Latest news with #GeorgeFord
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
England rugby stars marched off pitch after lightning strikes vs USA.. with match already delayed by hour due to storms
ENGLAND stars were marched off the pitch during the rugby union clash against the USA due to lightning strikes. The Red Roses were playing their first match in the States in 24 years as part of the Americas tour on Saturday. Advertisement 3 England's players were forced off the pitch during the clash against the US Credit: AP 3 A weather alert was shown to the crowd Credit: Getty 3 The match suffered delays due to thunderstorms Credit: Getty The match was taking place at Audi Field stadium in Washington DC and had been delayed by an hour due to the adverse weather. The lightning also caused another 40-minute delay during the first half of the match. England Rugby confirmed that the players had to be taken off the field due to more lightning strikes around the stadium A statement read: "Due to lightning strikes in the vicinity of Audi Field in Washington DC, players have been removed from the field of play." Advertisement READ MORE ON SPORT The incident follows on from delays to matches at the Club World Cup, which was held across the US. Fans in the ground were made away of the delay as a statement was displayed on the big screen. It read: "There is inclement weather in the area. "The match has been temporarily delayed. Please exit the seating bowl. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union Breaking Breaking Exclusive JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "Seek shelter in the concourse and follow instructions from stadium staff." Clashes between In total, SIX games suffered delays to the action because of the threat caused by thunderstorms. Advertisement The horrid weather was not able to dampen England's spirits as they cruised to a 40-5 win against the Eagles. Before the delay in the first half, a depleted England team went 14-0 up despite having two tries ruled out. Gabriel Oghre scored England's sixth try of the game as captain George Ford made four conversions. Advertisement The US did score a late consolation try through hooker Shilo Klein. Ford admitted that the conditions did not help his team but was proud of their effort. He said: "The conditions were difficult but it was a good group effort and a huge experience for the new players." The result sees England stretch their winning run to seven matches under Borthwick. Advertisement
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
England outclass USA in dominant win amid lightning delays in Washington DC
On a perfectly unlovely summer's day in Washington DC, amid lasering sunshine, lowering clouds, debilitating humidity and lengthy lightning delays, Steve Borthwick's Lions-light England sweated to a six-try win over the US Eagles. Borthwick expressed satisfaction, telling reporters his men did well 'in the challenging conditions, two lightning breaks, so the game lasted effectively a long time. There's a scenario that none of us had faced before. We wanted a short half-time to deal with that but it wasn't possible, but that's six new caps in today.' The tourists didn't produce high art – hard when you wait an hour to kick-off because of lightning, then have to play through a kind of atmospheric soup. But their mostly young Premiership professionals generally performed with precision beyond opponents employed by US clubs, except centre Dominic Besag, who has a year left in college. The first try took 10 minutes to come. There was a spell of American pressure but the home fly-half, Chris Hilsenbeck, was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on and England made use of their own kicks to the corner and driving mauls, hooker Curtis Langdon touching down, captain George Ford converting. Try two came soon after from another US error, Tom Pittman coughing up possession on his own line before opposing centre Luke Northmore trotted over. Ford converted again. Shortly before the first water break, the US drove to the England line but were held up. Shortly before the half-hour, England No 8 Alex Dombrandt appeared to have scored from another driving maul, only to be denied for obstruction. And then … lightning struck, again, and the teams followed protocol, again, and jogged their way off the field. Fans jogged after them, to jammed concourse bars. When it was safe to come back out, the players had to warm up again. Senate vote-a-ramas have flown by faster. Senators sometimes have to be found in the bars of Capitol Hill. Here, a fair few fans failed to come back at all. Play resumed with the Eagles under the cosh. One maul steal by England flanker Chandler Cunningham-South led to what appeared to be a try for Joe Carpenter, the debutant full-back, until video found a knock-on. There was no problem with the wing Caden Murley's finish for the third, snappishly directed by Ford. His conversion went wide and that, finally, was the half, 19-0 to England. England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet scooted over shortly after the restart. Ford converted. It took a while for the fifth try to arrive, but it did, through a break by wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and support from Harry Randall, the substitute scrum-half. Ford converted for 33-0. Gabriel Oghre, debutant replacement hooker, scored from a maul and another bench new boy, Charlie Atkinson, converted. The game ended with consolation for the Eagles, flanker Christian Poidevin (son of Australia great Simon) running smart from a lineout to put Shilo Klein, the replacement hooker, over the line at last. The conversion was wide, the game was done. With World Cups on US soil in 2031 (men) and 2033 (women), World Rugby could do with a more competitive product. Nonetheless, executives say they are in for the long haul. Before Saturday's DC doubleheader, which did feature a compelling contest between the US women and Fiji, chief executive Alan Gilpin told reporters 'about $275m is earmarked right now over the next five-six years' for investment in the US. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion That money will go into 'everything from community rugby building with USA Rugby … through to social, digital, building around the matches that we bring here,' Gilpin said. 'It's not just about putting one-off matches in Washington or Chicago. It's about building those audiences.' At Audi Field, the attendance was given as 15,198 for the women's game, a US record, and 19,079 for the men, representing total tickets scanned. On the concourse, unscientific polling revealed that among the usual colourful riot of fans from all corners of the American game – high schools, colleges, clubs, LGBTQ+, older fans – not all had come solely to see Ilona Maher. But she was a major draw for sure. Against Fiji, the social media star who was this week named ESPYs Breakthrough Athlete of the Year generated roars each time she ran from outside centre. Against battling, skilful opponents, her Eagles started strongly but found themselves holding on to win, 31-24. Maher made the tackle that killed the last Fijian attack. The crowd loved it.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Lightning disrupts England's electric display over USA
England secured a comprehensive 40-5 victory over the United States in Washington DC, concluding their summer tour unbeaten. The match at Audi Field experienced two lengthy delays due to lightning, causing an hour-long initial delay and a 40-minute mid-game stoppage. England scored six tries through Curtis Langdon, Luke Northmore, Cadan Murley, Jack van Poortvliet, Harry Randall, and Gabriel Oghre. George Ford contributed four conversions, with debutant Charlie Atkinson adding one, in a dominant display. The United States scored a consolation try in the final seconds through Shilo Klein, but have never beaten England in eight attempts.
