Rugby

1:17 PM GMT Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been named on the bench for their Six Nation’s clash against Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, while fullback Michael Lowry is set to earn his first international cap. Coach Andy Farrell has made six changes from the side’s 30-24 defeat against tournament favourites France on

8:21 AM GMT Former New Zealand winger Joeli Vidiri, who also represented Fiji, has died aged 48, the All Blacks announced on Friday. Vidiri’s death comes a day after fellow New Zealand winger Va’aiga Tuigamala died at the age of 52. “An incredibly sad day continues,” the All Blacks tweeted. “Another one of our brothers

12:04 PM GMT Courtney Lawes and Manu Tuilagi return to the England team to face Wales in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday, while Harry Randall gets another chance to impress at scrum-half in the squad named by coach Eddie Jones on Thursday. Lawes missed the opening two games with concussion but comes back

8:17 AM GMT England centre Manu Tuilagi has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations clash at home to Wales after picking up a hamstring injury in training, the RFU said on Thursday. Tuilagi had been included in coach Eddie Jones’s line-up for the match, with the 30-year-old returning after the latest of his long

12:12 PM GMT Jonathan Danty returns from injury to take his place in the French backline in the only change announced by coach Fabien Galtier to take on Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday. Danty missed France’s home win over Ireland a fortnight ago, which marked a second victory for them in

12:31 PM GMT Former New Zealand winger Va’aiga Tuigamala, who also represented Samoa in rugby league, has died at the age of 52, his former club Wigan Warriors announced on Thursday. Nicknamed “Inga the Winger,” Tuigamala made his All Blacks debut in 1989 and was capped 19 times by the national team, before switching to

8:00 PM GMT Liam Napier The challenge facing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is not insignificant. For all the hype surrounding his Super Rugby Pacific debut this week, it may be best to temper initial expectations. From one of the world’s premier league players to starting again as a 28-year-old rookie, Tuivasa-Sheck’s immediate transition will not be easy.

6:49 PM GMT Ireland have received a boost ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations match at home to Italy with captain Johnny Sexton set to return after recovering from a hamstring injury. Sexton missed Ireland’s 30-24 defeat in France on Feb. 12 after picking up the injury in training during the build-up to the game. The

11:30 AM GMT Former England lock George Kruis will retire from rugby at the end of the season to focus on business commitments, the 32-year-old announced on Tuesday. Kruis played 45 times for England and was part of their squads for the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, as well as two Six Nations triumphs,

2:25 PM GMT Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has added six players to his Six Nations squad ahead of Saturday’s match at home to France after some players were forced to withdraw due to injuries, it was announced on Monday. James Lang, Ollie Smith, Oli Kebble, Simon Berghan, Kiran McDonald and Marshall Sykes have joined the