Rugby

The former Wales and Lions scrum-half had hoped to return to Welsh rugby.

I’m sure that given the opportunity I will get the chance to work with him again in the future. "I thought it was in the past so it was tough to take when it was brought up again six months ago. I’ve had discussions with Warren and hopefully the door is slightly ajar." I just think I’d like to see him involved at the highest possible level again in the future. I wish my family and friends had never gone through that but it’s made me a better person and coach." "I felt that I had done my time. "I know Alex King very well and he will do a great job with Wales. Gatland instead appointed attack coach Alex King, who briefly performed the role in 2017 when Howley deputised for Gatland while he was on Lions duty. It’s been over three years now but that’s not the case at the moment. They felt their dad had a great opportunity after a difficult few years, rehabbing to get back on track." Warren wanted me back and ultimately the head coach is pretty important in the organisational structure. Howley was sent home from the 2019 Rugby World Cup when the betting scandal broke.

Leinster Rugby duo James Ryan and Hugo Keenan, who will be both involved in their side's Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 match against Ulster Rugby,

Eventually Ireland’s experience showed, and after a Byrne penalty re-established the seven-point lead Hansen went over in the 71st minute for a converted try to give Ireland a 34-20 win. Wing Hansen, who was awarded Man of the Match, crossed for his first try in the 35th minute seemingly to put Ireland out of sight, but a Pierro Bruno try for Italy with the clock in the red saw the two teams go in only a converted try apart with Ireland up 24-17. Captain and lock Ryan crossed in the second minute to open the scoring in the game, but Gloucester’s Steven Varney responded with a converted try five minutes later to give the hosts the lead.

Victorious Western Force coach Simon Cron has lauded attempts to revitalise the code.

“I thought the boys did well in the second half to hold possession and we started to find a little bit of opportunity and holes.” I think it’s exceptional. “We got called up early. “Personally I need all the rest I can get (but) it’s cool because it literally goes down to who can last the longest and hold the ball the longest,” he said. The Hurricanes saw the benefits of discipline and ball control in humid conditions to turn a close game into a cakewalk against the Reds in Townsville and finally the Rebels let one slip in another high-scoring affair in Perth. “I used to have a heart attack when people were doing shoelaces up on the way to the scrum.

France face New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup 2023 opener. It will be the eighth time the sides meet at the tournament - and we can expect fireworks.

[South Africa defeated then-holders England 15-9 in the final](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup/flashback-the-2007-rugby-world-cup-final-105596), but this was just part of the story. The sixth instalment of the Rugby World Cup was hosted by France, with four games played in Wales and two in Scotland. [Ian Foster as head coach of the national side](https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/new-zealand-countries/who-is-ian-foster-ten-things-you-should-know-about-the-all-blacks-coach-131834) remains in doubt with Crusaders linchpin Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson waiting in the wings and the All Blacks will be striving to perform much better than their quarter-final exit in the 2007 edition of the tournament, the last time it was staged in France. [We re-did the World Cup Pools draw with the current world rankings](https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/how-would-the-rugby-world-cup-pools-look-based-on-todays-rankings-150486) [securing a Grand Slam in the 2022 Six Nations](https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-six-nations/france-win-the-grand-slam-139885) along the way. [Rugby World Cup 2023](https://www.rugbyworld.com/rugby-fixtures/rugby-world-cup-fixtures-2023), fans’ eyes will be glued to what has become one of the most enticing fixtures in world rugby.

The rugby legend and World Cup winner says that the mayhem surrounding the planned strike by Wales' players amid contract delays shows that 'innovative ...

The players want to play in it and the fans want to see it. It will upset people along the way but it is for the good of the sport. They included scrapping the 60-cap rule restricting players from playing domestic rugby outside of Wales and also featuring at international level unless they have that number of Test appearances. This comes after a week of turmoil in [Welsh rugby ](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/wales-rugby-union-team)when players threatened to strike and cancel their [Six Nations](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/six-nations) match against England. "It will be the same with LIV Golf. Everyone hated the Indian Premier League initially but now it is an integral part of the calendar. [The Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-11750297/Hard-Wales-stars-consider-STRIKING-contract-chaos-leaving-clash-England-doubt.html) reported last week that WRU CEO Nigel Walker told the players the sport will suffer significant ramifications if they opted to sit out the match against England. There is so much furore around that breakaway competition at the moment, but at some stage it is all going to come together and move golf to a completely different level. Things are not perfect in cricket and there have been some massive sacrifices. [World Cup](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/rugby-world-cup-2019) winning squad, has highlighted [LIV Golf](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/liv-golf) and the [Indian Premier League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/indian-premier-league) in cricket which have divided sports but also helped them to progress. [England rugby](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/england-rugby-union-team) legend [Matt Dawson](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/matt-dawson) has urged rugby bosses to consider 'fractious and innovative' ideas in a bid to grow the sport. [running out 20-10 winners](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/breaking-wales-england-six-nations-29312231) in Cardiff.

