Rugby Union

Hartpury hooker Will Crane has been reflecting on a whirlwind month, in which he was called up to Gloucester’s first team as injury cover. The full-time mortgage adviser started every match for the Cherry and Whites in January and was thrown into the deep end – playing in the Prem …

Ulster back row Bryn Ward has rejoined the Ireland squad while prop Tadhg Furlong has resumed full training before Saturday’s Six Nations game against Italy (14:10 GMT). Three-time British and Irish Lions tight-head Furlong missed last week’s defeat by France in Paris with a calf problem. In a squad bulletin …

England and Harlequins centre Oscar Beard is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his injured shoulder. Beard, who made his debut for England against USA in Washington last summer, sustained the injury in Quins’ Prem fixture against Sale on Boxing Day. The 24-year-old suffered damage …

The ‘proud of the effort’ mantra from Townsend is the biggest red rag to the biggest Scottish bull. The scale of the failure was epic, not so much because they lost – because this was always going to be a tight game against a fine Italy team – but in …

Ridl’s breakthrough into the first team has not been totally smooth. He missed the start of this season with a broken hand and was banned for two matches last month after mistiming a jump for a high ball and taking out Bath’s Henry Arundell. “I’m very pleased where I am …

Goggin has led a busy life, winning British and European titles in waterskiing and, as a former mayor of Brightlingsea, being active in local politics. The love of rugby, though, has never left him, having first been introduced to the game at Robert Clack School in Dagenham, which he played …

Rugby Special’s Ugo Monye, Chris Ashton and John Barclay praise France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s ability to perform consistently for his age, and put his success down to the combination of his physical attributes and his “relentless” mentality. MATCH REPORT: Six Nations – France 36-14 Ireland Available to UK users only. …

Available for 29 days Ugo Monye, John Barclay and Chris Ashton delve into all the big talking points from an action packed opening week of the Six Nations. Week one had everything – dramatic losses, freak weather storms and unexpected results. It proved to be a difficult day in Rome …

Former Scotland captain John Barclay believes Gregor Townsend should be at risk of losing his job as Scotland head coach, especially if his side fail to end the Six Nations in one of the top three spots. MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Six Nations – Italy 18-15 Scotland Available to UK users only. …

Gareth Rhys Owen, Richie Rees and Scott Williams react to Wales’ 48-7 defeat to England. BBC News

England wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been ruled out of the match against Scotland next weekend and is in danger of missing the entire Six Nations. The 23-year-old started all four of England’s autumn Tests but suffered a hamstring injury in training last week and missed Saturday’s 48-7 victory over Wales. …

Saracens ran in 13 tries in an 81-0 thrashing of Leicester Tigers to keep up the pressure on Gloucester-Hartpury at the top of the Premiership Women’s table. Gloucester-Hartpury have won all nine of their matches to lead the way but Saracens are just five points back after an eighth win …

Andy Burke and the team review an opening day defeat for Scotland in Rome BBC News

BBC Radio 5 Live’s podcast Rugby Union Weekly discuss England’s fantastic start to the Six Nations as they beat Wales 48-7. BBC News

BBC Radio 5 Live’s Rugby Union Weekly team discuss Wales’ poor performance in their 48-7 loss to England to open the Six Nations. BBC News

Watch highlights as a hat-trick from Henry Arundell helps England dominate a disappointing Wales side in their opening Six Nations match. BBC News

Gloucester-Hartpury continued their 100% start to the Premiership Women’s Rugby season with a 22-7 win at Sale Sharks. The defending champions made it nine wins from nine and went 10 points clear of second-placed Saracens with their bonus-point victory. They hit the front inside two minutes as Mia Venner went …

France got the defence of their Under-20 Six Nations title off to a winning start as they scored eight tries to Ireland’s three in an emphatic 50-21 win in Perpignan. The bonus-point victory ensures that the champions end the opening weekend of the competition at the top of the table, …

Available for over a year Hery Arundell scored a 35-minute hat-trick as England made it 12 wins in a row and heaped more misery on Wales. Was that a statement from England? How good is the depth of Steve Borthwick’s side? Where do Wales go from here after yet another …

Whether it was a deliberate, pointed pick, we’ll never know. But as Wales’ replacements jogged out ahead of their team for the start of the second half, the Allianz Stadium DJ launched into the Kaiser Chiefs’ noughties shout-a-along ‘I Predict a Riot’. At 29-0 up, it wasn’t the boldest forecast. …