Ireland 34-5 Georgia: Tommy O’Brien is quick to take charge for Ireland

Georgia ................ 5pts Try: Jalagonia 45 Ireland.............. 34pts Tries: T O’Brien 2, 8; Casey 41, Timoney 70 Conversions: Prendergast 3, 9,...

Japan 24-19 Wales: Woeful Welsh are humiliated one more time

Japan .....................24pts Tries: Matsunaga 15, Nakasusu 58, Vaikea 70 Conversions: Lee 15, 58, 70 Penalty: Lee 63 Wales ......................19pts Tries: B...

Nick Cain: Jack Willis deserves to be part of this British and Irish Lions party

It is one of the biggest travesties in this sport that Jack Willis could be destined to never pull on a...

Nick Cain: Owen Farrell’s British and Irish Lions call-up shouldn’t cause discord

The furore surrounding Owen Farrell being brought into the Lions squad as a replacement for Elliott Daly has stirred the nepotism...

New Zealand 31-27 France: All Blacks forced to work by French

New Zealand ....... 31pts Tries: Jordan 20, 47; Vaa’i 27, Barrett 40 Conversions: Barrett 21, 27, 41, 48 Penalty: Barrett 74...

Scotland 29-26 NZ Māori: Scots hold on to deny brave Māori

NZ Maori ...........26pts Tries: Nock 1, Walker-Leawere 31, Eklund 56, Wrampling 62 Conversions: Reihana 32, 57; Trask 63 Scotland ...........29pts Tries:...

South Africa 42-24 Italy: Italians make Springboks sweat

South Africa were made to work hard for this first Test triumph as Italy delivered a much improved second half performance...

Chris Hewett: Elite will have no time for Los Pumas

Phil Kearns never played a game of Test rugby against the British and Irish Lions: a stranger-than-fiction fact that bears repeating....

Let’s hope AUNZ Invitational XV have some bite against British and Irish Lions

The best Lions itineraries are precision instruments, their component parts pieced together with meticulous attention to detail. There should be an...

Paul Rees: Andy Farrell set to make the big calls for British and Irish Lions

Paul Rees says the head coach's decision to select his son Owen is controversial - but could help the cause  As...

U20s World Championship: Late Australia tries prove too much for Scotland

Scotland .......... 24pts Tries: Douglas 13, Duncan 22, 62; Findlay 45 Conversions: Urwin 46, Coates 63 Australia .......... 34pts Tries: Martens...

U20s World Championship: Baby Boks comeback sees England in trouble

England ...............22pts Tries: Weimann 8, Treacey 12, Bracken 33 Conversions: Bellamy 9, Coen 12 Penalty: Coen 38 South Africa ......32pts Tries:...

Spain push Argentina all the way

POOL B ■By TOM RILEY Argentina .........33pts Tries: Penalty 24, Otano 50, 59; Coll 55; Galvan 65 Conversions: Senillosa 56, 60,...

France take their time to put moves together

POOL B ■By BEN JAYCOCK Wales .................21pts Tries: Scott 9, Bowen 14, Woods 17 Conversions: Wilde 9, 15, 18 France................35pts Tries:...

Ireland miss chance to get past Italians

POOL C ■ By SAM JACKSON Italy ....................18pts Tries: Casartelli 12, Gritti 59 Conversion: Todaro 60 Penalties: Todaro 36, 72 Ireland...............16pts...

New Zealand get off to a flier

POOL C ■By TOM RILEY New Zealand ...38pts Tries: Saunoa 15, 21; Treacy 24, Oudenryn 33, Vakasiuola 39, Kunawave 46 Conversions:...

U20s World Championship: Kepu Tuipulotu – We know the Aussies will be right up for it

We have had quite the journey here in Italy so far, with plenty to reflect on as we gear up for...

Wingers to the fore for England

Round-up ■ By BEN JAYCOCK Racing home: Jack Bracken scoring for England against Scotland PICTURE: World Rugby ENGLAND began their U20s World...

Brendan Gallagher: Here’s hoping for a bit of Brumbies drama for the British and Irish Lions

The undercard, those matches away from the Test series, is usually very thin and underwhelming on a Lions tour of Australia...

Brendan Gallagher: Jack Willis makes the best of his chances in France

Has there ever been a better or impressive redemption story than Jack Willis? Two career-threatening ACL injuries, made redundant by Wasps...

Sale Sharks’ Best Premiership XV: Jason Robinson leads a Shark attack

What would be the greatest all-time XV your club could field if you could travel back in time and select everybody...

Make it enjoyable so players come

Coach to coach Steve Hill puts the questions to Sam Goatley, below, head coach at Newent RFC What is your playing...

Toby Saysell bows out after hitting his century at Richmond

After signing off with 100 appearances at Richmond, Toby Saysell is excited to be one of the fans next season. In...

