Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Jamison Gibson-Park retains his starting spot despite the return to fitness of Conor Murray (r)

Scotland boss understands Gibson-Park over Murray call

Gregor Townsend understands why Ireland have left Conor Murray on the bench after the experienced Munster and Lions scrum-half failed to dislodge Jamison Gibson-Park.

Rugby • 12 Mar 21

Louis Rees-Zammit has scored four tries in six appearances for Wales

King Louis - Pivac salutes 'exciting' Welsh winger

Wales boss Wayne Pivac hailed a stunning performance by Louis Rees-Zammit after the Gloucester wing's try double secured a thrilling 25-24 Guinness Six Nations victory over Scotland.

Rugby • 13 Feb 21

Gregor Townsend celebrates with Stuart Hogg as a dejected Owen Farrell walks past

Townsend ranks Twickenham win among Scotland's greatest

Gregor Townsend believes Scotland's first win at Twickenham since 1983 could be the nation's greatest ever Test victory.

Rugby • 06 Feb 21

Townsend includes Russell in Scotland Six Nations squad

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named his 35-man squad for the 2021 Guinness Six Nations, including four uncapped players and the return of out-half Finn Russell.

Rugby • 20 Jan 21

Scotland extend Gregor Townsend's reign

Gregor Townsend has signed up to lead Scotland into the 2023 World Cup after agreeing a two-year contract extension.

Rugby • 10 Dec 20

'My preference is to move to the summer to align with the southern hemisphere'

Scotland head coach craving 'aligned' rugby calendar

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has backed moves to combine two international windows and is hopeful that an 'aligned' rugby calendar can be created between the northern and southern hemispheres.

Rugby • 30 May 20

Russell, right, was dropped from the squad for Scotland's Six Nations opener against Ireland following a disciplinary issue and did not feature before the tournament was halted

Scottish harmony between Townsend and Russell

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend delivered an upbeat assessment of Finn Russell's international prospects after admitting he had been in regular contact with the out-half in recent weeks.

Rugby • 14 May 20

Russell, right, left the Scotland squad nine days before the opening-day Six Nations defeat by Ireland after missing training following an alleged drinking session at the team hotel

Russell reveals Scotland contact and hopes for return

Finn Russell is targeting a return to the Scotland fold and insists that the Six Nations fallout with head coach Gregor Townsend was "blown out of proportion".

Rugby • 04 Apr 20

The salary deferrals are as a result of a cash-flow crisis for Scottish rugby

Scotland coach Townsend agrees to salary deferral

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend and Murrayfield chief Mark Dodson have agreed to salary deferments as the Scottish Rugby Union accepts the coronavirus shutdown is likely to have major consequences for "some time to come".

Rugby • 31 Mar 20

Townsend is Scot's Solskjaer, says United fan Watson

Manchester United fan Hamish Watson admits he is relieved to see Gregor Townsend is still at the wheel with Scotland.

Rugby • 11 Mar 20

(L-R) Stuart Hogg, Adam Hastings and Rory Hutchison celebrate Scotland's third try

Scots boost morale with badly needed win in Rome

Stuart Hogg helped relieved some of the pressure on coach Gregor Townsend as his stunning solo try sent Scotland on their way to their first win of the Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Rugby • 22 Feb 20

'He stated at the weekend that everything else has to change for him to come back'

Russell can't dictate return terms - Gregor Townsend

Gregor Townsend has left the door open for Finn Russell to rejoin the Scotland squad but stressed he must sign up to the new standards of behaviour that have been set.

Rugby • 10 Feb 20

Hastings admits the loss to England felt like a missed opportunity for him

Hastings hopes for one more chance to stake claim

Scotland out-half Adam Hastings is hopeful that head coach Gregor Townsend will give him one more chance to show he can fill Finn Russell's boots.

Rugby • 09 Feb 20

Finn Russell appears to have given thumbs down to playing under Gregor Townsend

Russell cool on Scots return while Townsend in charge

Finn Russell has appeared to rule out hopes he will return to the Scotland set-up during this year's Guinness Six Nations after revealing a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend.

Rugby • 09 Feb 20

Townsend urges Scotland to take the game to Ireland

Gregor Townsend has wiped Scotland's World Cup slate clean - but warned his team they have to put up a better fight against Ireland than they did four months ago.

Rugby • 30 Jan 20

Townsend unhappy with English bosses as Taylor omitted

Gregor Townsend has blamed English rugby chiefs for his decision to leave Saracens centre Duncan Taylor out of Scotland's Six Nations squad.

Rugby • 16 Jan 20

'I'm sure that alternative venues and arrangements are being looked at'

Townsend and Scots in limbo as typhoon threat looms

Scotland will discover on Thursday whether they will be controversially blown out of the World Cup by Typhoon Hagibis.

Rugby • 09 Oct 19

John Barclay is tackled by Ireland's Johnny Sexton and Josh van der Flier on the 22 September

Barclay eager to lay down a marker against Russia

John Barclay found himself relegated to Scotland's second-string after his Ireland horror show but hopes a stormer against Russia in Shizuoka could seal a return to Gregor Townsend's top team for Sunday's crucial World Cup showdown with Japan.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 08 Oct 19

Scotland claimed a crucial win over Samoa

The real Scotland stood up against Samoa, says Townsend

Scotland's limp defeat to Ireland in their World Cup opener prompted questions about the squad's heart and desire but head coach Gregor Townsend said his players had proved their mettle in their bonus-point win over Samoa.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 30 Sep 19

Sam Johnson has recovered from an ankle injury

Sam Johnson returns to Scotland line-up

Sam Johnson will make his return from injury in Georgia but three more players will not feature at all this season before Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend picks his World Cup squad.

Rugby • 29 Aug 19

Greig Laidlaw helped Scotland to a 17-14 victory over France

Scotland showing new found maturity - Laidlaw

Greig Laidlaw felt Scotland showed a growing maturity after bouncing back from another poor start to beat France 17-14 at BT Murrayfield.

Rugby • 25 Aug 19

Townsend concern for Scotland trio

Gregor Townsend says injury is likely to rule Sam Skinner, Tommy Seymour and Blade Thomson out of Scotland's third World Cup warm-up match against Georgia.

Rugby • 24 Aug 19

Uncapped duo fill last places in Scotland squad

Uncapped Glasgow pair Scott Cummings and Kyle Steyn have bagged the final two places in Scotland's World Cup training squad.

Rugby • 28 May 19

Stuart Hogg is seeing a specialist about his injured shoulder

Scotland sweating over Hogg injury news

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend is keeping his fingers crossed for good news as Stuart Hogg prepares to see a specialist about his injured shoulder.

Rugby • 13 Feb 19

Farrell and Townsend share a word in Edinburgh

Townsend: Edinburgh result will have no bearing on RWC

The Pool A rivals meet in their opening game in Yokohama on 22 September, knowing that the top team in the group is likely to avoid back-to-back world champions New Zealand in the quarter-final.

Rugby • 11 Feb 19