Meg Jones was born in Cardiff and speaks Welsh. But on Saturday she hopes to line up for England against Wales in the Principality Stadium. Sarra Elgan went to meet Jones as part of her Women’s Six Nations preview, which you can watch in full on BBC iPlayer. Available to UK users only. Read article...
Ireland’s Erin King believes she is playing alongside some of the best back rows in the world during the Women’s Six Nations. King, 21, started her side’s 27-15 defeat by France to kick off their campaign last weekend alongside Aoife Wafer and Brittany Hogan. Wafer scored twice in another superb display, while Hogan was instrumental...
Ulster back row James McNabney said “it was a bit surreal” to be included as a development player in Ireland’s Six Nations squad. The 22-year-old debuted for his province last season after making 14 appearances for the Ireland Under-20s. His inclusion for Ireland’s pre-championship training camp in Portugal was his first involvement with the senior...
Wales prop Donna Rose says the birth of her daughter inspired her to return from injury in time for the Women’s Six Nations. Rose welcomed baby Margot in January while recovering from neck surgery. She made her comeback against Scotland in the opening round last weekend and now looks forward to having her daughter at...
They have been under sustainability cap restrictions amid continued financial uncertainty following a proposed takeover, with head coach Paul Rowley unable to select his strongest team. Delays in funds being transferred by the investment group headed by Swiss banker Dario Berta also led to February’s wages for players and staff being held up. Now Lafai...
England hooker Lark Atkin-Davies and prop Hannah Botterman have both signed two-year extensions to stay with Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears. The Red Roses duo are both included in John Mitchell’s squad for the current Women’s Six Nations tournament. Atkin-Davies has 62 caps for her country and has scored 12 tries in 14 games...
Jones was joined in coming back last weekend by two other Wales front-row stalwarts, Gwenllian Pyrs and Donna Rose. Like Jones, they both bear the scars of neck surgery. For Sale Sharks loose-head Pyrs, Scotland was a first outing since surgery in November, which included a disc replacement and disc fusion, while Saracens tight-head Rose...
Securing the Ashes series this autumn gives England the chance to test their mettle against the world champions, after an eight-year wait. That last meeting was in the 2017 World Cup final, which Australia won. Since then, the Kangaroos have won the world crown again, doing so in England in 2022. “The chance to go...
Head coach Farrell said that there are as many as six players in contention for the Lions captaincy, with the skipper not learning of his appointment until shortly before the squad’s announcement on 8 May. “There are maybe four, five, six on the list,” he said. “When you narrow it down – this is the...
Hull FC have appointed Gareth Ellis as director of rugby and wellbeing. The 43-year-old former Black and Whites captain returned to the club in a wellbeing and welfare role last April after a brief spell with charity Rugby League Cares. “Hull FC means a great deal to me, and I’m honoured to take on this...
Paul O’Connell has been named Ireland’s interim head coach for the summer tour of Georgia and Portugal after Simon Easterby was appointed to the British and Irish Lions coaching team. Defence coach Easterby was given the Ireland interim head coach for the recent Six Nations because Andy Farrell is on a sabbatical from the role...
Lloyd hopes to be involved in finding a new head coach when Michael Cheika leaves at the end of the season, but does not feel sweeping change is needed. Leicester climbed to third place in the Premiership, with six games left, after thrashing defending champions Northampton on Friday. “If you look at what the team...
Northampton Saints have signed Amena Caqusau from Glasgow Warriors, with the wing to make the move south this summer ahead of next season. Caqusau played for Scotland in last year’s Under-20 Six Nations and is of Fijian ancestry, but is England qualified, having been born in Salisbury. “We first noticed Amena playing in the Under-20s...
Warrington Wolves half-back Marc Sneyd says his new side have the ability to go on to win an elusive first Super League title. The 34-year-old joined the Wire from Salford earlier this month after the Red Devils had been plagued by off-field issues in the lead-up to – and aftermath of – a takeover earlier...
Northampton lost a number of senior players following their successes in 2024, including Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Waller. And Coles – who described last season as being like “a bit of a fever dream almost” – believes it is now time for others to step up to the mark. “We came in on...