8 h. ago Sean Lynn urges Wales to embrace mighty England challenge in front of record crowd

The Principality Stadium will play host to the round two fixture in the Women’s Six Nations

Politics

29 h. ago Ellie Kildunne to win 50th England cap in Women’s Six Nations clash with Wales

Mitchell makes 13 changes to starting XV from Italy winCardiff match to break Welsh women’s attendance recordEllie Kildunne will win her 50th cap for England when she starts against Wales at the Principality Stadium in the Women’s Six Nations on Saturday as one of 13 changes to the starting XV. Kildunne, who made her England debut in 2017 and has scored 36 tries for her country, will start at full-back after making an appearance off the bench on the wing in England’s 38-5 win over Italy last Sunday.“She is outstanding, she is the girl that everyone is looking up to at the moment,” said England’s forwards coach, Louis Deacon. “She is such an exciting player. To achieve 50 games for the Red Roses is an outstanding achievement but she has got so many more games to come down the line as well.” The wings Abby Dow and Jess Breach will round off the back three either side of Kildunne while Megan Jones and Tatyana Heard feature for the first time this tournament in the centre partnership wi...

Politics

31 h. ago I won it all with Celtic – now I'm a manager and I've just been sent off for my Scottish ACCENT

Gary Caldwell has an unusual theory for why he was shown a red card at the weekend

Politics

57 h. ago Donald Trump’s ‘war on woke’ is fast becoming a war on science. That’s incredibly dangerous | Christina Pagel

Contrary to claims by the US president, we have found that diversity initiatives result in better scientists and greater progressChristina Pagel is a member of Independent SageDonald Trump’s attacks on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives since his January inauguration have been intense, indiscriminate and escalating. A tragic plane crash was baselessly blamed on DEI. All DEI programmes within public bodies have been ended and private contractors face cancellation if they also don’t comply. Webpages that defend religious diversity in the context of Holocaust remembrance have been taken down.Science and academia have been particularly targeted. Universities are threatened with losing federal funding if they support DEI. Government reports and government-funded research are being held back if they include prohibited terms such as “gender”, “pregnant person”, “women”, “elderly”, or “disabled”. Grants funded by the National Institutes of Health are being cancelled if they...

Politics

59 h. ago Alfredo Morelos blasted by his own boss as former Rangers star loses it after being branded 'fat'

The Atletico Nacional hitman received the ninth red card of his career after Medellin keeper Washington Aguerre mocked him

Economics

2 d. ago Fifa close on recognising Afghanistan women’s team but players say it is too late

Team closer to representing country four years after exilePlayers express frustration at Fifa’s slow progressFifa has cleared the way for the exiled Afghanistan women’s national team to represent the country but has been criticised for moving too slowly, four years after players fled the country when the Taliban returned to power.Football’s global governing body said it was committed to supporting players outside Afghanistan and would organise training camps, provide staff (including qualified coaches and technical and medical staff) and coordinate friendly matches. Continue reading...

Sport

2 d. ago Fifa closes on recognising Afghanistan women’s team but players say it is too late

Team closer to representing country four years after exilePlayers express frustration at Fifa’s slow progressFifa has cleared the way for the exiled Afghanistan women’s national team to represent the country but has been criticised for moving too slowly, four years after players fled the country when the Taliban returned to power.Football’s global governing body said it was committed to supporting players outside Afghanistan and would organise training camps, provide staff (including qualified coaches and technical and medical staff) and coordinate friendly matches. Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago The Guardian view on the Signal war plans leak: a US security breach speaks volumes | Editorial

A staggering blunder points to the wider failings of the careless and amateurish Trump administrationIt is jaw-dropping that senior Trump administration figures would accidentally leak war plans to a journalist. But the fundamental issue is that 18 high-ranking individuals were happy discussing extremely sensitive material on a private messaging app, highlighting the administration’s extraordinary amateurishness, recklessness and unaccountability.The visceral hostility to Europe spelt out again by the vice-president, JD Vance, was glaring. So was the indifference to the potential civilian cost of the strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, designed to curb attacks on Red Sea shipping. The Houthi-run health ministry said that 53 people including five children and two women were killed. The response by the national security adviser, Michael Waltz, to the attacks was to post emojis: a fist, an American flag and fire. The lack of contrition for this security breach is also telling...

