Samoa rugby rocked by sexual offences allegations against head coach

With Manly bowing out of the premiership race, Woods enjoyed his last ‘Mad Monday’ as a professional rugby league player recently. It was “pretty tame” compared to when he first entered the NRL world. With game time now under the belt, ALB will be perfectly primed for a strong year as Waikato look to go one better, and will plenty on the line to play for with positions in the All Blacks starting XV open. Sharing the record with Telea with 12 tries last season, Codie Taylor is a formidable veteran at the head of a dangerous Crusaders pack. With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, the league’s true insiders made their voices heard.

Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland) & Thomas Ramos (France) – 18.0 stars

He was not a halfback until he was and once he was he willed himself into being one of the best of all time. Hughes’ rugby league story begins in Queensland, where he spent years wandering through underage and lower-grade football. Memories can fade, but medals don’t and accolades like the Dally M are how we talk to each other about rugby league history across time, so getting it right matters. The new voting system, where a player can get six points in a single match, means a late-season run can overshadow a season of consistency, as we saw with Kalyn Ponga pipping Shaun Johnson last year. The Dally Ms aren’t always an easy thing to believe in and they can be even harder to set your compass by as you wade through rugby league history, trying to sort things out.

Antoine Dupont

It was a shame that Salesi Rayasi endured such mixed form in 2023, being kept out of the Hurricanes’ side due to injury for much of the year. While he hasn’t yet excelled at an international level, with only seven All Black caps, he is one of Super Rugby’s strongest attacking weapons. We continue our countdown of the the 50 best players set to have a significant impact this year, based on previous form, talent and the potential impact they can have on their team’s season.

• Owen Farrell’s absence presents an important moment to one of the brightest talents in English rugby, who should now be given an extended run at fly-half.
• With the likes of Mark Telea and Will Jordan keeping him from returning to the All Black line up, Reece will be hoping to push his case to return to the national side – but he has a lot of competition.
• Sensational outside back Will Jordan just cracks the top 20, taking the 20th place on the list.
• Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes beats James Tedesco to the NRL Dally M Medal by one vote, while Roosters back rower Olivia Kernick is named the NRLW’s best player.
• The Irish «romped» to the Grand Slam in as «dominant a fashion as the championship has ever seen,» said Sky News, beating each side by at least 13 points.
• Some of the best rugby players in the world are in the thick of their 2024 summer international season following a long professional season that just ended.
• Here is the full list of the highest-paid rugby players of 2024, compiled using data from Yahoo News, GQ Australia, and The Scotsman.
• Fans will disagree on who they believe would make the top 10, with all manner of factors to consider – with trophies, scoring ability and leadership skills all involved.

Retiring NRL favourite Aaron Woods reveals surprise post footy career plan … and advice to next crop of stars

Born in France, Capuozzo qualified for Italy through his paternal grandparents. He made his international debut at the 2022 tournament, where he scored a brace against Scotland. In the next game, he set up Edoardo Padovani’s winning try against Wales. Every year, the Six Nations showcases some of rugby union’s greatest players.

• Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
• While he hasn’t yet excelled at an international level, with only seven All Black caps, he is one of Super Rugby’s strongest attacking weapons.
• 11 – Rio Dyer – 6.5This felt like a more senior, accomplished performance from Dyer.
• It took until the very last play to secure their win, when Alex Sedrick stiff-armed her way past Australia’s defense and ended up converting her own kick — and she’s not a kicker.
• What was most remarkable was how, despite rotating and changing the team almost weekly, their efficiency remained incredibly high.
• 12 – Nick Tompkins  – 4Struggled to provide any strike force through midfield.
• With his own future now secured, Woods advised the current and future crops of NRL players to “keep asking questions”.

‘So much for the All Blacks’ no d–kheads policy’: Rieko Ioane accused of filthy sledge

One of the most exciting talents in the game, Russell is a magician of a fly-half with the skills to unpick any defence. Being named co-captain signals an end to his stormy relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend and he has been revitalised by his move to Bath, who are flourishing as a result of his arrival. A host of rugby’s most gifted players will go head to head over the coming weeks in the 25th instalment of the Guinness Six Nations. Here the PA news agency looks at five stars expected to grab the headlines.

Hugo Keenan (Ireland) & Finn Russell (Scotland) – 19.0 stars

Slotting into a star-studded Toulouse backline, the diminutive dynamo is one of the most exciting attacking talents in the world. England’s lost soldier, and yet another Toulouse player, how Willis remains ineligible due to selection rules is one of the greatest travesties in rugby. While he is no slouch, De Allende is the first player to volunteer himself to run into a brick wall to create space for his flashy teammates. Shining whenever given the opportunity, the little magician will return the All Blacks attack to scarily good levels this season.

Rugby World Cup 2025

• Sinned when he went early on another scrum when Wales had the feed on England’s line.
• Head coach Warren Gatland believes he can grow into an Alun Wyn Jones-style of leader- the highest of compliments for the young man.
• While Wales’ lineout has faltered at key moments, back rower Aaron Wainwright (15) and lock Dafydd Jenkins (12) have been the go-tos in this area.
• Smith shows «an instinct for attack and courage to play beyond any of his rivals for the jersey», said the sports site, «but he must also prove he can guide England through choppier waters».
• Rampaging second row Federico Ruzza is a cornerstone of the Italian pack, and he is evidently their target man at this set-piece, taking 17 lineouts in three matches.

