# nations championship (news sources) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover nations championship. Page: Feed: --- ## [South Africa 16-33 New Zealand: rugby union first Test – as it happened](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/aug/22/south-africa-v-new-zealand-rugby-union-first-test-live) _2026-08-22 · Daniel Gallan · Rugby union | The Guardian_ All Blacks withstand scrum onslaught then tear South Africa apart to take a 1-0 series lead in Johannesburg. Here come the All Blacks! Led by Ardie Savea. Continue reading... ## [Jordan double stuns South Africa as New Zealand clinch statement victory](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/22/south-africa-new-zealand-rugby-union-greatest-rivalry-series) _2026-08-22 · Gerard Meagher · Rugby union | The Guardian_ First Test: South Africa 16-33 New Zealand All Blacks score five tries against world champions As first courses go, this was a delicious appetiser to a series that looks set to live up to its billing. First blood goes to New Zealand, who withstood a barrage of South Africa scrum pressure and demonstrated a slickness the double world champions could not live with, clinching a first win at Ellis… ## [Wallaroos on wrong side of another Black Ferns drubbing in lopsided rivalry](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/22/new-zealand-black-ferns-australia-wallaroos-rugby-union-report) _2026-08-22 · Australian Associated Press · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Australia defeated by New Zealand 66-19 in rugby Test in Auckland Sevens star Maddison Levi unable to help end 32-year losing streak Maddison Levi has been unable to inspire the Wallaroos to a hoodoo-busting victory, the Australians falling flat in an ugly 66-19 defeat to New Zealand. At Auckland’s Go Media Stadium on Saturday, the Wallaroos – playing in their 100th Test match – were looking to… ## [Smoke and mirrors fill the vacuum as Springboks and All Blacks brace for battle](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/21/springboks-all-blacks-south-africa-new-zealand-greatest-rivalry-rugby-union) _2026-08-21 · Gerard Meagher · Rugby union | The Guardian_ South Africa welcome New Zealand for their Greatest Rivalry series with the suspicion that they plan on beating the tourists at their own game The problem with Test weeks is that they can feel long. Cricketers can play for days on end, footballers every few nights, but rugby players step on to the international stage for just 80 minutes per week. The result is a drawn-out vacuum in the buildup and… ## [Rugby brain injury case brought back from brink of collapse after high court ruling](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/21/rugby-brain-injury-case-able-to-continue-after-high-court-ruling) _2026-08-21 · Andy Bull · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Governing bodies had asked for ruling to end cases Judge says claimants ‘blameless’ for missing documents The legal action over brain injuries in rugby has been brought back from the brink of collapse after the high court ruled to give a reprieve to hundreds of claimants who had been struck out from the case. More than 500 claimants had breached a court order by failing to disclose necessary… ## [Maddison Levi: Wallaroos debut for explosive sevens star has New Zealand on red alert | Angus Fontaine](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/21/maddison-levi-wallaroos-debut-rugby-sevens-star) _2026-08-20 · Angus Fontaine · Rugby union | The Guardian_ The code-hopping winger is one of the hottest properties in world rugby but says she feels ‘vulnerable’ ahead of her eagerly-anticipated first 15s Test cap Maddison Levi is widely considered the most exciting rugby player in the country. But this weekend the Gold Coast 24-year-old is a “vulnerable” rookie as she faces up to the biggest challenge of her career: finally making her hotly-anticipated… ## [Les Kiss reaps rewards of derring-do approach to Australia’s team selection](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/15/les-kiss-australia-team-selection-rugby-union) _2026-08-15 · Jack Snape · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Issac Henry, Carlo Tizzano, Charlie Cale and Massimo de Lutiis repay faith shown by Wallabies coach and highlight squad’s strength in depth The Wallabies have problems, but they are of the good variety. In the return Test against Japan in Townsville on Saturday, they produced their most promising performance in 12 months, and not a moment too soon. The 56-17 victory included a professional,… ## [Australia 56-17 Japan: rugby union international – as it happened](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/aug/15/wallabies-japan-nations-championship-rugby-union-international-townsville-aus-v-jpn-live-updates) _2026-08-15 · Jonathan Howcroft · Rugby union | The Guardian_ The Wallabies kicked clear to make it two-from-two against the Brave Blossoms with a commanding victory in Townsville The low key atmosphere isn’t helped by two of the less upbeat national anthems and the sky becoming blanketed in cloud. Hopefully the players can spark the occasion into life. And here come the two sides out into the Townsville afternoon. It’s all a bit muted in a stadium far from… ## [Carter Gordon impresses on return as Wallabies surge clear of Japan for dominant win](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/15/wallabies-australia-japan-nations-championship-rugby-union-match-report) _2026-08-15 · Angus Fontaine · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Australia beat Japan 56-17 in Townsville No 10 shows why he could be solution Les is proving more for the Wallabies, with new coach Les Kiss leading the side to a second consecutive victory in an eight-try 56-17 triumph over Japan in Townsville. The impressive victory gives the Australian men their first three-match winning streak since 2024 and fires the hearts and hopes of fans in the 14-month… ## [Running dry: