury. 

Jenkins will play blindside flanker, while Elias and Francis will make their first starts of the tour in the front row alongside Rob Evans.

Aled Davies will line up alongside Rhys Patchell at scrum-half, while the back three remains unchanged after Wales' opening victory in San Juan. 

Tags: 

Tonga target Georgia

Tongan manager Inoke Afeaki said that this is one of their aims as they prepare for next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

“This is one of our campaigns and that is to beat Georgia as we build-up for the World Cup next year,” Afeaki told SUNsports.

“We’ve set our goals despite the fact that we are still grooming our team to be competitive against the top teams.

“We had a good preparation we started with the management group where we held a workshop in Auckland for four days.

Habana to hang up boots

The 34-year-old winger, whose contract at French club Toulon expires in June, confirmed the news on Instagram.

"The inevitable moment has come knocking on my door and I've welcomed it in for a drink." he said.

Habana scored 67 tries in the 124 Test appearances he made for the Springboks and his last international appearance was in 2016 when he was also vice-captain.

The electric winger underwent knee surgery last year and has struggled to make an impact at Toulon this season.

Tonga Education Minister sticking with rugby boxing ban

The comment came after his ministry announced a ban on girls playing rugby or boxing at Tonga High School - one of the main government schools in the country.

Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva has since issued a statement that said all Tongans should be encouraged to participate and there should be no discrimination in any sports.

But the Education Minister Penisimani Fifita is not budging and has blamed any negative reactions on cultural differences.

"So you are talking from a different culture to a different culture," he said.

Tonga's govt sees rugby and boxing as not for girls

The letter addressed to a local high school, said that female students should not take part in the sports because they took away from young women's dignity and cultural traditions.

'Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said the ministry was using culture as an excuse and she could not understand the stance.

She said Tongan female athletes had been inspirational in recent times, including New Zealand's Teuila Fotu-Moala.

Ireland rise to number two in rugby rankings

Ireland's win over Scotland at the weekend and England's loss to France, means the two teams swap position on the rankings table.

It's the first time Ireland have been number two since August 2015.

Ireland are now on 87.85 points - over six behind the world's number one team New Zealand, and 0.35 in front of England, who they face at Twickenham this weekend as they go in pursuit of only their third Grand Slam.

Australia are at four followed by South Africa, Scotland and Wales.

Mowen finds peace with Pau

Having been largely unheralded during his time at both the Reds and Waratahs, he was the leader of his beloved Brumbies and captain of his country.

Mowen had taken the most prized position in Australian rugby from James Horwill at the end of 2013 and after years of pouring his heart and soul into every jersey he had ever pulled on, he had finally reached the pinnacle.

Former Crusader ace Nemani Nadolo caught up in racism row

Nadolo, who plays for French Top 14 club Montpellier, described a recent experience with a fan where he claims he was called a monkey.

"I'm out in Montpellier with my family who came from overseas to c [sic] me," Nadolo said on Twitter.

"[One] supporter who is drunk said to me 'not bad for a monkey to win the game for MHR in Clermont'. Now he was drunk but wow."

The Fijian winger said racism in rugby hasn't changed.

"The worst thing is they attack you when u out having a good time with your family!" he said.

Radradra bound for Bordeaux

The former Fiji and Australia rugby league international signed a one-year deal with Toulon for the current campaign after quitting NRL side Parramatta Eels to switch codes.

Radradra, who can operate on the wing or as a centre, will be lining up against the three-time European champions next season after signing a two-year deal with Bordeaux.

The 25-year-old powerhouse scored two tries in Toulon's 36-12 victory over his future employers at Stade Mayol last weekend.