7 h. ago Why is it called the Ashes? What is inside the urn that England and Australia play for?

The second Test of the Ashes series takes place across the weekend as England look to fight back against Australia

Politics

14 h. ago Labour MP warns of huge Commons revolt against scrapping jury trials as he brands David Lammy a 'liar' and 'stark raving barmy'

The Justice Secretary this week unveiled proposals to set up so-called 'swift courts' in England and Wales, where cases will be heard by a judge alone.

Events

16 h. ago Prison population set to hit 100,000 a year later than projected – figures

Newly published estimates project the rise in the number of prisoners will reach between 98,000 and 103,6000 by March 2030.

Events

33 h. ago Gregor Townsend whips up Scotland World Cup fever as double qualification grips nation

Toony spoke as he reacted to the rugby team's draw just 24 hours before the men's football team discover their fate

Politics

34 h. ago Exact dates snow forecast to hit England, Scotland and Wales in December

UK weather maps show that Brits are set for an Arctic blast later this month with icy temperatures and widespread snow in a spell of unsettled weather ahead of Christmas

Events

36 h. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw: England learn pool stage opponents

NIK SIMON: England have been drawn in the same pool as Wales for the 2027 World Cup and have a potentially dream route to the final. 

Politics

36 h. ago Favourable 2027 Rugby World Cup draw provides few potholes for England | Robert Kitson

Signs are encouraging for an improving squad to invoke the glory of 2003 with rivals facing trickier routes in Australia As the Ashes have reminded us, it never pays to get too excited in advance about winning in Australia. But once the draw for the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup had concluded and the various knockout permutations had been crunched there was a strong whiff of deja vu in the Sydney air. A World Cup down under and a decent draw for England? What could possibly go wrong?The organisers had already stoked the narrative nicely by wheeling out Jonny Wilkinson in the promotional tournament video, essentially a mashup of Mad Max and Wacky Races roaring across a dusty outback. When every Australian wakes up on Thursday to discover it is 666 days until the 2027 edition kicks off, the nagging fear of nightmarish history repeating itself will further intensify. Continue reading...

Politics

38 h. ago The Sarah Everard report part two: a catalogue of repeated and preventable failures | Joan Smith

So many reviews, so much hand-wringing, yet misogyny in England and Wales’s police forces and impunity for offenders remains the normHow do we get sexual predators out of the country’s police forces? It was one of the most urgent questions asked in 2021 when a serving police officer, PC Wayne Couzens, was charged with the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard. In the first report of Elish Angiolini’s inquiry into this dreadful sequence of events, published in February last year, she made the eminently sensible recommendation that any individual with a caution or conviction for a sexual offence should be rejected during police vetting.It seemed the very least that should happen, yet we’ve learned from Lady Angiolini’s second report this week that the recommendation has yet to be implemented. She reveals that it took 18 months after publication for police chiefs to agree a blanket ban on recruits who have convictions, and even then it wasn’t included in draft Home Office regulat...

Events

39 h. ago All Blacks meet hosts Australia in mouthwatering clash as England face Wales at 2027 Rugby World Cup

Ireland will take on Scotland in the pool stage while reigning champions South Africa could meet New Zealand in the quarter-finals

Sport

39 h. ago Hosts Australia to face New Zealand in Rugby World Cup pool as England draw Wales

Champions South Africa face Italy, Georgia and RomaniaIreland and Scotland in pool with Uruguay and PortugalThe host nation Australia will face their traditional rivals New Zealand at the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 after the draw was made in Sydney on Wednesday. The Wallabies, hosting a second men’s tournament, were guaranteed to face a top-ranked nation in Pool A due to a current world ranking of seventh, and the renewal of their fierce rivalry with the All Blacks is perhaps the most appetising possible outcome from the draw.The potential for a “Bledisloe Cup” opening match to kick off the global showpiece, on 1 October 2027 in Perth, will be a hugely attractive prospect for fans. Chile, playing at a second Rugby World Cup after their debut in France in 2023, and debutants Hong Kong are also in Pool A. England, who won the men’s tournament in Australia 22 years ago, have been pitted against their Six Nations rivals Wales, with Tonga and Zimbabwe the other sides in Pool F. Wales ...

Politics

40 h. ago Prisons 'will be overwhelmed by slashing jury trials' as Labour MPs and peers vow to kill David Lammy's plan

Justice Secretary David Lammy has unveiled proposals to set up so-called 'swift courts' in England and Wales where cases will be heard by a judge alone.

Events

40 h. ago England will face Wales in the 2027 Rugby World Cup group stages, as Scotland and Ireland also drawn in tough pool

NIK SIMON: England will face Wales in the group stages of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Ireland and Scotland also drawn in the same group. 

Politics

40 h. ago Rugby World Cup draw in full: England to face Wales after avoiding 'pool of death'

Australia to meet New Zealand as Steve Borthwick’s side learn opponents

Events

40 h. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw: Australia and New Zealand drawn in Pool A – live

England and Wales together in Pool FAny thoughts? Email AngusOur panellists are installed behind big red buckets. What will they pluck from within them? And whose destiny will be decided by their fickle fingers of fate?All Black legend Dan Carter recalls seeing the first RWC as a seven-year-old and going on to play in four tournaments. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago ‘I ticked off all my goals and I thought it would resolve all my issues’: Jonny Wilkinson on his mental health journey

The ex-rugby player speaks to Sara Keenan about his mental health journey and the pressures men face in today’s society.

Politics

41 h. ago Rugby World Cup 2027 draw made as England's route to glory becomes clear

England have been drawn in a group with Wales for the Rugby World Cup in 2027 with New Zealand or South Africa among their possible opponents should they reach the final

Politics

41 h. ago England to face Wales in group stage at 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup

Ireland and Scotland and hosts Australia and New Zealand were also drawn together.

Politics

43 h. ago What time is Rugby World Cup draw? Confirmed seedings, TV channel and live stream today

All eyes on Sydney as England learn pool stage opponents for expanded 2027 tournament and potential route to final

Sport

50 h. ago Two in five teenagers in England and Wales ‘abused’ in intimate relationships

Survey of 11,000 13- to 17-year-olds says emotional and physical abuse includes control, pressure or violenceTwo in five teenagers in intimate relationships say they have experienced emotional or physical abuse, including control, pressure or violence, according to a survey in England and Wales.“Teenage years are often when children first begin to explore romantic relationships,” the report says. “At their best, these can bring joy and companionship and teach important lessons about trust. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027: how the draw will work and the new format explained

A potential path to victory at the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup will become clearer in Sydney on Wednesday when the draw for the tournament is made Continue reading...

Politics