Rugby

Gloucester Rugby can confirm that back-row Jake Polledri will leave the club at the end of the current season to join United Rugby Championship side Zebre.

On the bench, Alfie Barbeary is set for his first Bath appearance. The pack sees Tom Dunn and Will Stuart return to the front row alongside Beno Obano. Number 8 Jaco Coetzee is selected from the outset and Sam Underhill retains the seven jersey.

The 20-cap Italian international is joing Zebre Parma ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Federation of Italian Rugby] for supporting our proposal and helping Zebre get the signature of Jake, that of a great player who will help us write new and different pages in the history of the franchise” “To overcome the injury he sustained, and how he’s dealt with a lengthy recovery, tells you a lot about his character. “It’s been one hell of a journey, physically and mentally, over the years. When the opportunity arose to play it again, I didn't hesitate. “I can't wait to join the Zebras. Polledri originally came through the youth set-up at Bristol having grown up in Stoke Bishop at the son of Bristol Rugby legend Peter Polledri.

The injured Ange Capuozzo is a big miss, but the Azzurri won't be fazed as they look to end a long 10-year wait for a home Six Nations win, having stunned Wales ...

However, their wait for a first home victory in the competition will now stretch into an 11th year as they are set to finish bottom of the pile once again, despite a spirited second-half display. The conversion is quickly added! The Azzurri’s shock last-gasp win in Cardiff 12 months ago ended their 36-match Six Nations losing streak that dated back to 2015 and provided a platform for real growth. [Warren Gatland](/topic/warren-gatland) as head coach, opening with three successive defeats to make their worst start since 2007 against a backdrop of an ongoing rugby crisis in the country. Sums up their day. [Six Nations](/topic/six-nations) round four opened at the Stadio Olimpico this afternoon.

Wales youngsters Joe Hawkins and Mason Grady have been backed to come through the jeers and taunts of a Roman amphitheatre on Saturday afternoon. The rookie ...

"He's one of those that probably when he's driving the car, or sat in his room, or having a bit of food or whatever, he's probably thinking about the game anyway so when it comes to training it's boxed off. He'll lead the team out and I'm sure the crowd will want to show their love for him and their appreciation of what he's done in that jersey." "He's a world-class prop and a great leader and when you look around the changing room there are certain players that give a sense of confidence whether they're playing or not and he's one of them. "We put a tribute video on for him the other day when we announced the team with some of the tries he's scored, some of the victories he's been involved in. He's been one of the best rugby players I've had the pleasure to work with. Smith and Farrell know how to fit within what is asked of the coach and the group. They have different profiles but can be complementary at the end of the game." "At this level, the final minutes of the game are very important so having Farrell come off the bench is great for them. Marcus Smith has seized the fly-half duties but Farrell is set to appear in the second half when Dupont believes his game management will be crucial. "It was hugely disappointing to lose, but Steve Hansen came up to me at the end and told me I had done well. “I didn’t particularly think it was an embarrassment, I was just hoping to get picked for the next game. Wales were heavily criticised for losing to Italy 20 years ago, yet within six months they gave eventual champions England one of their trickiest matches at the 2003 World Cup in a tense quarter-final.

Toolstation Western League, Premier Division: Ashton and Backwell United v Helston Athletic, Barnstaple Town v Buckland Athletic, Bridgwater United v Shepton ...

Division One: Foxhole Stars Res v Looe Town Res OFF, Gerrans and St Mawes United v Calstock, St Minver Res v Holywell and Cubert. Intermediate Two: Bideford AFC Thirds v High Bickington, Kingsley Park v Bridgerule, Langtree Lions v Hartland Clovelly Thirds, Shamwickshire Rovers Res v Equalizers. Duchy League, Premier Division: Boscastle v Dobwalls Res, Lanivet Inn v Saltash United Thirds, Lostwithiel v Bodmin Town Seconds, Mevagissey v Lifton, Polzeath v St Breward, St Merryn v Southgate Seniors. Senior Division: Barum United v Hartland Clovelly Res, Fremington Res v Braunton Thirds, Sandymere Blues v Holsworthy Reserves, Shebbear United v Landkey Town. St Piran League East: Callington Res v Saltash United Res, Gunnislake v St Austell Res, St Mawgan v St Dominick, Sticker Res v Saltash Borough. East Cornwall Premier League: Looe Town v Roche, Nanpean Rovers v North Petherwin, Newquay Academy v St Minver, St Dennis Res v Liskeard Athletic Res OFF, St Newlyn East v St Teath, St Stephen v Wadebridge Town Res, Torpoint Athletic Thirds v St Columb Major.

