Full Time- Ireland 57-6 Italy

Is that 35 consecutive Six Natons defeats for Italy now? Fair to say you can't fault them for their perseverance!

Is that 35 consecutive Six Natons defeats for Italy now? Fair to say you can't fault them for their perseverance!

Yes it is, Pete. 35 in a row for Italy.

Castleford Tigers winger Bureta Faraimo has been banned for two weeks following a high tackle on Hull KR's Will Dagger in Thursday's Super League defeat.

 

The disciplinary panel charged the USA international with a Grade B offence, but with a 'reckless' caveat taken into consideration as per guidelines.

 

Team-mate Liam Watts has received a one-game ban for a Grade A 'careless' tackle offence from the same game.

 

Watts, 31, was sin-binned for his challenge on Rovers half Mikey Lewis.

 

Catalans Dragons hooker Michael McIlorum was also handed a one-match suspension for his attempt to halt Leeds Rhinos' Blake Austin.

 

Two players were penalised for late hits on a passing player, with St Helens back-rower Curtis Sironen given a Grade B charge and one-game ban.

Injured lock Alun Wyn Jones has joined Wales' Six Nations camp to continue his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery - but not as part of the squad.

 

Cardiff centre Willis Halaholo and flanker Ellis Jenkins are among six players released by Wales for weekend United Rugby Championship games.

 

Back row Aaron Wainwright is available for Dragons as is scrum-half Gareth Davies for Scarlets.

 

Prop Rhys Carre and number eight Jamie Ratti will also return to Cardiff.

Wigan came from behind to earn a narrow victory against Toulouse courtesy of Harry Smith's last-minute drop-goal by 29-28.

 

IRB Men's Rankings (Rugby Union) Update (March)

 

1st South Africa

2nd New Zealand

3rd France

4th England

5th Ireland

6th Australia

7th Wales

8th Scotland

9th Argentina

10th Japan

11th Fiji

12th Samoa

13th Georgia

14th Italy

15th Spain

16th Tonga

17th Romania

18th USA

19th Uruguay

20th Portugal

England lock Charlie Ewels has been banned for three games after being sent off in the Six Nations defeat against Ireland on 12 March.

 

Ewels was shown a red card after just 82 seconds following a clash of heads in an attempted tackle with James Ryan.

PENALTY! France 8 - 3 England (Marcus Smith)

PENALTY! France 11 - 3 England (Melvyn Jaminet)

PENALTY! France 11 - 6 England (Marcus Smith)

40 Mins- France 18-6 England (Francois Cros Try) and conversion.

IRB Men's Rankings (Rugby Union) Update (April)

 

1st South Africa

2nd France

3rd New Zealand

4th Ireland

5th England

6th Australia

7th Scotland

8th Argentina

9th Wales

10th Japan

11th Fiji

12th Georgia

13th Samoa

14th Italy

15th Spain

16th Tonga

17th Romania

18th USA

19th Uruguay

20th Portugal

It's just been announced that England will be hosting the 2025 Women's World Cup! Something for fans to get excited about.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says his decisions in the early part of the season played a role in his side missing the Premiership play-offs.

 

The Chiefs - who have finished in the top two every season since 2016 - can finish no higher than fifth.

 

Exeter have won 12 of their 23 games so far and were victorious in just half of their opening eight games as injuries and international call-ups hit.

England centre Manu Tuilagi will miss this summer's tour of Australia to have surgery on a knee problem.

 

The 31-year-old has played only six games for England since 2019's Rugby World Cup final as injury continues to dog his career.

 

Club side Sale said they and England had decided "a summer of rest and a full pre-season is the best course of action" for Tuilagi.

Five South African club sides will play in European competition next season, organisers have announced.

 

The Stormers, Bulls and Sharks, who qualified second, fourth and fifth from the United Rugby Championship (URC), will play in the Champions Cup.

 

The Lions, who finished 12th, will play in the Challenge Cup, while the Cheetahs, who have not played in the URC, have been invited into the event.

 

Organisers say their inclusion with bring "a new level of elite rugby".

Bristol Bears prop Kyle Sinckler will miss England's summer tour of Australia with a back injury.

 

Sinckler, 29, has not played since April and is now understood to have been ruled out of the trip Down Under.

 

England head coach Eddie Jones is already without injured centres Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade for the three-Test series against Australia.

 

The tourists will face the Wallabies on three consecutive weekends from 2 July in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.

 

 

Saracens' Ben Earl has been named Premiership player of the season after playing a key role in their title bid.

 

The flanker, 24, returned to the club last summer, having joined Bristol on a one-year loan deal following Sarries' relegation to the Championship.

 

He won the most recent of his 13 England caps in March 2021.

Gregor Townsend has selected a 40-strong squad for Scotland's summer tour to Chile and Argentina.

 

Stuart Hogg, who has captained the Scots in recent tournaments, is omitted, as are Finn Russell and Kyle Steyn.

 

Experienced lock Grant Gilchrist is named as captain for the tour.

 

Uncapped forwards Ben Muncaster, Murphy Walker and Glen Young are included while backs Matt Currie, Kyle Rowe and Ollie Smith could also debut.

 

Edinburgh flanker Jamie Ritchie has not recovered from injury in time for the tour.