Italy Rugby News

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.

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.

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.

The 2026 Six Nations will kick-off on a Thursday night with a huge clash between defending champions France and Ireland on February 5 next year.

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'.

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.

CHRIS FOY: History and tradition don't ease the gridlock or provide an escape from the kettling ordeal at the train station which, sadly, for many, is part of the Twickenham matchday experience.

CHRIS FOY'S WORLD OF RUGBY: What a busy and confusing period it has been for Andy Farrell, the man charged with masterminding a series victory over Australia this summer.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England's strong finish to the Six Nations has catapulted far more of Steve Borthwick's players into Lions contention than there were before the Championship began.

NIK SIMON: The Six Nations came to an end on Saturday, with France pipping England to the title despite losing against Steve Borthwick's side earlier on in the competition.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Make no mistake. When you go away from home in international rugby, the host team will do what they can to disrupt your preparation.

CHRIS FOY'S WORLD OF RUGBY: The Lions is based around history and tradition, old colonial ties, nostalgia and the established routine of visiting three far-flung locations.

CHRIS FOY AT TWICKENHAM: At last; substance and style, in the same game. On a bright day, England played bright attacking rugby, to win without another asterisk denoting negative tactics.

CHRIS FOY: There isn't an individual trophy awarded to the winner of the England versus Italy fixture every year in the Six Nations, which is just as well really.

CHRIS FOY: The 26-year-old Harlequins playmaker was informed that he was being replaced by Elliot Daly and re-assigned as a bench replacement. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall.

Dr Barry O'Driscoll has devoted most of his life's work to safeguarding the sport he loves with a particular focus on limiting the dangers of head injuries and concussion.

England have added a fourth hooker - Curtis Langdon of Northampton - to their training squad ahead of the Six Nations clash with Italy at Twickenham on Sunday.

DAN BIGGAR: The fact England supporters booed Alex Mitchell's box kicking against Scotland wasn't a reflection on him, but it summed up the fans' frustration at the team's tactics.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: With England now two wins from three in this Six Nations after back-to-back victories over France and Scotland, we're set for a thrilling finale to the 2025 Championship.

NIK SIMON: England just about remain in the hunt to win, and have got through the three toughest fixtures with their chances intact - even if they were a Finn Russell conversion away from losing to Scotland.

Antoine Dupont set his sights on a Six Nations humdinger with Ireland after France's iconic captain produced his latest masterclass in an 11-try hammering of Italy.

Over the past 25 years, the Six Nations has witnessed some brilliant tries and matches which will live long in the memory. But there is another side to rugby's annual showpiece.

ALEX BYWATER: After being surprisingly left out of his country's Six Nations squad last month, Anscombe nonetheless decided to make the trip to Italy to watch Gatland's side in round-two action.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England's win over France was the highlight of round two of the Six Nations. But the first fortnight of action has shown once again why it is the greatest rugby tournament.

ITALY 22-15 WALES -ALEX BYWATER AT THE STADIO OLIMPICO: Saturday marked 490 days since Wales' last international win which came at the 2023 World Cup.

ALEX BYWATER IN ROME: Wales' desperate search for a win which would end their 13-Test losing run has been dealt a blow after Liam Williams emerged as a significant doubt to face Italy.

NIK SIMON: The opening weekend of the Six Nations delivered three bonus-point wins and set the tone for a mouth-watering championship. But who stood out most on weekend one?

ALEX BYWATER IN NICE: Warren Gatland is facing up to a significant No 8 injury headache for what is the biggest game of his second spell as Wales coach against Italy in Rome.

The return of the Six Nations is finally here. Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 Six Nations including full fixture schedule, kick-off times and how to watch.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: After he missed last year's Six Nations, Antoine Dupont's return for the 2025 Championship is brilliant news not only for France, but for all rugby fans.

Mail Sport's expert panel of former Scotland captains Andy Nicol and Jason White, plus our Deputy Chief Sports Writer Calum Crowe, preview the Six Nations

European rugby's annual showpiece is among the best-attended regular sporting events in the world, with most matches taking place in front of passionate, capacity crowds.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I'm really looking forward to this Six Nations because I think it should be a great tournament and no one knows exactly what is coming.

The Six Nations gets underway in Paris in just under a week's time with France hosting Wales. Here, DAN BIGGAR predicts how the tournament will play out.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2025 Six Nations including full fixture schedule, kick-off times and how to watch.