drought-hit UK sporting venues and parched pitches – in pictures](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/aug/14/drought-uk-sport-pitches-in-pictures) _2026-08-14 · Guardian sport · Rugby union | The Guardian_ With the UK experiencing the driest summer on record, we look at how the weather is affecting the pitches and courses across the country Continue reading... ## [Watch Chovy Code Live (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/uWpGtsbtdYOZ) _2026-08-14 · **Sponsored**_ Join live coding streams with real-time collaborative screen sharing, open source and free. ## [Wallabies search for pieces to fit playmaker puzzle as Kiss swings changes | Jack Snape](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/14/wallabies-australia-japan-carter-gordon-rugby-union-test-nations-championship-preview) _2026-08-13 · Jack Snape · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Australia head coach called in Carter Gordon to face Japan in Townsville but will keep investigating his flyhalf options before next year’s World Cup May the merry-go-round continue, after Wallabies coach Les Kiss promised to keep looking through his options at No 10 before the clash with Japan in Townsville on Saturday. The Wallabies’ new supremo has shuffled the side in only his second Test,… ## [Empty seats and faded aura show how Springboks outgrew the All Blacks | Daniel Gallan](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/13/faded-aura-springboks-outgrew-all-blacks-rugby-union) _2026-08-13 · Daniel Gallan · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Back-to-back world champions can use Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry to establish themselves as one of the greatest teams of all time South Africans are supposed to care about the All Blacks more than this. On Tuesday night 14,759 people dotted the 52,000-seat Kings Park Stadium to watch New Zealand dismantle the Sharks 54-0. Durban was cold and soaked, with snow falling elsewhere in KwaZulu-Natal, but… ## [Carter Gordon returns for Wallabies in ‘balanced selection’ for second Japan Test](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/13/wallabies-team-selection-carter-gordon-australia-vs-japan-rugby-union-test) _2026-08-13 · Jack Snape · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Fly-half overcomes calf injury to partner Ryan Lonergan in halves Prop Massimo De Lutiis primed to become 1,000th player capped After three false starts, the Carter Gordon era for the Wallabies may have finally arrived after the flyhalf was named in the Australian XV to play Japan in Townsville on Saturday. New coach Les Kiss dropped Declan Meredith after last week’s inconsistent performance in… ## [‘Whole and meaningful’: Red Roses coach John Mitchell becomes British citizen](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/12/england-women-coach-john-mitchell-uk-citizen-rugby) _2026-08-12 · Sarah Rendell · Rugby union | The Guardian_ New Zealand-born Mitchell became UK national in July England ready for revamped WXV tournament England women’s World Cup-winning coach , John Mitchell, has revealed he became a UK citizen in July after a six-year process. He said it would make representing the country on a sporting stage “very whole and meaningful”. Mitchell, who is from New Zealand and coached the All Blacks at the 2003 men’s… ## [Lawrence and Daly lose England central contracts as Borthwick looks to World Cup](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/12/ollie-lawrence-elliot-daly-lose-england-central-contracts-rugby-union-world-cup) _2026-08-12 · Gerard Meagher · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Duo are notable omissions from England’s 25-man list Alex Coles and Asher Opoku-Fordjour both included Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly have both lost their central contracts, with Steve Borthwick omitting the pair from his 25-man squad a year before England’s World Cup campaign begins. Neither Lawrence nor Daly – who was nursing an arm injury – featured in the three Nations Championship matches… ## [All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu performs solo haka against New Zealand in South Africa tour match](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/12/maa-nonu-haka-vs-all-blacks-sharks-rugby-south-africa) _2026-08-12 · Associated Press · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Nonu on Sharks bench after signing for South African side last week ‘I thought it was the right thing to do,’ says 104-cap former All Black South African rugby teams love facing the haka. None have ever replied to New Zealand’s traditional pre-match challenge with another haka until Tuesday. Ma’a Nonu stepped in front of his new Sharks teammates and performed a solo haka in what will probably be… ## [Les Kiss and his Wallabies have a mountain to climb but gritty win over Japan is a big first step | Angus Fontaine](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/09/les-kiss-and-his-wallabies-have-a-mountain-to-climb-but-gritty-win-over-japan-is-a-big-first-step) _2026-08-09 · Angus Fontaine · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Australia got ambushed early and were a hot mess at times. But Kiss showed patience and nous as he found a way to win When scaling a mountain, “don’t look at the peak”, advised the Japanese film-maker Akira Kurosawa. “Keep your eyes on the ground, put one foot in front of the other and climb patiently.” The Wallabies have to get from a current base camp of No 8 in the rankings to win next year’s… ## [Japan 32-35 Australia: rugby union international – as it happened](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/aug/08/japan-vs-australia-live-updates-wallabies-nations-championship-rugby-union) _2026-08-08 · Jonathan Howcroft · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Wallabies win first match under new coach Les Kiss Amatosero red carded in the first half “Deep care,” is the message from Les Kiss ahead of his