Rugby Union

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, Millard, S Emanuel, Bowen; Sheedy, Mulder; Southworth, Belcher (capt), Assiratti, McNally, T Williams, Donnell, Thomas, Lawrence Replacements: D Hughes, Barratt, Sebastian, Nott, Basham, A Davies, I Lloyd, Darwin-Lewis. Connacht: Naughton; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Forde, Bolton; Carty, B Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Aungier, Murray, Joyce, Predergast (capt), S O’Brien, Jansen. …

Saracens prop Bryony Cleall has announced she will retire after Saturday’s Premiership Women’s Rugby Cup final against her former club Harlequins at StoneX Stadium. Cleall, 33, won two Six Nations titles with England and two league titles with Sarries. “After an incredible 27 years, with a fair few injuries along …

Slade’s comments come amid the attempt to establish the rebel league R360. The global franchise league has approached some of the world’s top players to try to recruit them for an inaugural competition they hope will begin next October. It has led to many of the world’s leading nations stating …

Winless Leinster have named five of their British and Irish Lions to start Saturday’s United Rugby Championship game against the Sharks at Aviva Stadium (17:30 BST). Forwards Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher and backs James Lowe and Jamie Osborne all return to domestic action after featuring …

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has been impressed by his side’s performances in their 100% winning start to the Prem season but warned there is a long way to go as they prepare for a London derby with Harlequins at The Stoop on Sunday. Sarries finished sixth in the …

However, Shore said R360, which organisers say has attracted investment from a variety of funds and individuals, is fundamentally different to PWR, which supports the rest of the game. “Our league houses just over 500 players, and they go from 18-year-olds up to players in their 30s with 100 caps …

England wing Tommy Freeman says Northampton Saints must impose their game on Leicester Tigers from the outset in Saturday’s East Midlands derby. Saints have put more than 30 points on the board in the first half in their opening two games of the new campaign before losing their way after …

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says his side’s set of backs have the potential to be the best-ever at the club. Australia centre Len Ikitau has linked up with the Chiefs after the Rugby Championship and should be available next week. He will add to an exciting set of three-quarters that …

Len Ikitau says he would not join the rebel R360 competition if it meant he would miss the chance to play for Australia at the 2027 World Cup. Ikitau, 27, has just arrived at Exeter from Super Rugby’s Brumbies after agreeing a one-season deal with the Prem Rugby side. The …

“I think the battle lines have been drawn publicly and everyone knows where the unions stand,” says sports lawyer Ben Cisneros of Morgan Sports Law. “The main thing everybody is seeking is a clearer understanding about what the competition looks like and what the future holds. “If players are going …

Bristol Bears have signed experienced Argentina international Matias Moroni on a short-term deal. The 34-year-old – who can play on the wing and centre – comes in as extra cover following a number of injuries to the Bears’ back line. They include AJ MacGinty (Achilles), Gabriel Ibitoye (hamstring) and James …

Gloucester have picked up two points from their opening two Prem losses of the season. They recruited heavily over the summer after 19 players left, but the injuries, added to the many new faces, have forced Skivington to introduce players earlier than he planned. Against the Saints they went 31-0 …

Curry has twice seen a specialist and had scans for the issue since returning to Sale from England’s tour to Argentina and the USA over the summer. Sanderson stressed that no decision had yet been made as to how to proceed and that one option includes surgery while the other …

That chance return to England by joining the competition’s most successful club was a coincidental one. After three years without an international cap, his form with New Zealand Super Rugby side Crusaders had him back in the Australia squad for the British and Irish Lions’ summer tour. And it was …

Ewels and Roux have started in the second row together for 16 of Bath’s past 22 Prem games, stretching back to the start of last season. Following victory against the Sharks – Bath’s second Prem win of the campaign so far – Van Graan said he would likely look to …

Sale Sharks back Rob du Preez is to leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 campaign to “pursue an opportunity abroad”, the team has said. The 32-year-old South African plays at fly-half or centre and has made more than 160 appearances for the Sharks since signing initially on …

Worcester Warriors head coach Matt Everard said his side “needed” the type of hard game they got in their win over Coventry in their Champ opener to sharpen their focus after all the emotion and attention of the club’s return to the sport. Warriors recovered from trailing 19-7 at half-time …

Red Bull’s takeover of the north east club was only completed in August, a little over six weeks before the start of the new Prem season. With such a short turnaround, much of Newcastle’s recruitment has been short-term, with most players handed one-year contracts. With the owners announcing their new …

Saracens flanker Nathan Michelow has been banned for four matches following his dismissal in their Prem win against Newcastle. The flanker was shown the league’s first ever ’20-minute red card’ inside the opening two minutes of the 39-17 victory for a tip tackle on Newcastle prop George McGuigan. Under a …

Exeter prop Kwenzo Blose is to undergo surgery after it was confirmed he has ruptured his Achilles. The South African forward was taken off injured 10 minutes after coming on from the bench in the Chiefs’ 38-15 Prem win over Newcastle on Saturday. Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said …