Rugby

Tom HamiltonJan 23, 2025, 06:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions RFU CEO Bill Sweeney is adamant he is the right man to lead the organisation forward through the

The lowdown on the oldest trophy in the Test game Finn Russell’s Scotland have won the Calcutta Cup four years in a row (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images) It gets mentioned every year when England play Scotland in the Six Nations, but what is the Calcutta Cup? It’s the oldest rivalry in Test rugby and

Jan 21, 2025, 11:36 AM Open Extended Reactions Warren Gatland is backing his Wales team to spring some shocks amid their record losing run. Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images Coach Warren Gatland is counting on some returning old heads to lead his young Wales squad in the Six Nations and create a siege mentality following a

Getty Images Gareth Griffiths BBC Sport Wales 21 January 2025 Wales head coach Warren Gatland says he faces the most exciting challenge of his career and warned critics to “write his side off at their peril”. The 61-year-old has kept his job for the 2025 Six Nations despite leading Wales to a 12-game international record

Both sides are playing for home advantage in the knockout stages. Antoine Dupont’s Toulouse have a 100% record this year but can they secure home advantage for the knockout stages? (Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Both sides have already qualified for the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup but there’s still home advantage to

PA Media 17 January 2025 171 Comments Updated 18 January 2025 Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 Harlequins: (17) 24 Tries: Cunningham-South, Chisholm, Murley Cons: Smith 3 Pen: Smith Glasgow Warriors: (7) 7 Try: Jordan Con: Jordan Harlequins progressed to the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup by beating Glasgow Warriors at Twickenham Stoop. Chandler

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterJan 17, 2025, 11:06 AM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Anthony Watson has been forced to retire from rugby. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images England and British

The Six Nations has abandoned its decades-old convention of asking the home side to change shirts in the event of a kit clash Scotland now wear their traditional blue at Murrayfield when they play France and Italy (Stu Forster/Getty Images) It was a long-standing tradition in the Six Nations Championship that, in the event of

SNS Tom English BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer 15 January 2025 357 Comments The alarm that forced the evacuation of the building where Gregor Townsend was about to talk about his squad for the Six Nations – a portent of doom for the Scots or a siren signalling their intent? For the eighth time in

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterJan 14, 2025, 06:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Steve Borthwick has backed Maro Itoje to lead England into the 2027 Rugby World Cup and

Getty Images 1 hour ago Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says it is up to him and his coaches to get the side out of its current poor run of form. The Chiefs were thrashed 69-17 by French Top 14 leaders Bordeaux in the Champions Cup on Saturday. The loss, which saw Exeter concede

Two of the tournament favourites clash on France’s Atlantic coast. All Black star Jordie Barrett adds another layer of stardust to Leinster’s already-exceptional team (David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Watch La Rochelle v Leinster today for a clash of the Investec Champions Cup titans, with the two sides boasting six European titles between them and

Two past winners of the tournament come face to face in Limerick. Can Saracens maintain their 100% record when they travel to Limerick? (David Rogers/Getty Images) Two sides with impressive European pedigree meet at Thomond Park on Saturday. Here’s how to watch Munster v Saracens live streams wherever you are in the world – including

Getty Images Mike Henson BBC Sport rugby union news reporter 9 January 2025 The crisis at the top of English rugby erupted on Thursday evening as grassroots rebels broke cover to demand Bill Sweeney be sacked, only for the Rugby Football Union to reject a petition for a vote on their under-fire chief executive’s future.

Jan 8, 2025, 08:07 AM Open Extended Reactions Danny Care has played over 380 games for Harlequins. Alex Davidson/Getty Images Former England scrum-half Danny Care has confirmed he won’t retire from rugby this season and will play a 20th campaign at club side Harlequins. Care, 38, joined the London side in 2006 and has gone on

Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterJan 6, 2025, 01:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions BRISTOL, England — Ilona Maher’s mission to grow rugby is far from done, and while she

Getty Images 6 January 2025 England centre Meg Jones says she is finding “peace in the pain” after suffering the loss of both parents in quick succession. Jones’ father passed away from lung cancer last summer and four months later, her mother died. “It’s just been tough,” the 21-times capped Red Rose, told BBC Radio

Columnist Paul Williams gives us his rugby wishlist for 2025 including a competitive Lions tour and Wales getting their finances in order, obviously… Paul Williams’ 2025 Rugby Wishlist A competitive Lions tour 2025 is the year of the Lions. And as with Chinese’ new year’s traditions, the year of the Lion is hugely important to