Rugby Union

After thumping Zebre in their opener, Connacht made the perfect start in their bid to make it two victories from as many matches in Europe as Ralston sniped in from close range after seven minutes. Jack Carty converted to give the visitors the perfect start at the Stade Aime Giral. …

With a maximum of 10 points from their opening two Champions Cup fixtures, Northampton are in a very strong position to reach the knockout stages ahead of a trip to to Stade Francais and a home game with Munster in January. But before then, they have a chance to get …

The two sides came into the game in fine form with Leinster unbeaten in the United Rugby Championship and off the back of an away victory in Bristol to start their European campaign. Clermont, meanwhile, had enjoyed a bonus-point win against Benetton seven days prior and sat third in the …

Gloucester began with only two of the team which started last Saturday on the pitch and made the worst possible start when Vannes’ Romaric Camou broke clear and found fellow winger Benmegal, who dived over flamboyantly inside the first 50 seconds. The Cherry and Whites barely had time to compose …

Exeter Chiefs stayed top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby standings courtesy of a 41-22 win at Trailfinders as second-placed Saracens were beaten at Gloucester-Harpury. Prop Hope Rogers scored four tries for the Chiefs, with her first two coming after the home side had twice taken the lead when Grace White …

Ampthill’s game against Hartpury in rugby union’s Championship had to be abandoned after referee Alex Thomas was hit by a clearing kick during the first half. He appeared to be knocked out when he was struck by the clearance from Hartpury fly-half Harry Bazalgette, with the visitors leading 14-0 at …

Leicester Tigers: Steward; Bassett, Perese, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya (c), Heyes, Wells, Martin, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Cole, Henderson, Ilione, Youngs, Shillcock, Woodward Sharks: Jo Hendrikse; Keyter, Hooker, Venter, Penxe; Masuku, Ja Hendrikse; Mchunu, Richardson, Nyakane, Jenkins, Van Heerden, Buthelezi (c), Labuschagne, Tshituka Replacements: Bester, …

Stade Francais: Barre; Dakuwaqa, Marchant, Ward, Laloi; Henry, Weber; Castets, Nicotera, P Alo-Emile, Gabrillagues (c), Halaifonua, Macalou, Chapuis, Scelzo Replacements: Peyresblanques, M Alo-Emile, N’Diaye, Turagacoke, Timo, Tanga, Foursans-Bourdette, Ezeala Saracens: Daly; Williams, Cinti, Tompkins, Segun; Burke, Van Zyl; Carre, George, Riccioni, Itoje (c), Isiekwe, McFarland, Earl, Willis Replacements: Dan, Brantingham, …

But it was a costly first 40 for the men in red as prop Dian Bleuler failed a HIA after a poorly executed tackle on Jack Goodhue and even more concerning was Ireland international scrum half Craig Casey having to be carried off after taking a blow to his knee …

Izuchukwu conceded that he has had to re-adjust to club rugby after a month away with Ireland for the Autumn Nations Series. “There’s been loads going on and it’s been special, lots of new things coming towards me and I’ve been trying to embrace it and I’ve been getting back …

La Rochelle: Leyds; Nowell, Seuteni, Danty, Thomas; West, Kerr-Barlow; Wardi, Latu, Atonio, Douglas, Skelton, Jegou, Haddad, Alldritt (capt). Replacements: Lespiaucq, Penverne, Colombe-Reazel, Dillane, Botia, Cancoriet, Berjon, Favre. Bristol: Elizalde, Bates, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye; Worsley, Randall Genge, Oghre, Chawatama, Luatua (capt), Owen, Grondona, Heenan, Mata. Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, …

The two men were on trial with three other rugby players, two of whom were also found guilty of rape on Friday. All five men were once teammates together at FC Grenoble. Loick Jammes, 30, from France, was found guilty of rape and given a 14-year sentence. Rory Grice, 34, …

Benetton: Smith; Lynagh, Menoncello, Fekitoa, Ratave; Albornoz, Uren; Spagnolo, Maile, Ferrari, Cannone, Ruzza (capt), Negri, Zuliani, Halafihi. Replacements: Bernasconi, Gallo, Pasquali, Favretto, Izekor, Garbisi, Umaga, Brex Bath: De Glanville; Grace, Ojomoh, Redpath, McConnochie; Bailey, Schreuder; Van Wyk, Annett, Sela, Richards, Molony, Bayliss, Staddon, Reid (capt). Replacements: Tuipulotu, Cordwell, Du Toit, …

Exeter: Hodge; Feyi-Waboso, Hammersley, Tua, Wyatt; Slade, Townsend; Goodrick-Clarke, Frost, Painter, Tuima, Capstick, E Roots, Vermeulen (capt), Vintcent. Replacements: Yeandle, Blose, J Roots, Jenkins, Fisilau, Becconsall, Haydon-Wood, Wimbush. Toulouse: Ramos; Mallia, Barassi, Chocobares, Lebel; R Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Neti, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Willis, Roumat. Replacements: Cramont, Ainu’u, Merkler, …

The wife of former England rugby star Tom Voyce has said “absolutely devastated and heartbroken doesn’t even describe how we feel”, following his death. A body found in an area in Northumberland flooded during Storm Darragh has been confirmed as that of the missing 43-year-old. The former England international was …

England defence coach Felix Jones has stepped down from his role with immediate effect. Jones resigned in August after becoming disillusioned in Steve Borthwick’s set-up but was being held to a 12-month notice period. Although England said the Irishman was doing “remote analysis” during the Autumn Nations Series, it was …

Harlequins: Green; Isgro, Beard, Northmore, Murley; Smith, Care; Baxter, Walker, Kerrod, Herbst, Hammond, Cunningham-South, Chisholm, Dombrandt (c) Replacements: Riley, Jones, Lewis, Browne, Kenningham, Evans, Porter, Evans Stormers: Blommetjies; Davids, Simelane, Du Plessis, Senatla; Matthee, Ungerer; Matongo, Kotze, Sandi, Moerat (c), Evans, Ewers, Nel, Engelbrecht Replacements: Venter, Lyons, Weilbach, Porter, De …

Bulls: Le Roux, De Klerk, Moodie, Kriel, Williams; Goosen, Papier; Steenekamp, Van der Merwe, Louw, Vermaak, Van Heerden, Coetzee, Louw (capt), Hanekom. Replacements: Wessels, Tshakweni, Klopper, Slabbert, Nama Xaba, Burger, Chamberlain, Gans. Northampton: Furbank (capt); Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Sleightholme; Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar-Mills, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Coles, Pollock, Augustus. Replacements: …

Treder joined Loughborough, who are partnered with Northampton Saints, for the 2023-24 season and extended her stay with the club, external in the summer. The Lightning host Harlequins on Saturday at Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens, which has been chosen to host six World Cup games next year. “Our home and away …

Baxter says the next few months will be key for those members of his squad who are out of contract. Exeter have historically not brought in many first-choice players each summer, although the last few seasons has seen a greater squad turnover as long-serving players have left as the salary …