Alex Coles to make England test debut

England have made five changes to their side for Saturday's Six Nations Calcutta Cup clash vs Scotland, with Ollie Lawrence, Danny Care, Dan Cole, George Furbank and Ellis Genge brought in to start. Centre Lawrence replaces Fraser Dingwall - a try scorer in England's 16-14 win over Wales in Round 2 - while 37-year-old scrum-half Care comes in start…

Steve Borthwick names his England team to play Scotland in their 2024 Six Nations clash at Murrayfield this weekend with the coveted Calcutta Cup on the line. Scroll down for the England team to play Scotland. Jamie George will captain a side which has five changes to the starting XV who defeated Wales at Twickenham Stadium in round two of the 2024…

The Gallagher Premiership rolls on with another exciting round of action, that is set to pack an added punch following the fiercely contested weekend of derby matches. With half of the league out for redemption, and the other half eager to build on this winning momentum, we are set for five blockbuster match-ups across the English top flight. Once…

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears) We will see a changing of the guard in the front-row after the Rugby World Cup, with Joe Marler and Dan Cole expected to be out of the England fold as Borthwick looks to the future of his side. The two veteran props were fantastic against South Africa, and have been named on our bench for one last ride in the Bronze…

England and South Africa will do battle for the right to face New Zealand in next Saturday's World Cup final. And Rassie Erasmus expects his side's semi-final opponents England to have "some beef" with his Springboks due to their defeat in the final of the last showpiece. South Africa director of rugby Erasmus began the mind games ahead of…

Hollywoodbets Sharks lock Eben Etzebeth on the charge The strength of Hollywoodbets Sharks' bid for the 2023-24 EPCR Challenge Cup has been underlined by the inclusion of seven players from the Durban-based side in South Africa's World Cup squad. Props Vincent Koch and Ox Nche, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, lock Eben Etzebeth, scrum-halves Jaden Hendrikse…

A trio of Bristol Bears have been named in England's 33-player squad to compete at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Bristol look set to provide both of the national side's starting props with loosehead Ellis Genge and tighthead Kyle Sinckler both getting called up as expected. Genge captained England for a second time on Saturday as they lost…

ULSTER'S Jacob Stockdale will end his two-year international exile when Ireland take on Italy in Dublin tomorrow (8pm) as the build-up to next month's World Cup intensifies. Stockdale has not featured at Test level since a try-scoring performance against Japan in July 2021, but he takes his place on the left wing tomorrow. Head coach Andy Farrell…

Jac Morgan will captain Wales for their first Rugby World Cup warm-up Test against England this Saturday, with three new caps in the starting XV. Warren Gatland has named a youthful side, with Cardiff props Corey Domachowski and Kieron Assiratti handed their first caps while Gloucester-bound centre Max Llewellyn will also make his debut. There are…

Northampton Saints have named their XV for the first of two'Derby Day Double' clashes against Leicester Tigers, with scrum-half Callum Braley leading the side at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this evening. The men in Black, Green and Gold will lock horns with their East Midlands rivals twice this month; this evening (kick-off: 7pm) and again on…

Leinster Rugby's outstanding form in the Heineken Champions Cup so far this season is reflected by the selection of 12 of their players for Ireland as they take on England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday for the chance to claim the Six Nations Championship, Triple Crown and a fourth Grand Slam. Centre Robbie Henshaw, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park…

The Blues and Crusaders headline this weekend's action when they do battle at Eden Park on Saturday night in a repeat of last year's decider. That June night of course saw the hosts fall at their final hurdle in a 21-7 defeat which had the red and blacks take out a sixth-straight crown. The defending champions go into this one, however, with a…

Tom Cruse will make his Northampton Saints debut on Friday evening, as the men in Black, Green and Gold travel to the Gtech Community Stadium to face London Irish in the semi-finals of the Premiership Rugby Cup. The 33-year-old hooker joined Saints from Edinburgh Rugby earlier this month on a contract to the end of the season, and lines up in the…

Owen Farrell looks likely to captain England against Scotland from inside centre Prior to England announcing their first matchday 23 to take on Scotland in the opening round of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, TRU's Joe Harvey has predicted who Steve Borthwick will name in his starting XV. Tomorrow afternoon n there is set to be plenty of interest as…

Reigning champions La Rochelle showed they are in no mood to release their grip on the Heineken Champions Cup as they put Northampton to the sword at Stade Marcel Deflandre. Even without head coach Ronan O'Gara, serving a 10-week touchline ban, in their dug out, they stuck to their ruthless game plan and plundered their four-try bonus point before…

All Blacks match day 23 (Test caps in brackets): 1. Ethan de Groot (12) 2. Codie Taylor (75) 3. Tyrel Lomax (22) 4. Brodie Retallick (99) 5. Samuel Whitelock (142 - Captain) 6. Scott Barrett (57) 7. Dalton Papali'i (21) 8. Ardie Savea (69) 9. Aaron Smith (113) 10. Richie Mo'unga (43) 11. Caleb Clarke (14) 12. Jordie Barrett (47) 13. Rieko Ioane…

Heineken Champions Cup newcomers Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls provide more than half South Africa's starting XV for their Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday. Cell C Sharks lead the way with four representatives - wing Makazole Mapimpi, scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, lock Eben Etzebeth and flanker Siya…

Emiliano Boffelli will make his first start of the season for Heineken Champions Cup side Edinburgh Rugby as the Scottish region host Emirates Lions in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Friday. The Argentina international, who tallied 63 points the EPCR Challenge Cup last season but is set to add to his solitary Heineken Champions Cup…

Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has made seven changes to his Northampton Saints side to take on Leicester Tigers on Saturday, with four internationals in Lewis Ludlam, Courtney Lawes, Dan Biggar and Tommy Freeman all returning to the starting line-up. The men in Black, Green and Gold take on their local rivals in the first East Midlands Derby of the…

Phil Dowson made a total of 186 appearances for the Black, Green and Gold during his playing days How will Phil Dowson do in his first season in charge of the Saints? This is the biggest question going into the new campaign for last year's beaten semi- finalists. The Saints have recruited well this summer bringing in firepower from Australia in the…

With the salary cap squeezed this season Gallagher Premiership clubs are set to turn to their academies once again to cover gaps and expose new talents to top-flight rugby. Below are the academy prospects from each club who could have a major say in each club's season. Player: Ethan Staddon Position: Back row Age: 20 First-team…

What a treat we have in store for us this weekend. Every series is alive and headed to a decider after all four northern hemisphere nations bounced back last week, but who'll come out on top? Can Ireland and Wales make history again to claim their series victory? Can the Wallabies overcome their injury crisis to win their first series against…

Lock Maro Itoje is set to make his 100th appearance for three-time European champions Saracens as they take on Harlequins in Saturday's Gallagher Premiership semi-final at StoneX Stadium. England international Itoje made five appearances in this year's EPCR Challenge Cup as Saracens reached the semi-finals, but his side will return to the Heineken…

England coach Simon Middleton has named his team for Saturday's TikTok Women's Six Nations opener against Scotland in Edinburgh. Sarah Hunter captains the side at No8 while Emily Scarratt returns to the starting XV at outside centre following a lengthy injury lay-off and is selected as vice-captain. Marlie Packer is set to earn her 80th cap at…