Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
25 - 22
FT
35 - 15
FT
37 - 12
FT
47 - 17
FT
43 - 17
FT
18 - 19
FT
26 - 21
FT
17 - 18
FT
34 - 35
FT
24 - 17
FT
28 - 14
FT
0 - 24
FT
46 - 10
FT
17 - 17
FT
31 - 42
FT
21 - 34
FT
WOMENS
22 - 26
FT
24 - 26
FT
19 - 36
FT
34 - 29
FT
29 - 43
FT
28 - 24
FT
32 - 13
FT
29 - 28
FT
32 - 23
FT
59 - 7
FT
WOMENS
13 - 16
FT
23 - 31
FT
36 - 14
FT
41 - 17
FT
6 - 14
FT
31 - 24
FT
14 - 40
FT
WOMENS
19 - 36
FT
21 - 27
FT
Thursday
14:00
Friday
02:05
Friday
04:35
Friday
12:00
Friday
12:30
Friday
12:30
Friday
12:30
Friday
12:30
Friday
12:30
Friday
13:35
Friday
13:35
Friday
13:45
Friday
14:00
Friday
23:35
Gallagher PremiershipLyonWaspsLima Sopoaga

Former All Blacks playmaker Lima Sopoaga confirms move to Top 14 club Lyon

(Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks playmaker Lima Sopoaga will leave Premiership club Wasps to join Top 14 outfit Lyon at the end of the season, the English side announced on Tuesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to RMC Sport, the 30-year-old playmaker has signed a two-year deal with Lyon.

The deal comes after heavy speculation regarding Sopoaga’s future after he has been confined to just 52 appearances for the Coventry-based club since 2018.

Arriving at the Ricoh Arena following eight seasons with the Highlanders, where he won a Super Rugby title in 2015, the 17-test All Black was signed by Wasps as a like-for-like replacement for star playmaker Danny Cipriani, who left for Gloucester.

Video Spacer

Why John Kirwan believes Beauden Barrett should be benched by the All Blacks

Video Spacer

Why John Kirwan believes Beauden Barrett should be benched by the All Blacks

The marquee signing has since fallen down the club’s pecking order, however, as the likes of young English pivot Jacob Umaga and current academy player Charlie Atkinson have instead been preferred in recent times.

During his time at Wasps, Sopoaga has also featured prominently at fullback, a position he hadn’t played prior to moving to England, although he hasn’t featured in the club’s nine most recent matches.

Nevertheless, both Sopoaga and Wasps head coach Lee Blackett were graceful in their farewells in a statement posted on the club’s website.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to play for Wasps over the last three seasons,” Sopoaga said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I have made some great friends during my time at the club, and I will give my all for the rest of the season.”

Blackett added: “I would like to thank Lima for all his effort during his time at the club.

“We wish Lima, his children Milla, Isla and Salote, and his partner Miriam all the best for their future in France.”

Sopoaga heads to the Stade de Gerland to replace the retiring French playmaker Jonathan Wisniewski.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Gloucester swiftly recruit Christian Wade replacement

2

Two Ireland internationals among 8 players exiting Ulster

3

Newcastle seek legal advice over multiple player compensation claims

4

'It's really nice to see that diversity coming through'

5

Wales set to offer Steve Tandy head coach job

6

Ulster boss Richie Murphy levels accusation at Leinster after heavy loss

7

Bryan Habana: 'I don't think Louis is faster than me'

8

Eben Etzebeth and Sam Skinner clash off-field as they're sent off

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

Mark Tele'a's departure sends unsettling message to NZRU over wantaway All Blacks

A breakthrough player of the year in 2023, to suggest the Blues winger is past his best at 28 is a lazy narrative. He will be missed.

LONG READ

'Youngs has chosen to turn down Racing 92 and offers from Japan meaning Leicester will be both his beginning and his end.'

