Warrington beat fellow play-off hopefuls Hull FC to win for the first time in nine games by 18-4 and revive their push with four rounds left.

 

Adam Swift swiped a loose ball to put Hull ahead before two superb tries from Wires George Williams and Matt Dufty.

 

The Wire kept Hull out with stubborn defence before Matty Ashton went over from a fine, looping Williams pass.

 

Hull's loss is a huge dent to their play-off hopes, as four points now separate them from the top six.

 

Jake Trueman limped off five

Huddersfield survived a second-half fightback from fellow play-off chasers Leeds to keep their hopes alive thanks to some stubborn defence.

 

Giants crossed through Sam Halsall, Kevin Naiqama and ex-Rhino Tui Lolohea to lead 16-12 at the break, with Luke Hooley and Ash Handley replying.

 

Leeds had lost James Bentley to injury in the first period but threw plenty at the hosts without reward.

 

Will Pryce's penalty goals and a Jake Connor drop goal saw Giants through.

 

The Giants moved level with Leeds and Hull FC on 20 points, although three other teams vying for the probable two spots remaining in Salford, Hull KR and Warrington are four points clear.

Hull FC will be without stand-off Jake Trueman for a lengthy period after he ruptured his Achilles in Saturday's defeat by Warrington Wolves.

 

The 24-year-old has had a tough time with injuries in recent seasons, notably suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in 2022.

 

Trueman only returned from that absence in May, making 15 appearances and scoring three tries since then.

 

"We're all a bit gutted for Jake," said Hull FC head coach Tony Smith.

 

"As we all know he missed the start of the season coming back from a fairly significant injury and this is another one.

England captain George Williams will miss the first two Tests against Tonga having been given an extended ban following Warrington's play-off defeat by St Helens.

 

Williams was initially given a one-game ban on Monday for a shoulder charge.

 

But having pleaded guilty to a Grade B charge, he then challenged the grading.

 

The independent Operational Rules Tribunal rejected the challenge and deemed it frivolous, leading to the ban being doubled to two games.

 

The Warrington scrum-half succeeded his former Wigan Warriors team-mate Sam Tomkins as England captain in April 2023, after Tomkins stepped down following last year's World Cup.

Worcester Warriors Women's director of rugby Jo Yapp says everyone has been left "heartbroken" after the club's owners withdrew funding and took them out of the league and cup.

 

Cube International, who had agreed a 10-year sponsorship deal in May, said Tuesday's decision had been an "emotionally challenging" one.

 

Yapp told BBC Hereford and Worcester the news had come "out of the blue".

 

Saturday's scheduled trip to Bristol in the Allianz Cup has been cancelled.

 

Warriors had been due to host reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury in their opening game of the new rebranded Premiership Women's Rugby on Saturday, 18 November.

England captain George Williams will miss the first two Tests against Tonga after his appeal against his extended ban was rejected by a new three-person tribunal.

 

The Warrington half-back's initial one-game suspension for a shoulder charge in the play-off defeat by St Helens was doubled after a failed appeal.

 

Williams appealed against the ban again in the hope of having it overturned.

 

But the 28-year-old will now be withdrawn from the England squad.

Hull KR half-back Mikey Lewis and Leeds centre Harry Newman are set to make their England debuts in the first Test against Tonga at St Helens on Sunday.

 

The duo have been included in Shaun Wane's 19-man squad, with 22-year-old Saints full-back Jack Welsby named England's youngest men's captain.

 

Welsby will lead the side with regular skipper George Williams suspended for the first two matches.

Former Premiership side Wasps are aiming to move to Kent and build a new stadium in the county.

 

The club went into administration a year ago and were removed from the Premiership as a result.

 

It would be a fifth home for Wasps, who spent most of their existence in two London locations before moves to High Wycombe in 2002 and Coventry in 2014.

 

The club are "actively engaged with Sevenoaks District Council to identify a suitable location".

 

A statement by the two-time European champions and six-time Premiership winners - who had £95m worth of debts when the club went into administration - said: "This move signifies a new chapter in the club's journey, reaffirming its commitment to professional rugby.

 

"Having faced significant challenges with regulation and funding, the club has persisted with its determination to revive Wasps at the highest possible level."

 

A Sevenoaks District Council spokesman said Wasps were considering building a multi-use stadium, training facilities and a hotel on the outskirts of Swanley.

 

The spokesman said members of the public would be able to have their say on the proposals when the council began its latest consultation on its local plan next month.

Wakefield Trinity have named former Castleford and Warrington boss Daryl Powell as head coach, after Matt Ellis completed his takeover of the club.

 

Trinity confirmed Ellis has overseen the necessary due diligence and resolved all legal matters to become sole owner of the Championship club.

 

Powell's first task will be to return Wakefield to Super League after 2023's relegation ended their 24-year stay.

 

"Both my own and Daryl's ambitions are aligned," owner Ellis said.

 

"I can assure you all that he is hungry for success. I feel this is the perfect role for Daryl, with a big rebuild, and he will thrive in the challenge.

 

"I know that we will see the best Daryl has to offer."

World Rugby has announced a new competition starting in 2026 as part of a "significant overhaul" of the men's international calendar.

 

The tournament will be made up of 24 teams, split into two divisions with 12 teams in each, with promotion and relegation starting from 2030.

 

The top division will include the 10 sides from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship, plus two unnamed others.

 

The World Cup will also be expanded to 24 teams from 2027.

 

Although there will be four additional nations taking part in Australia and a round of 16 will be created, the adjustments mean the next World Cup will last six weeks rather than seven, while the draw will be made in January 2026.

