Rugby Union

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has expressed its surprise at the news it will face a senate inquiry over its conduct in the affair that has seen the Western Force franchise cut from the Super Rugby competition, adding that the Australian government’s entrance into the matter is “concerning” for the entire sports industry.

Billionaire mining tycoon Andrew Forrest has announced plans to establish a rebel rugby union competition after Australia’s Western Force failed in a court appeal to remain in the Super Rugby tournament.

Steve Brown has been appointed as chief executive of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the governing body for rugby union in England.

Canada, Germany, Spain and the US have been suggested as possible new markets for the Pro14 by the rugby union club competition’s chief executive, Martin Anayi.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has today (Wednesday) hit back at calls for chairman Cameron Clyne to resign over the decision to axe Western Force from the Super Rugby club competition, denying claims that he had lied about the reasons behind the move.

New South Wales Supreme Court judge David Hammerschlag has granted Rugby Western Australia leave to appeal the Australian Rugby Union’s (ARU) decision to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby, the southern hemisphere’s premier rugby union club tournament.

Mark McGowan, the Premier of the Government of Western Australia, has told Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver that the state is “exploring all legal options” in relation with the decision to axe the Western Force rugby union franchise from the Super Rugby competition.

Australian Super Rugby franchise Western Force has today (Monday) appealed the decision by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to cut it from rugby union’s premier club competition in the southern hemisphere.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) confirmed plans this (Friday) morning to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby, rugby union’s premier club competition in the southern hemisphere, after a lengthy arbitration process.

Scottish Rugby, the national governing body for rugby union in Scotland, has reported record turnover of £51.4m (€57.5m/$67m) for its 2016-17 financial year and has moved to revamp the structure of its domestic club game.

The licence to operate the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby club has been transferred to the Victoria Rugby Union (VRU) in an attempt to protect the franchise from being shut down by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).

The South African government has today (Thursday) formally backed the country’s bid to host the 2023 edition of the Rugby World Cup.

World Rugby has taken another step in its efforts to globalise the Rugby World Cup Sevens brand by partnering with sports and entertainment company AEG for its 2018 edition, which will be held at San Francisco’s AT&T Park from July 20-22.

Pan-European rugby union club competition the Pro12 has today (Tuesday) confirmed the additions of former South African Super Rugby franchises the Cheetahs and Southern Kings for its 2017-18 season, with the league to henceforth be known as the Pro14.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has presented World Rugby with more than €400m ($465.7m) of “firm, unconditional and irrevocable” financial guarantees for its bid to host the 2023 World Cup.

The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) has moved to assume control of Pro12 club Zebre in order for it to continue competing in the competition.

An agreement has been reached for South African rugby teams the Cheetahs and Southern Kings to enter the Pro12 pan-European competition after losing their Super Rugby status, according to multiple reports.

Shanghai is set to host a new rugby sevens event in October as part of plans to further raise the profile of the sport in China.