Youngs-has-chosen-to-turn-down-offers-from-Racing-92-and-Japan-meaning-Leicester-will-be-both-his-beginning-and-his-end

LONG READ

Leinster lions Van der Flier & Ringrose roaring loudly for overdue tours

Two inspirational Irish figures have yet to earn the Lions call, but are playing with points to prove.

Comments on RugbyPass

H
Head high tackle 23 minutes ago
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe comes out of retirement to play at RWC 2025

Agree but she played last thursday in the Blues v Tahs game and had announced this would be her last season. She does have a contract with WR as an ambassadore for the sport I believe.

27 Go to comments
Y
YeowNotEven 59 minutes ago
Wallabies-All Blacks is not the only option for an ANZAC day fixture

It should be Aussie Vs NZ day.

All SR games, and Black Ferns Vs Wallaroos.

Epic. May as well throw a Kiwis Vs Kangaroos game in as well.

8 Go to comments
P
PM 1 hour ago
Ulster boss Richie Murphy levels accusation at Leinster after heavy loss

I yield to your obviously superior knowledge of Irish rugby.

59 Go to comments
J
Jordon 1 hour ago
Wallabies-All Blacks is not the only option for an ANZAC day fixture

Honestly do people actually watch women’s rugby?

8 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 1 hour ago
Ulster boss Richie Murphy levels accusation at Leinster after heavy loss

Point stands, he was moved on when he was no longer valued as a priority by Leinster, just like Beirne, Jordi Murphy, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore and almost all the others you mentioned. Trying to say that Leinster have shipped real talent to Ulster, or anywhere else that has proven to deliver is frankly laughable. Even the one example that could have been quoted as rated talent when they left, Carberry to Munster, ended in abject failure.


Bottom line is this: the playing field across the provinces is far from level and arguing otherwise is both futile and laughable.

59 Go to comments
C
Cantab 1 hour ago
Wallaroos coach explains why Maddison Levi was left out of squad

Madison Levi was certainly a super star for the Aussie 7s and was consistently their go to player. No doubt could be valuable in 15s as well but depends on her injury situation and whether she even wants to transfer to a 15s role. Different skills are needed between both forms of the game.

1 Go to comments
R
RW 1 hour ago
Wallabies-All Blacks is not the only option for an ANZAC day fixture

Our Ladies need more tough meaningful fixtures like they do in the NH. This would be a good starting point.

8 Go to comments
C
Cantab 1 hour ago
Mark Tele'a's departure sends unsettling message to NZRU over wantaway All Blacks

Telea has been a fine player in the past but I feel he has made a good decision to now seek big $$$$ overseas whilst he retains some form. There is a plethora of excellent wingers around and he is comfortably replaced by these. He was not a major factor for the Blues against the Crusaders as conditions were against wingers shining anyway and both backlines were confined largely to defensive roles.

6 Go to comments
P
PM 1 hour ago
Ulster boss Richie Murphy levels accusation at Leinster after heavy loss

As I said in my previous post please try to keep up. Cooney left Leinster and went to Connacht for 3 years before he went to Ulster. He left Leinster 2 years before JGP joined them. Luke McGrath was the player who he lost his place to, not that he was ever a fixture in the team. How could you possibly lose 3 years? Very hard to take you seriously after that comment. Where is your source that the IRFU give more money to Leinster than the other Irish clubs? As to the non iq players Munster brought Snyman to Ireland and previously had players of the calibre of Doug Howlett and Christian Cullen on their books. I never complained about their spending power then as I was happy that an Irish team could recruit players of their stature.

59 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 1 hour ago
Ulster boss Richie Murphy levels accusation at Leinster after heavy loss

Yeah we’ll see how often Leinster are back at the RDS, possibly for games vs Dragons and the Italian teams but not too much more than that I suspect. As I asked you previously, what’s your source to assert that “the irfu at the moment fund each of the four clubs equally”, or is it just another unsubstantiated assertion? And if Cooney is your shining example of the Leinster academy supporting Ulster then you need to think again. He was only moved to Ulster when he was no longer first choice as JGP took the slot (same with Ireland) and he was unhappy as a result. As a result it very much suited Leinster to ship him up to Ulster and it was this same discontent that triggered Cooney’s failed attempts to switch allegiances to Scotland just before the World Cup last year. And as for signing 3 non IQ players (there’s a few ‘non iq’ players on here too…), which 3 do you think cost more; Leinster’s, Munster’s, Ulster’s or Connacht’s…?

