Rugby Union

The Prem Rugby play-offs are set be played at a neutral venue from the 2029-2030 season. The current format, which sees the top two teams in the regular season table getting home advantage in the semi-finals, has been in place since 2005. But league bosses say they have a vision …

After facing South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July, England’s summer schedule sees them take on Fiji in Liverpool seven days later before they face Argentina in Santiago del Estero on 18 July. Feyi-Waboso started in Exeter’s 26-17 Prem final loss at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday, but said it …

Exeter returned to Twickenham for the first time in five years as they aim for a new era of dominance in the English game. Between 2016 and 2021 they reached every Twickenham showpiece, winning in 2017 and 2020, as they consistently ended the regular season either first or second in …

Available for over a year Chris Jones is joined by Matt Dawson and Chris Ashton as Northampton Saints beat Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham to claim their second Prem title in three years. They break down where Northampton edged the final, and discuss whether they’re already building the foundations of a …

Ireland captain Caelan Doris will miss July’s Nations Championship matches with Australia, Japan and New Zealand with a foot injury. Back row Doris was forced off in the early stages of Leinster’s United Rugby Championship final win over the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday. Leinster wing Tommy O’Brien has …

Kildunne is one of England’s biggest rugby union stars and among the most high profile players in the world. She was the face of the 2025 World Cup for the Red Roses and her profile has only continued to skyrocket since the team lifted the trophy last September. Bristol, who …

For Exeter, who finished ninth in the Prem last season, a Twickenham return represents their first final since 2021 when they were beaten by Harlequins. That game ended the club’s first great period of dominance having reached six successive finals, winning two of them. Since then the Chiefs have had …

Veteran Australia prop James Slipper has reversed his retirement from international rugby and is in the Wallabies squad for the forthcoming Nations Championship. The 37-year-old, who has won 151 Test caps, the third-highest total in history, initially called time on his Wallabies career in October. However, doubts about the depth …

Furbank will not be the only Saints player receiving plenty of attention at the weekend. Young flanker Henry Pollock is building a reputation for himself at the very top of the game, both for his ability on the pitch and for his personality. The latter of which, Dowson believes is …

Contains some strong language. Available for over a year Can Exeter pull off an upset and beat Northampton at Twickenham on Saturday? Chris and Ashy look ahead to the Prem final and discuss where the game could be won and lost. Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter joins the pod …

Northampton Saints’ Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman and head coach Sam Vesty look ahead to their Prem final against Exeter. BBC News

France’s team will be led by Mickael Guillard, who partners uncapped Thomas Staniforth, an Australian who qualifies for France via residency, in the second row. Elsewhere, the visitors, who are without players from Top 14 semi-finallists Toulouse, Racing 92, Montpellier and Stade Francais, lean on established club combinations. La Rochelle …

Feyi-Waboso has been able to take part in training, albeit while being exempt from contact. Baxter said that, if selected, Feyi-Waboso had healed sufficiently and will not need to wear any kind of protective mask. “We’ve done very little, even grab tackling this week, so he’s been able to run …

Furbank, who has won 14 England caps, has been at the heart of a developing dynasty at Saints. Driven by a core of young, homegrown talent, Northampton are preparing for a third major final in three seasons and are looking to take back the Prem title they won in 2024. …

Champ Rugby winners Worcester Warriors have appointed former England, Harlequins and Wasps forward Joe Launchbury as their new head of academy. The 35-year-old retired from playing at the end of the regular Prem season after three years with Quins and 51 appearances. Launchbury won 70 caps for England, winning the …

Tackling above the base of the sternum will be outlawed in the grassroots game globally after World Rugby made a lower point of contact a permanent part of its law book. National unions will have the choice of setting either the base of the sternum or the waist as the …

As part of enhanced elite player squad (EPS) contracts introduced in 2024, England have the final say on the treatment, conditioning and match availability of their top stars. In the past, that has led to conflict. England and Exeter’s medical staffs publicly disagreed over treatment Feyi-Waboso received for a previous …

Harlequins have added Great Britain rugby league legend Sean Long and former player Jordan Turner-Hall to full-time roles on their first-team backroom staff. Long, who was previously on the Quins staff in the 2019-20 season and acted as a part-time consultant this term, has been promoted to the full-time role …

Leinster captain Caelan Doris has been passed fit to start Friday’s United Rugby Championship final against the Pretoria Bulls as Tadhg Furlong returns to the line-up. Ireland skipper Doris was a doubt after picking up a knee injury in the semi-final win over the Stormers but he will lead a …

With England’s first-choice loose-head Ellis Genge recovering from a calf problem, the versatile Asher Opoku-Fordjour, more usually a tighthead option, has switched sides of the scrum to cover. George Martin, who has made an impressive return to action for Leicester in recent weeks after 14 months out with injury, starts …