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
George Ford proud of his side as England complete tour clean sweep
Captain George Ford said he was proud of his young England colleagues after they completed a clean sweep of victories on their summer tour. A much-changed England side shrugged off two lengthy delays caused by lightning to beat the United States 40-5 in Washington DC on the back of a 2-0 series win in Argentina. Curtis Langdon, Luke Northmore, Cadan Murley, Jack van Poortvliet, Harry Randall and Gabriel Oghre, one of six debutants, grabbed England's six tries with Ford landing four conversions with one from another new face, Charlie Atkinson. 'The boys have been unbelievable all tour. They deserve that tonight,' said Ford, who won his 102nd cap. 'It is a proud moment for the families, so we will celebrate. That's all from DC 🫡 #USAvENG — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 20, 2025 'There has been a lot of hard work and the conditions were difficult tonight. 'We have won all three games, we have had six new caps, I am proud of the effort of everyone.' After kick-off at Audi Field was delayed due to an electrical storm in the American capital, England seized control when the Eagles were reduced to 14 by a deliberate knock-on from outside-half Chris Hilsenbeck. Langdon was the beneficiary of a driving line-out for the first score and then new boy Max Ojomoh slipped in fellow centre Northmore for a simple score under the posts. Alex Dombrandt and debutant Jack Carpenter had scores ruled out on either side of a 40-minute delay for lightning before Murley raced over in the final play of the first half. Van Poortvliet, showing his sound positional sense, went over straight after the restart and England were camped in the Americans' 22 for most of the second period. The hosts held out until Immanuel Feyi-Waboso sliced through to send the supporting Randall over and Bristol hooker Oghre burst out of a maul to score as England turned to the bench. The US were finally on the scoreboard in the final seconds as a well-worked ploy at the front of a line-out saw Chris Poidevin put Shilo Klein over for a consolation score. 'It is a big challenge, but the boys stayed on it,' said home captain Benjamin Bonasso. 'We trusted the process and got a try at the end of the game. 'We have got to keep going. Facing this type of speed and conditions always makes you better.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
England storm past USA after long lightning delays to conclude summer tour in style
England shrugged off two lengthy delays caused by lightning in Washington DC to end their summer tour with a comprehensive 40-5 victory over the United States. After beating Argentina 2-0 in South America, the third game of England's tour at Audi Field kicked off an hour late due to an electrical storm in the American capital. Play was then halted near the half-hour mark, with both sets of players spending 40 minutes in the dressing room before the action resumed. England eventually ran out comfortable winners with six tries shared by Curtis Langdon, Luke Northmore, Cadan Murley, Jack van Poortvliet, Harry Randall and Gabriel Oghre. George Ford added four conversions and debutant Charlie Atkinson one in a dominant display in which Harlequins flanker Chandler Cunningham-South was outstanding. The US had never beaten England in seven previous attempts, but began on the front foot and engineered some promising field positions. But the Eagles were reduced to 14 by a deliberate knock-on from outside-half Chris Hilsenbeck and England took instant advantage of their extra numbers with an 11th-minute try. Ford kicked to the corner and Langdon was the beneficiary of a driving line-out that the fly-half, winning his 102nd cap, converted. England soon worked another opening and new boy Max Ojomoh slipped in fellow centre Northmore for a simple score with Ford again adding the extras. Alex Dombrandt thought he had extended the lead from the back of a maul, but his effort was ruled out for obstruction and the players were then taken off the field after 29 minutes due to further lightning concerns. When they returned, lightning – this time in the metaphorical sense – struck twice for England as full-back Jack Carpenter was denied a debut try by a Murley knock-on. But England's patience was rewarded in the final play of the first half as Murley spotted a gap to race over. Van Poortvliet, showing his sound positional sense, went over straight after the restart for Ford to convert, and England were camped in the Americans' 22 for most of the second period. The hosts held out until Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, making his first full international appearance after six months out with a shoulder injury and a two-match ban for a high tackle that saw him miss the Argentina games, sliced through. The Exeter wing showed fine awareness to send Randall over, and Ford's final act before making way for Atkinson was to add another two points. England turned heavily to their bench in the final quarter, but there was no easing off and Bristol hooker Oghre celebrated his first cap with a burst to the line that Atkinson added to. The US were finally on the scoreboard in the final seconds as a well-worked ploy at the front of a line-out saw Chris Poidevin put Shilo Klein over for a consolation score.