59 Go to comments
A
Ardy 2 hours ago
Can Rugby Australia afford to go ‘all in’ on the Queensland Reds?

OMG, to think that all these sins of his trump free speech. I guess the millions who fought for it will agree with you.

58 Go to comments
C
Chiefs Mana 2 hours ago
Mark Tele'a's departure sends unsettling message to NZRU over wantaway All Blacks

Seems a strange take; very rare for a young player/debutant to be thrust into a fulltime, starting role for any international team if that’s what you refer to as the opposite of “babying”. The exception is obviously when there is a superstar coming through or depth issues in a certain position but history suggests it takes time to adjust to the difference in style and intensity. And whilst Talea had some great games early, he also had some indifferent ones.


NZR and the public would much rather have him than not but he’s made a sensible decision for himself at this stage of his career - if he was 25, it’d be a much different situation.


Emoni deserves a decent crack after multiple strong super seasons, Sevu whilst a brilliant super rugby player has been found wanting against some of the better teams in internationals but is obviously a very experienced operator. Razor obviously likes Fihaki who’s been blooded in camp so there’s 3 players ready to roll. Then Reiko can play wing, Will Jordan is already one of the best 14s in the world (i’m looking forward to his growth as an international fullback of course). That’s 5 players ready to go for June.


Then there’s 8 very good uncapped players who could put their hand up (be baby’d) in Talea’s absence: Tavatavanawai, Tangitau, Springer, Taumoefalau, AJ Lam, Carter, Naholo, Nanai-Seturo.


I imagine that’s why the public isn’t overly panicked about the situation. This is of course an opinion.

6 Go to comments
S
Scott Carlos 2 hours ago
Top 14-chasing Beziers sign Uruguayan Olympian

After four years, I thought my USDT, worth $59,000, was lost forever, but Ultimate Hacker Jerry helped me recover it. For this, I am immensely grateful. I contacted Jerry after making innumerable tries to get back in, and his knowledge was invaluable. He was committed to my case, professional, and quick to respond. I was able to get my money back because of his diligence, and I highly recommend his services. Jerry is the person you should trust if you find yourself in a similar circumstance.

2 Go to comments
G
Gus UK 2 hours ago
'Youngs has chosen to turn down Racing 92 and offers from Japan meaning Leicester will be both his beginning and his end.'

I taught Ben when he was in his primary school years. He was an ambitious and fun-loving boy with a massive talent and passion for all things rugby! Always with a smile on his face, his understanding and vision when playing rugby was exceptional. I was very lucky to have taught and coached this amazing man. Well done, Lenny - you are a legend!

3 Go to comments
L
Lawanna Nelson 2 hours ago
England rout Scotland to set up Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam decider

After months of meticulous research, I cautiously invested $188,000 into a binary options platform that promised steady returns. At the time, I lived in California, where I’d worked tirelessly to build my life and savings. I monitored my account for weeks, reassured by the platform’s professional interface and seemingly legitimate operations. Encouraged by initial gains, I grew optimistic until the day I attempted my first withdrawal. The transaction stalled, and panic surged as I realized my funds were trapped. I immediately contacted customer support via every channel listed: emails went unanswered, calls rang endlessly, and live chat options mysteriously vanished. Days turned into weeks, my anxiety deepening with each ignored plea. Then, an unsettling email arrived: to “unlock” withdrawals, I was told to deposit an additional $50,000. The demand felt predatory, a glaring red flag. Refusing to comply, I confronted the grim truth—I’d been ensnared in an elaborate scam. The aftermath was crushing. Nights were sleepless, my mind racing with regret and anger. I replayed every decision, tormented by the loss of hard-earned savings meant to secure my family’s future. Friends urged me to accept the loss, but resignation felt like surrender.

