Rugby Union

England flankers Ben and Tom Curry have signed new “long-term” deals with Sale Sharks. The 26-year-old twins both made their debuts for the Premiership club in 2016. Ben, who was appointed club captain at the end of last season, has won 11 caps for England, while Tom has been capped …

Pollock is harder to warm to when you are up against him. Woolford, Pollock’s Bedford team-mate, also faced him in the Blues’ annual pre-season fixture against Saints. “On the pitch he is very loud, very confrontational, very in-your-face,” Woolford remembers. “He just exhausts you, as much mentally and emotionally as …

Les Kiss will replace Joe Schmidt as Australia head coach in 2026 and will lead the Wallabies in their home Rugby World Cup the following year. Schmidt will remain in his role for the upcoming Test series against the British and Irish Lions and the Rugby Championship, before leading the …

Wales trio Jasmine and Alisha Joyce-Butchers and Keira Bevan have signed new two-year contracts with Bristol Bears. Bevan has played her whole club career with the Bears, while Jasmine and Alisha Joyce-Butchers joined in 2020. Flanker Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 27, who has 54 caps, joined from Worcester Warriors in 2020. Full-back …

The Red Roses seal their seventh title in a row BBC News

England’s women are still yet to return a profit, with the RFU continuing to invest £15m annually. However, there are green shoots with a 391% increase in ticketing in the last four years, compared to the four previous years. Despite the women’s game making an overall loss they have collected …

Former England and British and Irish Lions player Riki Flutey has been announced as the latest addition to the New Zealand women’s national team coaching set-up. Flutey, 45, will serve as the backs and skills coach as the Black Ferns prepare for this year’s Rugby World Cup. He joins a …

Former Northampton fly-half Hepher has been part of Exeter’s coaching team since Baxter took over as director of rugby in 2009, while Hunter moved to Sandy Park in 2013 after a successful spell as England Under-20s head coach. The pair have been part of the backroom team that helped the …

Cardiff have shrugged off the financial issues which saw them put into temporary administration before being taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). After defeating Ospreys at Judgement Day, Cardiff overcame Munster 26-21 in front of a passionate Arms Park crowd to go up to fifth in the table. …

Getty Images Ireland’s interim head coach Simon Easterby has been disqualified from driving for six months after being caught speeding. The former rugby player was caught exceeding the 70mph speed limit on a dual carriageway in Bodmin, Cornwall, last August. On Monday, Cardiff Magistrates’ Court considered Easterby’s work and family …

Spain international captain Laura Delgado has signed a new contract with Harlequins. The 34-year-old prop has made 15 appearance in her debut season as Quins finished third in the Premiership Women’s Rugby. Delgado, who previously represented Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester-Hartpury, has 45 international caps. “I couldn’t be more excited to …

Concerns over the fitness of Leinster second row RG Snyman before Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton at the Aviva Stadium have been allayed. A squad update issued by the Irish province on Monday indicated that the former Munster forward has returned to full training. Ireland lock James Ryan, …

With the British and Irish Lions squad to be announced on 8 May, this was the final round of Premiership games for contenders to press their case. Northampton’s Alex Mitchell and Gloucester’s Tomos Williams, both leading scrum-half candidates, burnished their chances with excellent showings in victory. Perhaps most intriguing, though, …

The game was Exeter’s fourth since Hunter took over as head coach after the demotion of Ali Hepher. The coaching change came as Exeter sought to try and improve on what has been their worst Premiership season by quite a large margin. They have won just two Premiership matches and …

In 2022, Australia and New Zealand joined the United States and Canada to form a four-team competition that would serve as a qualifier for the newly-formed WXV. The tournament, which ran without Australia and the Black Ferns in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, was first won by Canada, before …

James Grant BBC News, Northamptonshire The Lions Blair Swannell will be honoured when the Lions face an invitational Australia and New Zealand side As the British and Irish Lions prepare for their summer tour of Australia, a new accolade will be introduced to honour one of rugby’s historic figures. The …

Gloucester: Carreras; Wade, Harris, S Atkinson, Morris; Anscombe, Williams; Rapava Ruskin, Blake, Fasogbon, Clark, Thomas, Clement, Ludlow (capt), Ackermann Replacements: Singleton, Ford-Robinson, Gotovtsev, Jordan, Clarke, Englefield, C Atkinson, Cotgreave Exeter: Hodge; Hammersley, Slade, Hawkins, Brown-Bampoe; Skinner, Armstrong; Sio, Yeandle, Street, Tuima, Jenkins (capt), E Roots, Vintcent, Fisilau Replacements: Norey, Blose, …

Italy finish their Six Nations campaign in style, while condemning Wales to the Wooden Spoon for the second year running after a 44-12 defeat against the Azzurre. BBC News

Francesca McGhie scores a late-minute try to give Scotland a 26-19 win over Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations at the Hive stadium, Edinburgh. BBC News

Ulster: Stockdale; Kok, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Ward; Murphy, Doak; Warwick, Herring, Wilson, A O’Connor (capt), Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Timoney, McNabney. Replacements: Stewart, Reid, B O’Connor, Dalton, Treadwell, Shanahan, Morgan, McCann. Yellow card: Stockdale Sharks: Fassi; Hooker, Am, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Nche, Mobambi, Koch, E Tshituka, Jenkins, Venter, V …