In Memoriam: Scott Hastings (1964-2026)
IN MEMORIAM: Scott Hastings (1964-2026)
The rugby world lost one of Scotland's most beloved players and broadcasters last week. Scott Hastings, 65-cap Scotland centre and two-time British and Irish Lion, passed away peacefully on Sunday May 17 after a brave battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, surrounded by family on what would have been his late wife Jenny's birthday. A member of Scotland's famous 1990 Grand Slam-winning side, Scott built a second career as a broadcaster whose passion for the game never dimmed. Inducted into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame just last October, his acceptance speech was by all accounts extraordinary. A true legend.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Even though Scott's career as a player is legendary, it is the impact he made on everyone he met as a person that truly defines what a remarkable man he was. I had the privilege of getting to know him as he helped with the promotion of the Scottish rugby-themed movie Play On. Scott was always friendly, humble, funny, and kind. He made everyone he met feel like he had known them all of his life, and he was always truly curious. It is all of these amazing traits that set him apart. He was a great player, but more so as a person. A very sad loss for his family, all who knew him, and for rugby. We can only hope that his example will provide the blueprint for how today's players should manage themselves on and off the field. Scott Hastings was a true mensch!
Weekend Results
Bordeaux 41 – 19 Leinster
Investec Champions Cup Final, Bilbao. A demolition job. Bordeaux 35-7 at half-time. Back-to-back champions.
Montpellier 59 – 26 Ulster
EPCR Challenge Cup Final, Bilbao. A comprehensive French victory. Ulster's dream of first European silverware in 27 years ended in the Basque heat.
Crusaders 36 – 32 Chiefs
Super Rugby Pacific R15. Havili's 76th-minute try. One of the matches of the season. Crusaders remain unbeaten at Te Kaha.
Hurricanes 45 – 28 Highlanders
Super Rugby Pacific R15. Hurricanes seal top spot for the regular season. Graham Henry in the house.
Brumbies 21 – 14 Waratahs
Super Rugby Pacific R15. Derby win secures Brumbies' finals spot.
Reds 33 – 31 Moana Pasifika
Super Rugby Pacific R15. Jock Campbell try in the 79th minute. Heartbreaking for Moana in their final season.
Western Force 19 – 15 Fijian Drua
Super Rugby Pacific R15. Force too late. Playoffs officially out of reach despite the win.
Sungoliath 40 – 35 BlackRams Tokyo
Japan League One Quarterfinal. Kolbe vs Perenara. A five-point thriller. BlackRams came back from three scores down to within a score before Sungoliath held on in the 94th minute.
Kubota Spears 26 – 3 Brave Lupus
Japan League One Quarterfinal. Marx and Foley dominant. Defending champions eliminated. Mo'unga's season is over.
Bordeaux Retain the Champions Cup: A New World Order?
Bordeaux 41-19 Leinster, San Mames Stadium, Bilbao. This was not a contest. It was a masterclass. Bordeaux-Begles became the first side in EPCR history to win back-to-back titles unbeaten, completing 16 games across two seasons without defeat. The scoreline reads 41-19 but the match was decided in the first half, when Bordeaux ran in five tries to lead 35-7 at the break. Leinster's Tommy O'Brien scored early to give Irish fans brief hope, but what followed was a devastating exhibition of counter-attacking rugby.
Captain and scrumhalf Maxime Lucu sniped over for a try and added the boot throughout, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored twice to end the tournament with nine tries to his name and claim player of the tournament for the second year in a row. Pablo Uberti and Yoram Moefana also crossed in a first half that had commentators reaching for superlatives. Second half tries from Joe McCarthy and Garry Ringrose made the scoreline more respectable for Leinster, but there was never a moment of jeopardy. Leinster have now lost five Champions Cup finals since their last title in 2018, appearing in their ninth final overall with four titles.
LIPPY'S VIEW
What a demolition job. This is a changing of the world order in rugby. Winning rugby is about taking time and space from the opposition, and Bordeaux did both to Leinster. They manhandled them physically and exposed them tactically. To think that this Bordeaux juggernaut is fighting for a playoff spot in the Top 14 makes this achievement even more extraordinary.
Challenge Cup Final: Montpellier Crush Ulster
Montpellier 59-26 Ulster, San Mames Stadium, Bilbao. Ulster's dream of claiming their first European trophy since the 1999 Heineken Cup was extinguished emphatically on Friday night, with Montpellier running out comfortable winners. The sweltering Bilbao heat appeared to affect the Irish province more than their opponents, and by the time Ulster rallied to any effect, the game had long since been decided. It completed a French sweep of the European finals weekend, with both the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup heading to France.
