Category: Rugby

Rugby News

Posted on

Vibrant Six Nations leaves Andy Farrell with tricky decisions on Lions selection

England finished strong while Ireland appear to be fading, but the head coach must avoid an over-reliance on recency bias

The streets of Cardiff on Saturday night made the last days of the Roman empire look positively sedate. There were almost as many puddles of sick outside the Queens Vaults pub as England had scored tries inside the Principality Stadium, the glossy veneer of “Super Saturday” replaced by the dejected, what-just-happened stagger home. Truth be told, the pissed-up paying public weren’t looking too flash either.

What a deeply sobering weekend to be a player in red. To lose 68-14 against anyone at Test level is a nightmare; to do so under the roof at home against England is full-on zombie apocalypse stuff. An Aussie dollar or two, then, for Andy Farrell’s thoughts as he left the ground pondering his options for the British & Irish Lions series against the Wallabies this year. As things stand, representatives from Wales will be hard pressed to fill a phone box.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Farrell looks likely to overlook England coaches for his British Lions staff

  • Borthwick said backroom team not been approached
  • Coaches set to miss out for second straight Lions tour

Andy Farrell looks likely to overlook England’s assistants when selecting his British & Irish Lions coaching staff, with Steve Borthwick revealing he has not been approached about members of the backroom team.

After England rounded off their Six Nations campaign with a record win against Wales to ensure a second-placed finish, Borthwick stated that he wanted as many of his players selected for the Lions tour as possible when Farrell names his squad on 8 May.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Pollock cameo captures air of optimism around buoyant England

Borthwick says Northampton youngster ‘just comes on and wants to win’ and is not letting the shirt weigh him down

No title, no trophy, but the morning after the night before was a bright one for Steve Borthwick. An absence of silverware but glistening silver linings all over the place. The most ruthless, complete performance of Borthwick’s tenure puts the exclamation mark on England’s best Six Nations campaign for five years and gives reason for a genuine sense of optimism that his side have come of age.

It was only a few weeks ago that England were being booed by the Twickenham crowd, but such dissent feels a world away now and perhaps no one epitomises the feelgood factor more than Henry Pollock. Brought on for his debut after 48 minutes, his first involvement was to pack down for a scrum. After a word of encouragement from Ellis Genge, there Pollock was, grinning from ear to ear, backslapping teammates, high-fiving, bringing smiles to the faces of both Curry brothers.

Continue reading...
Posted on

France 35-16 Scotland: Six Nations 2025 – as it happened

Les Bleus wrapped up the title in style at the Stade de France thanks in no small part to Yoram Moefana

6 mins. The visitors are not here to shepherd France to victory and FInn Russell get them going with a raking cross-kick that finds van der Merwe on the left. He’s set to turn on the pace but a slip halts his plan. The pace of the game is relentless and possession is traded a couple of times.

4 mins. More possession for France, this time via a massive maul that marches forward fifteen metres and leaves Scotland with little choice but to infringe to stop it’s murderous progress.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Dan Sheehan’s hat-trick sees off Italy and allows Ireland to celebrate legends

  • Italy 17-22 Ireland
  • Ireland recover from poor start to claim bonus-point win

The destiny of the title was out of Ireland’s hands but there was a point to prove – not to mention a handful of legendary careers in green to be celebrated. Thousands of Ireland supporters booked a St Patrick’s weekend sojourn to Rome hoping to see their tribe seal three consecutive titles. After a sobering defeat by France top spot looked out of reach: a bonus-point victory, to maximise their chances, would have to do. Mission accomplished thanks to a hat-trick of tries by the front-row dynamo Dan Sheehan.

But forget the points table, forget the performance: since Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony announced their decision to retire from international rugby at the end of this tournament, it would be an emotional day regardless. Healy’s international career began at Croke Park in 2009 and a 20-20 draw against Australia. All O’Mahony had to do, in the second half, was take his tracksuit off to prompt a deafening roar.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Principality Stadium marks 75th anniversary of Llandow air crash

Llandow pic

Welsh rugby went into mourning on Wednesday to remember those people who died in what still remains the worst air crash in the nation’s history on Sunday 12 March 1950. Prior to kick-off at today’s match there was be a minute of reflection for that grave day when what should have been a joyous return […]

The post Principality Stadium marks 75th anniversary of Llandow air crash appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

Posted on

Wales 14-68 England: Six Nations 2025 – as it happened

England cruised to a record-breaking 68-14 win over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to conclude their Six Nations campaign

5 mins. Wales possession in the England half has Mee brought into the attack in midfield but he’s a little isolated and that allows Earl to get to the ball and win a turnover penalty. Fin Smith sends it to touch, but Cowan-Dickie’s throw isn’t straight.

3 mins. It’s a simple peel off the lineout that Tom Curry drives to the line. He is stopped but next up Itoje takes turn and drives over to open the scoring very early and give England a perfect start.

Continue reading...
Posted on

England win just the start for Wales U20 says Whiffin

After watching his side take down England, the reigning World Rugby U20 champions, Wales U20 head coach Richard Whiffin wants his side to now set their sights on getting even better for this summers’ championship in Italy. The 23-13 triumph over unbeaten England at the Arms Park made it three wins in the campaign, the […]

The post England win just the start for Wales U20 says Whiffin appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

Posted on

Tackle tyros Thomas and Beddall happy to cut England down to size

Harry Thomas couldn’t extend his try scoring record in the U20 Six Nations, but the Scarlets hooker still picked up the man of the match award for another barnstorming performance in the 23-13 win over Grand Slam chasing England in the Welsh capital. He also had his mother in tears at the end of the […]

The post Tackle tyros Thomas and Beddall happy to cut England down to size appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.

Posted on

France have chance to show rugby’s power axis has shifted emphatically

Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey eye records, but main focus is on backing up stunning win over Ireland with trophy

There could be a blizzard of broken records in Paris on Saturday night. On one wing, Damian Penaud could score his 39th try to overtake Serge Blanco as France’s all-time leading try-scorer, on the other Louis Bielle-Biarrey needs his eighth try to break the record set by Jacob Stockdale for the most in a single tournament, and in between the two, Thomas Ramos needs seven points to go past Frédéric Michalak and become the country’s record scorer. If their team score four tries between them, they will break the mark of 29 in one Six Nations, set by England back in 2001.

None of which will matter a damn if they don’t win.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Six Nations judgment day has enough riding on it to be an all-time classic

A tournament that has produced tries galore reaches its glorious climax on Super Saturday with England and Ireland hot on the heels of favourites France

The best Six Nations campaigns tick two crucial boxes. The first is a consistent sense of jeopardy from start to finish and the second is a level of entertainment that elevates the tournament into the mainstream consciousness. When both occur simultaneously, as they have done this year, the championship’s final round ranks among the most gripping days in modern team sport.

This particular “Super Saturday” certainly has all the necessary spicy ingredients, starting with the prospect of France’s second title since 2010 if they can beat Scotland in Paris. A bonus-point win for England over Wales in Cardiff, though, could yet be enough to sneak the trophy in the event of a breathless Scotland win. Which, from a Scottish perspective, looms as the ultimate catch-22 scenario.

Continue reading...
Posted on

SRC Cup finalists to be decided in final round of pool games

Pontypool head coach Tom Hancock has pledged to pick his strongest side for tonight’s Super Rygbi Cymru Cup tie in Newport even though getting through to the final is a long shot. The Gwent derby will at least set a target for Ebbw Vale in Pool B when they complete their pool campaign at Swansea […]

The post SRC Cup finalists to be decided in final round of pool games appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.