Rugby

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia's National Rugby League is set to expand its sporting footprint more than 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) west of Sydney a year ahead of going a similar distance in another direction to add another new team in the South Pacific

LONDON (AP) — Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs, who made a record 127 test appearances for England, will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season. The 35-year-old Youngs had his 332nd appearance for Leicester at the weekend.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Rugby great Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has announced she will come out of international retirement in the hope of playing for New Zealand at the Women’s World Cup in Britain later this year.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The first really wet weekend in Super Rugby saw a reduction in scorelines and a rearrangement of the standings which leaves the defending champion Blues in playoff jeopardy.

WIGAN, England (AP) — Christian Wade is making another switch and this time he's staying in the rugby world.

LONDON (AP) — Former Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton is joining the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia as an assistant coach to Andy Farrell.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Breakout star Braxton Sorenson-McGee scored two tries as the Auckland-based Blues overcame a tropical cyclone to beat the New South Wales Waratahs 36-5 in the first-ever Women's Super Rugby Champions final on Thursday.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks captain Scott Barrett returned to form and helped the Crusaders to their accustomed station atop the standings after the weekend’s ninth round of Super Rugby.

KRAKOW — Canada scored two late tries but couldn't catch Germany, losing 21-19 Saturday to finish fourth on the final stop of World Rugby's second-tier Challenger Series.

SYDNEY (AP) — The New South Wales Waratahs beat the Queensland Red 43-31 on Saturday to win their sixth Super Rugby Women's title in eight grand final appearances.