LIPPY'S VIEW
With Montpellier sitting in second place in the Top 14, arguably the toughest rugby league in the world, one can see how dangerous France are going to be leading up to next year's World Cup. They are oozing with world-class players, but the one thing that stands out now is the suffocating defense that all of the French teams are playing. Together with their amazing attacking flair, they now have the ability to shut teams down, a combination that bodes well for their World Cup aspirations.
Ireland on the other hand have significant challenges. Their veterans look tired, and they do not seem to have the depth in key positions that they will need to provide any true challenge next year. When you look at the depth at flyhalf of countries like France, South Africa, and New Zealand, the Irish do not have that world-beater a team needs to succeed at that level.
Super Rugby Pacific: Match of the Season
Crusaders 36-32 Chiefs, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch. If this is what playoffs rugby looks like, bring it on. The Crusaders and Chiefs produced one of the matches of the Super Rugby Pacific season in a tit-for-tat battle across all 80 minutes at a sold-out Te Kaha. The Chiefs entered the game having already secured a home qualifying final, carrying eight straight wins worth of momentum. The Crusaders needed the win to secure their playoff position and remain unbeaten at their new home.
David Havili was the hero, executing a brilliant 50-22 from well inside his own 22 that flipped field position, then diving over for the winning try in the 76th minute from a late offload by Leicester Fainga'anuku. Taha Kemara landed the conversion for a four-point lead. The Chiefs launched one final attacking sequence swinging the ball wide, but the Crusaders scrambled, forced the turnover, and Fainga'anuku kicked the ball into touch to seal it. Josh Jacomb kicked 25 points for the Chiefs in defeat.
LIPPY'S VIEW
An amazing battle. The Crusaders won it, but they should not be underestimated going into the playoffs. The heart, work rate and desire they are showing are reflective of the champion mindset they have in their DNA. One of the best matches of the season in Super Rugby.
Hurricanes 45-28 Highlanders: The Hurricanes sealed top spot on the regular season table with a comfortable win, but the story here was the presence of All Blacks legend Graham Henry watching from the stands.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Even with the season squared away, the presence of Graham Henry created a different urgency and every player seemed to be playing to ensure they were putting their best foot forward. Josh Moorby was particularly impressive and is putting his hand up strongly for All Blacks consideration.
Reds 33-31 Moana Pasifika: In what is becoming a familiar and heartbreaking story for Moana Pasifika, Jock Campbell scored in the 79th minute to deny them an upset victory over a top-six team. The Pacific franchise, which folds after this season, has come agonisingly close to beating genuine playoff contenders on multiple occasions but been denied each time by late drama.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Heartbreaking to see Moana lose in the 79th minute. It would have been great to see them take a scalp of a top-six team in their final season. They have competed with real pride.
Super Rugby Pacific: Standings After Round 15
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PD | B | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hurricanes | 13 | 11 | 0 | 2 | +297 | 11 | 55 |
| 2 | Chiefs | 13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | +165 | 6 | 46 |
| 3 | Blues | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | +69 | 6 | 38 |
| 4 | Crusaders | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | +67 | 8 | 36 |
| 5 | Brumbies | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | +31 | 5 | 33 |
| 6 | Reds | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | -43 | 4 | 32 |
| 7 | Waratahs | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | -43 | 7 | 27 |
| 8 | Western Force | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | -31 | 2 | 26 |
| 9 | Highlanders | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | -97 | 4 | 24 |
| 10 | Fijian Drua | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | -122 | 1 | 21 |
| 11 | Moana Pasifika | 13 | 1 | 0 | 12 | -293 | 1 | 5 |
Top 6 qualify for playoffs. Hurricanes confirm first place. One round remaining.
Japan Rugby League One: Playoff Quarterfinals
The Japan Rugby League One playoffs produced the drama they promised, with two quarterfinals delivering everything that made the regular season so compelling. The tournament now moves to the semifinals at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo, with the final on June 7 at MUFG Stadium.
Sungoliath 40-35 BlackRams Tokyo: A Thriller
This was the game everyone in Japan wanted to see. Fourth-placed Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, led by Cheslin Kolbe, against fifth-placed Ricoh BlackRams Tokyo and their inspirational captain TJ Perenara in the BlackRams' historic first-ever playoff appearance. Kolbe scored for Sungoliath and Perenara scored twice for the BlackRams, who staged a remarkable comeback from three scores down to within a single score with 12 minutes remaining. Sungoliath took the lead for the first time at the 75-minute mark only for the BlackRams to score a full-length-of-the-field try in the 84th minute to cut it to five. Sungoliath held on in the 94th minute to advance.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Kolbe versus Perenara. Two of the great entertainers in the game on the same pitch. The BlackRams came back from three scores down to within three points with 12 minutes to go in an extraordinary second half. Sungoliath took the first lead at the 75th minute, but the BlackRams scored a full-length try in the 84th minute in a finish that had everyone on their feet. Sungoliath go through, but this was a performance from the BlackRams that showed just how far this club has come.