If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. With the likes of Mark Telea and Will Jordan keeping him from returning to the All Black line up, Reece will be hoping to push his case to return https://just-bet.org/ to the national side – but he has a lot of competition. An effective kicker, dangerous in broken play and a strong finisher, the decision to re-sign him for two years is a strong indication of his potential as an attacking weapon.

Italy equal all-time high in World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini

Aki possesses the rare skill of being able to generate tremendous power from a standing start, even against a defence as robust as South Africa’s. At times erratic but invariably brilliant, Penaud is already one of the greatest finishers of all time and is just three tries short of equalling the national record of 38 held by Serge Blanco. There are quicker wings but few with the try-scoring finesse of the electric 27-year-old. To round off the Perfect Player series, we tasked Easter, Bernard Jackman and Adam Jones to select their perfect player, a star who ticked all the above boxes. But from the 2024 Six Nations crop of players, Gustard highlighted one of his club players, France lock Paul Gabrillagues.

Jack Willis – England – Backrow

The Centenary Quaich named after a Gaelic drinking dish, the ‘Quaich’ has been presented to the winners of the Ireland against Scotland since 1989 and won by Ireland in 2023. The four home nations also compete for various trophies, including the the Millennium trophy which has been given to the winner of the Six Nations match between England and Ireland since 1988. The trophy itself looks a little bit like a Viking helmet with horns. The Triple Crown is given to the team that defeats all the other original home nations and only England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are able to win it. A match is split into two 40-minute halves – the aim of the game is to score more points than the other team through tries, conversions, penalty kicks and drop goals. Scotland’s last championship title was the 1999 Five Nations and their last two World Cup campaigns have ended at the pool stage.

The Top 10 rugby players in the world have just been named

His wonderful performance against Argentina at the World Cup will go down in English Rugby history as one of the best individual performances in a white shirt. This is not meant to disparage Farrell’s contribution to English rugby, but his presence no doubt has hampered Ford. A master tactician with a sublime passing and kicking game, Ford is an old-school game manager in the best sense of the word. With his long-term teammate and friend now unavailable and seemingly on his way to the Top 14, Ford could prove to be both the first-choice fly-half and English captain this year. Despite featuring against Italy and France in the tournament, Williams did not crack the Welsh World Cup squad.

Johnny Sexton v Rieko Ioane and rugby’s most infamous chirps, trash talk and sledges ever

One of the standout All Blacks of 2023, Roigard is looming as the perfect successor to Aaron Smith in Scott Robertson’s starting side. Scoring nine tries last year, he’ll be in stiff competition with teammate TJ Perenara for starting caps in both Wellington and the national side. Along with Fraser McReight and Jordan Petaia, Tate McDermott is set for a critical season at the Reds. Scott Robertson won’t be disheartened, though, as there were many positives. However, his Achilles’ heel was the bench’s inability to close out games as well as they started.

As well as regularly appearing for Harlequins in 2023, he crossed the line during England’s win against Scotland at the U20 Six Nations. He followed this by scoring a try during England’s semi-final against France at the World Rugby U20 Championship. Singled out as one to watch by Italy great Sergio Parisse, the uncapped Izekor is a colossus of a back row who stands 6’5” tall and weighs well over 17 stones.

Now that the 2024 squads have been announced, here are the Six Nations players to watch from each team. The winger is so often Ireland’s trump card when one is required, and his seven line breaks are the most in the Championship this year. A quasi backrow-cum-center in the front row, Toulouse star Mauvaka is a new hooker who would slot into any team in world rugby. He reportedly earns $1.2 million as a key position player in sparking attacks. The high-profile Englishman had spent his entire career at Saracens in the English Premiership. Rating every Springboks player from their title-winning Rugby Championship campaign.

Another pair of players that are unsurprisingly right up near the top of the most valuable list given how significantly they influence the clashes they feature in. A powerful duo assume the responsibility of being the top-ranked players in 2024 with Antoine Dupont unavailable. The 21-year-old arguably is Borthwick’s most viable long-term option, given his ability to combine what the England coach traditionally has favored with a strong running game.

Italy

• While France are currently blessed with a raft of talented youngsters who have thrust Les Bleus back to the peak of their powers, few wield the influence Dupont has on both his team and the matches he plays in.
• With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, the league’s true insiders made their voices heard.
• However, if the occasion calls for it, he is a more-than-able option in the centers or on the wing, making him a prized asset to the South Africa setup.
• Respect for team-mates, opponents, match officials and those involved in the game is paramount.
• Aki possesses the rare skill of being able to generate tremendous power from a standing start, even against a defence as robust as South Africa’s.
• France joined the tournament in 1910, with five teams competing for 90 years until Italy were invited to join the competition in 2000.

A dynamic ball carrier without a ridiculous work ethic, Porter has elevated himself to the status of world-class since making his debut in 2017. In January, the wealthy French club Racing 92 made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Russell had been making about $800,000 a year from Saracens, his home club since he was a teenager. For possibly the first time ever, New Zealand don’t head into the Rugby World Cup as favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, and that is reflected in the Telegraph’s picks. Sexton’s actions to Peyper was misconduct, and for the exact same reason Ioane’s actions to Irish supporters are citable as misconduct. Sexton was banned for abusing/disrespecting Peyper in what was the identical version of this for the Chamions League competition.

Other Ireland players to watch

4 – Dafydd Jenkins – 4.5A totem at the line-out, he lacked enough grunt to punch holes through the rush defence. 11 – Rio Dyer – 6.5This felt like a more senior, accomplished performance from Dyer. His darting runs – like the one where he reached the safe ty of his 22 after collecting a pass under his own poles – weren’t just brave, they were calculated.