Rugby Union

Former England scrum-half Leanne Infante said it “hurt” when she was frozen out by the national side as she announced her retirement from professional rugby. The 31-year-old Saracens player won three Six Nations titles with the Red Roses but has not been selected since the World Cup in 2022. In …

Connacht: Piers O’Conor; Shayne Bolton, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast (capt), Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle. Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, Josh Ioane, Hugh Gavin …

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Dan Kasende, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren, Will Greatbanks, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris. Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Tom Botha, Lewis Jones, Lewis Lloyd, Kieran Hardy, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins. Edinburgh: …

Saracens centre Alex Lozowski says he never gave up hope of an England recall after returning to the fold for the first time in six years. The 31-year-old last played for England in November 2018, but is part of Steve Borthwick’s 36-man squad for the upcoming autumn internationals. With Henry …

Munster and Leinster have named strong teams boasting plenty of Ireland players for their United Rugby Championship matches against South African opposition on Saturday. Munster have named Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey and Tadhg Beirne to start against the Sharks in Durban (15:00 BST), while Leinster have included a …

The Irish Rugby Football Union has appointed Lynne Cantwell, Ireland’s record cap holder and Six Nations Grand Slam winner, as its new head of women’s strategy. Her appointment follows the IRFU outlining its determination to accelerate the development of women’s rugby in Ireland in the strategic plan it launched in …

Exeter have seen a host of internationals and seasoned players leave the club over the past 18 months. Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Stuart Hogg, Dave Ewers and the Simmonds brothers are amongst the names that have either moved to different teams – mainly in France – or retired. It saw …

Sanitary products will be provided at more than 500 rugby clubs across England in an effort to boost female participation in the sport. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced the initiative on Thursday as part of its legacy programme for the women’s World Cup in England next year. A women’s …

Northampton back row Tom Pearson has praised the “simple and direct” messaging given by coaching staff as Saints look to improve their poor away record at Bristol Bears on Friday. Saints bounced back from a disappointing derby defeat by Leicester Tigers with an emphatic 47-17 win over Sale last weekend. …

Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas’ first call-up to the Wales squad is a “real success story” for the club, says director of rugby George Skivington. The 22-year-old has come through the Cherry and Whites’ pathway, starting at under-13 level in their academy before breaking into the senior team. He has played …

Henry Slade’s return to the Exeter side could make the difference they need to end their losing streak, says boss Rob Baxter. The Chiefs have equalled their club-record run of five successive Premiership losses after Friday’s defeat at Newcastle and sit bottom of the table. Slade, who had shoulder surgery …

Bristol’s home form is an “annoyance”, director of rugby Pat Lam has admitted as the club looks to end its Ashton Gate win drought against Northampton on Friday. The Bears have won their three away games so far this season but lost both of their home matches, by three points …

Chris chats to Richard Wigglesworth, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Alex Lozowski in Girona. Source link

Stockdale also relishes the “good competition” he shares with New Zealand-born Lowe, who has won 33 caps having made his Ireland debut in November 2020. “You’d probably love me to say ‘no, I hate him!’ but no, I really like Lowey,” said Stockdale. “He’s a great fella and someone I …

Darren Cave says Cormac Izuchukwu could excel in international rugby after the uncapped Ulster forward was included in the Ireland squad for the four-match autumn series. Andy Farrell named a 35-strong group for the November games in Dublin against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia. The versatile Izuchukwu, who can …

Gray would not have been available to face Fiji on 2 November anyway, because that match falls outside of the usual Test window. But the former Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs player could have faced South Africa, Portugal, and Australia, while missing just one club match. “He’s come back from …

Confirmation of Doris’ captaincy is the latest development in the 26-year-old’s stunning rise to the highest echelons of rugby. It does not come as the greatest surprise given that, in Farrell, Doris has always had an important fan. Indeed, one of Farrell’s first moves as Ireland head coach was to …

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings (all Glasgow Warriors), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Alex Craig (Scarlets), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey (both Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson (both Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist, Patrick Harrison (both Edinburgh Rugby), Will Hurd (Leicester), Ewan …

Gloucester have signed hooker Morgan Nelson with immediate effect from Championship side Cornish Pirates. The 25-year-old joined the Pirates during the 2021-22 season and made 49 appearances for the club, scoring 29 tries, including starting all five of their games this season. Nelson, who was born in Ross-on-Wye, grew up …

Gloucester-Hartpury’s trip to unbeaten Saracens this weekend is set to be a “physical battle” says coach Andrew Ford as they travel off the back of a first league defeat. The two-time defending champions head to London after being beaten by Exeter last Saturday, only their fourth regular season league loss …