Rugby

11:28 AM BST The French rugby federation (FFR) will allow transgender women to play women’s rugby as of next season, going against governing body World Rugby’s guidelines, it said on Monday. Last year, World Rugby said that after months of research, it had “concluded that safety and fairness cannot presently be assured for women competing

Dual code international Kyle Eastmond has announced his retirement from professional rugby just five games into the 2021 Super League season. The 31-year-old only returned to rugby league with Leeds Rhinos in March after nine years playing rugby union with Bath, Wasps and Leicester. He made two appearances for Leeds prior to his decision to

Leicester Tigers (29) 35 Tries: Scott, Genge 2, T Youngs Cons: Ford 3 Pens: Ford 2, Henry Harlequins (12) 29 Tries: Earle 2, penalty try, Marchant, Northmore Cons: Smith Leicester Tigers checked Harlequins’ play-off hopes with a thrilling 35-29 win at Welford Road. Tries from Matt Scott, Ellis Genge and Tom Youngs, between a Nathan

The Springboks coaches face a juggling act ahead of epic series, with player management paramount. Jon Cardinelli reports Rassie Erasmus, RG Snyman and Willie Le Roux with the World Cup (AFP/Getty Images) Insight: South Africa’s preparations for Lions tour Social media exploded this past week after the British & Irish Lions squad for the tour

Bath (17) 20 Tries: Redpath, Bayliss Cons: Priestland 2 Pens: Priestland 2 Sale (17) 24 Tries: JP du Preez, McGuigan, Hammersley, Langdon Cons: MacGinty 2 Sale survived simultaneous sin-binnings as they came from behind to get a late bonus-point victory at Bath and boost their Premiership play-off bid. The two sides were tied 17-17 at

10:54 AM BST The 2021 British & Irish Lions schedule has been revised to keep matches either in Johannesburg or Cape Town, with organisers admitting the new-look fixture list has been put together on the basis matches “will take place behind closed doors.” The eight-match schedule sees the tour start in Johannesburg and Pretoria, before

Two members of Eddie Jones’s back-room team step down Jason Ryles with England head coach Eddie Jones (Getty Images) Changes to England coaching team Simon Amor and Jason Ryles have stepped down from their coaching roles with England. Amor has been part of the RFU set-up since 2013 when he became head coach of the

5:10 PM BST Scotland will host Japan in the final match of the autumn series at Murrayfield in November, Scottish Rugby said on Thursday. Japan will pay two visits to Scotland this year as they are due to face the British & Irish Lions at Murrayfield on June 26, as part of the latter’s preparations

Saracens and England full-back Alex Goode has returned from his season-long loan in Japan in time to aid their Championship promotion chances. Goode, who can also play at fly-half, will be available for the last three regular season games and a potential two-legged promotion play-off in June. Saracens are third in the table behind leaders

After 32 successive Six Nations defeats, Italy’s place in the tournament has never been more precarious. Hence this question for our Face-off debate from our May 2021 issue Winless Italy had a points difference of minus 184 during this year’s Six Nations Championship (Inpho) Should the Six Nations introduce relegation? BERNARD JACKMANYES, says the former

How you can watch this year’s matches against Japan and on the tour to South Africa, including free-to-air coverage  Lions supporters on the 2017 tour (Getty Images) British & Irish Lions 2021 TV Coverage The 2021 British & Irish Lions will play a pre-tour match against Japan in Edinburgh followed by eight matches in South

The British and Irish Lions’ warm-up Test against Japan will be shown on Channel 4 as live coverage of the team returns to terrestrial television for the first time since 1993. As well as the match at Murrayfield on 26 June, Channel 4 will also show highlights of all three Tests against world champions South

Cardiff Blues have confirmed lock Matthew Screech will return to the region from Dragons for the 2021-22 season. The second-row returns to his home region on an undisclosed deal, having spent eight seasons at Rodney Parade. Screech made 162 Dragons appearances, including 16 games this season, scoring five tries. “It was a decision I thought

Bath hooker Tom Dunn’s club season is over after being banned for four weeks for his red card against Bristol. He accepted the charge at a RFU disciplinary hearing and will be free to play again on 15 June. Bath are currently seventh in the Premiership and are unlikely to make the top four and

Ospreys have signed Irish second row Jack Regan from New Zealand Super Rugby Aotearoa side Highlanders. Regan has agreed a three-year deal at the Liberty Stadium region. Former Ireland Under-20 international Regan, who also captained his country at under-18 level, left his homeland for New Zealand after being released by Ulster in 2020. “This is

Mike Brown’s Harlequins career appears to be over after he was given a six-week ban for stamping. Brown, 35, who will join Newcastle next season, was sent off for treading on the head of Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor in their Premiership win on Sunday. A disciplinary hearing decided the accidental stamp warranted a high-end sanction

The women’s 2021 Rugby World Cup has been rescheduled for 8 October-12 November 2022. World Rugby have extended the tournament to 43 days, bringing the minimum five-day rest period in line with the men’s World Cup. The 43-day window includes travel to and from New Zealand and a minimum of five days rest before the

In his latest BBC Sport column, Liam William reflects on his British and Irish Lions selection for a second tour and how this trip will be different. The importance and magic of the British and Irish Lions has been shown in the last few days. It is the best honour you can get as a