Rugby World Cup 2023

This was England's worst ever tournament. They won just one of five games, finished fifth and conceded their most points and tries in a Six Nations - and only just avoided the Wooden Spoon.

Robinson labelled the current campaign 'disastrous' and urged his former team-mate and England head coach Borthwick to adopt a more attacking game plan to resurrect his tenure.

In the 43rd minute of England's defeat by Italy, Maro Itoje lost his cool with Fin Smith. Disagreements happen on the rugby pitch but it was a sign his clear thinking was scrambled.

Cause for cheer in Welsh rugby has been in short supply and it's likely Ireland will extend their wait for a Six Nations win on Friday. But scratch beneath the surface and there is hope.

The footage of Tadhg Furlong being unceremoniously tossed into the air by the Italian scrum caught the attention of England's analysts.

Former England stars are dotted around France, where contract renewals take place late in the season - meaning the likes of Mako Vunipola and Courtney Lawes are weighing up their options.

The next three weeks are vital for Steve Borthwick - and in my view, it will prove to be the making of him and this team. For that to happen, he could do a lot worse than start with Nelson Mandela.

Mitchell will miss the remainder of the Six Nations campaign, forcing Steve Borthwick to change his options at scrum-half for the final rounds in Rome and Paris.

The story goes that when the late Queen Elizabeth II arrived at Jonno Balding's family stables to inspect her horses, a four-year old Jonno shuffled up to Her Majesty with a question.

Rugby's new biennial tournament certainly has promise - but if you scratch just a little beneath the surface to see what the Nations Championship entails, a worrying picture emerges.

Who was Jonah Lomu? Back in the day when he was tearing down the wing in the legendary All Black jersey of New Zealand, everybody thought they had the answer to that question.

There's a pet shop near England's training base in Bagshot that Steve Borthwick should visit. They have South African chameleons there that could provide some inspiration.

'The way's he's turned up over such a long period of time is greatness. Let's call it how it is. I get goosebumps knowing that he's my team-mate and my friend. I hope he knows how proud we are.'

On the face of it, England's squad to face Scotland lacked anything too gripping. But scratch beneath the surface and it is packed full of intrigue, both for this weekend and the 2027 World Cup.

English rugby is in a good place at the start of 2026. The men's team are on an 11-match winning run. The women are world champions. Here are my eight big talking points for the year ahead

Tommy Freeman ended 2025 in style, carving through Bath's defence to score a hat-trick in a statement Northampton win. It rubberstamped his status as one of the best players in the country

There are two things that are guaranteed to get Thomas du Toit's attention: scrums and meat.

After R360 pushed back its start date to 2028, hundreds of players around the world who had planned on joining the new competition next season are now on the lookout for a contract for 2026-27.

Depth is building nicely in England's prop stocks but the news that Will Stuart will miss the remainder of the season left me with one question.

South Africa are a formidable rugby team. To beat them, you don't only have to come out on top on the field, you also have to outwit the total genius of their coach.

Back in October, when Pennyhill Park was still decked out with pumpkins, Steve Borthwick had one key line of messaging for his players.

On Sunday, Peter Tandy and 300 of Tonmawr's residents will board seven buses wearing the village club's colours of green and white, to support their man as he takes charge of Wales for the first time.

I'm a big fan of Steve Borthwick. But I have to be honest and say I'm disappointed in his team selection for the match against Fiji.

Davies was never short of work. But he does have experience of the agonising uncertainty that Wales' players are going through right now.

Last season was a really stop-start year. But it's made me appreciate how much playing for England means to me. I can't wait to challenge myself against the best in the world.

The autumn internationals are here and this marks the midway point towards the next World Cup. By this time, most teams have a fairly clear idea of what they are trying to achieve.

Jones is back in familiar surroundings. A hotel bar on the outskirts of St Albans, where the pristinely dressed waiters are wheeling out afternoon tea. Quintessentially English.

There's so much to get into ahead of the opening weekend. We put the call out for your questions and now we're putting the best of them to Sir Clive - here's what he had to say...

The next month represents heaven for rugby fans. It promises to be action of the highest quality - and a chance for a new era of stars to cement their status as talents worthy of the international stage.

George is used to celebrating milestones with his England team-mates. He has been part of the set-up for more than a decade but he's still holding out for his biggest birthday wish.

Almost a quarter of a century ago, following a 2001 Six Nations defeat by Ireland, I wrote to all my players as the then head coach of England, writes SIR CLIVE WOODWARD.

As a 53-cap All Black who played at the last two World Cups, Nepo Laulala already had an impressive reputation when he arrived at Gloucester. But then he took on the club's infamous milk challenge.

Many of Cowan-Dickie's memories of the 2025 Lions tour arise from the golf course not the rugby pitch as he was concussed during the last warm-up game. But he still loved the experience.

ALEX BYWATER: England star Fin Smith has opened up on his decision to sign a new 'multi-year contract' with Northampton and ignore the lure of R360.

Mike Tindall was among those congratulating the England women's Red Roses team after they beat Canada to win the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: My heartfelt congratulations go out to all the Red Roses players and the coaching staff for their achievement.

The Princess of Wales has wished England the very best of luck ahead of their clash with Canada in the Women's Rugby World Cup this evening.

When I look at the women's game in England, I see only good things. They have exceptional players and strength in depth with new, younger talent coming through.

For anyone watching the post-match interviews following Scotland's defeat by England in their World Cup quarter-final, it was impossible to get away from the sense the team had been let down.

