12:05 PM GMT France coach Fabien Galthie has made two changes to the team who beat Italy as he prepares for what he called “chaos” against Ireland at the Aviva stadium in the Six Nations on Sunday. Anthony Jelonch comes in for Dylan Cretin in the third row and Damian Penaud starts for Teddy Thomas

11:45 AM GMT Billy Burns and Jamison Gibson Park have replaced the injured Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray for Ireland’s Six Nations clash with France on Sunday at the Aviva in Dublin. Ulster’s Iain Henderson will captain the side for the first time and will be joined by Tadhg Beirne in the second-row. Both Sexton

10:43 AM GMT England wing Anthony Watson has struck out at criticism surrounding some of the England players taking the knee calling it “a double standard.” Watson, 26, was one of 16 England players to take the knee ahead of their match against Scotland but has faced criticism over his decision to do so. –

9:50 AM GMT England centre Jonathan Joseph has been handed a two-week suspension for breaching COVID-19 government rules. Joseph and his Bath teammate Elliott Stooke, alongside Wasps’ Gabriel Oghre were all charged by the RFU for “off-field infringements of the Government’s National Covid-19 Rules and related to mixing of multiple households, with two players travelling

12:22 PM GMT Wales have made five changes for their trip to Scotland on Saturday in the Six Nations. Aaron Wainright, Gareth Davies, Liam Williams, Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin all start as Wales battle a growing injury list. 2 Related Willis Halaholo is included on the bench and will make his Test debut if

12:40 PM GMT Scotland have made three changes for Wales from the side that secured their famous win against England. Cameron Redpath, Jamie Ritchie and Sean Maitland are all absent through injury so Blade Thomson, James Lang and Darcy Graham all start for Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. – Play ESPN’s Rugby Pick’em for FREE

11:00 AM GMT England have made five changes for their Six Nations clash against Italy on Saturday at Twickenham. Following their opening round loss to Scotland, England have handed starts to George Ford, Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler and Courtney Lawes. Ollie Lawrence and Mark Wilson, who both started in their championship opener, drop

10:35 PM GMT Reuters with ESPN staff New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith described his France counterpart Antoine Dupont as the world’s top rugby player on Wednesday. Replying to the Six Nations’ Twitter question “Who is the best rugby player in the world right now?”, the 32-year-old Smith went for Dupont. “This guy is on another

12:53 PM GMT Wales have called up James Botham, Lloyd Williams and the uncapped Willis Halaholo to their injury-hit squad ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield, the Wales Rugby Union said on Wednesday. The Cardiff Blues trio replace Dan Lydiate, Tomos Williams and Johnny Williams who were all hurt in the

7:28 PM GMT A reduction in scrum resets, sevens-style free kicks, and the “use it” call being strictly enforced are among law variations and focal points for the second season of Super Rugby AU. Rugby Australia’s [RA] provincial competition returns to action on Friday week with a double-header that will also herald the official start