15 h. ago British & Irish Lions plan ban on R360 players to stop Red Roses jumping ship

Eight of 12 tier-one unions already plan to ban rebelsLions hope to sway stars lured by league’s salary offersThe British & Irish Lions are planning to follow the example of the biggest unions by banning players who join R360 in a move designed primarily to prevent an exodus of England’s Red Roses stars to the rebel league.Eight of the 12 tier-one unions, led by England and New Zealand, announced last month that they would not select R360 players, and the Guardian has learned that the Lions will follow suit. Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa also came out in support of a ban, but Wales and Argentina did not due to smaller player pools and weaker domestic leagues. Continue reading...

Sport

15 h. ago Rugby LIVE: Wales player to address the media as full details of ban emerge

The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond ahead of Wales' autumn international match against the Brave Blossoms in the capital

Sport

28 h. ago England play Generation Game against All Blacks with overhaul of traditional order of selection

Steve Borthwick has picked six British & Irish Lions on his bench with a further nod to the growing importance of the endgame Selecting your best XV to start a big rugby match feels increasingly quaint these days, as redolent of a different era as the Generation Game or Starsky & Hutch. To the point where you half expect to find the home team sheet to face New Zealand this weekend has D-N-A-L-G-N-E printed at the top of it. Even with the All Blacks in town, the traditional order of selection no longer applies.Instead it is all about the endgame. On this occasion Steve Borthwick has picked six British & Irish Lions on his bench compared with only four in his starting lineup. At some point around the 50th minute on Saturday there will be a mass discarding of XXL tracksuits and a whole fresh set of white orcs will rumble on. As South Africa’s “Bomb Squad” have long since shown, it can be mighty hard to combat. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Bench impact, digging deep and ‘brilliant basics’: Inside England’s plan to beat the All Blacks

Another bench loaded with British and Irish Lions could be key to England’s chances of a rare win over New Zealand

Politics

39 h. ago Wales press conference LIVE as new player joins squad amid injury update

The Wales squad is back in camp today after Sunday's heavy defeat to Argentina and they will be joined by a new face ahead

Sport

39 h. ago Wales press conference LIVE as uncapped player called up amid injury update

The Wales squad is back in camp today after Sunday's heavy defeat to Argentina and they will be joined by a new face ahead

Sport

39 h. ago Rugby LIVE: British and Irish Lions legend dead as England face changes for New Zealand

All the latest from around the world of rugby as Wales head coach Steve Tandy races to replace captain Jac Morgan following his shoulder injury in the defeat to Argentina

Events

40 h. ago Mick Lane dead at 99: Former Lions star who played in first tour after WW2 dies as tributes pour in

THE world of rugby is in mourning after former Lions star Mick Lane died at the age of 99. Lane was the oldest surviving member of the British and Irish Lions. He passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, November 9, in Cork. Wing Lane was Lion #329 and played 11 times, scoring five...

Events

53 h. ago Chessum and Freeman serious doubts to face All Blacks in blow to England

Chessum has foot injury while Freeman has hamstring injuryAlex Coles expected to partner Maro Itoje at second rowOllie Chessum and Tommy Freeman are serious injury doubts for England’s game with New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday. The two British & Irish Lions players sat out training on Monday and their participation against the All Blacks is in jeopardy.Chessum is struggling with a foot injury and was seen on crutches at England’s training base in Bagshot. He was replaced after 70 minutes of the 38-18 win against Fiji on Saturday and in the likely event he is ruled out Maro Itoje’s expected second‑row partner would be Alex Coles. Continue reading...

Politics

63 h. ago Rugby LIVE: Wales v Argentina reaction as announcement imminent and England call in Lion

The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond

Politics

3 d. ago Jamie George warns England not to sit back in awe at New Zealand’s aura

‘We need a clear gameplan to put them under pressure’All Blacks have not lost at Twickenham for 13 yearsJamie George has warned that England must not be seduced by the All Blacks’ mystique if they are to clinch a first Twickenham victory over New Zealand in 13 years on Saturday.Steve Borthwick has been boosted before the toughest assignment of England’s autumn campaign with the return to fitness of Elliot Daly, who could make his first appearance since fracturing an arm on British & Irish Lions duty, while Freddie Steward and Tom Roebuck were also named in Sunday night’s 37-man squad. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Wales v Argentina LIVE: Score updates as Tomos Williams gets hosts on the board

Wales face Argentina at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday

Politics

3 d. ago Wales v Argentina LIVE: Score updates as Pumas extend lead and Rees

Wales face Argentina at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday

Politics

4 d. ago France v South Africa live: Springboks down to 14 men after De Jager red card in heavyweight grudge match

Two years on from a captivating World Cup quarter-final, the Springboks and Les Bleus return to Paris for a potentially epic meeting

Politics

4 d. ago England v Fiji live: Hosts beat impressive Pacific Islanders with second

England 38-18 Fiji: The Pacific Islanders gave England a scare at Allianz Stadium but the home bench came on to control the final quarter

Politics

4 d. ago England vs Fiji LIVE: Autumn Nations Series result, latest updates and reaction after hosts win ninth straight match

Steve Borthwick made seven changes to his XV from last weekend’s win over Australia

Politics

4 d. ago England v Fiji live: Hosts pull away from Pacific Islanders with second

Can Fiji upset England again having won on their last visit to Twickenham?

Politics

4 d. ago France v South Africa live: Rugby heavyweights renew hostilities in mouth

Two years on from a captivating World Cup quarter-final, the pair return to Paris for a mouthwatering meeting

Politics

4 d. ago England vs Fiji LIVE: Autumn Nations Series latest score, match stream and try updates

Steve Borthwick has made seven changes to his XV from last weekend’s win over Australia

Sport

4 d. ago England v Fiji live: Talented Pacific Islanders take shock lead against sloppy hosts

Can Fiji upset England again having won on their last visit to Twickenham?

Events