We've only just stepped through the door of Gareth Anscombe's brand new home in the south of France when we're hit by a wall of noise and activity.

Kate, 43, who is Patron of the Rugby Football Union, had joined crowds at the Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium - and was seen fully embracing the crowd's enthusiasm.

In a sweet moment the Princess of Wales was met with cheers and admiration from the Australian women's rugby team after a gripping World Cup clash against England on Saturday

Kate, 43, is attending the women's team's match against Australia in her role as Patron of the Rugby Football Union, while her husband Prince William watches Wales take on Fiji.

For the last year or so, Ondres' next generation have been able to call on the expertise of an English export with quite a few stories to tell.

Liverpool and Manchester United's owners are ready to go head-to-head by buying teams in the new rugby rebel league threatening to rip up the sport with in millions in investment.

Scotland women's captain Rachel Malcolm insisted her players have been put in an 'unfair' position ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

There were more than 100 names on the Welsh Rugby Union's list to replace an icon. And 160 days since Warren Gatland was sacked, Steve Tandy has won the race.

If you thought Welsh rugby was in dire straits after a record 18 straight defeats, seeing off a player strike and with its four franchises on the brink of financial collapse, you'd be wrong. It's a lot worse than that.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY ALEX BYWATER: At the entrance to Sale Sharks' Carrington training centre, a slogan is painted on the wall to remind those who visit of the club's ethos and values.

The regular domestic season is over, and on Tuesday night the Premiership handed out their seasonal awards. But here we looking at the lesser-spotted action that deserves its own gongs.

RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL: At a time of financial constraints across British club rugby, all teams are looking to gain a recruitment advantage by unearthing value signings their rivals aren't aware of.

This is the time of year when the Rugby Players' Association come into action, tasked with picking up players facing an uncertain future. Negotiations stall and value is driven down.

At last, here it is, a global guide to help oval-ball enthusiasts plan the best places to take in a fixture - close to home or thousands of miles away.

RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL: When Marcus Smith turned up at Miami's rugby club during designated time off, it quickly became clear there was more to his holiday than initially met the eye.

RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL: Over in Madrid, Spanish rugby officials are plotting to wake up one of the sport's 'sleeping giants'.

DAN BIGGAR: One thing is for certain. If my mum was still here today, she'd have bought 50 copies of this column! I owe her everything and still miss her dearly.

CHRIS FOY: The people have spoken. The response has been emphatic. Since news broke that Spain want to host the 2035 men's World Cup, there has been a deluge of support.

RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL: At the peak of his career as a Bollywood actor, Rahul Bose would leave film sets with a face full of make-up and head straight to rugby training.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY DAN BIGGAR: I had four fantastic years at Northampton during which Courtney Lawes went from being a fearsome opponent with England to a team-mate and friend.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY CHRIS FOY: When Shaun Edwards returned home to the south of France, he celebrated yet another title with a rendition of one of The Drifters' greatest hits.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Meet Kepu Tuipulotu, the teenager whose cousins include Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Toby Faletau and Sione Tuipulotu.

The prop made his first appearance for England during the summer tour of South Africa in 2012. He played in three World Cups for his country including the side's run to the final in 2019.

Wayne Barnes, who announced his retirement last year, recalled his heart rate reaching 230 beats per minute during a running session in Paris.

Wallabies great Hooper, 32, was brutally left out of Eddie Jones 's Australia squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, with the outspoken coach opting to prioritise youth.

With the Olympics fast approaching, French President Emmanuel Macron has admitted the ambitious opening ceremony could be scrapped amid security threats.

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Olivia, 21, visited The Sun In Splendour pub in Notting Hill this week with her boyfriend, Louis Partridge, who plays Viscount Tewkesbury in Enola Holmes.

England legend Steve Thompson has accused rugby administrators of 'flogging players until they fall apart' as he called for the government to act on promises to address the sport's concussion crisis.

LUCY FRAZER: It is hard to imagine, given its success now, that the FA banned women's football from its grounds from 1921 until 1971.

Aaron Isaia pleaded guilty to one count of using an online communication platform to menace or harass, during a hearing at a magistrates' court near Brisbane on Tuesday.

ALEX BYWATER: When Louis Rees-Zammit shocked the rugby world in January by quitting the sport he grew up playing to pursue his NFL dream, the doubters couldn't wait to raise their voices.

The Leeds-born 37-year-old played in all five of England's matches during this year's Guinness Six Nations, including his 100th cap in the 23-22 win over Ireland.

IT is easy to fall into the trap of snacking during long days at work.

DAVID COVERDALE: UK Sport, the Government agency responsible for major sporting events, confirmed that the tournament is one of 70 events they want to stage over the next 15 years.

Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg has been charged by police in connection with an incident in the Scottish Borders.

Former England rugby captain Mike Tindall has admitted that while his daughters are fans of the sport, his eldest daughter backs Australia.

Alaalatoa, earmarked as captaincy material by Jones during his short stint in charge, was unavailable for the tournament in France in which the Wallabies were knocked out at the pool stage.

The former rugby union player, 36, is on a pilgrimage to India where he has met the yoga teacher, 41.

A new fly-on-the-wall documentary series on Stan pulls no punches as it examines how Jones steered the national side to a World Cup that saw them make history for all the wrong reasons.

ALEX BYWATER: Youngs, 34, made his 127th and final Test appearance in England's bronze medal match win over Argentina at last year's World Cup before retiring from international duty.