first match in charge of Australia. He wants his team to care about every second, on and off the pitch, when they’re on national team duty. The 2026 Test calendar is a patchwork quilt of matches scattered around the world as the the All Blacks and… ## [New coach Kiss off to a winning start as Wallabies rumble past bold Japan](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/08/australia-wallabies-japan-nations-championship-2026-match-report) _2026-08-08 · Angus Fontaine · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Japan 32-35 Australia Wallabies withstand early red card and heat There was good, bad and plenty of ugly but the Les Kiss era is off to a winning start. Despite searing heat and a brave home side, the Wallabies shrugged off an early red card and a litany of reckless errors to welcome their new coach to international rugby with a brave and dramatic victory over Japan in Osaka. Against an… ## [Wallabies need to handle the heat as Les Kiss era begins in sweltering Japan | Jack Snape](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2026/aug/08/wallabies-australia-japan-rugby-union-test-nations-championship-preview) _2026-08-07 · Jack Snape · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Australia’s new head coach refused to cool expectations before a rugby international in Osaka with a short runway to hosting the 2027 World Cup The heat is on for new Wallabies coach Les Kiss – both physically and metaphorically – as he prepares for a sprint to next year’s World Cup, beginning in sweltering Osaka on Saturday. The temperature for the clash against Japan is forecast to climb to a… ## [Ship software peacefully (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/KYsaqQQfSwxW) _2026-08-07 · **Sponsored**_ Connect your repo and deploy instantly — Railway handles config, scaling, and monitoring. ## [Springboks and All Blacks flex financial muscles with ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/06/springboks-and-all-blacks-flex-financial-muscles-greatest-rivalry) _2026-08-06 · Gerard Meagher · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Throwback series rekindles memories of the past, but the focus is very much on realities of the modern game Just in case you were unaware that the series between South Africa and New Zealand, styled as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR), is a “tour like no other”, the Springboks have just unveiled a jersey to prove it. “A jersey like no other” to be worn four times and then consigned to history. The… ## [Inexperienced halves pair get nod for first Wallabies Test under new coach Les Kiss](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/06/australia-wallabies-v-japan-team-lonergan-meredith-halves) _2026-08-06 · Jack Snape · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Lonergan and Meredith to start against Jones’s Japan Kiss makes four changes to starting XV for Osaka clash New Australian coach Les Kiss has thrown his support behind inexperienced halves pair Ryan Lonergan and Declan Meredith for his first match in charge of the Wallabies against Eddie Jones’s Japan in Osaka on Saturday. The 61-year-old is looking to improve on the foundations laid by his… ## [Argentina’s Albornoz given four-match ban for intimidating referee after England defeat](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/05/tomas-albornoz-four-match-ban-intimidating-referee-argentina-england-rugby-union) _2026-08-05 · Gerard Meagher · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Incident occurred after Pumas were denied a late try Albornoz’s ban begins against South Africa on Saturday Tomás Albornoz, the Argentina fly-half, has been banned for four matches for intimidating the referee after the full-time whistle of England’s controversial victory against the Pumas last month. Albornoz accepted allegations of misconduct at a disciplinary hearing, and that his behaviour was… ## [RFU expects £10m loss off the back of England’s worst Six Nations campaign](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/05/rugby-football-union-10m-loss-england-worst-six-nations-rugby-union) _2026-08-05 · Exclusive by Gerard Meagher · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Team finished second bottom in men’s competition Insiders insist team’s ‘light calendar’ a significant factor England’s worst Six Nations performance has contributed to the Rugby Football Union expecting a £10m loss for the financial year ending June 2026, the Guardian can reveal. Steve Borthwick oversaw a miserable campaign in which England lost four of their five matches, ensuring a fifth-place… ## [Waratahs spoil Fijian Drua party to claim third straight Super Rugby Women’s title](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/25/fijian-drua-nsw-waratahs-super-rugby-women-grand-final-report) _2026-07-25 · Australian Associated Press · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Fijian Drua 17-34 NSW Waratahs as grand final held in Fiji for first time Tahs forward Faliki Pohiva named player of match NSW Waratahs have produced a scintillating performance to complete a hat-trick of Super W women’s rugby titles and defy their detractors with a 34-17 win over minor premiers Fijian Drua in Ba, Fiji. The Tahs secured a record-extending seventh Super W title. Continue reading... ## [Dismissed solicitor is still acting for footballers in brain injury court case](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/24/discarded-solicitor-still-acting-for-footballers-over-brin-injuries) _2026-07-24 · Matt Hughes · Rugby union | The Guardian_ Richard Boardman dropped by group of rugby players Football group includes family of Nobby Stiles The solicitor dismissed by a group of over 1,000 rugby players with brain injuries who are suing the sport’s governing bodies is still leading a similar claim on behalf of dozens of former footballers. Richard Boardman told a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice this week of his intention to “come…