England Rugby News

LONDON (AP) _ France has already lost its Grand Slam chance. Imagine if struggling Scotland stopped the French from winning the Six Nations rugby title, too. With France, Ireland and England all tied on points going into Saturday's final round of games, the Six Nations title could go to any of the three. While the French host the Scots, Ireland goes to Italy and England travels to Cardiff to meet ...

Winning the 2003 World Cup was the worst thing to happen to English rugby because it concealed the dispute between club and country over the availability of players. That's the view of Clive Woodward, who said he coached England to the World Cup title in spite of, rather than because of, the Rugby Football Union. England is without a coach after Andy Robinson quit on Nov. 29. He'd lost 13 of 22 matches since replacing Woodward in ...

Andy Robinson quit as England rugby coach Wednesday, less then 10 months before the team begins defence of the World Cup. The Rugby Football Union announced that Robinson was ``standing down'' and that it would be looking for a replacement head coach. Saturday's 25-14 loss to South Africa at Twickenham was England's eighth in nine matches. It was also the 13th in 22 matches under Robinson, who took over after ...

Less than 10 months before England starts defence of the Rugby World Cup, it is on the verge of changing its head coach. After a worst ever record of eight losses in nine games, the only issue appears to be whether Andy Robinson resigns or is fired, with strong speculation a decision could be made Monday. World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson is the bookmakers' favourite to take the job ...

England coach Andy Robinson wants his team to improve its form with the ball in the second rugby international against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday (available on pay-per-view). Despite having snapped a seven-Test losing streak that equalled a 34-year-old record by beating the Springboks 23-21 last week, England was still unconvincing and chose too many poor options. ``Our whole performance became narrow last weekend,'' Robinson said. ``At one stage, ...

Kabamba Floors will make his debut in South Africa's second rugby international against England at Twickenham on Saturday. Floors was named Wednesday at blindside flanker in place of Pierre Spies. Juan Smith was selected at openside flanker, while Danie Roussouw moves to No. 8 from No. 7 as Jacques Cronje is injured. The only other change from South Africa's 23-21 loss to England last week was Andre Pretorius winning selection ...

England fly half Charlie Hodgson and prop Andrew Sheridan have serious injuries and will likely be sidelined until May, their club Sale Sharks said Monday. Both players were carried off in England's 23-21 win over South Africa on Saturday. Hodgson has ruptured the cruciate ligament in his right knee and Sheridan broke his left ankle and also sustained ligament damage, Sale Sharks said. Both will have operations next week. Hodgson ...

England made seven changes to its team Tuesday to play South Africa in a rugby international this weekend as it bids to avoid a record eighth straight defeat. England's players are only allowed to start in three of the four November Tests. Saturday's match at Twickenham and a second game on Nov. 25 against the Springboks completes its international program. Mark Cueto has recovered from an ankle injury and replaces ...

The behavior of the first ever 82,000 crowd at Twickenham will be another focus of Sunday's rugby union international between England and New Zealand after All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger said he was racially abused by fans there in the same contest a year ago. Although the Rugby Football Association rejected Mauger's allegations, officials will be on alert in case there is any sign of English fans racially abusing the All Blacks, many of whom have Pacific island ...

Britain won its first rugby league match in Australia in 14 years Saturday, beating the home side 23-12 to all but clinch a spot in the Tri-Nations tournament final. The win was sealed by a Gareth Raynor try three minutes from fulltime before halfback Sean Long, who had a strong game for the visitors, kicked a field goal in the final minutes. Australia leads the competition with four points from three matches and has already earned a ...

England will field three rookies when it faces New Zealand at Twickenham on Sunday, aiming to end a six-match losing streak against next year's Rugby World Cup favourite. England's standing after winning the 2003 World Cup has fallen so far _ with several players retired and fly half Jonny Wilkinson injured continually _ that the All Blacks are resting key players before its matches against France on Nov. 11 and ...

Springbok coach Jake White named four rookies Saturday in his 28-man squad to play two Tests against England and one versus Ireland in November. Fullback Bevan Fortuin, flanker Hilton Lobberts, centre Jaco Pretorius and flyhalf Francois Steyn are the four new players. White left out prop Os du Rand, lock Victor Matfield, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, winger Bryan Habana, fullback Percy Montgomery and winger Breyton Paulse. They were all rested after a tough Tri-Nations Test series against New ...