Six Nations news — SportsCatch

Rennie makes five changes as Will Jordan closes in on All Blacks try record against Italy

Dave Rennie has reshuffled his All Blacks starting XV for Saturday's Test against Italy in Wellington, with Tyrel Lomax reaching his 50th cap and two uncapped players named among the reserves.

Rugby Jul 9

Wainiqolo's 17 defenders beaten and Jordan's try record headline Nations Championship round one stats

Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo beat 17 defenders — more than double any other player — while Will Jordan's brace moved him to within two tries of the All Blacks' all-time record as the Nations Championship opened with 12 nations in action.

Rugby Jul 9

Wigglesworth pinpoints England's 10-minute lapses after South Africa rout

England defence coach Richard Wigglesworth has identified costly 10-minute spells at the start of each half as the key fault to fix ahead of the Fiji clash, after South Africa's 45-21 Nations Championship victory piled pressure on Steve Borthwick.

Rugby Jul 8

England call up Iyogun and Cunningham-South as injuries bite after Springbok hammering

Emmanuel Iyogun and Chandler Cunningham-South have been drafted into England's squad after Beno Obano and Cadan Murley were ruled out injured, with Iyogun now in line for his first cap against Fiji on Saturday.

Rugby Jul 7

Lutui signs multi-year deal with Loughborough after debut Six Nations call-up

Haineala Lutui has committed her future to Loughborough Lightning on a multi-year contract after a breakthrough 2025/26 season that took her from university rugby to a senior England debut in just 444 days.

Rugby Jul 7

Will Jordan three tries from All Blacks record as ex-teammate backs Italy demolition

Will Jordan needs just three more tries to surpass Doug Howlett's all-time All Blacks record of 49, and former Crusaders teammate Bryn Hall believes the winger can reach the milestone against Italy in Wellington this weekend.

Rugby Jul 7

Barnes hints standout All Blacks performers could still miss Italy Test in Wellington

All Blacks senior assistant Neil Barnes has revealed the coaching staff are weighing squad development against competitive respect for Italy, suggesting some players who performed well against France may not retain their places for Saturday's Nations Championship clash in Wellington.

Rugby Jul 7

Injury-hit England call up Roebuck to cover Furbank's appendicitis absence against Fiji

Sale Sharks winger Tom Roebuck has been added to the England squad after George Furbank was hospitalised with appendicitis. With Freddie Steward also a fitness doubt, England could face Fiji on Saturday without a specialist full-back.

Rugby Jul 6

Adams urges Wales to move on from 125-point autumn horror ahead of Argentina and Springboks tests

Josh Adams has called on Wales to build on three successive victories rather than dwell on last autumn's heavy defeats to Argentina and South Africa, as the squad prepares to face both sides in the Nations Championship.

Rugby Jul 6

Penaud's France comeback lasts 40 minutes as calf injury rules him out of July Tests

Damian Penaud, France's record try scorer, was forced off at half-time during last weekend's Nations Championship defeat to New Zealand and will now miss the remaining July Tests against Australia and Japan.

Rugby Jul 6

Loughman's concussion forces Ireland change with Bohan set for Japan debut

Jeremy Loughman has been ruled out of Ireland's Nations Championship clash with Japan in Newcastle on Saturday after suffering a concussion, with Connacht loosehead Billy Bohan in line for a first Test cap from the bench.

Rugby Jul 6

All Blacks attack coach Blair credits player freedom after France first-Test win

Mike Blair has reviewed New Zealand's attacking display in the first Nations Championship Test against France in Christchurch, praising the instinctive style that created numerous opportunities — while acknowledging the team still needs to sharpen its finishing and find better balance with the kicking game.

Rugby Jul 6

Ex-Springboks coach Mallett slams Borthwick for benching Pollock in 45-21 Ellis Park defeat

Nick Mallett, the former Springboks head coach, has criticised Steve Borthwick for failing to start 21-year-old Henry Pollock against South Africa, arguing England's back row was weaker for it in a 45-21 loss at Ellis Park.

Rugby Jul 6

Smith brands England 'soft' after 45-21 mauling hands Boks fifth straight Test win

Fly-half Fin Smith admitted England were 'soft' in defence and missed too many tackles as South Africa ran out 45-21 winners at Ellis Park on Saturday, extending England's losing run to five consecutive Tests.

Rugby Jul 5

Wainwright savours Wales win at Cardiff City Stadium he never graced as a footballer

Aaron Wainwright reflected on a personal milestone as Wales beat Fiji 39-24 at Cardiff City Stadium — a ground he trained at as a Cardiff City academy player but was released before ever appearing in a competitive match.

Rugby Jul 5

Townsend hails Scotland depth after five Lions sit out 47-38 win over Argentina

Scotland ran in seven tries to beat Argentina 47-38 in Córdoba without Finn Russell, Huw Jones, Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn, all of whom toured with the British and Irish Lions last summer. Head coach Gregor Townsend said the result underlined the squad's growing depth ahead of next week's test against world champions South Africa.

Rugby Jul 5

Springboks fans booed the wrong England flanker in Ellis Park hostile reception for Pollock

South Africa's crowd spent a week targeting Henry Pollock ahead of England's 45-21 defeat in Johannesburg, but it was Bath flanker Guy Pepper who absorbed most of the jeering after supporters mistook him for their intended target.

Rugby Jul 5

Townsend credits painful Pumas collapse for Scotland's scintillating 47-38 revenge in Córdoba

Scotland ran in seven tries to defeat Argentina 47-38 in Córdoba, opening their Nations Championship campaign in style. Head coach Gregor Townsend said last autumn's humiliating home collapse against the same opposition had proved a turning point for the squad.

Rugby Jul 5

Scotland climb to joint all-time high of fifth after record win over Argentina

Scotland's 47-38 victory over Argentina in Córdoba — their highest-ever score on Pumas soil — lifts them two places to fifth in the World Rugby Men's Rankings, equalling their all-time best and leapfrogging both Argentina and England.

Rugby Jul 5

England routed 45-21 by South Africa as discipline crisis and Furbank injury deepen tour misery

England slumped to a fifth consecutive Test defeat, losing 45-21 to South Africa at Ellis Park in their Nations Championship opener. Captain Jamie George admitted discipline 'let us down' after Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper were sin-binned simultaneously, leaving the tourists with 13 men in the final seven minutes.

Rugby Jul 4