Italy host Wales in a clash of this year's two winless teams.

Boos at the full time whistle of an England home fixture for the second time in a matter of months. Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Thomas Ramos and Gregory Alldritt were all outstanding for the visitors, to name just four from a complete dismantling of an inferior side. “France are brilliant, there’s a reason they are number two in the world. You’d say Borthwick might be inclined to go back to his appointed captain in Dublin, but almost anything is surely now on the table. “We were well beaten by 43 points; when you play like that against a team so well coached and with ability like that, that’s going to happen. They played well, we played poorly - we have to learn from it and be better. England were shambolic, as their opponents dominated every facet of the game and scored seemingly at will. [France](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/france-rugby) aren’t even the best team in this [Six Nations](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/six-nations). Any credit Borthwick had built up as an ex-England captain, with an impressive coaching CV early in his career and as the ideal, straightforward man to follow the drama of the unpopular Eddie Jones era has likely been extinguished. “I think that we are incredibly disappointed with the performance. The main bearing on the game was the contact area. Never before, in 152 years of playing international rugby, had an England team suffered a home defeat this heavy.

It's been an utterly miserable tournament for Wales so far despite the return of the messiah Warren Gatland as head coach, opening with three successive ...

An incredible bounce totally undid the Italian defence for the opening try of Italy versus Wales – with winger Rio Dyer getting the score.

Tommy Allan made a break and it all looked on, but with it looking like the try-line was begging for whoever he hit next, he passed inside to check Stephen Varney’s run, and the move was killed off. It looked like a box-kick to nothing from Wales’ Rhys Webb toward’s Italy’s 22, at the start of their Six Nations showdown. But an incredible bounce of the ball saw it fly away from the Azzurri defenders and into the hands of Rio Dyer for the first score of the afternoon.

Now they have their sights set on a first home win for a decade in this competition despite the loss of Ange Capuozzo, having lost out with some spirited ...

It deserved a bit of luck with the bounce. Now they have their sights set on a first home win for a decade in this competition despite the loss of Ange Capuozzo, having lost out with some spirited displays in recent weeks. [Warren Gatland](/topic/warren-gatland) as head coach, opening with three successive defeats to make their worst start since 2007 against a backdrop of an ongoing rugby crisis in the country. The Azzurri’s shock last-gasp win in Cardiff 12 months ago ended their 36-match Six Nations losing streak that dated back to 2015 and provided a platform for real growth. Italy 3-15 Wales [Six Nations](/topic/six-nations) round four opens with an intriguing clash at the [Stadio Olimpico](/topic/stadio-olimpico) this afternoon.

Successive defeats against Ireland, Scotland and England have left Wales scrambling around the Six Nations basement, yet to break their points duck and scoring only three tries in more than four hours of rugby. Italy are one point above them, courtesy of a ...

Boos at the full time whistle of an England home fixture for the second time in a matter of months. Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Thomas Ramos and Gregory Alldritt were all outstanding for the visitors, to name just four from a complete dismantling of an inferior side. “France are brilliant, there’s a reason they are number two in the world. You’d say Borthwick might be inclined to go back to his appointed captain in Dublin, but almost anything is surely now on the table. “We were well beaten by 43 points; when you play like that against a team so well coached and with ability like that, that’s going to happen. They played well, we played poorly - we have to learn from it and be better. England were shambolic, as their opponents dominated every facet of the game and scored seemingly at will. [France](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/france-rugby) aren’t even the best team in this [Six Nations](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/six-nations). Any credit Borthwick had built up as an ex-England captain, with an impressive coaching CV early in his career and as the ideal, straightforward man to follow the drama of the unpopular Eddie Jones era has likely been extinguished. “I think that we are incredibly disappointed with the performance. The main bearing on the game was the contact area. Never before, in 152 years of playing international rugby, had an England team suffered a home defeat this heavy.