Rugby | Latest League & Union News & Opinions

'Speed of thought is as important as speed of movement'

McCloskey proof that experience is a precious commodity

Stuart McCloskey's masterclass in Twickenham showed that age should be less of a talking point when it comes to selecting an Ireland squad.

Rugby • 24 Feb

Taine Plumtree of Wales reacts after he receives a yellow card and concedes a penalty try during the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between England and Wales at Allianz Stadium on February 7, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)

Wales will be without Plumtree for Ireland clash

Taine Plumtree has been ruled out of the Wales' Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland but Sam Costelow could feature in next week's game at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 2 mins

OITA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 19: Eddie Jones, (R) the England head coach talks to his forwards coach Steve Borthwick during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Quarter Final match between England and Australia at Oita Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Oita, Japan. (Photo by D

Jones slams Borthwick 'overconfidence' for England dip

Eddie Jones believes England's dramatic collapse in the Guinness Six Nations can be explained by Steve Borthwick's overconfidence in looking ahead to a title decider against France before the tournament had begun.

Rugby • 17 hrs

21 February 2026; Ireland players Garry Ringrose, left, and Tommy O'Brien after their side's victory in the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sports

Ringrose: 'It's fickle how quickly things can change'

Two weeks is a long time in the Six Nations, as Garry Ringrose explains.

Rugby • 24 Feb

3 December 2025; Head coach Andy Farrell during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Against The Head: Farrell the master technician

The Against the Head panel on Andy Farrell making Ireland spark again and how he manages the team environment.

Rugby • 24 Feb

14 February 2026; Sam Prendergast of Ireland during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by John Dickson/Sportsfile

Cullen on Prendergast: 'It's never smooth sailing'

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen believes Sam Prendergast has the mentality to overcome a difficult few weeks after losing possession of the Ireland No. 10 jersey.

Rugby • 23 Feb

21 February 2026; James Lowe of Ireland, centre, and team manager Mick Kearney celebrate after the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland wait on news of Lowe's injury; Conan returns

James Lowe will continue to be assessed for a groin strain, while Jack Conan has returned to training following an illness in the wake of Ireland's record 42-21 victory at Twickenham.

Rugby • 23 Feb

21 February 2026; Referee Pierre Brousset awards Ireland a fourth try, scored by Dan Sheehan, hidden, during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/S

TV audience for Ireland win peaks at over a million

Ireland's Six Nations victory over England on Saturday attracted an average audience of 898,000 and reached a peak of over 1 million, making it the most watched game of the 2026 Six Nations Championship to date among Irish audiences.

Rugby • 23 Feb

21 February 2026; Ireland coaching staff and non-playing squad members, including Ireland assistant coaches Jonathan Sexton and Simon Easterby share a joke during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz S

Farrell hopes England rout gets fans on board again

Andy Farrell says he hadn't paid much attention to the negativity that surrounded his Ireland team but hopes the win over England gets some fans "back on board".

Rugby • 23 Feb

21 February 2026; Joe McCarthy of Ireland during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

McCarthy: Ireland staying in the Six Nations 'hunt'

Ireland are determined to stay in the "hunt" for the Six Nations title, according to Joe McCarthy, while a shot at the Triple Crown remains very much on the cards.

Rugby • 23 Feb

21 February 2026; Tommy O'Brien of Ireland is tackled by Marcus Smith of England during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

'Sometimes you don't have time to think' - O'Brien

Thrown in at the deep end earlier than expected, Tommy O'Brien made an immediate impact in Ireland's stunning 42-21 victory over England at Twickehham.

Rugby • 22 Feb

LILLE, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 22: Louis Bielle-Biarrey of France scores his team's first try during the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between France and Italy at Stade Pierre Mauroy on February 22, 2026 in Lille, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

France advance towards Slam after seeing off Italy

France edged closer to the Six Nations Grand Slam after a bonus-point 33-8 defeat of Italy under the closed roof at Stade Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille.

