Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Billy Vunipola: 'If I drink, I get to a place where I probably forget what I did'

Vunipola handed formal RFU warning over drunken arrest

Billy Vunipola has received a formal warning from the Rugby Football Union for his drunken arrest in Majorca but has avoided any further sanction from the governing body.

Rugby • 09 May 24

Vunipola: 'Not knowing when to stop' led to arrest

Billy Vunipola insists he has a problem "knowing when to stop" as he explained the circumstances behind his drunken arrest in Majorca.

Rugby • 03 May 24

Billy Vunipola has been linked with a move to France this summer

Vunipola tasered and fined for resisting Spanish police

England forward Billy Vunipola has "unreservedly" apologised after being fined for resisting the law on the Spanish island of Majorca, during an incident in which he was tasered by police.

Rugby • 29 Apr 24

England hooker Jamie George and France number 8 Gregory Aldritt

George & Aldritt handed captaincy roles for Six Nations

England and France will have new captains for the Guinness Six Nations, with Jamie George and Gregory Alldritt assuming the respective roles for the upcoming tournament.

Rugby • 17 Jan 24

Billy Vunipola in action against the Bulls

Vunipola cleared for Connacht tie after red-card appeal

Billy Vunipola's red card he received during Saracens' Champions Cup clash against the Bulls has been overturned, leaving the number 8 free to play against Connacht on Saturday.

Rugby • 13 Dec 23

Vunipola played in three of England's four pool stage wins

England happy being cast as the villains - Vunipola

Billy Vunipola insists England are comfortable being cast as the pantomime villains of Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against Fiji in Marseille.

Rugby • 10 Oct 23

Vunipola was sent off after this challenge on Andrew Porter

Vunipola gets three-match ban, will miss RWC opener

Billy Vunipola has joined Owen Farrell in being banned for the start of the World Cup after receiving a three-week suspension for his red card against Ireland.

Rugby • 23 Aug 23

Owen Farrell (r) looks on as Billy Vunipola was shown a red card

England's Vunipola and Farrell to learn fate on Tuesday

England will learn on Tuesday the consequences for their World Cup group campaign caused by Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell being summoned to face rugby's judiciary.

Rugby • 21 Aug 23

Billy Vunipola was sent off for this high challenge

Can't blame refs for leaving calls to bunker - Heaslip

The new bunker review system is a good idea, says Jamie Heaslip, despite some criticism that it encourages on-field referees to leave big decisions to television match officials.

Rugby • 21 Aug 23

Vunipola hasn't played since April due to injury

Vunipola hopes to be fit for World Cup despite knee op

Billy Vunipola has undergone a minor operation on his injured knee but expects to be fit for the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby • 26 Jun 23

Jamie George, Billy Vunipola and Mako Vunipola have all been dropped

Eddie Jones insists door remains open for dropped stars

England head coach Eddie Jones insists he hasn't given up on Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola and Jamie George after all three were left out of 45-man training squad.

Rugby • 21 Sep 21

Billy Vunipola in action for Saracens during the defeat to Ealing Trailfinders

Billy Vunipola plotting path to Six Nations fitness

Billy Vunipola will continue to favour playing over training as he plots his own path towards fitness for England's Guinness Six Nations title defence.

Rugby • 17 Jan 21

Billy Vunipola did not take a knee last weekend

Vunipola explains his Black Lives Matter stance

Billy Vunipola declined to take a knee in support of Black Lives Matter last weekend because of his opposition to elements of the movement's protests.

Rugby • 19 Aug 20

Billy Vunipola: "Everyone needs to take heed of his messages and make sure you aren't the guy who gets cut."

Billy Vunipola desperate to stay in England shake-up

Billy Vunipola is determined to make sure he is one of the current crop of England players who manages to stay in Eddie Jones' plans for the 2023 World Cup.

Rugby • 14 Apr 20

Saracens will play in tier 2 next season

Vunipola to remain at Saracens despite relegation

England international Billy Vunipola insists he is "definitely staying" at Saracens and hopes to help the crisis-hit club secure an immediate return to the Gallagher Premiership.

Rugby • 25 Mar 20

Billy Vunipola is set to miss the entire of the Six Nations

Vunipola Six Nations blow for England

England have been given a major injury headache on the eve of their Six Nations squad announcement after Billy Vunipola suffered a broken arm on European duty for Saracens.

Rugby • 20 Jan 20

Billy Vunipola and two of his England team-mates swarm around New Zealand's Brodie Retallick

Vunipola: England's early impact on New Zealand was key

Billy Vunipola has revealed that England wanted to "shock" New Zealand in the opening 20 minutes of their unforgettable World Cup semi-final performance.

Rugby • 27 Oct 19

Billy Vunipola is rated "very likely" to be available for showdown with Australia

D-day for Billy Vunipola as he looks to prove fitness

Billy Vunipola faces the most important training session of his career on Wednesday as he attempts to prove his fitness for England's World Cup quarter-final against Australia.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 15 Oct 19

England sweating on Vunipola ahead of pool decider

England are awaiting the outcome of tests on Billy Vunipola's injured ankle ahead of their World Cup pool decider clash with France on Saturday.

Rugby • 07 Oct 19

'Men don't know how to talk about their feelings'

Vunipola: Brutally honest group therapy aiding England

England's "brutally honest" group therapy sessions helped them erase painful memories of their group stage exit from the 2015 Rugby World Cup and brought them closer together as a team, number eight Billy Vunipola has said.

Rugby • 01 Oct 19

Billy Vunipola reaches for the line to score the second half's only try

McCall hails Vunipola for 'doing talking on the field'

Saracens boss Mark McCall hailed a towering contribution by Billy Vunipola following a memorable Heineken Champions Cup final victory over holders Leinster.

Rugby • 11 May 19

Earls and Murray back but no Carbery for Munster

Keith Earls and Conor Murray have been named in the Munster side to face Benetton in Saturday's Pro14 quarter-final but the game has come too soon for out-half Joey Carbery.

Rugby • 03 May 19

Billy Vunipola with family after the Munster game

Vunipola should have been banned - Peat and O'Sullivan

Billy Vunipola should have been banned for the Champions Cup semi-final, according to Eddie O'Sullivan and Lindsay Peat.

Rugby • 24 Apr 19

RTÉ Rugby podcast: Leinster progress, Munster out

The panel discuss Leinster and Munster's differing Heineken Champions Cup fortunes, and the latest situation regarding Billy Vunipola's comments.

Rugby • 24 Apr 19

Saracens' Billy Vunipola is confronted by a Munster fan

EPCR condemn Munster fan who confronted Vunipola

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) condemned the Munster fan who confronted Saracens' Billy Vunipola at the end of the province's Heineken Champions Cup defeat at the Ricoh Arena.

Rugby • 20 Apr 19