France claimed the Six Nations with last gasp Thomas Ramos penalty
We’re underway
Officials tonight.
Continue reading...Townsend endures familiar script with Ireland’s green energy overpowering Scotland | Luke McLaughlin
Slips at key moments proved costly with Andy Farrell’s team able to easily maintain a stranglehold on this fixture
There were some Ireland fans who even said they would not begrudge Scotland victory, the triple crown, and, potentially, a first Six Nations title. There was a sense Gregor Townsend’s side had earned their day in the sun, somehow, especially after the glorious fourth-round triumph against France. And this Ireland team have certainly had their share of vitamin D against Scotland.
Ireland’s players, it soon became clear, did not see it that way. They were visibly keen to remind Scotland that no one is owed anything in elite sport. This was meant to be a transitional season for them, but the quality of this performance penned a depressingly familiar script from a Scottish perspective.
Continue reading...Wales 31-17 Italy: Six Nations 2026 rugby union – as it happened
Wales finished their Six Nations campaign on a high by ending a 15-match losing streak in the competition
Garbisi boots us underway
Officials today:
Continue reading...England need to use their eyes and leave gameplan behind to overturn odds in Paris | Ugo Monye
Steve Borthwick must throw off the shackles in Paris to inject some attacking energy into his far-too predictable side
The inquest into England’s Six Nations campaign has already started and when that is the case before the championship has even finished it is never a good sign. Everyone has their own opinions on what is wrong and I’m sure that is the same within the squad too. When you are on runs like England are, different players come up with different reasons for their problems and different fixes – and that makes the situation all the more difficult.
If there is one thing holding England back it is their gameplan. I don’t say that as a reaction to these three defeats, I felt that they stagnated during the autumn and tightened things up despite chalking up four victories. The best illustration I can give is the 2024 tournament. England had lost to Scotland, went to York in the fallow week, contrived to throw off the shackles in attack and it paid immediate dividends.
Continue reading...Process is progress as Scotland seek Six Nations title eliminator triumph
After 11 straight defeats against Ireland, victory in Dublin would vindicate Gregor Townsend’s faith in his players
Trusting the process. It sounds like a fine idea in principle: although it really depends if your process was any good in the first place.
Gregor Townsend faced down a familiar cacophony of criticism after Scotland’s opening defeat by Italy last month. The same old shortcomings had been exposed, it was said, and another year of disappointment beckoned. Townsend had insisted the embarrassing capitulation against Argentina in November, from 21-0 ahead, was a “line in the sand moment” – only to see that line swiftly washed away in the sheeting Roman rain.
Continue reading...Desperation and destiny on the line when Wales and Italy collide in Cardiff
Two sides on different recent trajectories meet with Steve Tandy finding cause for optimism despite another wooden spoon looming
Which is the sharper motivator, the avoidance of fresh humiliation or the attainment of new heights? Cardiff could be the place this weekend for any students of psychology more interested in such nuances than anything so obvious as an actual attempt to win the title.
Suffice to say, neither Wales nor Italy can win the Six Nations this weekend, nor exert any influence on its outcome. It is mathematically possible for Wales to knock England into last place for the first time in the extended championship’s history, but students of mathematics needn’t bother. For the record, Wales would need to win with a bonus point and, in concert with France, who play England, cover their current deficit of 100 in points difference.
Continue reading...Fans storm field as South Sydney veteran Alex Johnston breaks NRL try-scoring record
Wild celebrations during game despite threat of fines
Winger scores 213th try of his career against Roosters
Thousands of fans have stormed onto the field at Allianz Stadium to celebrate South Sydney veteran Alex Johnston breaking the NRL’s try-scoring record.
The winger entered the history books when a break down the left edge put him over for his 213th career try, and his second in Friday’s clash with bitter rivals Sydney Roosters.
Continue reading...‘That day changed my life’: when Italy beat England in rugby league
Italy have finally beaten England at rugby union. Their rugby league team did it at the first attempt
In a bar at the Valle d’Aosta ski resort last Saturday evening, there were only two people celebrating when Tommaso Menoncello raced away to seal Italy’s first win against England in rugby union, at the 33rd attempt. One of them was on the field the day Italy beat England at rugby league. Not that Gioele Celerino told the England fans who surrounded him and his pal, offering congratulations on Italy’s historic triumph. “I was too humble!” he jokes. “In the pub, everyone came over to me and the other guy and said ‘congratulations’ like we had just finished playing!”
Celerino was part of the team that beat England in a warm-up match before the World Cup in October 2013. Steve McNamara’s star-studded England side – Kevin Sinfield, Rob Burrow, Sam Tomkins et all – were stunned by an Italy team drawn from Australia, France, Argentina and England, coached by Carlo Napolitano, the son of Salford restaurateurs.
