4 h. ago Duhan van der Merwe hits back at ‘SpringJock’ jibes: ‘I know how hard I’ve worked to get here’

Flying winger brushes off allegiance jibes and cannot wait for Australia after a testing Lions tour in 2021Duhan van der Merwe does not want to shake hands. It is not that the hulking Scotland winger is being rude – he is polite to a fault – but after a gruelling gym session the British & Irish Lion has blisters as big as golf balls. A fist bump – a touch daunting given the size of his biceps – must suffice.Van der Merwe’s war wounds are the first indication that public perception about him can be misleading and there are many to follow in the ensuing half-hour. From an impassioned response to accusations he is a “SpringJock”, to discussing why he runs roughshod over England once a year, Van der Merwe is illuminating company. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago Maro Itoje on Australia tour and wife's response to becoming first black British Lions captain

The England and Saracens second row joins an illustrious group of men to lead the Lions as they head Down Under to face Australia with Itoje taking on his third captaincy role in less than 12 months

Politics

16 h. ago ‘That’s how it should be’: Lions selection wide open due to great competition says Andy Farrell

Maro Itoje captains the touring side for the first time and is joined in the starting XV by Marcus Smith.

Politics

30 h. ago That’s how it should be – Andy Farrell insists Lions places still up for grabs

Maro Itoje captains the touring side for the first time and is joined in the starting XV by Marcus Smith.

Politics

33 h. ago Maro Itoje to captain British & Irish Lions for first time in Argentina warm

XV features Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell and Fin SmithTadhg Furlong also has the chance to prove his fitnessMaro Itoje will captain the British & Irish Lions for the first time in their non-cap international against Argentina in Dublin on Friday.The England skipper Itoje leads a starting XV that features Marcus Smith at full-back and will be directed by England half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith.This story will update Continue reading...

Events

34 h. ago Lions receive Tadhg Furlong fitness boost as team revealed for Argentina curtain

The Ireland prop has been battling a calf injury ahead of the tour

Politics

42 h. ago Lions enjoy rare status as heavy favourites as Australia fight for credibility

Captain Maro Itoje and head coach Andy Farrell are out to mastermind a series win for the British and Irish Lions.

Politics

54 h. ago Owen Farrell focuses on Saracens return but keeps Lions and England on back burner

Fly-half is determined to enjoy his rugby again after injury-disrupted time in France but his international future remains up in the airIf either call were to come, does Owen Farrell want to go on tour with England or the British & Irish Lions this summer? It is both the question that most intrigues and the one that he steadfastly does not answer following his return to Saracens.“There’s nothing for me to do other than concentrate on getting myself back here and getting myself in the best place I can and everything else is hypothetical,” is a typical example of his response. There were a number of others in the 20 minutes spent in his company, back at the StoneX stadium after a torrid season with Racing 92, but all gave little insight into what his reaction might be if Steve Borthwick or his dad, Andy Farrell, wish to call him up for either England’s summer tour of Argentina and the USA, or the Lions’ trip to Australia. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Lenny Henry fights back tears reflecting on mother’s death during tour

Sir Lenny Henry reflected on the pain of his mother dying while he was in Australia for a tour as he spoke to Alison Hammond for the latest episode of her Big Weekend series on the BBC on Friday, 13 June.

Sport

5 d. ago Meghan Markle 'hated every second' of the 'pointless' engagements on 16

The visit, which took place in October 2018, coincided with the fourth Invictus Games and marked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first official royal tour since their marriage.

Politics

5 d. ago Air India plane crash latest: British investigators reach India as second black box found in decade’s worst aviation disaster

Air India's Boeing 787 fleet could be grounded temporarily

Events

6 d. ago Kylie Minogue is forced to CANCEL four concerts due to illness after completing the UK leg of her Tension Tour

The singer, 56, kicked off her highly anticipated tour in Perth , Australia, in February, making it her first tour since her 2019 Golden Tour and her biggest since 2011.

Events

7 d. ago Eddie Jones calls in university student to Japan squad ahead of Wales tour

The 21-year-old recently featured for Japan U23s on their tour of Australia in April

Society

7 d. ago Warren Gatland and Owen Farrell land Lions roles alongside Welsh legends

The TV line-up for the Lions' first game against Argentina has been announced as well as for the summer tour to Australia

Events

8 d. ago British & Irish Lions calm fears over Tadhg Furlong’s fitness for Australia tour

Leinster prop may feature in URC final against Bulls‘We will put our best foot forward for Argentina’The British & Irish Lions have insisted they have no fitness concerns over the veteran tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong and have revealed he and other Premiership and URC finalists will be considered for their opening match against Argentina in Dublin next Friday.Furlong, who has started the last nine Lions Tests, has not played for his province since early May due to a calf injury, prompting fears over his availability for the Australia tour. Zander Fagerson also withdrew from the squad on Monday, leaving options at tighthead severely limited. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Finlay Bealham will be a great fit for the group – Lions head coach Andy Farrell

Bealham was called up after Glasgow Warriors tight head Zander Fagerson was ruled out of the summer tour to Australia with a calf problem.

Politics

1 week ago Colombia: president says shot candidate had security detail cut on day of attack

Revelation from Gustavo Petro follows shooting of Miguel Uribe Turbay by alleged 15-year-old hitman in BogotáThe security detail for the Colombian presidential candidate who was shot at a campaign rally at the weekend was severely reduced on the day of the attack, the country’s president has said.Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by an alleged 15-year-old hitman while campaigning in Bogotá on Saturday. He has reportedly shown little response to medical interventions and, according to his wife, needs “a miracle” to survive. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Shot Colombian presidential candidate needs ‘miracle’ to survive, wife says

Miguel Uribe Turbay from opposition party who was shot on Saturday is showing ‘little response’ after surgeryMiguel Uribe Turbay, the rightwing Colombian presidential candidate who was shot at a campaign rally, has reportedly shown little response to medical interventions and needs “a miracle” to survive, his wife said on Monday.The update on his condition comes as a judge confirmed the arrest of the 15-year-old suspect, after the prosecutor’s office submitted 129 videos, witness testimonies and the seizure of a pistol as evidence. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Injury crisis brewing for British & Irish Lions with Fagerson out of tour

Tighthead Bealham called up with Furlong also injuredOpoku-Fordjour and George join Portugal training campThe British & Irish Lions are facing mounting injury problems at tighthead prop with Zander Fagerson ruled out of the tour of Australia amid serious question marks over Tadhg Furlong’s fitness.Glasgow’s Fagerson has withdrawn from the squad due to a calf injury with the Ireland and Connacht tighthead prop Finlay Bealham added to the 38-man group as a result. Furlong, meanwhile, has not featured for Leinster since the Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton on 3 May and is also battling with a calf injury. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Injury crisis brewing for British & Irish Lions with Zander Fagerson out of tour

Tighthead Bealham called up with Furlong also injuredOpoku-Fordjour and George join Portugal training campThe British & Irish Lions are facing mounting injury problems at tighthead prop with Zander Fagerson ruled out of the tour of Australia amid serious question marks over Tadhg Furlong’s fitness.Glasgow’s Fagerson has withdrawn from the squad due to a calf injury with the Ireland and Connacht tighthead prop Finlay Bealham added to the 38-man group as a result. Furlong, meanwhile, has not featured for Leinster since the Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton on 3 May and is also battling with a calf injury. Continue reading...

Events