Rugby Union

The historian confronts the Holocaust as a Europe-wide crime of complicity BBC News

World Rugby says it is extending an online protection scheme for all players, coaches and officials at the upcoming 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup after already detecting more than 2,000 accounts posting hateful messages. The governing body partnered with an online monitoring agency before the 2023 Men’s World Cup and …

Centre Aoife Dalton says Ireland have “lost that element of surprise now” with their run of good form. After slipping down the world rankings, Ireland can secure back-to-back third-place finishes in the Women’s Six Nations with victory over Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday (15:00 BST). In the past six months, …

From their family farm in Norfolk, Youngs has played alongside his older brother Tom in far further-flung fields, representing Tigers, Lions and their country together. Tom’s own retirement came two years ago. He played only the pre-season of his final campaign, after being granted leave to care for his terminally …

Baxter said Ikitau was one of the “top centres” in world rugby. “He’s playing very well, he’s very keen to experience something else,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon. “He’s talked a lot with the Australians who have been here at Exeter, they’ve all said that …

England vice-captain Megan Jones has signed for Trailfinders Women for the 2025-26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season from Leicester Tigers. Jones, who can play as centre and fly-half, has spent the past two seasons with the Tigers and has also previously represented Bristol Bears and Wasps. The 28-year-old has been capped …

With Youngs amassing a record amount of England caps over 13 years, Tigers boss Cheika spent a lot of time analysing the scrum-half’s game as an opposition coach while at the helm of both Australia and Argentina. It was against Cheika’s Argentina in 2023 that Youngs ended his international career, …

Bath were the powerhouses in the early days of English league rugby, winning the title six times out of the first nine editions in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But they have not been champions since 1996. In the era of the Premiership play-offs, they have reached the Twickenham …

Le Garrec also suggested that the situation in the match contributed to his reaction. Racing had just had Fijian wing Vinaya Habosi sent off for making contact with the head of a Perpignan player, and trailed by 11 points with 10 minutes remaining. Racing ultimately lost 28-24. The big-spending Parisian …

England number eight Alex Matthews says the back row is the most competitive area of the Red Roses squad, which is aiming for a double Six Nations and World Cup triumph this year. The 31-year-old was part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2014 and has been a mainstay in …

Gloucester have agreed a deal to sign Newcastle full-back Ben Redshaw for the 2025-26 Premiership Rugby season. The 20-year-old England youth international made his Newcastle debut early last season and has played eight Premiership games this season. He was part of the England Under-20s side that won the Under 20 …

Full-back Mike Lowry and centre Stewart Moore have been ruled out of Ulster’s United Rugby Championship [URC] game against Sharks on Saturday. Lowry was stretchered off in the 41-17 defeat against Leinster in the URC last weekend, requiring treatment after he tackled Robbie Henshaw in the build-up to Tommy O’Brien’s …

Alan O’Connor and Andy Warwick are among eight players who will leave Ulster Rugby at the end of the 2024-25 season. The pair are two of 11 players who have represented the province more than 200 times. Dublin native O’Connor, who has regularly captained the side, joined Ulster in 2012 …

England’s most-capped men’s player of all time Ben Youngs has announced his retirement at the end of the 2024-25 season. The scrum-half, 35, played in 127 Tests for his country and won four Six Nations titles as well as five Premiership titles with Leicester Tigers. More to follow. BBC News

New Zealand star Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has announced she will come out of international retirement and has set her sights on the 2025 World Cup. Woodman-Wickliffe called time on her career with New Zealand after winning rugby sevens gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 33-year-old winger rolled back on her …

Christian Wade tells us about his move to Wigan and we talk Johnny Sexton and Rieko Ioane BBC News

Head coach Richie Murphy says Ulster face “three finals” in their bid to reach the United Rugby Championship play-offs. Their defeat by Leinster on Saturday leaves Murphy’s side in 10th place in the standings, two points outside the all-important top eight. Ulster host the Sharks in Belfast this weekend and …

Ireland back row Aoife Wafer says Sunday’s 40-14 win in Wales in the Six Nations is “huge” but there are still things to improve. Wafer was named player of the match as she scored two of Ireland’s six tries in Newport. Forwards Linda Djougang and Dorothy Wall also touched down …

Ireland pick up their second win of this season’s Women’s Six Nations with a comfortable victory against a winless Wales at Rodney Parade. BBC News

Bristol Bears: Lane; Bailey, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska; Dun, Caulfield, Luatua, Harding (c), Mata. Replacements: Thacker, Thomas, Lahiff, Grondona, Heenan, Marmion, Elizalde, Jenkins. Leicester Tigers: Steward; Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya (c), Heyes; Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell. Replacements: Clare, …