WORLD

Gatland’s offer to resign is rejected by WRU

17 March 2024 0 comments

Wales head coach Warren Gatland offered his resignation to Abi Tierney, chief executive of the WRU, after seeing his side crash to Italy in their […]

Italy wins ignite the Six Nations

17 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The game-changing force of last weekend’s Six Nations tales of the unexpected cannot be exaggerated. The fourth […]

England A need to face ‘real’ Portugal

17 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN Portugal face multiple champions Georgia in the Rugby Europe final at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris today, and the team that they […]

Band of brothers grab the glory

17 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK France………………………….31pts Tries: Ferte 12, Gourgues 24, Carbonneau 26, Castro 45 Conversions: Reus 13, 25, 27, 46 Penalties: Reus 56 England……………………… 45pts Tries: […]

We need to make most of this team

17 March 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN The England U20s won their first Six Nations title since 2021 with a tremendous second-half effort in which they scored 33 points to […]

Double for Sheahan but Ireland miss out on claiming third title in a row

17 March 2024 0 comments

By NICK JACOBS Ireland…………………………… 36pts Tries: McLaughlin 19, O’Connell 59, Sheahan 70, 80+2; Edogbo 76 Conversions: Murphy 21, 71, 77, 83 Penalties: Murphy 49 Scotland […]

Wales keep discipline to take feisty encounter

17 March 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Wales……………..27pts Tries: Thomas 46, Beddall 59, Stone 67, Young 71 Conversions: Ford 60, 68 Penalties: Ford 76 Italy……………….. 15pts Tries: Gallorini 15, […]

Aussies battling to keep Petaia

17 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Australian utility back Jordan Petaia is being chased by the country’s leading rugby league clubs. Reds flyer Petaia is out of contract […]

We must not take road to Hulkism

17 March 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Message from receptionist to doctor: “We have an invisible man in the waiting room.” Doctor to receptionist: “Tell him I can’t […]

We need to push on, says Easson

17 March 2024 0 comments

Women’s Six Nations team-by-team previews: Scotland Scotland head coach Bryan Easson wants his side to make a statement in the Six Nations after his side […]

Red Roses in mood to make it six titles in a row

17 March 2024 0 comments

Women’s Six Nations team-by-team previews: England Marlie Packer leads the England side aiming to make it six titles in a row. The Saracens skipper will […]

Riffonneau’s going large as France seek first title in six years

17 March 2024 0 comments

Women’s Six Nations team-by-team previews: France France are looking to topple England for the first time since their 2018 Grand Slam as they aim to […]

Cunningham puts faith in experience to support youth

17 March 2024 0 comments

Women’s Six Nations team-by-team previews: Wales Hannah Jones will lead a Wales squad full of experience with some exciting new young players who have impressed […]

Bemand aims for World Cup spot

17 March 2024 0 comments

Women’s Six Nations team-by-team previews: Ireland Ireland are aiming to qualify for the World Cup with a good finish in the Six Nations after finishing […]

Giordano leads from front

17 March 2024 0 comments

Women’s Six Nations team-by-team previews: Italy Back rower Elisa Giordano captains the Azurre and will win her 66th cap against England on Sunday. The experience […]

All the pressure’s on us – Cockerill

17 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Georgia vs Portugal Today. Kick-off 8pm, Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris Eddie Jones has coached three national teams, South Africa have won two […]

George the Great takes his final bow

17 March 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW On a Tuesday afternoon at Anfield in the late autumn of 1993, All Black No.878 made a […]

Lucky? No, that was pure skill

17 March 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER THE sainted Antoine Dupont might be on a sabbatical but France enjoyed […]

Nightmare just gets worse for Crusaders

17 March 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Panic has set in for the Crusaders with the seven-time defending champions suffering their worst ever start to […]

Now that’s what I call a performance, England

17 March 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME OKAY, I was wrong in my prediction a couple of weeks ago with Ireland failing to […]

Saitama make it a perfect 10 against Steelers

17 March 2024 0 comments

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Saitama Wild Knights underscored their status as title favourites with an impressive 28-18 win over Kobe Steelers. Robbie […]

Haskell: Time for England to prove a point against France

15 March 2024 0 comments

James Haskell has challenged England to prove their performance against Ireland was more than just a one-off. Victory over Grand Slam-chasing Ireland brought the feel-good […]

Galthié “in denial” over France’s problems – Mermoz

15 March 2024 0 comments

Maxime Mermoz has slammed Fabien Galthié’s coaching of the French national team, and believes the problems they have experienced in this season’s Six Nations were […]

Super Rugby Americas week four review

15 March 2024 0 comments

By JOE SANTAMARIA Round Four of the Super Rugby Americas season began with a tantalising all-Argentinian clash on Friday night, as Dogos condemned Pampas to […]

England & Saracens full-back Elliot Daly

Daly recalled for Le Crunch with Roots and Tuilagi among substitutes

14 March 2024 0 comments

Preview: France vs England (Saturday, 8pm) England have recalled wing Elliot Daly for their final Six Nations match against France, with Ethan Roots and Manu […]

