Rugby

James Regan Feb 1, 2025, 12:00 AM Open Extended Reactions PARIS — Was anyone else ever really going to steal the show in the Six Nations’ curtain-raiser? Antoine Dupont took centre stage with ease on Friday night in Paris as France cruised to a 43-0 victory over Wales, reaffirming their title credentials. For his part,

Jan 31, 2025, 10:22 PM Open Extended Reactions PARIS — France soared to an Antoine Dupont-inspired 43-0 victory over Wales in Paris on Friday that proved they mean business in this year’s Six Nations. While they were always going to be up against it, Wales looked calm under pressure in the opening exchanges and defended

Tom HamiltonJan 31, 2025, 05:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions DUBLIN — After several, painful, near-misses, England are ready to get the job done against Ireland in Dublin

Jan 30, 2025, 07:26 PM Open Extended Reactions As the 2025 Six Nations heats up, this year’s tournament carries with it the underlying theme of the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer. Who will play their way into head coach Andy Farrell’s side, and who will heartachingly miss out? Every player will

Jan 30, 2025, 02:13 PM Open Extended Reactions Stafford McDowall will earn a ninth cap at inside centre for Scotland in the place of injured captain Sione Tuipulotu in an otherwise experienced backline to face Italy in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday. Tuipulotu is expected to miss the entire competition in a

Jan 30, 2025, 12:18 PM Open Extended Reactions Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast will start his first Six Nations game in Saturday’s opener against England and marshal a near full-strength side as the holders bid to win a third successive title for the first time. Lock Joe McCarthy, who has started Ireland’s 11 previous games, joined

Jan 28, 2025, 11:57 PM Open Extended Reactions The 2025 Six Nations is here, and there are plenty of questions to be answered. Can Ireland make history by becoming the first team ever to win three outright titles in a row? Or will one of England, France or Scotland trump them to the title? Will

Jan 29, 2025, 12:25 AM Open Extended Reactions The 2025 Six Nations is here! The action kicks off in Paris on Friday, but it will be in Dublin where Ireland take on England that the weekend’s action could reach a climax. Ireland are without head coach Andy Farrell, who is focusing on the British &

Jan 29, 2025, 12:14 AM Open Extended Reactions The 2025 Six Nations is here! The action kicks off in Paris where Wales will be hoping to stun title hopefuls France at the Stade de France. France enter this one as favourites, where a victory would pile misery on Wales and extend their record 12-game losing

Jan 29, 2025, 10:47 AM Open Extended Reactions France have lost winger Damian Penaud to injury for their Six Nations clash against Wales, adding to a list of key players unavailable for the tournament opener at the Stade de France on Friday. Penaud had been expected to return to the team but suffered a toe

Tom HamiltonJan 28, 2025, 02:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions England have gone early in announcing their team for Ireland on Saturday in the Six Nations with Cadan

Tom HamiltonJan 28, 2025, 09:57 AM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Andy Farrell has started to put in place his backroom staff for the British & Irish Lions tour

Tom HamiltonJan 27, 2025, 11:13 AM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Scotland have turned to PROD2 player Alexander Masibaka as Gregor Townsend has been forced to add five further

Keith Jenkins Jan 6, 2025, 08:51 PM Open Extended Reactions Six Nations is the premier international rugby tournament in the northern hemisphere. It features head-to-head matches between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Here’s a look at each of the host stadiums for the Six Nations rugby tournament: England – Twickenham Stadium, London Opened

Tom HamiltonJan 27, 2025, 08:32 AM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Ireland will have to do without Tadhg Furlong in their first Six Nations fixture against England. Seb Daly/Sportsfile via

Tom HamiltonJan 23, 2025, 06:00 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions RFU CEO Bill Sweeney is adamant he is the right man to lead the organisation forward through the

Tom HamiltonJan 23, 2025, 05:51 PM Close • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Open Extended Reactions Andy Farrell will the British & Irish Lions on their tour of Australia. Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images Andy Farrell is

Jan 23, 2025, 11:25 AM Open Extended Reactions Bill Sweeney has said he the easiest option would be to walk away amid controversy over his pay. Dan Mullan/Getty Images Rugby Football Union CEO Bill Sweeney has defended his controversial pay package and said he had no intention of walking away from his position despite a pending