Rugby Union

Available for over a year Ireland Rugby Social is back with another great conversation from the heart of the game. This week, Gavin and Lindsay are joined by Ulster and Ireland international Brittany Hogan for an honest and engaging look at life in elite rugby. Brittany shares her journey from …

Australian prop Angus Bell returns in one of five changes made by Richie Murphy for Ulster’s United Rugby Championship game against the table-topping Stormers at Affidea Stadium on Friday (19:45 BST). Bell missed the Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Exeter Chiefs with a foot injury but is passed fit to …

Blind-side flanker Holland Bogan and outside centre Rachel Phillips make their first Scotland starts as head coach Sione Fukofuka makes seven changes for Saturday’s Six Nations meeting with France in Edinburgh. Leah Bartlett, Elis Martin, Louise McMillan, Becky Boyd and Rhona Lloyd return to the XV following a disappointing 41-14 …

Back-row forward Christiana Balogun has signed a new deal with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears to stay at the club beyond the 2025-26 season. The 28-year-old was one of seven uncapped players named in the England Red Roses squad for this year’s Six Nations, although she has yet to …

Yeandle will miss the rest of this season after suffering a foot injury in the loss to Northampton last month which will need surgery. But he will be able to have at least one more campaign at a club he has played for in every one of their major finals. …

Gloucester forward Freddie Thomas said the team refined and simplified their gameplan prior to their win against Exeter which allowed them to play more to their potential. The 34-31 win against the Chiefs at the end of April was only the third Prem win of the season for the Cherry …

Cornwall has always been one of rugby union’s hotbeds, but the county has never had a top-flight team. The Pirates have come closest – making the Championship play-off final in 2011 and 2012 – but they have never been able to cross that final hurdle. With the prospect of a …

Available for over a year Should the women’s game be using smaller balls? The debate is back on the agenda after Zoe Harrison’s interview with Sara about the decision to use size 4.5 balls at this autumn’s WXV Global Series. Kat Merchant and Philippa Tuttiett give their views on ball …

Bristol hooker Garbiel Oghre will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, with Doncaster Knights’ Fred Davies joining on loan. Oghre, 27, who has won one cap for England, needs surgery after picking up the injury in Bristol’s win over Newcastle last month. Oghre has been Bristol’s …

River Plate versus Boca Juniors is renowned as the world’s fiercest football rivalry. So when the Superclasico was used to explain to Joaquin Moro what Leicester Tigers’ meeting with East Midlands neighbours Northampton Saints meant, the Argentine flanker immediately understood. Moro is a River Plate fan like his brothers and …

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter says fresh investment in the club could allow some new players to join in the summer. Exeter members will vote on a proposed takeover by American investors on Thursday – understood to be Black Knight Football Club that owns Premier League side AFC …

England fly-half Zoe Harrison says the introduction of smaller balls for this autumn’s WXV Global Series is “the worst decision someone has ever made”. Size 4.5 balls – about 3% smaller, but the same weight as a regulation size five – will be used for the tournament in September and …

Sale Sharks lock Ben Bamber has extended his contract with the club until 2030. The 6ft 9in-tall Bamber, 25, has played 77 times for Sale since his debut in 2022. “I grew up around the corner and the club holds a really special place in my heart,” he told the …

South African international forward Danelle Lochner has signed a new contract with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Harlequins for the 2026-27 season. The 28-year-old lock joined Quins in 2023 and has made 26 appearances so far, although missed almost four months of the season with a shoulder injury and returned to …

The loss of Oghre and Grondona is another blow for a Bristol side that has struggled with injuries all season in what Lam has called the worst crisis he has experienced during his coaching career. Lock Joe Batley injured his hamstring during the warm-up of the 52-19 win over the …

Scotland centre Chris Harris is set to return to Newcastle Red Bulls. Harris has agreed a deal for next season to rejoin the club where he made 104 appearances after coming into the professional game before a move to Gloucester. The 35-year-old, who has won 47 caps for Scotland and …

England have brought Emma Sing in at full-back and shifted Ellie Kildunne out to the wing as coach John Mitchell rejigs his back three for the fourth Women’s Six Nations game in row. Sing’s Gloucester-Hartpury team-mate Mia Venner wins her third cap on the wing to complete a new-look combination …

The 2026-27 Prem rugby season will revert to a Friday night start on 25 September having begun on a weeknight this season for the first time in its history. The Prem opened with a Thursday night game at the start of the current campaign to avoid a clash with the …

Worcester Warriors have signed three more players ahead of next season, including Newcastle Red Bulls forward John Hawkins. The 29-year-old has made 35 appearances for Newcastle since joining them from Jersey three years ago, following a previous spell with Bristol Bears. “The club showed a lot of faith in me …

Available for over a year We’re podding from the Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux after Bath’s hopes of winning a first Champions Cup since 1998 were dashed by the holders. Chris and Paul Grayson pick the bones out of an epic encounter and discuss where the semi-final got away from Bath. …