Rugby

1:26 PM GMT Coach Gregor Townsend says Scotland must build on the potential they have shown in recent Six Nations championships as they seek a first title success since 1999, but face one of their biggest challenges first up in the form of old rival England. Scotland will host the fixture at Murrayfield on Feb.

7:43 AM GMT George Ford and Elliot Daly have been called up to the England squad as a replacement for the injured pair of Owen Farrell and Jonny May, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed on Monday. In-form Leicester Tigers flyhalf Ford, 28, has started all 12 of Tigers’ Premiership games and is the league’s

1:08 PM GMT France scrum-half Antoine Dupont on Monday was named the British Rugby Union Writers’ Club’s personality of the year for 2021. Dupont, the World Rugby Player of the Year, succeeds Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter as winner of the Pat Marshall Memorial Award following an outstanding 12 months for the national team

9:45 PM GMT Australia’s rugby sevens women have finally been toppled after 15 successive match wins and two tournament triumphs in the World Series. The team, who’d been so dominant with back-to-back triumphs in Dubai at the end of last year, had their unbeaten run sensationally ended in Sunday’s semifinal of the Spain Sevens in

12:12 PM GMT England captain Owen Farrell suffered an injury in training earlier this week, his club Saracens said on Friday, making him a doubt for England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on Feb. 5. The fly-half was named captain of the England squad by head coach Eddie Jones on Tuesday, despite not having played

2:31 PM GMT Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has named five uncapped players in Scotland’s 39-man squad for the 2022 Six Nations, as well as including centre Cameron Redpath just days after his first appearance in seven months. Redpath had a memorable debut in Scotland’s win at Twickenham last season and is in line for a

10:45 AM GMT Owen Farrell has retained his England captaincy for the 2022 Six Nations while George Ford, Elliot Day, Sam Underhill and Mako and Billy Vunipola miss out on the squad. Manu Tuilagi was also not named in the 36-man squad announced by coach Eddie Jones on Tuesday but he is expected to join

12:57 PM GMT Fly-half Dan Biggar will captain a Wales squad at the 2022 Six Nations that includes three uncapped players and has a host of experienced names missing through injury as coach Wayne Pivac’s side look to retain the title they won last year. Hooker Dewi Lake has been called up for the first

10:19 AM GMT Sale Sharks have confirmed they have suspended one of their players after they were arrested on suspicion of rape. The player has since been released on bail. The player, who has played for England, was arrested on Sunday morning. “Sale Sharks have been made aware of an allegation against one of its

5:05 PM GMT The 2025 Rugby League World Cup will take place in France, the French Rugby League federation confirmed on Friday. French prime minister Jean Castex will hold a full launch of the event on Jan. 11 in Paris. The tournament will be the 17th edition, and returns to France, where the first World

2:55 PM GMT England trio Owen Farrell, Jamie George and Manu Tuilagi are expected to be fit for selection for the Six Nations which starts on Feb. 5. Both Farrell and George were injured in England’s 32-15 win over Australia on Nov. 13, with the fly-half requiring surgery on his ankle. Tuilagi was forced off

3:34 PM GMT Premiership Rugby leaders Leicester Tigers have confirmed an investigation by the league into allegations of historical breaches of salary cap rules. The Times reported on Tuesday that the league’s salary cap director Andrew Rodgers is investigating a third-party company called Worldwide Image Management over payments made to Leicester players from the company.

1:56 PM GMT All Round 2 matches between U.K. and French sides have been postponed hours after Ospreys vs. Racing 92 was called off due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases in the Welsh squad. European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) awarded Racing 92 a 28-0 victory and five match points, in accordance with competition

10:22 AM GMT England will host the All Blacks at Twickenham in November 2022 as part of a four-Test programme which includes world champions South Africa. Eddie Jones’ England last played the All Blacks in the semifinal of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. It proved to be one of England’s greatest ever performances as they

12:05 AM GMT Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will replace Grant Fox as New Zealand’s independent selector after the July series against Ireland, the All Blacks said on Tuesday. Fox will step down after a decade in the role under former boss Steve Hansen and current coach Ian Foster. New Zealander Schmidt will work with

2:07 PM GMT Connor O’Halloran Former England full-back Danielle Waterman has announced the launch of the Women’s Rugby Association (WRA) on Monday, a new player’s union to represent the top-flight of women’s rugby Premier 15s. The Rugby Players Association represents all professional players in England, but only women who are under contract with the Red

1:33 PM GMT France scrum-half Antoine Dupont has been named World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year, it was announced on Friday, beating out Australia’s Michael Hooper and Samu Kerevi, as well as England’s Mauro Itoje, to the award. The 25-year-old enjoyed a stunning year, notably completing a superb European Champions Cup and Top 14

11:50 AM GMT England captain Zoe Aldcroft has been named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, the governing body announced on Friday, after playing a crucial role in helping the Red Roses to a spectacular 18 consecutive Test wins. Aldcroft is the fourth English player to win the award after Michaela Staniford in 2012,