Six Nations

Capuozzo at wing in Quesada’s Italy debut

Ange Capuozzo will start on the right wing in Italy’s Six Nations opener with England in Rome on Saturday, as Gonzalo Quesada makes his debut as Azzurri coach.

epa10879645 Ireland’s Jack Crowley in action during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland in Saint- Denis, France, 23 September 2023. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Crowley ‘the kid’ steers post-Sexton Ireland

Jack Crowley has been entrusted with the challenge of replacing Irish legend Johnny Sexton as first-choice flyhalf in the Six Nations opener against France on Friday.

France recall Willemse to battle Ireland

Paul Willemse will play his first Test since last August when he starts for France in the Six Nations opener against defending champions Ireland in Marseille on Friday.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith of England react during the Six Nations Rugby match between England and Scotland at Twickenham Stadium on February 04, 2023 in London, England.

England rocked by Smith injury

England have suffered a major blow ahead of their Six Nations opener against Italy as Marcus Smith was ruled out of Saturday’s clash with a calf injury.

Lawes backs George over Farrell as England skipper

Jamie George’s ‘lighter touch’ is better suited to captaining an inexperienced England Six Nations squad than the more ‘abrasive’ manner of Owen Farrell, said former Test lock Courtney Lawes.

France's scrum-half and captain Antoine Dupont (C) holds his hands on his head as he walks off the field with France's players after loosing the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match against South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 15, 2023.

France eye Six Nations rebound from World Cup despair

France hosted last year’s World Cup having won over a nation backing Fabien Galthie’s team for home glory and a first-ever Webb Ellis Cup.

Photo: BackpagePix Ireland's Johnny Sexton (left) and head coach Andy Farrell during the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter final match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis. Picture date: Saturday October 14, 2023.

Ireland’s ‘massive’ Sexton conundrum

Ireland’s hopes of successfully defending their Six Nations title hinge on filling the “massive gap” left by Johnny Sexton, says former Irish fullback Hugo MacNeill.

Six Nations: Ireland target title defence

Ireland will start their bid for a historic back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slam when they take on France in Marseille in the tournament’s mouth-watering opening match on Friday.

Triple blow for England

England’s preparations for their Six Nations opener away to Italy suffered a setback with the withdrawal of three players from the squad because of injury.

DOMONT, FRANCE - OCTOBER 17: Jacques Nienaber (Head Coach) of South Africa with Felix Jones of South Africa during the South Africa men's national rugby team training session at Stade des Fauvettes on October 17, 2023 in Domont, France.

England ‘transfixed’ by former Bok coach

Steve Borthwick says his England squad was left speechless by the magic of a member of the Springboks’ 2019 and 2023 coaching staff during preparations for the Six Nations.