Take a whistlestop tour of global rugby news
1 Fiji
Fiji Sevens legend Osea Kolinisau, who captained the side to historic gold at Rio 2016, has replaced Ben Gollings as the men’s coach. Fiji haven’t won a series leg since May 2022.
Kolinisau said: “My criteria aren’t based on experience and talent alone but fitness and training to the standard Fiji is renowned for. It’s the Olympics and we want to take the best players we have.”
2 South Africa
Tickets for the Test-series opener between South Africa and Ireland at Loftus Versfeld sold out in less than 24 hours. A crowd of more than 50,000 is being projected for the clash on 6 July.
The Springboks will also welcome Ireland to Durban before hosting Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July. Then it’s into the Rugby Championship, with South Africa playing New Zealand in Jo’burg and Cape Town, and the Pumas in Nelspruit, this summer.
3 Ireland
Four of Ireland’s Test stars are taking to the skies in a novel way after the likenesses of Robbie Henshaw, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier (below) and Tadhg Furlong were unveiled on the side of Aer Lingus’s A320 Green Spirit Naomh Fachtna aircraft.
The airline is an official partner of the Irish RFU and is used to transport players and management.
4 Uruguay
Uruguay’s men and China’s women have grasped the initiative in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series after each won the second leg of the series in Montevideo.
Hosts Uruguay (below) defeated Hong Kong China 28-0 in the men’s cup final, which means los Teros are now joint-top of the standings with Kenya and with one round to play, in Munich on 18-19 May. China are six points clear of Argentina in the women’s standings. “We started badly but knew that from the quarter-finals onwards, every game was a final and we knew how to win it,” said Uruguay captain Diego Ardao.
5 Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Ministry of Education has unveiled rugby as an option in its physical education and student activities curriculum. As part of this PE initiative, “ongoing training courses” will be off
