France recall Willemse to battle Ireland
Paul Willemse will play his first Test since last August when he starts for France in the Six Nations opener against defending champions Ireland in Marseille on Friday.
Paul Willemse will play his first Test since last August when he starts for France in the Six Nations opener against defending champions Ireland in Marseille on Friday.
Ireland’s hopes of successfully defending their Six Nations title hinge on filling the “massive gap” left by Johnny Sexton, says former Irish fullback Hugo MacNeill.
Ireland will start their bid for a historic back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slam when they take on France in Marseille in the tournament’s mouth-watering opening match on Friday.
The Springboks are confident that a currently-injured trio of Japan-based World Cup winners will recover in time for the July series against Ireland.
The Springboks are set to unveil two new additions to the coaching staff this week, with a former Ireland international linked to the vacant defence coach role.
Ireland haven’t recovered from last year’s Rugby World Cup trauma, and face a tough challenge away from home against South Africa in July, writes MARK KEOHANE.
The Springboks look set to be without Kwagga Smith for the July Test series after the loose forward suffered a tendon injury while playing in Japan.
Andy Farrell says he isn’t a believer in the four-year World Cup cycle and a radical overhaul of the Ireland squad would be damaging to their Six Nations title defence.
Peter O’Mahony will captain Ireland in their defence of the Six Nations with head coach Andy Farrell saying on Wednesday that the veteran loose forward is a “born leader”.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell has been officially confirmed as the head coach of the British & Irish Lions for the 2025 tour of Australia.