Rugby Union

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

The clock goes red and France need a score to win the Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. That was not in the script. England had cruised past their competition leading up the Grand Slam decider, scoring 33 tries in four comfortable wins. Les Bleues came off …

Watch highlights as Sharks fight back to beat Ulster at Kingspan Stadium, denting Richie Murphy’s side’s hopes of reaching the United Rugby Championship play-offs with only two games remaining. MATCH REPORT: Ulster 19-22 Sharks Available to UK users only. BBC News

Francesca McGhie’s late try snatches a dramatic 26-19 victory for Scotland against Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations. BBC News

England captain Zoe Aldcroft says she is “so proud” of her team after they held off a late France fightback to secure a fourth consecutive Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam and a seventh straight title. READ MORE: England beat France by a point to claim Grand Slam Available to UK …

Northampton: Ramm; Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Litchfield; Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar Mills, Mayanavanua, Coles, Kemeny, Pollock, Augustus. Replacements: Walker, West, Green, Lockett, Scott-Young, James, Seabrook, Glister. Bristol: Lane; Bailey, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Genge, Thacker, Lahiff, Caulfield, Owen, Luatua, S Grondona, Harding. Replacements: Oghre, Thomas, Kloska, Mata, …

England coach John Mitchell admits his side’s Women’s Six Nations title win over France was “a bit nervy” but was pleased to “complete a goal” not done before in the modern era by claiming four Grand Slams in a row. READ MORE: England beat France by a point to claim …

England: Sing; Dow, Jones, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Feaunati, Matthews. Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Burton, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland. France: Bourgeois; Grisez, M Menager, Vernier, Arbwy; Arbez, Bourdon; Brosseau, Bigot, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Champon, T Feleu. Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, …

Connacht’s hopes of reaching the United Rugby Championship play-offs suffered a blow with a 26-7 defeat by the Lions in South Africa. In contrast to Connacht’s dramatic defeat by the Stormers in their previous fixture, when there were eight first-half tries, the opening 40 minutes in Johannesburg proved to be …

Scotland were hanging on and it looked for all the world like Ireland would burst the dam until second row Sarah Bonar pounced for an interception and kicked ahead to take the play into the Ireland 22. Ireland scrambled back but could not get the ball off the field in …

Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Sara Mannini, Alyssa D’Incá; Veronica Madia, Sofia Stefan; Silvia Turani, Vittoria Vecchini, Sara Tounesi, Giordana Duca, Beatrice Veronese, Francesca Sgorbini, Elisa Giordano (capt). Replacements: Desiree Spinelli, Emanuela Stecca, Gaia Maris, Isabella Locatelli, Alissa Ranuccini, Alia Bitonci, Beatrice Rigoni, Francesca Granzotto. Wales: Jasmine …

Stewart knows the Sharks will be a tough test given the number of South Africa internationals they have in their squad, with nine World Cup winners named in their starting line-up for Saturday. But after facing a Leinster side stacked with Ireland internationals last weekend, he hopes Ulster will be …

Zebre: Trulla, Gregory, Paea, Mazza, Gesi, Da Re, Fusco; Fischetti, Di Bartolomeo, Hasa, Canali, Krumov, Ferrari, Stavile, Licata. Replacements: Bigi, Buonfiglio, Pitinari, Zambonin, Nasove, Garcia, Montemauri, Morisi. Edinburgh: Paterson, Graham, Currie, Lang, Brown, Thompson, Price; Venter, Harrison, Rae, Young, Skinner, Muncaster, Watson, Bradbury. Replacements: Morris, Hislop, Williams, Gilchrist, Douglas, Shiel, …

England: Sing; Dow, Jones, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Feaunati, Matthews. Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Burton, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland. France: Bourgeois; Grisez, M Menager, Vernier, Arbwy; Arbez, Bourdon; Brosseau, Bigot, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Champon, T Feleu. Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, …

Craig believes the threat of dropping into the second tier, which operates on far smaller budgets and income, deters fresh investment and tempts current owners into unsustainable spending. “The instability it breeds has led to short-term decision making, investor uncertainty, and, in a number of cases, financial ruin,” Craig told …

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren, Will Spencer, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Jac Morgan (capt), Morgan Morse. Replacements: Sam Parry, Steffan Thomas, Tom Botha, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Owen Williams, Iestyn Hopkins. Dragons: …

Wales: Jasmine Joyce-Butchers; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Abbie Fleming, Gwen Crabb, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans. Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Natalia John, Alex Callender, Sian Jones, Hannah Bluck, Catherine Richards. Italy: …

The Grand Slam is on the line as Sara Orchard & Philippa Tuttiett preview the final round BBC News

Bristol back rower Steven Luatua has signed a new contract with the club to stay through the 2025-26 season. Luatua is one of Bristol’s longest-serving players and is set to make his 150th appearance for the club this weekend away against Northampton. The 33-year-old joined the Bears in 2017 when …

Lynn is likely to make changes for what is – just as last year’s final game against Italy – a must-win match on Sunday. Wales were brushed aside by a rampant Ireland who made twice the number of carries, metres and linebreaks despite a shocking 25 handling errors which could …