Continue reading...Sports quiz of the week: world records, wrong turns and wild scenes
Have you followed the big stories in football, winter sports, cricket, rugby, horse racing, athletics, basketball and F1?
Continue reading...Townsend plays down talk of historic first Six Nations title for Scotland
Scotland take on Ireland in mix for championship
‘It would be great to finish with a win and on a high’
Gregor Townsend refused to indulge in talk of a first Six Nations title for Scotland as he outlined the scale of the task still facing his side in their quest to make history.
The Scots go into Super Saturday as one of three teams in the mix for the championship, alongside table-topping France and opponents Ireland. In short, Scotland must collect more match points in Dublin in the first game of the day than Les Bleus manage against England in the late kick-off in Paris. If both lose, Ireland could also win the title.
Continue reading...Borthwick should trust Marcus Smith to unshackle England’s faltering attack | Gerard Meagher
The Harlequins fly-half will win his 50th cap against France but it still appears the head coach lacks faith in him
When Steve Borthwick is summoned to Twickenham to explain what will be England’s worst Six Nations campaign should they lose to France on Saturday, to effectively fight for his job, he would be well advised to give the Rugby Football Union’s strategic plan another read.
Released in January, the RFU made clear Borthwick’s aim “is not only to consistently win senior international competitions, but to do so in a way that inspires future generations”. He has failed on both counts but it is the second charge – that England have been thoroughly uninspiring – he must sufficiently answer if he is remain in place for next year’s World Cup.
Continue reading...Codebreakers: rugby players who shift between union, league and sevens
Male and female players are increasingly willing and able to switch codes, with some even playing all three
Charlotte Caslick epitomises the term code agnostic. The 31-year-old has clocked up 328 appearances for Australia in rugby sevens, winning Olympic gold, Commonwealth gold and a Sevens World Cup along the way; she’s played rugby union for her state and country; and rugby league in the world’s biggest women’s club competition in any code, the NRLW. So, why is she – and so many other players from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific – good enough to switch between codes – and why do they want to?
“It probably comes down to the way we grow up,” says Caslick. “We play so many different sports all year round, changing between them. Boys will play school rugby on Saturday then club rugby league on Sunday for as long as they can. More girls are starting to do that as well. Throw in touch or oztag, and we have so many opportunities. It challenges athletes to find where they are best suited. Until you get exposed to different formats, you don’t know which one is for you.”
Continue reading...Steve Borthwick’s England selection has the whiff of damage limitation | Robert Kitson
Unadventurous team will need to improve significantly on multiple fronts if they are to poop France’s potential title party in Paris
So let’s rewind for a moment. Just four weeks ago England had beaten Wales 48-7 in round one and were looking towards Scotland with a collective glint in their eyes. “The message to the players is: go out, move the ball, play fast, play brave,” Steve Borthwick said after announcing a pretty settled side for Murrayfield. “It suits the team we have.”
And now? Not unlike the Ashes cricket series in Australia this winter, the team sheet for the final game of an already torpedoed campaign is a case of too little too late. Similarly to the cult of Bazball, the bell is tolling for the Borthball era. Even if the head coach remains in post, it is inconceivable that England’s tactical approach can remain unchanged.
Continue reading...The Breakdown | Itoje’s and Smith’s on-field spat sums up England’s startling identity crisis
Steve Borthwick’s captain is normally cool under pressure, but rare outburst points to a much bigger problem
Martin Johnson, England’s World-Cup winning skipper, believes there is no huge mystery to being a great captain. “If you haven’t got a good team it doesn’t matter how good a captain you are,” he said on the Rugby Legends podcast before the start of this year’s Six Nations. And if anyone is qualified to provide such a definitive judgment it is unquestionably him.
To suggest that calm, sure-footed leadership is irrelevant in top-level sport, however, is another matter. Even the greatest sides need decisive, intelligent direction, regardless of who supplies it. The other imperative is to have everyone pulling in the same direction. Shared responsibility and collective ownership are everything, particularly in rugby where the all-for-one, one-for-all ethos is fundamental.
Continue reading...England handed tough Six Nations 2027 opener with Friday night trip to Dublin
Evening start will be first time for 12 years for England
Ireland also host ‘Super Saturday’ finale against France
England will begin their Six Nations campaign on a Friday for the first time in 12 years in 2027 after they were handed an opening night trip to Dublin to face Ireland by tournament organisers.
Ireland will also host the final match of next year’s “Super Saturday” with organisers pitching Andy Farrell’s side against France in the 8.10pm kick-off. Ireland and France have won the last four editions of the Six Nations between them and both are in the hunt, along with Scotland, for the title this year with one round remaining.
Continue reading...