Events

3 d. ago Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda abused by ‘hateful language’ in game at Gotham FC

NWSL investigating after fan incident in game on SundayGotham FC apologise to Zambia international striker The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and Gotham FC are investigating after “hateful language” was directed at Orlando Pride’s forward Barbra Banda during Sunday’s match between the sides.Gotham said that after the incident had been reported, stadium security “directly addressed” an individual and monitored “the situation for the remainder of the match”. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago USC looks to keep March Madness title hopes alive without generational talent JuJu Watkins in lineup

If Southern California wants to win its first women's national championship in 41 years, the Trojans will have to find a way to get it done without star guard JuJu Watkins

Politics

3 d. ago Thomas Tuchel didn’t want to take ‘risk’ as Jude Bellingham ‘lucky’ to avoid red card

Having already been booked in the first half, Bellingham looked fortunate to escape a second yellow for a mis-timed challenge

Events

4 d. ago With a charged win over US, Canada proved they’re a complete squad

Despite losing their best player to injury and their head coach to a red card, Canada hardly lost a step as they beat their northern neighbors on their own turfAmerican positives from a particularly sobering Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium were in desperately short supply. To be fair, Americans in general had been in short supply there last week, with the abject turnout for both of the host nation’s two games.One bright spot for the Americans, however, was that Jesse Marsch had been silenced. A second-half red card meant the Canada coach was barred from talking post-match. The dismissal came after an almighty touchline meltdown that spilled on to the playing area as he roared at referee Katia Itzel García after back-to-back penalty appeals. Cameras trailed him through stadium gangways and tunnels as he raged on. ‘Marsch madness’ headlines were a layup. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago England overpower Italy in winning start to Women’s Six Nations campaign

England 38-5 ItalyFive first-half tries give Red Roses well-deserved victoryNo one expected it to be easy for Italy. No one expected it to be anything other than straightforward for England. The Red Roses achieved an overwhelming six-try victory in kicking off their attempt at a seventh successive title but, after four scores and one penalty try before the break, they then stuttered significantly and were forced to wait until two minutes from time for a second-half score.England’s hot streak now stretches to 21 consecutive matches, dating back to the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand in 2022, but there was ultimately a lack of fluency here that may concern the head coach, John Mitchell. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Fran McGhie shines as Scotland hold on to edge out Wales in feisty thriller

Scotland 24-21 WalesSix tries and two red cards in Six Nations openerTwo red cards, six tries, a nip-and-tuck scoreboard and a traditional Scottish deluge falling from the sky. This had pretty much everything and Scotland were the team left standing with a win, but only just, in a pulsating encounter. These sides meet again in August, in Pool B of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and judging by the skill, physicality and entertainment on show in Edinburgh, that appointment in Salford will be unmissable.Sarah Bonar, Emma Orr and Leah Bartlett scored tries for Scotland while Helen Nelson kicked a penalty and three conversions – every kick proving important in the final reckoning. Carys Phillips, Abbie Fleming and Gwenllian Pyrs were try-scorers for Wales, who started and finished strongly, but ultimately paid for missing 35 tackles. Credit, too, for the silky attacking skills and forward muscle of Scotland, for whom the wing Fran McGhie was a constant threat. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago DAN HODGES: Rachel Reeves has trashed the economy. But I have a bold suggestion on how she can rescue it and protect hard

First Rachel Reeves came for the pensioners. Then it was the nation's small businessmen and women. Followed by the farmers. But that wasn't enough.

Events

6 d. ago France survive red card and Ireland fightback in Women’s Six Nations opener

Ireland 15-27 France: A late try from Emilie Boulard quelled a strong second half showing from Ireland as the visitors kicked off with a win

Events

6 d. ago England star Ellie Kildunne relishing 'target on back' at Guinness Women's Six Nations

Ellie Kildunne is the reigning Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, as well as World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Player of the Year after enjoying a stellar year for the Red Roses

Events

6 d. ago Scotland Women v Wales Women LIVE: TV channel, start time and score updates

The 2025 Women's Six Nations starts today with Wales travelling to Edinburgh for their tournament opener

Politics

6 d. ago Scotland Women v Wales Women live updates as hosts have try chalked off

The 2025 Women's Six Nations starts today with Wales travelling to Edinburgh for their tournament opener

Politics

6 d. ago Scotland Women v Wales Women live updates as Fleming scores after Welsh red card

The 2025 Women's Six Nations starts today with Wales travelling to Edinburgh for their tournament opener

Politics