Rugby Union

The British and Irish Lions were created by three former cricketers – Alfred Shaw, Arthur Shrewsbury and James Lillywhite. The team first toured in 1888, though the name ‘Lions’ did not originate until 1924 and was not adopted formally until 1950. The idea was to bring together the best rugby …

England XV: Carpenter; Roebuck, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; Ford (co-capt), Spencer; Baxter, George (co-capt), Heyes, Coles, Isiekwe, Hill, Pepper, Willis Replacements: Dan, Rodd, Davison, Cunningham-South, Kenningham, Dombrandt, Quirke, Beard Red card: Feyi-Waboso (34) France XV: Attissogbe; Moustin, Gailleton, Fickou, Duguivalu; Hastoy, Le Garrec; Erdocio, Barlot, Slimani, Auradou, Duguid, Fishcher, Tixeront, Guillard. …

Former Scotland captain and British and Irish Lions great Ian McLauchlan has died at the age of 83. McLauchlan led his country 19 times in his 43 caps and played his last Test against New Zealand at Murrayfield in November 1979. A prop known for his fearsome scrummaging despite weighing …

We’re again podding from Dublin after Argentina pull off a famous win over the Lions. BBC News

British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje (capt), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, …

British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje (capt), Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, …

“I watched the game again last week and I walked a lot of that game. “I wasn’t actually that good, I didn’t have too many involvements – it was probably my third professional game. “I wanted to look at what the atmosphere was like, how I was as a player …

Nolann Le Garrec and Antoine Hastoy will form a strong half-back partnership for the France second-string XV that takes on an England XV in Saturday’s non-capped match at Allianz Stadium. Le Garrec, along with Maxime Lucu, has served as back-up to France’s first-choice scrum-half Antoine Dupont over the past couple …

Trailfinders Women have signed Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm. The 34-year-old flanker has 56 international caps and has scored three tries for her country. Malcolm made her Scotland debut in 2016 and took on the captaincy in 2020. She joins Trailfinders having recently left Loughborough Lightning, where she made 67 appearances, …

For British and Irish Lions boss Andy Farrell, building connections has always been as crucial to fostering a winning environment as tactics and systems. When he speaks to the media, he regularly outlines his desire to see players become the “best versions of themselves”. Not the best tacklers, or goal-kickers …

Chris, Ugo and 2009 Lion Luke Fitzgerald are in Dublin ahead of the Lions tour opener. BBC News

Schmidt added: “I coached Bundee for several years and know him really well and respect him massively as a player. He’s a great contributor to the team environment. “I’ve only had glancing conversations with Sione but again, by all accounts a champion bloke. You don’t get to be captain of …

A record 1.26m television audience for Bath’s victory, combined with demand outstripping supply for the 82,000 tickets, suggests the Premiership is nurturing new fans. There has been big growth in engaging supporters between the ages of 18-34, while Red Bull’s reported interest in buying Newcastle Falcons would tie in perfectly …

England have had player names on the backs of shirts since the Autumn Nations series of 2022, with Scotland quick to follow suit. Ireland waited until a World Cup warm-up fixture against Italy in 2023, but by the time of the 2024 Six Nations all sides in the competition were …

British and Irish Lions: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham, Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot …

England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will make his return against a France XV on Saturday after six months out though injury. The 22-year-old Exeter flier dislocated his shoulder against Sale in December and suffered a setback during an international training camp before having an operation. Bath flankers Ted Hill and Guy …

Forwards: Tom Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Max Deegan (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Alex Kendellen (Munster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Tom …

The squad that Parling inherits will be one without a cast of iconic Tigers figures. Defeat at Twickenham marked the end of the careers of scum-half Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole – England’s two most capped male players in history, who also shared nine Premiership titles between them. Former …

Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright. Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, …

With those who joined up late thanks to domestic play-off involvement, with the exception of replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher, not selected for this first game, Farrell has named a fresh side with some new combinations. Of the 23 selected, 14 will be representing the Lions for the first time. His …