Months later, while scouring online forums for solutions, I stumbled upon a thread praising Tech Cyber Force Recovery. Skeptical yet desperate, I devoured countless testimonials stories mirroring my own, with endings I scarcely dared to believe. With trembling resolve, I reached out. Their team responded within hours, radiating empathy. They requested transaction records, communication logs, and platform details, guiding me through each step. Though doubts lingered, their transparency contrasted with the shadowy operators who’d stolen my trust. Then, the impossible happened: 32 hours later, I received confirmation that my $188,000 had been recovered. Tears of relief blurred my screen as I verified the funds in my account. Tech Cyber Force Recovery hadn’t just restored my savings, they’d restored my faith in justice. This ordeal taught me harsh lessons about vigilance in the digital age. Yet it also revealed the power of resilience and the critical importance of seeking help. To anyone trapped in the nightmare of financial fraud, I urge you: act swiftly, document everything, and trust in experts like Tech Cyber Force Recovery. They are beacons of hope in an increasingly complex world, turning despair into redemption when it matters most.

visit they teams

WhatsApp +.1.5.6.1.7.2.6.3.6.9.7

1 Go to comments
P
PM 3 hours ago
Ulster boss Richie Murphy levels accusation at Leinster after heavy loss

Leinster will play the majority of their games at the RDS. Cooney is Ulsters scrum half and top points scorer for the last few seasons. Leinster signed 3 non Irish qualified players as all the Irish clubs can. The IRFU at the moment fund each of the 4 clubs equally but from next year will favour Munster, Connacht and Ulster. Do try to keep up.

59 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
Tele'a should now be surplus to requirements for the All Blacks

It’s an interesting example, a play of that sort of.. caliber, to only coming through and into pro rugby at the age of 23 (his “wait” to become an AB pretty normal for a star, at 2 years, 1 of which was COVID), the question became whether he would also be able to play till an older age.


It doesn’t look good. First it appears that Razor has that new age cooperate mentality and has chosen to prioritize the contracts of his favourites at the Crusaders, Reece, rather than any potential long term prospects of Tele’a playing at the next RWC. There is zero chance of Reece lasting that long, as a one dimensional winger already near the age of 30 (with recent news he ousted MacDonald because he wanted Reece selected over Tele’a). Now we’re hearing that a utility at the Crusaders, one ranked bottom of the pile in stats this year, is going to be included in his squad in Mark’s place.


I think it really is just another instance of recent examples how NZR are mismanaging players, on recent player movement/contracts I can only assume he wasn’t offered the normal rate, and that’s why he’s had to take this contract overseas. The unknown at the moment is how money in hand is being valued inside NZR with the current world financial environment.

27 Go to comments
W
Willardi 3 hours ago
Bryan Habana: 'I don't think Louis is faster than me'

Few wings are special. Kolbe is one of them Habana is not. Being quick doesn’t exemplify a player. Kolbe does so much BH cannot do.

5 Go to comments
W
Willardi 3 hours ago
Eben Etzebeth and Sam Skinner clash off-field as they're sent off

Sam who?

2 Go to comments
M
Michael Marnewick 3 hours ago
Mark Tele'a's departure sends unsettling message to NZRU over wantaway All Blacks

You have to make hay while the sun shines. Telea feels like a player that was hampered by the changes Covid brough to international competitions as well. He’s good enough to play aginst the likes of Kolbe and Arendse week in, week out, but unforunately the changes that stemmed from all the panic was a guy who (then would’ve been in his prime years for wing) to wait and hope that he’d get a chance to be selected.


I think they’ll look to Reece/Narawa and Clark to go with some consistency rather than aiming to find a new breakout star. Just one man’s opinion.

6 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'Youngs has chosen to turn down Racing 92 and offers from Japan meaning Leicester will be both his beginning and his end.' 'Youngs has chosen to turn down Racing 92 and offers from Japan meaning Leicester will be both his beginning and his end.'
Search