Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly have lost their England central contracts as head coach Steve Borthwick names a 25-man squad ahead of next year's World Cup, with Alex Coles and Asher Opoku-Fordjour among the new inclusions.
England's worst Six Nations performance has contributed to the Rugby Football Union expecting a £10m loss for the financial year ending June 2026, driven by reduced prize money and a light home fixture calendar.
England rugby coach Steve Borthwick draws inspiration from Thomas Tuchel's approach to managing high-expectation teams, focusing on preparation and continuous improvement. He sees potential in new talent like Henry Pollock and considers tactical experiments, such as using Marcus Smith at scrum-half, to build a more attacking and successful England side for future tournaments.
Henry Slade returns to England's starting lineup for the Test against Fiji, aiming to prevent a sixth consecutive defeat. Steve Borthwick's team features several changes, including new faces on the bench and a reshuffling of the backline.
Steve Borthwick recalls Henry Slade to England's starting XV to face Fiji, aiming to break a six-match losing streak. Slade, who had a strong domestic season, returns to the midfield, while Tommy Freeman moves to the wing. Guy Pepper also starts.
Declan Meredith to debut at flyhalf for the Wallabies against France due to multiple injuries to first and second-choice players. Jock Campbell is shifted to the bench, with Tom Wright starting at fullback. The team faces France at Suncorp Stadium.
Fly-half Finn Russell will miss Scotland's opening Nations Championship match against Argentina due to a calf injury. Head coach Gregor Townsend confirmed Russell could feature against South Africa, while Jonny Gray returns. Tom Jordan starts at 10.
England's rugby team has made five changes to its starting XV for the match against South Africa, including new signings George Martin and Jack van Poortvliet. The team aims to counter South Africa's physicality and end a four-match losing streak.
Finn Russell will miss Scotland's opening Nations Championship match against Argentina due to a calf injury. Head coach Gregor Townsend confirmed Russell could return for the South Africa game on July 11. Tom Jordan starts at fly-half, with Fergus Burke on the bench.
ITV has secured the live broadcasting rights for the 2027 men's Rugby World Cup, extending its commitment to international rugby. The deal also includes rights for the new Nations Championship and ensures coverage of England internationals until at least 2029.
England coach Steve Borthwick plans to rest captain Maro Itoje for the summer Tests against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina. This decision hinges on the availability of other second-row players, George Martin and Alex Coles, who must emerge unscathed from their weekend matches. Itoje's potential rest acknowledges his demanding year, including captaining the Lions and personal loss, and his extensive Test minutes over the past decade.
Andy Farrell has signed a new deal to stay as Ireland head coach until 2031, ruling out a possible move back to England. The extension covers two World Cup cycles and comes after a successful spell in charge.
An RFU council member, Matthew Smith, has been suspended for seven months for making a discriminatory Facebook comment about pundit Maggie Alphonsi. He questioned her knowledge of men's rugby, leading to a ban on his RFU privileges, though he retains voting rights.
The US is reportedly considering deploying nuclear-capable aircraft to more NATO member states in Europe, according to The Financial Times. Nations on NATO's eastern flank have expressed interest in hosting these bases, though an agreement is not imminent.
French rugby teams achieved a clean sweep in European competitions, with Bordeaux Begles retaining their Champions Cup title, Montpellier winning the Challenge Cup, and France winning the Six Nations.
French rugby teams achieved a clean sweep in European competitions, with Bordeaux Begles winning the Champions Cup and Montpellier claiming the Challenge Cup. France also retained their Six Nations title.
Le championnat de rugby féminin Élite 1 fait face aux "doublons", périodes où les internationales sont retenues en sélection. Cette situation, complexe pour les clubs aux effectifs réduits, offre cependant des opportunités de développement aux jeunes joueuses.
England captain Meg Jones and Ireland's Aoife Wafer are among the nominees for the Women's Six Nations Player of the Year award. France's Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Italy's Francesca Sgorbini are also shortlisted. The winner will be decided by an online fan vote.
England's Women's rugby team secured their eighth consecutive Six Nations title, demonstrating squad depth amidst numerous injuries. This victory is seen as a crucial step towards defending their 2029 Rugby World Cup title, with the team aiming for continuous improvement and further development of new talent.
Wales Women's rugby team has suffered another Six Nations clean sweep of defeats, culminating in a loss to Italy and the Wooden Spoon. Despite a quiet optimism entering the tournament, the team's performance has led to questions about coach Ioan Lynn's future.
The weekend's sports action saw Lille qualify for the Champions League, France's women's rugby team lose to England, Jannik Sinner win in Rome before Roland-Garros, Jonas Vingegaard dominate the Giro, and a dramatic MotoGP race with crashes.
England secured their eighth successive Six Nations crown with a hard-fought 29-21 victory over France, demonstrating resilience and quality despite significant adversity. The win highlighted individual brilliance and team resolve, earning praise for maintaining excellence at the highest level.
England's Red Roses clinched their eighth consecutive Women's Six Nations title and fifth Grand Slam with a 43-28 victory over France. Despite facing early challenges and defensive questions, the team extended their unbeaten streak to 38 Tests, showcasing resilience and emerging talent.
L'équipe de France féminine de rugby a de nouveau échoué en finale du Tournoi des Six Nations, s'inclinant 28-43 face à l'Angleterre le 17 mai à Bordeaux. Les Bleues terminent deuxièmes pour la septième fois consécutive.
