9 h. ago Mack Hansen and Joe McCarthy sign new contracts with Irish Rugby Football Union

The pair are preparing for Saturday’s pivotal Six Nations showdown with title rivals France.

Sport

9 h. ago Stable hand who sued for £436,000 after injuring her arm in fall from horse loses case after being caught playing rugby and as football goalkeeper

A judge at the High Court in London ruled that Hazel Boyd was culpable of 'dishonest embellishment' after viewing the secretly shot footage.

Sport

31 h. ago ‘Trump doesn’t understand who the aggressor is’: fatigue and anger in Odesa

Russian attacks on Ukrainian city that was initially spared worst have increased since Washington-Moscow detenteRussia-Ukraine war – latest news updatesOlena Palash heard a loud buzzing above her flat in the Ukrainian port of Odesa. It was 11pm. First one drone, and another, then more. Soon afterwards, one of the Shaheeds crashed into the children’s clinic where she works. An explosion shredded the building’s facade. The metal covering of a car park was remade into a spaghetti-like jumble. Another drone smashed into a nearby kindergarten.The attack on 18 February knocked out a substation and plunged some of the city into darkness. Four people were injured, including a 10-year-old girl, and 80,000 were left without heat. Russia’s air war in the skies above Ukraine is nothing new. But since negotiations began between the US and Russia – talks from which Kyiv has been excluded – the raids have got dramatically worse. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago RFL warns clubs that planned coup will financially cripple the sport

Professional clubs want to oust RFL chair Simon JohnsonGoverning body says any such move would breach rulesThe Rugby Football League has warned clubs that an attempt to sideline the sport’s ­governing body and replace its chair could have ­“catastrophic financial ­consequences” after taking legal advice to stave off a planned revolt.Rugby league’s professional clubs will assemble in March to ­consider a proposal put forward by the Super League club Leigh ­Leopards and Championship side Batley ­Bulldogs, which calls for the immediate removal of Simon Johnson, after a purported loss of confidence in the direction of the governing body. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Sports quiz of the week: Neymar, Jaden Agassi and WNBA legend Diana Taurasi

Were you keeping an eye on the latest news from the football, rugby union, cricket, F1, boxing, rugby league? Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago From Mee to Barré: meet the unexpected stars of an enthralling Six Nations | Robert Kitson

Ellis Mee, who would not have registered with many before this tournament, has been one of the shining stars so farSure, it’s still early days but Wales’s upbeat performance against Ireland showed how quickly perceptions can change. Even a few weeks ago the name Ellis Mee would not have registered with many Six Nations fans. Now, after an eye-catching debut last weekend, the lanky 21-year-old is being tipped by no less an expert than Jamie Roberts to become a regular fixture for Wales. Less than a year ago the 6ft 4in Mee was playing for Nottingham in the Championship – memo to the Rugby Football Union: there is plenty of untapped talent out there – and was scouted by the former Wales international James “Cubby” Davies while playing for Nottingham Trent University. Then, after just 10 professional games for Scarlets, he was parachuted into the national team as part of a productive back three alongside his similarly positive clubmates Blair Murray and Tom Rogers. Suddenly it’s all Me...

Politics

7 d. ago Prop Will Stuart has become the cornerstone of England’s scrum

‘I’ve just tried to keep my head down and do my job,’ says the Bath tighthead after seeing off Scotland in Calcutta CupNot all heroes wear capes and Will Stuart is not the type you would expect to see in shining armour, but the time has come to recognise England’s unsung tighthead prop. Crisis? What crisis? It was not so long ago that the Rugby Football Union was wringing its hands at the dearth of tightheads across the country but quietly, under the radar, Stuart has emerged as England’s most consistent, reliable performer.During Steve Borthwick’s first Six Nations in charge two years ago, he lamented that England were “not good at anything” and raised particular concern over the scrum, an area in which they had ranked last of all tier-one nations over the previous 12 months. Fast-forward to now and, under the tutelage of Tom Harrison, England’s scrum has developed into both a solid platform and a weapon they can employ to impressive effect. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago ‘We’ve lost some parts of nature for ever’: Ukraine war’s impact on environment – photo essay

As well as intense human suffering, three years of war have had a catastrophic environmental effect, killing wildlife, felling trees and increasing emissionsSince 2022, the Guardian photographer Alessio Mamo has been tracking the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Kremlin’s full-scale invasion, which began three years ago on Monday, caused millions of Ukrainians to flee. Cities have been flattened, villages occupied and lives destroyed. At least 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and many more injured in Europe’s biggest conflict since the second world war.Aerial view of craters caused by rocket fire in a field in the liberated area between Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. Ammunition and missile residues in these craters may become a source of chemical pollution that could reach the groundwater Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago RFU adds extra England Test and leaves Borthwick without warm

Extra match against Australia added for NovemberBorthwick will lose time he has used for training in SpainSteve Borthwick will have to forgo a crucial training camp and guide England into this year’s autumn internationals with a week’s less preparation after the Rugby Football Union arranged an extra lucrative November Test against Australia.England habitually play three autumn internationals in the same year as a British & Irish Lions tour but the RFU arranged a fourth, which could generate up to £10m in revenue, after its latest accounts reported record losses to reserves of £42m. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Brent Council pays out nearly £600,000 in pothole and pavement injury claims

A North London council has paid out nearly £600,000 in compensation for accident and injury claims caused by potholes and pavement defects since 2020, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

Economics

9 d. ago Putin on track to have lost a MILLION Russian soldiers in Ukraine invasion ahead of so

Data from the UK defence intelligence already estimates that Putin's forces have lost 860,000 soldiers to death or injury at an average of 1,500 servicemen a day since November.

Events

1 week ago EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt 'gets into an altercation with fans' while leaving boozy after show party with co

The real drama began after the cameras stopped rolling as Adam Woodyatt , who plays Ian Beale, was allegedly caught up in an altercation with fans outside the studios.

Politics

1 week ago Top female pundit, who works for the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky Sports, stands down from Rugby Football League role after sexual assault charge

Priim was also elected as an RFL vice-president in September last year, but left her position on Thursday night after Mail Online broke the news of the serious allegations against her.

Sport

1 week ago Revealed: 17,000 Brits claim they were injured or a relative was killed by Covid jabs

US scientists have discovered an alarming syndrome linked to the most commonly used Covid jab in the UK as the number of alleged victims of jab injuries soars to new highs.

Events

1 week ago Arne Slot responds to Liverpool title race 'nerves' by pointing to forgotten Reds hero

Liverpool have had nervy finishes in their last two Premier League games but Arne Slot insists that he and his players won't be caught wilting under the pressure of this season's title race

Politics