Dan Sheehan inspired Leinster to a 13th win in a row over gutsy Dragons, who saw Taine Basham sent off for foul play.

 

First-time captain Sheehan scored Leinster's first try and had a hand in further scores for Thomas Clarkson and Ciaran Frawley.

 

Dragons centre Aneurin Owen capped a promising display with a try.

 

However Charlie Ngatai and Scot Penny crossed either side of Basham's red card in a bonus-point win.

 

The Wales flanker was banished for a petulant elbow into the head of Ross Byrne.

 

It was a needless offence that left his side, already trailing 26-10, down to 14 men for the final 18 minutes.

 

A third win in four saw Leinster move back to second place in the United Rugby Championship, behind leaders Bulls on points difference.

Just been reading that England captain Owen Farrell is pulling himself out of international rugby for six months to prioritise his mental health. Fair enough - life is more important than sport even if I'm sure he'll be missed.

England and Bristol prop Kyle Sinckler says more players may follow Owen Farrell's lead and take a break from international rugby.

 

Farrell announced he would miss the 2024 Six Nations to "prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing".

 

And Sinckler, who has 68 caps, has called for more support from the game's authorities to help players cope with the pressures of playing for England.

 

"If I'm being honest it's only the beginning," he told BBC 5 live.

 

"If you look at the workload the players go through, especially the international players... Guys have been in [World Cup] camp for five months, get a week's rest, and then come back in and are playing week-in and week-out.

 

"I wouldn't be surprised to be honest [if more players did the same]."

Wales centre George North has confirmed he will join French second division club Provence next season.

 

The 31-year-old is out of contract with Ospreys at the end of 2023-24.

 

Ospreys admitted they would struggle to keep the British & Irish Lion due to financial constraints.

 

North said: "I want to say how excited myself and my family are about joining Provence next season and I look forward to starting an amazing journey together."

 

Provence head coach, former Argentina prop Mauricio Reggiardo, earmarked North as his marquee signing as the club bids to reach the Top 14.

Referee Tom Foley will take a break from international rugby because of the "torrent of criticism and abuse" he received after the World Cup final.

 

The Briton was the television match official (TMO) for South Africa's victory over New Zealand in October.

 

New Zealand captain Sam Cane's yellow card for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel was upgraded to a red card following a TMO 'bunker' review.

 

Foley will continue to officiate in the Premiership.

 

"Having reached the pinnacle in officiating at the Rugby World Cup final, now feels the right time to take a break from the international game," said Foley.

 

"The pressure and scrutiny I came under after the Rugby World Cup final, along with a torrent of criticism and abuse online, has helped to reaffirm that this is the right decision for me at this point in my life.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter has called for more leadership from his senior players after their 41-24 defeat at Bath.

 

Exeter conceded 13 penalties as they conceded 29 second-half points and dropped to sixth in the Premiership.

 

"[scoring] 24 points away from home is pretty good, but there's just too many things that we're letting happen," Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.

 

"I'm not saying we're doing it deliberately and I'm not saying it's not happening because of pressure.

 

"The big thing I said to the players is we need to dig deep into the performances, to see if there's something more we need to be doing or something more we can guide you with, so that those penalties don't happen.

 

"But at the same time I'm sitting here going 'the first penalty of the game was Jack Yeandle, one of our senior payers, the yellow card is Stu Townsend, one of our senior players, a standing offside penalty was Jacques Vermeulen, one of our players'.

Northampton Saints centre Tommy Freeman believes their growing maturity will stand them in good stead in Europe.

 

Saints have lost their last 10 Champions Cup matches since reaching the quarter-finals in 2019-20.

 

They start a new campaign away to Glasgow Warriors on Friday after beating Saracens in the Premiership.

 

"If we put our game on the pitch and come out with energy and intent like that, we can put a lot of teams away," Freeman told BBC Radio Northampton.

 

"We've got the skills to do it. There was that immaturity previously with us, but if we can keep backing up our defensive performance (against Sarries) and bringing loads of energy, I think the results will come.

 

"Training's not going to change, we're going to go after all the same things and hopefully come out with some good results in Europe as well."

 

Saints lifted what was then called the Heineken Cup in 2000 but their most recent trophy success in Europe came in the Challenge Cup in 2013-14, when they beat Bath 30-16 in the final.

A Barbarians rugby player has admitted sexually assaulting three women in a Cardiff city centre bar.

 

Api Ratuniyarawa, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by penetration and one of sexual assault at Revolution between October 31 and 1 November.

 

The Fiji international was named in the Barbarians' squad to play against Wales at the Principality Stadium last month.

 

Ratuniyarawa, of The Orchard, Kislingbury, Northamptonshire, entered the pleas at Cardiff Crown Court.

Salford Red Devils have released winger Ken Sio on compassionate grounds after five years with the Super League club.

 

The 33-year-old joined the Red Devils from NRL side Newcastle Knights in 2018 and has gone on to score 78 tries in 104 appearances for the club.

 

Sio was part of the side that reached 2019's Grand Final and was twice named in the Super League Dream Team.

 

"It was difficult to hear that Ken will not be returning to Salford," head coach Paul Rowley said.

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell has given players "more confidence", says Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer.

 

The fly-half joined the Premiership side from Racing 92 after Scotland's exit from the Rugby World Cup.

 

Russell, 31, who is set to face Ulster on Saturday in Bath's return to the Investec Champions Cup, has helped his side rise to second in the Premiership.