Rugby

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Australia prop James Slipper and winger Dylan Pietsch were ruled out of the second Rugby Championship test against South Africa in a double blow to the Wallabies' hopes on Sunday.

CORDOBA, Argentina (AP) — Winger Sevu Reece scored two first half tries and hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho added two in the second to propel New Zealand to a 41-24 win over Argentina Saturday in its opening match in the Rugby Championship.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Australia toppled South Africa at Ellis Park for the first time in 62 years with a sensational 38-22 comeback win from 22-0 down in the Rugby Championship opener on Saturday.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Hooker Julian Montoya will captain Argentina in his 109th test on Saturday when the Pumas play New Zealand in the home side's first test in Cordoba in 11 years.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Lock Scott Barrett will return from injury to captain the All Blacks in their opening Rugby Championship match on Saturday against Argentina at Córdoba.

BRISTOL, England (AP) — Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit signed with Bristol Bears on Thursday in a resumption of his rugby career after an 18-month spell in American football.

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — The top official in Welsh rugby is stepping away to undergo treatment after being diagnosed with cancer. Abi Tierney, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, will leave her role temporarily on Aug.

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Red Bull's sporting portfolio now includes a top-flight English rugby union team after the energy drinks giant took full ownership of Newcastle Falcons on Tuesday.

BELFAST — Florence Symonds scored two first-half tries and Canada survived an uneven second half to dispatch Ireland 47-26 Saturday in its final warm-up match before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in England later this month.

The Tragically Hip is doing its bit to help support the Canadian women's rugby team ahead of this month's World Cup in England.