Rugby

Feb 16, 2023 Wales head coach Warren Gatland says he is confident the Six Nations clash with England next week will go ahead despite the threat of a Welsh players’ strike over salary cuts. The build-up to the game has been overshadowed by tension between the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) and the Welsh Rugby Players

11:16 AM GMT Players contracted to England’s women’s rugby team will be entitled to fully paid maternity leave for 26 weeks as part of a new policy announced by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) on Thursday. Players who are called up within 12 months of giving birth or adopting a

8:47 AM GMT England women’s rugby coach Simon Middleton, who is leaving his post after this year’s Six Nations, has said there needs to be “female influence” on the Red Roses coaching staff. Middleton has won five Six Nations titles with England but will leave his position as head coach after the conclusion of the

11:04 AM GMT After two rounds of fixtures there are just two unbeaten teams left in this year’s Six Nations. Ireland’s remarkable 32-19 win over France keeps their Grand Slam hopes alive, while Scotland then hammered Wales 35-7 in Murrayfield. On Sunday, Steve Borthwick got his first win as England coach as they dispatched Italy

Feb 7, 2023 Scotland fly-half Finn Russell was at his creative best in a crushing 35-7 bonus-point win over Wales in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday, a record victory in the contest. It was also the first time since 1996 that Scotland had won their opening two Six Nations matches. Hooker George Turner,

Feb 7, 2023 Ireland underlined their status as the world’s number one team as they overwhelmed defending champions France 32-19 on Saturday in a fantastic Six Nations match that absolutely lived up to its billing, delivering wonderful tries and relentless quality. It was the first time in Five and Six Nations history that the world’s

Feb 8, 2023 After a blockbuster opening weekend, Six Nations returns for its second round of fixtures this weekend. Winners of their curtain-raisers, Ireland and holders France go toe-to-toe at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin in what could prove to be a deciding match-up in the tournament. After their opening day defeat to Andy Farrell’s Ireland,

4:18 PM GMT Wales second row Alun Wyn Jones will be available to face Scotland in the Six Nations tie at Murrayfield on Saturday, despite coach Warren Gatland having ruled him out after the 34-10 loss to Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday. Gatland told reporters Jones had failed a head injury assessment, which would see

11:23 AM GMT Steve Borthwick’s overhaul of England’s coaching team has continued with the announcement that Richard Wigglesworth and Aled Walters will join at the end of the season, while forwards coach Richard Cockerill said on Tuesday he will join Montpellier after the Six Nations. Wigglesworth is interim head coach of Leicester Tigers but will

8:06 PM GMT England have called up Henry Arundell and centre Henry Slade for the Six Nations clash with Italy on Sunday at Twickenham after both have struggled with injuries. Both players were included in England coach Steve Borthwick’s 36-player squad announced on Monday. Winger Cadan Murley was also left out, having not made the

Feb 6, 2023 It was a weekend where Ireland and Scotland got their Six Nations off to a perfect start with wins over Wales and England respectively. Both defeated teams were beginning their new era under fresh leadership — Warren Gatland back with Wales and Steve Borthwick taking charge of England. And on Sunday, Grand

2:00 PM GMT England women’s rugby head coach Simon Middleton will leave his post after this year’s Six Nations campaign, it was announced on Monday. Middleton masterminded England’s record-breaking 30 match-winning run and guided the team to two World Cup finals in 2017 and 2022. He’s also won five Six Nations titles, including four Grand

Feb 6, 2023 England coach Steve Borthwick said the team “weren’t good at anything” when he took over from Eddie Jones and that they would have to improve in several departments after losing their Six Nations opener to Scotland on Saturday. Borthwick, who was appointed in December after Jones was sacked, saw his side beaten

8:27 PM GMT LONDON — Twickenham is again painted blue, and there’s no room for asterisks. In front of a packed stadium, Scotland were patient and pounced when England looked vulnerable. England, in Steve Borthwick’s first match, were in the contest right to the end but ultimately, Scotland had more familiarity, experience and the cutting

4:00 PM GMT Rugby’s Six Nations Championship returns this weekend for the 2023 tournament, with some faces old and new leading the teams. Steve Borthwick faces his first match in charge of England following Eddie Jones’ departure after the Autumn Nations Cup last year, with Scotland the visitors to Twickenham for this year’s Calcutta Cup

3:38 PM GMT Owen Farrell and Joe Marchant will fill England’s midfield with Marcus Smith at flyhalf in their Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday as Manu Tuilagi was omitted from the matchday squad announced by Steve Borthwick on Thursday. When fit, Tuilagi has been one of the first names on the team sheet

2:14 PM GMT Johnny Sexton has recovered from a facial injury and will captain Ireland from fly-half but prop Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of their Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday. Furlong has not played since December after ankle, hamstring and calf injuries, but had hoped to be fit to

11:41 AM GMT Becky Thompson Editor’s note: This story contains discussions of suicidal ideation. In July of 2022, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the game’s governing body in England, voted to ban transgender women from playing women’s contact rugby, and trans player Julie Curtiss is leading the opposition to fight the decision. The RFU’s reasoning