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All Blacks

All Blacks' Smith escapes with warning

Christchurch - Arab Today

All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith has escaped with a formal warning for "inconsistencies" in his claims about what happened during his highly publicised airport toilet tryst, New Zealand Rugby bosses said Saturday. It is the second warning Smith has received since he was caught emerging with a woman from a toilet cubicle at a busy Christchurch airport as the AllRead more

Jones wants England to learn from All Blacks

London - Arab Today

England coach Eddie Jones insisted his focus was firmly fixed on the 2019 World Cup in Japan as he urged his side to learn from reigning champions New Zealand. Jones's men face Argentina and Australia -- who they've already beaten several times each under the former hooker's guidance -- and Samoa at Twickenham next month. But his second-placed side areRead more

Australia stun All Blacks in Brisbane thriller

Brisbane - Arab Today

Australia withstood a furious late charge to upset New Zealand 23-18 in a pulsating Bledisloe Cup match on Saturday, piercing a fresh hole in the world champions' aura of invincibility. Reece Hodge's monster, 53-metre penalty just before the final whistle sealed victory for the Wallabies, who celebrated just their second win in 19 games against their exalted neighbours. After trailingRead more

Super start sets up win for rugby champions New Zealand

Buenos Aires - Arab Today

New Zealand were superb in the first half and sloppy in the second as they overcame Argentina 36-10 in Buenos Aires Saturday in the Rugby Championship. Assured of retaining the title before the kick-off after South Africa and Australia drew earlier in the day, the All Blacks were awesome at times as they built a 29-3 lead on 28 minutes.Read more

All Blacks aim for post-Lions rebound against Wallabies

Sydney - Arabs Today

The All Blacks will be out to reassert their dominance as the wounded Wallabies look to the return of Kurtley Beale to trigger an upset in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener in Sydney. The world champions have been reviewing what went wrong in their unexpected series draw with the British and Irish Lions at home last month and are hell-bent onRead more

Super Rugby front-runners Crusaders soldier on without Whitelock

Bloemfontein - Arab Today

The front-running Canterbury Crusaders have decided against appealing captain Sam Whitelock's Super Rugby suspension and will take on the Northern Bulls on Saturday without two senior All Blacks. In addition to losing Whitelock, who copped a two-week ban for striking an opponent during last week's 48-21 win over the Central Cheetahs, the Crusaders will also be without All Blacks' captainRead more

Profit-seeking South Africa could take home Tests abroad

Johannesburg - Arab Today

Staging home Test matches abroad is among the options South African rugby bosses are considering in a bid to make the national body profitable again. South African Rugby (SAR) posted a 23.3 million rand (about $1.750 million, 1.610 million euros) loss last year. Dwindling sponsorship in a harsh economic climate, rising costs and helping fund 14 professional provincial teams wereRead more

All Blacks count injury toll ahead of Lions Test

Wellington - Arab Today

Auckland Blues hardman Jerome Kaino has joined a growing list of All Blacks sidelined by injury as the Super Rugby competition takes its toll ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour. Kaino is to undergo surgery on an injured knee on Friday and will be out of action for six weeks, putting him in doubt for the first LionsRead more

Boost for Crusaders as Stormers loom

Wellington - Arab Today

Sam Whitelock has given the All Blacks and his unbeaten Canterbury Crusaders side a boost ahead of their toughest test of the Super Rugby season against Western Stormers this weekend. Double World Cup winner Whitelock, New Zealand's most capped lock with 84 Test appearances, Thursday signed a new deal to stay with the Crusaders and All Blacks until 2020. TheRead more

Drug charge all but ends O'Connor's Wallabies hopes

Melbourne - Arab Today

Two weeks after declaring himself "mature" and ready to reclaim his Wallabies jersey, James O'Connor's international hopes turned to dust in the holding cell of a Paris police station at the weekend. The 26-year-old utility back, who plays for French glamour club Toulon, and former All Blacks lock Ali Williams were charged for attempting to buy three vials of cocaineRead more