Person: Joe Launchbury

Eddie Jones names the most radical team of his reign for France game

In total there are five changes to the side defeated by Scotland at Murrayfield.

Thu, 08 Mar, 2018

England v Wales - NatWest 6 Nations - Twickenham Stadium

Jonny May brace helps England to win in bruising encounter with Wales

Jonny May ran in both tries as England kept their Grand Slam aspirations alive by edging Wales 12-6 in a brutally competitive NatWest 6 Nations clash at Twickenham.

Sat, 10 Feb, 2018

Wasps' European hopes all but finished; Alan Gaffney's Northampton beat Clermont

James Haskell was sent off for a dangerous tackle as Wasps collapsed to a dramatic 33-28 defeat by Harlequins that all but ends their European Champions Cup quest.

Sat, 13 Jan, 2018

Undeniable cloud hanging over English rugby

A decision to extend the English rugby season has been met by a wave of disapproval, writes Simon Collings.

Tue, 05 Dec, 2017

England v Australia: Story of the match

England claimed a fifth straight win over Australia in a titanic, and controversial, tussle at Twickenham.

Sat, 18 Nov, 2017

Owen Farrell recalled for England clash with Australia

Owen Farrell has been recalled for England's clash with Australia at Twickenham on Saturday after being rested for the autumn opener against Argentina.

Thu, 16 Nov, 2017

Ulster swat Wasps at Kingspan

The European fear factor of the Kingspan Stadium may not be as severe as the once Fortress Ravenhill, but it nevertheless helped carry Ulster over the line against a stuttering Wasps side as Ulster got their Champions Cup Pool 1 campaign off to a winning start last night.

Sat, 14 Oct, 2017

Henderson ready to lead Ulster into battle

Lions star Iain Henderson will lead Ulster for the first time when a so far stingless Wasps side fly into Belfast for the opening Champions Cup Pool 1 clash at the Kingspan Stadium this evening.

Fri, 13 Oct, 2017

The latest Gatlandgate could linger for a while

The one constant with Warren Gatland over the years is his ability to generate controversy. It is something that doesn’t bother him unduly, even if you can be assured of some tetchy press conferences over the days and weeks ahead.

Mon, 19 Jun, 2017

Lions need Tour’s six-game build-up, insists Ian McGeechan

Former British and Lions coach Ian McGeechan says the 2017 tourists “need all six games” in the build-up to the first Test in New Zealand.

Tue, 30 May, 2017

Munster Rugby Squad Training and Press Conference

Leigh Halfpenny lucky to get the nod at Simon Zebo’s expense

The British and Irish Lions squad announcement followed the usual pattern — a majority of predictable selections, a few left field picks, some surprise omissions along with the customary bolter. Warren Gatland was always good for a few of those and in Ross Moriarty, Ben Te’o and Ireland’s Jared Payne, he didn’t disappoint.

Thu, 20 Apr, 2017

Jonathan Joseph rewarded for Wales torment with Lions berth

Jonathan Joseph was included in the Lions squad for New Zealand after Warren Gatland decided a player who has caused Wales so much torment on his watch could not be overlooked.

Thu, 20 Apr, 2017

My Lions squad: Getting the chemistry right is key

Given all the other challenges Warren Gatland faces, getting the balance to the squad right is one of the few totally within his control, writes Donal Lenihan.

Wed, 12 Apr, 2017

Cullen keeps his focus on Wasps

Stuart Lancaster seems to be angling towards an extended stay with Leinster but Leo Cullen was reluctant yesterday to engage in contract talk ahead of the province’s eagerly-awaited Champions Cup quarter-final tie with Wasps in Dublin.

Sat, 01 Apr, 2017

Leinster coach Lancaster says Wasps are better than last year

Stuart Lancaster is emphatic when he declares that the Wasps team facing Leinster in Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final are a better outfit than the one that hit the province for 84 points and nine tries last season.

Tue, 28 Mar, 2017

John Fogarty expects Wasps will look to sting Sexton

A penny for Johnny Sexton’s thoughts; no sooner had the Ireland out-half bid farewell to Aviva Stadium, James Haskell and Joe Launchbury, than he’s planning to go through it all again.

Tue, 21 Mar, 2017

England have searing pace but still vulnerable

I’m confused. Just over two weeks ago I left Twickenham happy in my own mind that, if Ireland could negotiate what, even at that time, looked like a tricky assignment in Cardiff against Wales, the game against England in Dublin would take care of itself.

Wed, 15 Mar, 2017

England caught between a ruck and a hard place

This Six Nations championship had already provided some engaging contests but, with six fixtures remaining, none is likely to divide opinion more than that rather bizarre game in Twickenham last Sunday.

Wed, 01 Mar, 2017

Wales v England - RBS 6 Nations - Principality Stadium

Eddie Jones: We don't know how to get beaten

Eddie Jones admitted England had exhausted all of their "get-out-of-jail cards" after edging Wales 21-16 in an enthralling RBS 6 Nations showdown in Cardiff.

Sat, 11 Feb, 2017

James Haskell set to do England justice in Six Nations

James Haskell insists he is ready to do himself and England justice as he prepares to make his comeback in the RBS 6 Nations opener against France at Twickenham.

Thu, 02 Feb, 2017

England injury woes worsen as Chris Robshaw ruled out of 6 Nations

Chris Robshaw will miss the entire RBS 6 Nations with a shoulder problem that further deepens England’s injury troubles.

Tue, 10 Jan, 2017

England Grand Slam defence hopes hit by injuries

England must launch their Grand Slam defence without three first-choice forwards – and face question marks over four more.

Wed, 04 Jan, 2017

Bundee Aki out to ruin Wasps’ party

The level of conversation between players after matches is minimal at the best of times and even less so in these December double dates, but a snippet of information picked up by Connacht after Sunday’s 32-17 loss to Wasps has been thrown about the changing room in the Sportsground quite a bit this week.

Sat, 17 Dec, 2016

Autumn International previews

Here’s the lowdown on four big games across Europe...

Sat, 26 Nov, 2016

England players near world class, insists Jones

Eddie Jones insists England have failed to produce a world class player since Jonny Wilkinson, but believes a number of his Grand Slam winners are close to ending that barren spell.

Fri, 25 Nov, 2016

England v Fiji - Autumn International - Twickenham Stadium

England win easy against Fiji, but they will be worried about their defence

England swept aside Fiji 58-15 to extend their triumphant run to 12 Tests, but the defensive frailties evident at Twickenham will have concerned head coach Eddie Jones.

Sat, 19 Nov, 2016

Itoje in frame to take Robshaw’s back row slot for Australia Test

Maro Itoje is under consideration to depose Chris Robshaw from England’s back row for Saturday’s opening Test against Australia.

Tue, 07 Jun, 2016

England v Ireland: How the sides compare

ENGLAND:

Sat, 27 Feb, 2016

Rising star Maro Itoje set to start against Ireland

Saracens lock Maro Itoje could make his first England start after Joe Launchbury was ruled out of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Ireland with a hamstring problem.

Thu, 25 Feb, 2016