Unchanged Ireland host Scotland in Dublin decider

14 March 2024 0 comments

Preview: Ireland vs Scotland (Saturday, 4:45pm) Ireland have named an unchanged team as they host Scotland looking to secure back-to-back titles for only the second time in the Six […]

Series 3, Episode 29: Maxime Mermoz previews final round and shares bold views on France

14 March 2024 0 comments

It is time to look ahead to Six Nations super Saturday! The best Saturday of the year is upon us, and with three tantalising contests […]

North announces retirement to end 13-year international career

13 March 2024 0 comments

George North has announced that this Saturday’s match against Italy will be his last for Wales. North, 31, has made 121 appearances for his country […]

Joseph third player confirmed by Barbarian F.C. for Killik Cup encounter

13 March 2024 0 comments

Jonathan Joseph will pull on the famous black and white hooped jersey of Barbarian F.C. for the first time in his career this summer, the […]

Wales vs France Player Ratings

11 March 2024 0 comments

Wales slumped to a 24-45 loss to France on Sunday to set up a wooden spoon decider against Italy this weekend. Despite France’s vulnerabilities, Warren […]

Things fell apart for Wales – Gatland

10 March 2024 0 comments

Warren Gatland felt his side collapsed in the second half on their way to recording a heavy defeat to France. Speaking immediately after the game, […]

French fightback leaves Wales winless heading into final round

10 March 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS Wales……………………………………………….24 Tries: Dyer 9, Williams 25, Roberts 43 Conversions: Costelow 10, 26, 45 Penalties: Costelow 2 France……………………………………………..45 Tries: Fickou 22, Le Garrec […]

One of the greatest days ever – George

10 March 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Twickenham Jamie George last night admitted that derailing Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes was one of the greatest days of his career […]

Watkin’s ready to stake his claim

10 March 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE Owen Watkin plays week in, week out with George North but today he gets his big chance to stake a claim to […]

Redshaw ready to lead from the front

10 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Ben Redshaw trained with England during last year’s World Cup before he had made his Newcastle debut, already marked out as a […]

Smith’s drop of magic revives England

10 March 2024 0 comments

From NICK CAIN at Twickenham England………………………… 23pts Tries: Lawrence 4, Furbank 48, Earl 60 Conversions: Smith 61 Penalties: Ford 17 Drop goals: Smith 80 Ireland…………………………. […]

Borthwick gets his big selections right

10 March 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES Seldom can a victory plundered with the last kick of the match have been so richly deserved. England, so haphazard and error-riddled in […]

Sticking with Furbank shows England’s attacking intention

10 March 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER I’M tempted to call it bums on seats rugby…. except 82,000 fans at Twickenham and millions back home or down the pub couldn’t […]

We gave away far too many penalties -Townsend

10 March 2024 0 comments

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend lamented his side’s collapse in Rome and warned similar indiscipline will spell another defeat by Ireland on the final day of […]

Scotland stunned by Italian fightback

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Italy……………………………….31pts Tries: Brex 15, Lynagh 44, Varney 57 Conversions: P Garbisi 16, 59 Penalties: P Garbisi 2, 35, 73, Page-Relo 39 Scotland […]

For me, this was their finest Six Nations win

10 March 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Could have beaten England. Should have beaten France, finally did the business against Scotland. Italy took the major scalp that this particular group […]

Gatland on a mission to avoid whitewash

10 March 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Wales v France Today. Kick-off 3pm, Principality Stadium WALES are on their worst run in the Six Nations since the year […]

Play with tempo and Wales could steal it

10 March 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WALES are rebuilding, and most people accept that. There are usually ups and downs with every international team, […]

Ireland deny England title in a thriller

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK England U20………………. 32pts Tries: Carnduff 3, Spencer 55, James 68, Waghorn 76 Conversions: Kerr 4, 69, 78 Penalties: Kerr 11, 35 Ireland […]

Wales slump to third defeat as France power proves too much

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales U20 ……..12pts Tries: Morse 23, Page 62 Conversions: Price 62 France U20 …… 45pts Tries: Mousques 9, Karaba 31, Aouad 35, […]

Italy go on a second-half rampage to floor Scots

10 March 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Italy U20 ………. 47pts Tries: Gritti 7, 50; Gasperini 55, 59; Belloni 62, Scalabrin 77, De Villiers 80 Conversions: Pucciarello 8, 51, […]

McNicholl goes home

10 March 2024 0 comments

Wales back Johnny McNicholl has rejoined Crusaders for the remainder of the season after leaving Scarlets to return to New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, who has […]

Battling U20s still have a lot to learn

10 March 2024 0 comments

England U20s entertaining 32-32 draw with Ireland in Bath on Friday night was pure curate’s egg. The good part was that they had the scrummaging […]

En garde, England

10 March 2024 0 comments

World rugby’s absurd international residency qualification of just three years should put the RFU on its guard that England will not be facing some of […]