Kubota Spears 26-3 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Third-placed Kubota Spears, featuring South African hooker Malcolm Marx and Australian veteran Bernard Foley, took on defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Richie Mo'unga in a rematch of last season's final. The result was emphatic: Kubota Spears 26-3. Kubota advance to the semifinals.
LIPPY'S VIEW
Malcolm Marx and Bernard Foley on one side; Richie Mo'unga on the other. Mo'unga was on the losing team, bringing an end to the defending champions' title defence. The Kubota Spears were dominant and advance convincingly, with Marx and Foley looking like genuine contenders for the title.
The semifinals are set for May 30-31 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo: Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Sungoliath (May 30) and Saitama Wild Knights vs Kubota Spears (May 31). The final is June 7 at MUFG Stadium.
Around the Grounds: What the Pundits Are Saying
Jim Hamilton (The Rugby Pod) on a URC-Premiership Merger: Hamilton made waves this week claiming a merger between the URC and the English Premiership is not a matter of if but when. "There's a large majority of influential people that want a merge between the Prem and the URC without the South African teams," he said, adding that private equity firm CVC, which holds significant stakes in both competitions, was the decisive force. Former England flyhalf Andy Goode, also on the show, pointed to CVC's patience being finite: investors who have held stakes across both competitions and the Six Nations will eventually push for consolidation. Hamilton predicts the South African teams would exit and compete in a Champions Cup format instead. This directly intersects with the SA Rugby story below.
South Africa Weighing a Champions Cup Exit: SA Rugby President Mark Alexander confirmed at the governing body's annual meeting in Cape Town on May 14 that a formal review of tournament participation will take place over the coming months. The core issue is player welfare: South African Springboks now play virtually 12 months a year, combining a September-to-June URC season with an extended international calendar. No South African franchise progressed beyond the Champions Cup round of 16 this season. A decision on their future in the competition is expected in July. Mark Alexander later tempered the comments, stressing no final decision has been made and that participation generates important income. The conversation however is live, and Hamilton's merger prediction above and this story are clearly connected.
Georgia Rugby Doping Scandal: World Rugby last week concluded what it described as the most extensive anti-doping investigation ever undertaken in the sport, sanctioning six Georgian players, a team doctor, and the Georgia Rugby Union itself for involvement in a urine-sample substitution scheme in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The 11-year ban went to former Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze, the longest ban handed down in the investigation. The investigation uncovered a systematic attempt to cheat anti-doping controls at the highest level. For a rugby nation that has built its reputation on physical power and competitive integrity, this is a devastating blow and a stark reminder that the sport is not immune from the doping scandals that have plagued athletics and cycling.
Eddie Jones Banned Six Weeks: Japan head coach Eddie Jones has been handed a six-week ban and salary reduction by the Japanese Rugby Football Union after making inappropriate remarks to local match officials during a U23 tour of Australia in April. Jones accepted the decision and apologised. The ban runs from April 24 to June 5, meaning he will miss Japan's Nations Championship opener against Italy in Tokyo on July 4 only if he serves the full term. For a coach who has had his share of controversy throughout his career, this is the latest episode in a story that continues to make headlines wherever Jones goes.
Looking Ahead
Super Rugby Pacific Round 16, the final regular season round, takes place next weekend. Notably, all four top-ranked sides meet each other: Hurricanes (1st) host Crusaders (4th), and Chiefs (2nd) host Blues (3rd). Home advantage and final seeding positions are still to be settled across the top four.
In the URC, the quarterfinals are approaching with the top eight now confirmed. The South African franchises, the Irish provinces, and the leading Scottish sides will all feature. With Glasgow Warriors and Leinster in the mix after their contrasting recent form, home-advantage seeding will be keenly contested across the quarterfinal draws.
In the English Premiership, the race for the fourth and final playoff spot remains live heading into the final rounds. Exeter, Bristol and Saracens are separated by a handful of points. The fixtures closing out the Premiership regular season will determine who joins Northampton, Bath and Leicester in the top four.
Japan Rugby League One semifinals take place May 30-31 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo: Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Sungoliath (May 30) and Saitama Wild Knights vs Kubota Spears (May 31). The final is June 7 at MUFG Stadium.