World Rugby has confirmed updated Emirates Match Official appointments for two matches in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2025 with Amber McLachlan (Australia) unavailable. Clara Munarini (Italy) will now referee England v Scotland in Leicester on 19 April with Maria Heitor (Portugal) replacing her as assistant referee. Sara Cox (England) will take charge of Italy
These new contracts form part of the long-term plan to ensure a World Cup performance to match or improve the last one, where Italy reached the quarters for the very first time. I’ll leave my concerns till after the list. The Contracted Players: Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais, 62 caps) Alyssa D’Incà (Villorba Rugby, 26 caps)
Scott Bemand has named a 40-strong Ireland squad to train for the coming Six Nations. They are: Forwards (22): Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan)* Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College/Leinster) (11 caps) Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian)* Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster) (27) Christy Haney (Blackrock College/Leinster) (19) Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster) (3) Cliodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) (38) Deirbhile Nic a
It may be the dawn of the men’s 2025 Six Nations, but let’s turn our minds to more serious matters. In the women’s version all sorts of upsets are possible. We have two new head coaches in charge: Fabio Roselli (Italy) and more recently Sean Lynn (Wales) share the task of improving their squads’ placements.
Women’s rugby will take centre stage in 2025, in what could be a watershed year for the women’s game, with back-to-back international women’s rugby tournaments offering box office entertainment for fans, all kicking off with the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. The Northern Hemisphere will be the stage for the biggest moments in the women’s game
Next year’s fixtures have been published gratifyingly early. The programme lasts from 22 March to 26 April. There’s a single rest week after Round Two. The first four rounds follow the pattern: two Saturday matches, one Sunday As usual the final round finishes on a single day. How about calling it Super Saturday? That would
• The Six Nations Women’s Summer Series ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) Award has been introduced to recognise the brightest stars of the competition • Six players, one from each participating team, have been voted their sides’ MVP • The award winners were voted for by their teammates, after a shortlist of three players per side
Under 20 Summer Series The last round of the inaugural Under 20s Summer Series kicked off with two internationals widely separated across the day. Ireland v Scotland Despite the 9 o’clock start it was already hot. The temperature would reach 32 degrees in mid-afternoon (hence the big gap in start-times). Scotland finished well beaten, but
U20 Summer Series – England v France Our starting point: a 74-0 walloping of the English by the French in April in Rouen. On three minutes wonderful combinations led to an opening try for Steph Else, who spotted a weak edge to a ruck near the line. The move started from a solid scrum, which
The final England Women’s Pathway matchday squad of the 2024 Six Nations Women’s Summer Series has been confirmed by head coach LJ Lewis, who readies her team for the challenge of France. England face Les Bleues this Sunday (14th) on Matchday 3 of the inaugural series, kicking-off at 20:00 BST at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
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