It’s a delight to see so many Red Roses featured in the New Year’s Honours List. Two players, Zoe Stratford and Marlie Packer receive the OBE; they are the current captain and her predecessor. Three players are awarded the MBE, Ellie Kildunne, Meg Jones and Sadia Kabeya. Massive congratulations to all five. John Mitchell receives
Christmas sees Saracens sitting top of the league, but equal on points with Gloucester-Hartpury who have played one fewer. Lightning v Trailfinders The tingliest game took place at Franklin’s Gardens. The two clubs have a habit of producing tight finishes: this was the tightest. Let’s go back to front. In the 79th minute Rosie Inman
Harlequins Women have announced the appointment of Pat Metcalfe-Jones as Head of Women’s Rugby. Metcalfe-Jones succeeds Andy Rhys Jones, who departs the Club to take up the role of Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways with Scotland. She undertakes the new role having previously served as Head Coach at the University of Surrey, as well
Loughborough Lightning have made only two changes to their starting line-up as they seek to sign off 2025 with a home victory over Trailfinders Women. Nathan Smith’s side enter Sunday’s contest at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off: 2pm) off the back of a bonus-point victory over Bristol Bears, knowing another success will see them
Whitney Hansen’s selection as the next head coach of the Black Ferns is a huge gain for women’s rugby. She becomes the only women to run a top-10 nation in the world. This is the best possible statement of intent NZR could make, as it attempts to make up for past shortcomings. In rugby terms
Whitney Hansen has been announced as the new Black Ferns Head Coach after being appointed through to the end of 2027. Hansen succeeds Allan Bunting as the 13th Black Ferns Head Coach since Laurie O’Reilly took the reins in 1991, and second woman to hold the position after Vicky Dombroski in 1994. She will oversee
It’s the last round before the Christmas/New Year break. More on that later. The Fixtures 20 December: Quins v Bears, KO 15.05 21 December: Sharks v Sarries, KO 13.00 Lightning v Trailfinders, KO 14.00 Tigers v Glos-Pury, KO 15.00 The top and bottom of the league are as expected, Sarries just ahead of G-H by
Hollie Davidson to create history as first female to referee a Men’s Six Nations match Referees from eight national unions selected across the 15 matches Matthew Carley set to reach 50 test appearances in the middle The Emirates World Rugby Match Officials have been confirmed for the Guinness Men’s Six Nations 2026. Fourteen referees
The SRU has appointed Sione Fukofuka as the new head coach. This move has some intriguing features: Fukofuka announced his decision to stand down from a similar post in the USA at the end of the World Cup. He cited a wish to return to his family in Australia. He had been in charge of
Head coach LJ Lewis and assistant coach Sarah McKenna have selected their 34-player squad for the first England U21 Women’s training squad of the season. Following on from last weekend’s U18 Women’s camp at Loughborough University, the wider squad assemble in the East Midlands today for a three-day meeting. As of the 2025/26 campaign, Lewis’ side will now operate as an U21 age-grade with the ability to call in up
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