Having also been run uncomfortably close by Italy in Rome on opening day, there is a sense that Les Bleus need a commanding performance here to reassert their ...

Going into a game like this on the back of wins is a much better place to be than if you’re coming off the back of defeats. “I’m really comfortable playing with him on both sides of the ball. But they face a tough test against a Scotland side high on confidence after opening their campaign with successive victories for the first time since 1996. Follow France vs Scotland in the Six Nations live below! Two of the very best! Defending champions France are back on home soil for the first time in 2023 as they look to recover quickly from a titanic loss in Dublin a fortnight ago that saw their dreams of consecutive Grand Slams firmly dashed by rampant Ireland.

Scotland continue their quest for an unprecedented Grand Slam as they face a wounded France side in Paris in the third round of the 2023 Six Nations.

“After I left the pitch, there was a lot of abuse and swearing and the supporters followed. ](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/02/20/six-nations-2023-stabbed-match-did-not-stop-refereeing/)"I said to one of the team captains that four minutes were remaining but he misheard me and thought I’d said two minutes. He went on to referee at the 2019 World U20 Championship in Argentina and worked alongside his idol Wayne Barnes during the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup. “The home team exploded and accused me of cheating. His first game as a referee saw him take charge of an U12s game and it was one that he admits he will "never forget". They kicked the ball out after two minutes but I didn’t end the game – as there were two minutes left. Playing at flanker before becoming a "crash ball centre," he represented Georgia at U17, U18 and U19 levels and was selected for the squad for the 2012 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship. I realised then that it was a hugely challenging profession." I just apologised and said it was my first match. Struggling with injuries and his mental health, he decided to retire from playing. Born in Tbilisi in 1994, Amashukei was a football fan as a child but started playing rugby aged 11. They will be looking to get their campaign back on track after also squeezing past an impressive Italy side in the opening round.

Follow live updates as France meet Scotland in the final match of the Six Nations third round.

When the hosts powered over for two tries in the first ten minutes, and with Grant Gilchrist dismissed, it looked as if it might be a long afternoon for Scotland’s optimists. It would have been nice to get another one to win the game.” Scotland adjusted well on the fly to counter France’s power, recognising that Nika Amashukeli was allowing a contest at the breakdown and muddying French ball to stall the hosts. “After a really tough start, we got ourselves back into it. “We felt like we could win that,” the two-try centre reflects. I thought we had that... Finn Russell produced some moments of magic in familiar fashion, but it just wasn’t quite enough. The France defence coach says to ITV: “They dominated territory, they dominated possession, but that is what you expect from a top class team. Just to slightly correct Shaun Edwards, France have not beaten England away from home in the Six Nations since 2005, but did claim a World Cup warm-up win at Twickenham in 2007. “We’ll have a beer, it’s been a tough couple of weeks. Gael Fickou, for me, is a world-class player in hot form at the moment. The Six Nations resumes in a little less than two weeks.

Before the Six Nations fixture opposing France and Scotland, Rugby World Cup 2023 and the French charity Petits Frères des Pauvres have presented at the ...

Being an Official Member of Rugby World Cup 2023 contributes to the association’s missions: support, act collectively and raise awareness. Petits Frères des Pauvres is daily committed to help elderly people through situations of isolation to be a part of the world surrounding them. This programme will be beneficial to 153 isolated seniors, part of Petits Frères des Pauvres, and allow them to see nine Rugby World Cup 2023 matches (one per host city, including the opening match France v New Zealand), along with Petits Frères des Pauvres volunteers as well as apprentices from the Campus 2023 education programmein s.

Two red cards in Paris, just 11 minutes on the clock. Here's what happened. Some drama in round three of the Six Nations 2023!

It was overthrown and as France went down the other end, it was only a matter of time. Initially nothing was given, but as the French medic came on and insisted the Jelonch go off for a Les Bleus had the edge after scores from Romain Ntamack and Ethan Dumortier, and then Thomas Ramos intercepted a Finn Russell pass to gallop in for a try. Phase after phase they came back, until Gaël Fickou went over for the bonus point score. Of course, you may remember, France would eventually triumphed 32-21, but we had two red cards in Paris after 11 minutes, with Grant Gilchrist of Scotland, and Mohamed Haouas of France, sent off permanently.

Follow live updates as France meet Scotland in the final match of the Six Nations third round.