Dream Team – Ben Cooper

Ben Cooper, the Bury St Edmunds player-coach and former London Welsh, Cambridge and Bedford Blues prop, chooses the best XV he...

Peter Jackson: Dark day for Wales in land of rising sun

For more than an hour on Saturday in a land renowned for its courtesy, Japan overdid the welcome bit to such...

Holmes knows what it is like to miss out

AS Europe’s supreme scrum-half of his generation, Terry Holmes had earned the right to emulate the greatest of them all as...

Ramos deserves place at the top

THE question has been asked down the decades whenever and wherever the game’s best place-kickers have been discussed: pick one to...

Bordeaux & Saints are set for Cup rematch

NEWS EXTRA EUROPEAN champions Bordeaux-Begles and last season’s finalists Northampton have been drawn in Pool 4 for the 2025-26 Champions Cup....

I was very proud to be given a testimonial

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE NOW-RETIRED CAMBRIDGE & BEDFORD BLUES WINGER PAT TAPLEY Speedster: Pat Tapley leading the way for Bedford PICTURE:...

Jeff Probyn: Once again, Andy Farrell puts his son first

It seems this trip to Australia may be a prelude to the beginning of the end for the Lions in their...

Young Guns – Sam Winters

Sam Winters is on a mission to break into the Bath senior squad and earn a spot in next year’s U20...

Exeter Chiefs decide to go Down Under as they begin their rebuilding exercise

Paul Rees continues his summer series reviewing the Premiership season, with the focus this week on Exeter Chiefs Exeter quickly became...

2025/26 National League fixtures

All fixtures start at 3pm unless specified ... Continue reading... Access all our premium content from as little as 14p per...

French Column: Mystery surronds Uzair Cassiem’s future

One-time Scarlets and Springbok back row Uzair Cassiem is at the centre of a transfer storm in France. The 35-year-old knew...

Ma’a Nonu, 43, shows no sign of stopping

In other surprising – but rather more straightforward – contract news from France, it seems 43-year-old Ma’a Nonu is ready to...

Saints move for van der Mescht

NORTHAMPTON Saints have signed South African Juan John ‘JJ’ van der Mescht Gardens from Stade Francais. The 26-year-old made 75 appearances...

Women’s World Cup: I’m here to learn, says Lilli Ives Campion

Lilli Ives Campion is just 21 years old but she knows that the opportunity to play at World Cup on home...

Five-try England are quick to get off the mark

ENGLAND got their U20s Six Nations campaign off to a fine start with a 31-17 victory over Scotland. Flanker Joia Bennett...

Becoming an England centurion just ‘another day at the office’ for George Ford

George Ford is not one for excessive sentiment so even the occasion of his 100th cap for England is just ‘another day...

Andy Farrell wants end to social media ‘nonsense’ after son Owen’s Lions call

Andy Farrell has urged British and Irish Lions fans to get behind his son Owen’s shock call-up to Australia in the...

Argentina vs England Preview: Steve Borthwick says Los Pumas are ‘expected’ to beat England

Steve Borthwick has urged the new faces in his England team to prove they deserve a place at the World Cup...

Charlie Elliott: Best head-to-head matchups of the weekend

With plenty of international games on the agenda this weekend, there is set to be a good mix of household names...

Weekend Talking Points: Huwipulotu get chance for British and Irish Lions

This weekend represents a real start to the summer international calendar, with countless tours set to begin. There will also be...

England U20s vs South Africa: Jonny Weimann – We need to tire out their big pack

Northampton Saints scrum-half Jonny Weimann is set to start alongside his familiar partner Ben Coen for the second straight game at...

Clarity the key for England in U20s World Championship title defence says Ben Coen

As England U20 prepare to face South Africa in their second pool match of the World Rugby U20 Championship, Ben Coen...

It’s not something I’ve thought much about – Gregor Townsend on Scotland future

Gregor Townsend declined to be drawn into discussions about his long-term future as Scotland head coach. The 52-year-old has been in...

Owen Farrell called into the British and Irish Lions squad to replace the injured Elliot Daly

Owen Farrell is to join the British and Irish Lions‘ tour of Australia after receiving a shock call-up to replace the...

Greasy ball will test Wales in Japanese heat – Matt Sherratt

Matt Sherratt says he is more concerned by the prospect of a greasy match ball than the sweltering conditions facing Wales...

Josh Macleod returning from injury ‘massive’ for Wales – Matt Sherratt

Wales boss Matt Sherratt has hailed the return of Josh Macleod as “massive” after selecting the Scarlets flanker for their Test...

Leading the British and Irish Lions: Will Carling Reflects on Pressure, Pride & Performance

Will Carling OBE is one of the most iconic figures in English rugby history. Appointed England captain at just 22, he...