Rugby Union

With Dan Sheehan rested before next week’s match against New Zealand in Auckland, Tadhg Beirne stepped up to captain Ireland for the first time as one of nine changes to the line-up from last week’s 33-31 win over Australia in Sydney. But while Ireland scored some well-worked tries, Beirne was …

Japan: Takuro Matsunaga; Kazuma Ueda, Dylan Riley, Yuya Hirose, Taira Main; Ryunosuke Ito, Naoto Saito; Takato Okabe, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Harry Hockings, Warner Dearns (capt), Ben Gunter, Kanji Shimokawa, Jack Cornelsen. Replacements: Hayate Era, Sojiro Otuska, Keijiro Tamefusa, Michael Stolberg, Michael Leitch, Tiennan Costley, Itsuki Kamimura, Sam Greene. Ireland: …

Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen; Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau; Dylan Pietsch; Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan; Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt). Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Nick Champion de Despigny, Tate McDermott, Jock Campbell, Filipo …

Bristol have re-signed second-row forward Josh Caulfield from Ealing Trailfinders for the 2026-27 season. Caufield left the Bears last summer and has spent the past season with the Champ rugby club. The 29-year-old previously made 36 appearances for his hometown club between 2023 and 2026. “He already understands our environment, …

Wales lock Jorja Aiono has signed a new contract to stay with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Gloucester-Hartpury. The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025-26, winning her first international caps for Wales during the Six Nations. The second-row forward, who is a student at Hartpury University, also made her first …

After recovering from a knee injury which sidelined him for the end of Munster’s season, Beirne made a significant impact off the bench in last week’s 33-31 win over Australia. His inclusion in the second row is one of nine changes made by head coach Andy Farrell for the Japan …

Available for over a year Fresh from his jaunt following Scotland in the World Cup, Tom joins Gareth and Chris to unpick the big talking points from the weekend and look ahead to the second round of the Nations Championship. They assess Scotland’s Finn Russell dilemma, ask if South Africa …

Former England international Kieran Brookes has signed a two-year deal with Munster. The 35-year-old tight-head joins the Irish province after two seasons with Top14 side Perpignan as head coach Clayton McMillan strengthens his pack in the build-up to the new United Rugby Championship season. Brookes represented Ireland at U20 level …

Argentina: S Carreras; Delguy, Cinti, Piccardo, M Carreras; Albornoz, Garcia; Wenger, Montoya (capt), Rapetti, Petti, Alemanno, Grondona, Kremer, Oviedo. Replacements: Ruiz, Vivas, Coria Marchetti, Molina, Matera, Benitez Cruz, Moroni, Ignacio. Wales: Murray; Mee, James, Hawkins, Adams; Costelow, Tomos Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Lewis, Carter, Beard, Botham, Morgan, Wainwright. Replacements: Elias, …

Centre Henry Slade, who did not play a minute of England’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year, has been recalled to the starting line-up to face Fiji on Saturday as head coach Steve Borthwick attempts to avoid a sixth successive Test defeat. Slade, 33, has previously admitted that he was …

Exeter Chiefs Women have appointed Leicester Tigers Women head coach Ross Bundy as an assistant coach. Bundy, a specialist in forwards and defence, joins with Exeter still looking for a new head coach after Steve Salvin left the club to take on a coaching role with Wales earlier this month. …

Female rugby players are 69% more likely to experience social media abuse than their male counterparts, according to findings by World Rugby. Misogyny, gender identity, sexuality and body-shaming are the most common types of abuse. Eight cases have been referred to law enforcement and platforms to focus on action. Female …

Anton Segner will become the first German-born All Black if the uncapped back row comes off the bench in New Zealand’s Nations Championship match against Italy on Saturday. The 24-year-old was born in Frankfurt and developed an obsession with rugby and the All Blacks after being introduced to the sport …

Wales fly-half Jarrod Evans has returned to Cardiff after three seasons with Harlequins. The 29-year-old will play for the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finalists and look to add to his 17 caps. Evans made 126 appearances for the Blue and Blacks in his first stint, scoring 765 points and winning …

Harlequins have signed Australian prop Harry Johnson-Holmes for the 2026-27 season. The 29-year-old, who won a Test cap in 2019, arrives after spells in Super Rugby with New South Wales Waratahs and Western Force. “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Harlequins for the upcoming season,” Johnson-Holmes told the club website, …

Janse van Rensburg, who qualifies for England after five years playing in the country, has been named in the Prem team of the season for the past three campaigns. He can play both inside and outside centre, increasing the possible combinations that England could deploy as they attempt to avoid …

Hooper has won 23 caps for Australia and become one of their brightest hopes with a home World Cup to come in 2027. Having begun his career at the Brumbies he moved to Exeter following last year’s Rugby Championship as the Devon side looked to rebuild following their worst-ever top …

Exeter have signed Worcester Warriors lock Obinna Nkwocha for the 2026-27 Prem season. The 23-year-old moved to Sixways a year ago after a two-year spell with Champ side Coventry. The former Saracens academy player has been brought in after Rusi Tuima left the Chiefs to join Newcastle. Nkwocha scored two …

Why did the England football team not fulfil their potential at the 2006 World Cup? BBC News

Australia flanker Tom Hooper has extended his contract at Exeter until the summer of 2028, but will then return to Australia. Under the deal the 25-year-old will join the Queensland Reds ahead of the start of the 2029 Super Rugby Pacific season. The deal will keep him in his homeland …