4 h. ago Fraser Dingwall happy to be ‘the glue’ that holds England’s backs together

The Northampton number 12 will start alongside four of his club team-mates against Italy on Sunday.

Politics

28 h. ago How England hope to unlock their attacking game — by dropping Marcus Smith

The enigmatic Harlequins playmaker has been given a bench role in Steve Borthwick’s side to face Italy

Events

31 h. ago England drop Marcus Smith to bench as Henry Slade axed for Italy clash

Henry Slade is also left out of the backline as Elliot Daly and Fraser Dingwall come in

Politics

31 h. ago Marcus Smith benched for England’s crucial Six Nations clash with Italy

Borthwick makes controversial call to revamp back lineSlade out of the squad completely for weekend gameMarcus Smith and Henry Slade have been dropped for England’s Six Nations clash with Italy on Sunday with Steve Borthwick overhauling his backline in an effort to kickstart his side’s spluttering attacking.Elliot Daly is preferred at fullback while Fraser Dingwall comes into the side at inside centre as one of five starting Northampton backs with Borthwick making one of the boldest team selections of his tenure to date. Jamie George has also been recalled at hooker to make his first start since losing the captaincy on what will be his 100th appearance for England. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Marcus Smith benched for England’s Six Nations game with Italy

Coach Steve Borthwick revamps his back lineHenry Slade drops out of the squad for SundayMarcus Smith and Henry Slade have been dropped for England’s Six Nations game with Italy on Sunday with Steve Borthwick overhauling his backline in an effort to kickstart a spluttering attack.Elliot Daly is preferred at full-back while Fraser Dingwall comes into the side at inside centre as one of five starting Northampton backs. Jamie George has been recalled at hooker to make his first start since losing the captaincy on what will be his 100th appearance for England. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Marcus Smith faces uphill battle to regain England place after Italy axe

Borthwick decision is blow to Smith’s Lions hopesDingwall replaces Slade at inside-centreMarcus Smith faces an uphill battle to regain his England place after Steve Borthwick sought to kickstart his side’s spluttering attack by axing the Harlequins playmaker, dealing a major blow to his British & Irish Lions hopes.Borthwick dropped Smith for Sunday’s Six Nations fixture with Italy in a one-on-one meeting in England’s hotel bar and has offered him no assurances over his future place in the starting XV with Elliot Daly coming in at full-back. In his favoured position of fly-half, Fin Smith continues and with Fraser Dingwall replacing Henry Slade at inside-centre, Borthwick has picked five Northampton backs and highlighted the cohesion that brings. Continue reading...

Events

31 h. ago Marcus Smith DROPPED for England's Six Nations clash as attacking changes made for Italy

Marcus Smith has lost his starting role and will drop the bench as England face Italy at Twickenham with Elliot Daly and Fraser Dingwall coming into the team this weekend

Events

58 h. ago Carling questions calibre of England coaching staff and ‘sensitive’ players

‘Some of them are learning, some of them are very young’Former captain dismisses charge of being out of touchThe former England captain Will Carling has questioned the quality of the coaching within the national set-up and suggested it is holding the team back. Carling, who was part of England’s backroom staff under Eddie Jones, has also rejected complaints from squad members such as Ellis Genge that ex-players are “out of touch” after their criticism of last month’s win over Scotland.Carling, who captained England from 1988 to 1996 and presided over one of the country’s most successful periods, says the players look restricted by a gameplan that prevents them from replicating the ability they show at club level. “You look at the calibre of the England coaching team and you have to question whether that’s the best we can put out there,” Carling said on Radio 4’s Today programme. Continue reading...

Sport

8 d. ago Park grabs winner as England hold on for Nations League victory over Spain

England’s gutsy, industrious and confident performance against Spain perhaps mattered more than the result, but boy did they need a big win too.It’s fair to say the past few months have not been easy for Sarina Wiegman’s side, the context around two wins from five games since their Euros qualifying campaign a little lost, but a win over World Cup holders Spain to put them level on points with Portugal in their Nations League group lifts a pressure that perhaps shouldn’t be there. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Arsenal: Thomas Tuchel holds Ben White talks before naming first England squad

Gunners defender has not played for the Three Lions since leaving their 2022 World Cup camp in Qatar

Events

1 week ago Ben White may end England exile after holding talks with Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel will name his first England squad ahead of World Cup qualification fixtures next month and has reached out to Arsenal defender Ben White before making his selection

Events

2 w. ago Children are starting school unable to sit up or hold a pencil – and I know the culprit | Kathryn Peckham

As an early years specialist, I’ve seen the drastic impact of screens replacing physical activity and face-to-face interactionAs an early years education specialist, over the past decade I have seen children enter classrooms with fewer and fewer of the skills needed to begin their formal education. The key culprit, in my opinion? Screen time.On a child’s first day at school, it’s normal to expect a few nerves. But they should be able to move around confidently, pick up stationery, make new friends, build a relationship with their teacher and start to feel part of a wider community. Instead, a recent survey reported that some children in England and Wales are unable to sit up or hold a pencil. I have seen kids racked with separation anxiety and unable to form bonds. Upset and confused, they miss instructions and hold back or lash out. To a busy teacher this looks like a lack of ability, or a disruptive child to be managed. Children are simply being set up to fail.Kathryn Peckham is a...

Politics

2 w. ago Thames Water is handed £3bn emergency loan to rescue ailing utility firm from financial collapse

Thames Water Utilities Holdings Limited (TWUH), the parent company of Thames Water Group (TWG), England's biggest water company with about 16 million customers, is in around £16 billion of debt.

Economics

2 w. ago Plans to restructure struggling Thames Water are approved by High Court judge

Thames Water Utilities Holdings Limited (TWUH), the parent company of Thames Water Group (TWG), England's biggest water company with about 16 million customers, is in around £16 billion of debt.

Events