7 h. ago The Breakdown | Just for kicks, the top 10 rugby union sharp shooters of the past 30 years

As the season finale draws near, we nominate 10 goal-kickers you can count on when the pressure cranks upIt is approaching that time of year. Big games hinging on increasingly slim margins, the pressure on goal-kickers intense. Check out Marcus Smith’s conversion attempt after Cadan Murley’s try for Harlequins against Sale on Saturday. The ball struck the right post, the crossbar, the left post and then the crossbar again in a classic “What happened next?” moment that captured perfectly the agonies of the tortured marksman’s art.But the old maxim still holds true: goal-kickers don’t lose games, they win them. So if you could pick one individual from the professional era to kick a goal for your life, who would it be? Unfair, perhaps, to nudge aside the deadliest kickers of the amateur era such as Naas Botha, Don Clarke, Dusty Hare, Grant Fox, Ollie Campbell et al – imagine how good some of their stats would have been without heavy, muddy pitches, heavy leather balls and no tees – but...

Events

20 h. ago 'Snorting': Glasgow Warriors tell Bulls it will feel like slaughterhouse as URC war of words begins

Last year’s URC final still fresh in memory ahead of Scotstoun showdown

Events

55 h. ago Glasgow Warriors' 'elephant in the room' as Edinburgh drop out of play

Smith pleased with Leinster response but it’s getting tricky for Edinburgh

Events

68 h. ago Duhan van der Merwe has surgery as Edinburgh and Scotland winger's Lions chances revealed

Star man facing fight to play again for Edinburgh this season

Politics

68 h. ago Stuttering Glasgow Warriors recover from wretched first half at Zebre to avoid making history

Warriors stay second in URC but this wasn’t a vintage performance

Events

2 d. ago Holly Aitchison sparkles in latest England rout as fly half decision looms

England 59-7 Scotland: Fly half Aitchison unlocked England’s attacking game in another thrashing of overmatched opposition

Politics

2 d. ago Rampant Red Roses rout Scotland to set up grand slam decider with France

England 59-7 ScotlandTwickenham finale will decide destination of titleEngland felled Scotland in a devastating manner to set up a grand slam decider against France in the Women’s Six Nations as they bid for their seventh successive title. The 59-7 victory was the team’s 33rd consecutive win in the tournament.England were heavy favourites heading into the match as Scotland have never beaten the Red Roses in the tournament, with their last win across all competitions against their rivals coming in 1999. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago 'Vindictive' woman who made false rape claims against rugby union star jailed

Sandra Ntonya was jailed after she breached a restraining order that was imposed on her to stop her from contacting former Sale Sharks and England star Marland Yarde.

Events

3 d. ago Edinburgh Rugby reaction: Sean Everitt's pros and cons, 'basic errors' and Jack Brown impact

Sharks strike at death to inflict bitter loss for Edinburgh

Politics

3 d. ago Sheer heartache for Edinburgh Rugby as Sharks bite right at death to dent play

Mapimpi scores right at end to nab win for South Africans

Events

4 d. ago Glasgow Warriors ring changes for Zebre trip as Josh McKay return welcomed

Warriors keen to bounce back from heavy Leinster loss

Events

5 d. ago Premier Sports strengthen URC ties with new deal as 'free to air' tease given for UK viewers

Broadcaster extends deal for Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby matches

Politics

5 d. ago The Welsh starlets playing in England you are about to hear a lot more of

The Welsh Rugby Union will be hoping to lure some of these back

Politics

5 d. ago Johnny Sexton makes surprise move to join Andy Farrell’s Lions coaching staff

Raises further intrigue over fly-half selection debateSexton endorsed Owen Farrell in press interviewJohnny Sexton has been added to the British & Irish Lions coaching staff for the summer tour of Australia in a surprise move that raises further intrigue over the fly-half selection debate following his previous criticism of Finn Russell and endorsement of Owen Farrell.Sexton was not named by Andy Farrell when the head coach unveiled his assistants for the tour last month but will now join Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman, Richard Wigglesworth and John Fogarty on the coaching ticket. The 39-year-old will also join Farrell’s coaching staff at Ireland upon the conclusion of the Lions tour. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Johnny Sexton joins British and Irish Lions coaching staff as new Ireland role revealed

The former fly half will join Andy Farrell’s team of assistants in Australia before joining the head coach’s Ireland staff

Politics

6 d. ago Marlie Packer recalled as centre Jade Shekells makes first start for Red Roses

Former skipper Packer is reinstalled at openside flanker in another heavily

Politics

6 d. ago Cardiff get massive boost as Wales star pens new deal just days after uncertainty

Josh Adams has pledged his future to Cardiff just a week after the club were taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union

Economics

6 d. ago All Blacks star Rieko Ioane shockingly signs for Leinster despite Johnny Sexton feud

Rieko Ioane and Johnny Sexton clashed after the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final between New Zealand and Ireland but that hasn’t stopped the All Blacks centre joining the club where Sexton is a legend

Events

7 d. ago Newcastle boss Steve Diamond banned after directing obscenity towards match officials

The Newcastle director of rugby was hit with a six-match ban last week

Events

7 d. ago Towering 6ft 6in lock with potential to be 'key Scotland player' ends uncertainty over future

Second row delighted to remain part of Glasgow set-uop

Sport