Rugby • 22 Feb

21 February 2026; Stuart McCloskey of Ireland after the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

McCloskey: 'We proved a lot of people wrong'

Stuart McCloskey was almost stuck for words following Ireland's 42-21 victory over England but did admit that proving some of the team's doubters wrong was especially satisfying.

Rugby • 22 Feb

21 February 2026; Jamison Gibson-Park of Ireland, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's first try during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Phot

Born-again Ireland dismantle England in record victory

Ireland delivered a statement performance for the ages to stun England and claim a record 42-21 Six Nations win at Twickenham.

Rugby • 22 Feb

21 February 2026; Ellis Genge of England leaves the pitch at half-time during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Genge apologises to England fans over Ireland display

Ellis Genge apologised to England fans for the 42-21 defeat by Ireland that has ended their Guinness Six Nations title aspirations.

Rugby • 22 Feb

21 February 2026; Jamison Gibson-Park of Ireland scores his side's first try during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ratings: Gibson-Park shows his class in famous win

Here's how we rated the Irish players in their sensational 42-21 win against England.

Rugby • 21 Feb

21 February 2026; Ireland players, including Jack Crowley, James Ryan, Garry Ringrose, Tadhg Beirne and Ciarán Frawley, celebrate their side's first try, scored by teammate Jamison Gibson-Park, left, during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match

Six Nations: England 21-42 Ireland - recap

Follow our minute by minute coverage from Twickenham as Ireland and England face off in a crucial Guinness Six Nations clash.

Rugby • 21 Feb

21 February 2026; Jeremy Loughman of Ireland and teammates celebrate their side's fourth try, scored by teammate Dan Sheehan, hidden, during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham,

Borthwick: 'We gave ourselves a mountain to climb'

Steve Borthwick is to conduct a thorough review of his team to prevent England's Guinness Six Nations from unravelling further in the wake of a 42-21 mauling by Ireland at Allianz Stadium.

Rugby • 21 Feb

CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 21: George Turner of Scotland celebrates scoring his team's fourth try with teammates during the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between Wales and Scotland at Principality Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by

Scotland keep Triple Crown hopes alive

Scotland stayed on course for a first Triple Crown since 1990 with a pulsating 26-23 comeback Guinness Six Nations victory against winless Wales in Cardiff.

Rugby • 21 Feb

21 February 2026; Referee Pierre Brousset with Ireland captain Caelan Doris and England captain Maro Itoje during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Ramsey Ca

Doris: External negativity never dented our belief

Irish captain Caelan Doris said that external negativity never threatened their internal positivity as Andy Farrell's side got their Six Nations campaign back on track in devastating style against England.

Rugby • 21 Feb

21 February 2026; Ireland head coach Andy Farrell before the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

'We got told we needed to dampen them down, rightly so'

Andy Farrell refused to rank Ireland's win over England preferring instead to savour the moment as his side crushed the hosts 42-21 at the home of rugby.

Rugby • 21 Feb

20 February 2026; Jack Crowley during an Ireland Rugby captain's run at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Feet-finding Ireland face tough Twickenham task

Ireland head to Twickenham knowing they must win to keep their slim Six Nations title hopes alive, but England are in the same boat.

Rugby • 21 Feb

20 February 2026; Robert Baloucoune during an Ireland Rugby captain's run at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Top cat Baloucoune enjoying second of his nine lives

If you were slightly taken aback to see Rob Baloucoune's name on the teamsheet for last weekend's win over Italy you weren't the only one.

Rugby • 21 Feb

Lee Fitzpatrick of Ireland scores his side's first try during the U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at The Rec in Bath, England. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Four-try Ireland make a statement with win in England

Ireland's Under-20s tore up the script at Bath's Recreation Ground, delivering a thunderous 31-21 Six Nations Championship victory over England that felt every inch a statement.

Rugby • 20 Feb

5 July 2025; Jack Crowley of Ireland during the International Rugby Test match between Georgia and Ireland at at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Six Nations: England v Ireland - All you need to know

Ireland and England meet at Twickenham as they both look to keep their Six Nations championship hopes alive. Here's everything you need to know about the clash.

Rugby • 21 Feb