Ben Curry powers England to record-breaking win by dominating Dafydd Jenkins and the Welsh pack
Blair Murray Another dynamic performance that will put him in the British & Irish Lions conversation. Pacy, incisive and exciting. 8
Continue reading...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...Principality Stadium marks 75th anniversary of Llandow air crash
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 […]
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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...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 […]
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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 […]
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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...Former Australia rugby captain Rocky Elsom handed two-year jail sentence by French court
Former Australia rugby union captain Rocky Elsom was handed a two-year prison sentence by a French court on Friday after being found guilty of misusing corporate funds.
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...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 […]
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Italy to host rugby’s next generation with World Rugby U20 Championship 2025
World Rugby has today confirmed that Italy will host the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 from 29 June-19 July with matches held in four cities across the Lombardia and Veneto regions. It will be the third time that Italy has hosted the prestigious tournament featuring the 12 best U20 teams in the world but the […]
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Lynn names 37-strong Wales Women squad for Six Nations
Wales head coach Sean Lynn has announced his first squad for the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign. Lynn, who will lead his club side Gloucester/Hartpury in their third successive PWR final on Sunday, has named a 37-player squad for the tournament. Wales open their campaign away to Scotland on Saturday, March 22nd (KO: 4.45pm). […]
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England’s potential bus trip for Six Nations trophy is not only fork in road | Gerard Meagher
England will drive back to an empty stadium if France slip up, but their performance in Cardiff will define campaign
If all goes well for England, somewhere around half past nine on Saturday they will be preparing to clamber on to the team bus and head back to the stadium. They will have decamped to their hotel a couple of miles away in Cardiff Bay but if they have held up their end of the bargain against Wales and it appears that Scotland could do them a favour, England are due back at the Principality Stadium just after 10pm for a possible trophy presentation.
It will be a replica trophy in Cardiff – the real thing is in Paris given France remain hot favourites – but broadcasters and sponsors want their champagne moment, come what may, and as a result England must oblige, even in an empty stadium. It means that England could be left a touch red-faced if France leave it late to put Scotland to the sword. All dressed up at the Principality with nowhere to go.
Continue reading...Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom handed two-year jail sentence in France
- Former Narbonne president has faced financial charges
- Elsom not in court and his whereabouts remain unknown
The former Australia rugby union captain Rocky Elsom was sentenced to two years in prison by a French court on Friday, for misusing corporate assets during his time as the club president of Narbonne.
Elsom was also fined €100,000 (A$109,000) with half of that sum suspended. The 42-year-old did not appear in court; his whereabouts are currently unknown and a French arrest warrant has been issued against him.
Having taken charge of the southern French club Narbonne from 2015-16, Elsom went on trial for embezzling club funds by making unjustified expenditures to pay a coach or a general manager who was living in Australia at the time.
Continue reading...Sherratt: ‘It’s about getting that balance between heart and brain’
Matt Sherratt will be back at Cardiff Rugby on Monday but admits he might have to delay his return to the Arms Park if he can get his Wales side to beat England in their Guinness Six Nations finale at Principality Stadium this weekend. After games against Ireland and Scotland, Sherratt leads Wales for the […]
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