8:39 AM GMT France head coach Jacques Brunel has named an unchanged team to face Ireland in the Six Nations on Sunday. The French secured an important victory in their last match at home to Scotland, which followed comprehensive defeats to Wales and England. Brunel made five changes to his side ahead of the Scotland

6:34 PM GMT South Africa lock Lood de Jager will most of the Super Rugby season and will be a doubt to make September’s World Cup with his shoulder injury being worse than first thought. The Bulls captain sustained the injury 15 minutes into their 27-12 defeat to Jaguares in Buenos Aires a fortnight ago

1:42 AM GMT Sam Bruce Close ESPN Associate Editor Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPNscrum after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia’s digital rugby coverage. Andy Withers Close ESPN

10:49 AM GMT England lock Maro Itoje and flanker Chris Robshaw have been called up to the 31-man training squad named by head coach Eddie Jones ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations match against Italy at Twickenham. Robshaw has not played for England since the tour of Australia in June last year and missed the November

2:21 AM GMT United States have claimed their first tournament win of the 2018/19 series after thumping Samoa 27-0 in the final to win the Las Vegas 7s on Monday morning (AEDT). After finishing runners-up in the four previous tournaments, the defending champions made it back-to-back titles and moved to the top of the standings

11:34 AM GMT Queensland centre Jordan Petaia has had his World Cup dreams rocked by scans which have ruled him out of the remainder of the Super Rugby season. The 18-year-old will miss at least four months of rugby with a Lisfranc ligament tear in his left foot, suffered in the 15th minute of the

8:18 AM GMT Schalk Brits has breathed new life into a rugby career that appeared over when he retired after leaving Saracens in May, to such an extent that he is now fighting for a place in South Africa’s Springboks squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Brits, 37, said he was ready to

7:24 PM GMT Dan Carter will not return to French club Racing 92 due to medical reasons, the club announced on Saturday. The double World Cup winner was set to rejoin his former club as an injury replacement for Pat Lambie at fly half but Racing has confirmed that the deal is off on medical

1:29 PM GMT Pacific players are considering a motion to boycott this year’s World Cup in Japan after media reports revealed that a proposed shake-up of world rugby would exclude minor nations. The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare (PRPW) body said on Saturday that their 600-strong membership of mostly Europe-based professionals were “discussing and debating” a

6:49 AM GMT The Blues’ build up to their Super Rugby clash with the Jaguares in Buenos Aires has been overshadowed by the sudden death of former teammate Michael Tamoaieta in New Zealand. The death of the 23-year-old prop was announced by his family, the Blues and New Zealand Rugby on Saturday. “Michael was a