10:37 AM GMT Australian captain Sharni Williams says their side’s wet weather win against France to claim bronze at the Sydney Sevens went a way to proving their mettle after their collapse against Canada earlier in the day. Tries to Ellia Green and Demi Haynes in the first and second minute were all Australia needed

6:42 PM GMT Ireland handed Andy Farrell an unconvincing victory in his first game in charge on Saturday as they struggled to put another poor World Cup behind them with a 19-12 win over Scotland on their return to the home comforts of the Six Nations. Ireland, winners of three of the last six Six

5:38 PM GMT France winger Damian Penaud has been ruled out of Sunday’s Six Nations clash against England with a calf injury, French media reported on Saturday. French radio station RMC said Penaud picked up the injury during the captain’s run on Saturday. 1 Related They added he had been replaced in the starting XV

Jan 31, 2020 Warren Gatland made a winning return to New Zealand rugby on Friday when his Chiefs came from behind to edge the Blues 37-29 in the Super Rugby season-opener at Eden Park. Gatland, back in his Hamilton hometown after 12 years as coach of Wales and the British and Irish Lions, watched on

10:48 AM GMT England manager Eddie Jones has handed Northampton full-back George Furbank his international debut in his team to face France in the Six Nations on Sunday. Jones has gone for an experienced side with 675 caps in the starting XV for the game in Paris. – ESPN Fantasy Rugby is back! Click here

11:33 PM GMT Attention Australian Super Rugby players: Dave Rennie knows what he wants and it’s over to you to prove you can deliver it. The new Wallabies coach has spent the last 10 days travelling around Australia’s four franchises, meeting and greeting the players and staff who will hopefully set in motion the beginnings

6:00 PM GMT England have suffered a setback ahead of their Six Nations opener against France on Sunday, with Anthony Watson ruled out due to a calf issue. Watson, who represents Bath at club level, would likely have started in Eddie Jones’ side in Paris, either on the wing or at full-back. – ESPN Fantasy

12:00 PM GMT The Six Nations is back, offering a short-term cure to rugby’s strife. The championship temporarily papers over the cracks in the game as old, established rivalries are reignited with new faces at the helm. Wales winning the Grand Slam last year seems to be from a different era, let alone year. Since

2:05 PM GMT New France coach Fabien Galthie has named two uncapped players — Anthony Bouthier and Mohamed Haouas — for France’s Six Nations opening game against England on Sunday. Galthie has largely trusted the more experienced players on his side with Bouthier and Haouas the only two of 19 uncapped players in the squad

11:19 AM GMT Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has made 10 changes to the team that lost to Japan in the Rugby World Cup for their Six Nations opener against Ireland. Edinburgh’s Nick Haining will make his Test debut while Ali Price and Sean Maitland replace the recently retired Greig Laidlaw and Tommy Seymour. TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT