Rugby
FILE - Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas speaks to her coach after winning the 500 meter freestyle during a meet with Harvard on Jan. 22, 2022, at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Bans on transgender women in international swimming and rugby this week opened the door for track and field to consider following suit in what could turn into a wave of policy changes in Olympic sports. The announcement Sunday, June 19, 2022, by swimming's governing body, FINA, was followed quickly by a show of support from World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who was in Hungary for the swimming world championships. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File)
Swimming's new transgender policy could impact other sports

By Eddie Pells Jun. 22, 2022 04:57 PM EDT

The 23 venues bidding to host World Cup matches in 2026

Jun. 15, 2022 02:07 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — A look at the 23 venues bidding to host soccer matches at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada: ___ ...

FILE - South Africa's RG Snyman takes a restart during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium between Wales and South Africa in Yokohama, Japan, Oct. 27, 2019. The United States has landed another World Cup. The Rugby World Cup, in 2031. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Column: US lands 2031 Rugby World Cup, if anyone cares

By Paul Newberry May. 13, 2022 04:12 PM EDT

Rugby Australia President David Codey speaks during a media event ahead of the final vote for the hosting of the Rugby World Cups in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, May 12, 2022. World Rugby will announce the host nations for the men's and women's World Cups for the period 2025-2033 with Australia heavily favored to host the men's 2027 and women's tournaments in 2029. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
US to host men's and women's Rugby World Cups for first time

By Steve Douglas May. 12, 2022 01:58 PM EDT

United States expected to be named host of Rugby World Cups

By Steve Douglas May. 11, 2022 07:12 AM EDT
With the full support of the White House, an American bid to stage the men's and women's Rugby World Cups is expected to receive the green light on Thursday as the...

Team Australia celebrate their win over New Zealand in the gold-medal match on the final day of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in Langford, British Columbia, Sunday, May 1, 2022. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press via AP)
Australia wins Langford title, clinches sevens world series

May. 01, 2022 10:02 PM EDT

FILE - The Russian national flag, right, flies after it is hoisted next to the Olympic flag during the closing ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Feb. 23, 2014. The International Olympic Committee has made a sweeping move to isolate and condemn Russia over the country’s invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
Russia facing sports isolation over invasion of Ukraine

By Graham Dunbar Feb. 28, 2022 06:57 AM EST

A soldier's helmet with a bullet hole near debris of burning military trucks, in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine's capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Poland, Sweden refuse to play Russia in World Cup playoffs

Feb. 26, 2022 11:43 AM EST

FILE - New Zealand All Blacks winger Charles Piutau runs down field during a rugby test match against Argentina in Christchurch, New Zealand, on July 17, 2015. World Rugby has relaxed its eligibility rules to allow players to switch countries as of January. The governing body made the announcement Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, in what it described as a “landmark" change. International players such as England's Billy and Mako Vunipola could represent Tonga, as could New Zealand's Charles Piutau, who won the last of his 17 caps in 2015, making him eligible to switch country allegiance next year. (AP Photo/SNPA, Ross Setford)
World Rugby to allow players to switch national teams

Nov. 24, 2021 02:44 PM EST

Spain's Mana Williams, left, is tackled by Mexico's Ricardo Ancira during an HSBC Canada Sevens quarterfinal rugby match in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
South Africa wins Edmonton Sevens and men's series title

Sep. 26, 2021 08:22 PM EDT

Canada's Alysha Corrigan, front left, passes the ball as Britain's Megan Jones grabs her during a women's HSBC Canada Sevens rugby match in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
South Africa close in on Series title at Edmonton Sevens

Sep. 25, 2021 09:21 PM EDT

United States' Martin Iosefo (12) vies for the ball against Canada's Andrew Coe, right, and Josiah Morra, back, during an HSBC Canada Sevens rugby game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
US, South Africa through to final 8 at Vancouver Sevens

Sep. 18, 2021 10:53 PM EDT

Britain's Aaron Phipps, right, moves the ball against Joshua Wheeler of the United States during the wheelchair rugby gold medal match at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Britain defeats US 54-49 for gold in wheelchair rugby

By Stephen Wade Aug. 29, 2021 07:16 AM EDT

Australia's Andrew Edmondson falls during a semifinal wheelchair rugby match against the United States at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Wheelchair rugby smashes stereotypes at the Paralympics

By Stephen Wade Aug. 28, 2021 08:55 AM EDT

United States' Erik Shoji reacts during the men's volleyball preliminary round pool B match between United States and Russian Olympic Committee at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
In Tokyo, social platforms help the Pandemic Olympics shine

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 05, 2021 03:16 AM EDT

Ilona Maher of the United States is tackled by Britain's Helena Rowland in their women's rugby sevens quarterfinal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Social media stars: A glance at Olympians who went big

By Syd Fryer Aug. 05, 2021 03:14 AM EDT

FILE - In this July 25, 2019, file photo, the synchronized swimming team of Cuba performs their routine during a training session at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru. Forget boxing or rugby. The most hardcore sport at the Tokyo Games may just be artistic swimming. The sport once known as synchronized swimming has rapidly evolved into one of the most physically grueling specialties at the Olympics. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File)
Brutal beauty: Is artistic swimming Tokyo's toughest sport?

By Kristen Gelineau Aug. 01, 2021 10:23 AM EDT

Wayde Van Niekerk, of South Africa, runs in a heat in the men's 400-meter run at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Back in Lane 8: Van Niekerk's struggle to reach the Olympics

By Gerald Imray Aug. 01, 2021 06:26 AM EDT

United States players jog out onto the pitch at the start of their women's rugby sevens 5-8 placing match against China at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Fijians, Kiwis celebrate multiple medals in Olympic rugby 7s

By John Pye Aug. 01, 2021 01:24 AM EDT

Fiji players huddle up at the start of their women's rugby sevens semifinal match against New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
New Zealand beats France to clinch gold in women's rugby 7s

By John Pye Jul. 30, 2021 11:48 PM EDT