RUGBY CONFIDENTIAL: The fly-on-the-wall documentary could be the victim of a change in strategy at Netflix, who are now ploughing their budgets into live events.

CHRIS FOY: Qatar made an offer to the game's leading powerbrokers worth £800million over the first four instalments of the 12-team tournament - in 2026, 2028, 20230 and 2032.

ALEX BYWATER IN TREVISO: Still just 21, Menoncello has been named the Six Nations men's player of the Championship for 2024, the award capping a remarkable comeback.

WORLD OF RUGBY - CHRIS FOY: Andy Farrell's side were the team to beat during the tournament, with France finishing second, having narrowly outlasted England 33-31 in their clash in Lyon.

CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: France are in major troubl, with Matthieu Jalibert set to miss out, Jonathan Danty banned, Romain Ntamack absent and Antoine Dupont in Tinseltown.

ALEX BYWATER: In an extraordinary finale, Paolo Garbisi had a chance to win the game for his team with the game's final kick. But as Garbisi lined up a penalty, the ball fell off the tee.

RORY KEANE AT THE AVIVA STADIUM: This win was as routine as they come. Punters were pouring out of the exits long before the final whistle.

Ethan Roots will be hopeful of keeping the No 6 jersey for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Wales. In a team lacking tackle-breaking carriers, he stepped up as England's best runner.

CHIRS FOY: After four years of opening-round defeats, England started their 2024 Six Nations campaign with a win and it was a triumph of resilience and character after they trailed 10-0 in the first half.

NIK SIMON AT STADIO OLIMPICO: England's rebuilding job in Rome began with a victory. This was a long way from being a masterpiece ready for the Pantheon but nothing here was built in a day.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: Just like you never know where the conversation is going in Marler's company. There is little point in interview prep because things inevitably veer off subject.

ALEX BYWATER: As the Six Nations gets underway, are the physical and mental demands being placed on those who take to the field now too great?

England are set to deploy veteran half-backs Danny Care and George Ford against Italy, while also naming at least four uncapped rookies for the Six Nations opener.

Johnny Sexton played a starring role in leading Ireland to the Grand Slam title last year against England. England will be hoping for a better campaign after finishing fourth last year.

Les Bleus come into the clash with Italy off the back of a huge win against Namibia two weeks ago.

COMMENT BY ROGER ALTON: You don't have to be much of a linguist to work out the French national anthem is a rumbustious ditty.

France's mouthwatering opener with New Zealand will host the first game of this year's Rugby World Cup.

NIK SIMON: Eddie Jones has blasted the RFU over the woeful performances of the England team.

The players' case, against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) claims they received brain damage playing the sport.

This year's tournament is scheduled to take place in France, with South Africa looking to successfully retain the trophy.

Sportsmail breaks down everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 Women's Six Nations including when it starts, full fixture schedule and how to watch.

Blair Kinghorn rose to the challenge of replacing Finn Russell at stand-off as he scored a hat-trick of tries to help Scotland end their Guinness Six Nations campaign with a bonus-point victory over Italy.

CHRIS FOY: All coaches need some good fortune sometimes and that was certainly the case for Warren Gatland in Rome. His second stint in charge of Wales was in early trouble.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: This is an alarm bell for everyone , not just the England team. For our senior men's side to lose 53-10 in a home Six Nations game is totally unacceptable.

Wales have admitted their current pain on and off the field is hurting but there is a confidence among Warren Gatland's squad they can turn the corner ahead of the World Cup.

Capuozzo, World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year in 2022, suffered a left shoulder injury in Italy's round three defeat by Ireland and will return to club Toulouse before the Wales game.

There have been two moments in the last week which have shown just how far new Wales international Mason Grady has come in such a short space of time.

CHRIS FOY: England will be away from home for 'Le Crunch' as the culmination of their campaign on March 16, 2024 - as the schedule for next year's tournament is unveiled.

England and France each have two wins from three matches in 2023 to date but Les Bleus are set to be without key front-row forwards Uini Atonio and Mohamed Haouas for the round four clash.

CHRIS FOY: Something felt a bit different about the Cardiff atmosphere this time. It lacked some of the usual fervour when England visit. Perhaps there is a weary sense of dejection

A disastrous opening 20 minutes ultimately proved costly for Scotland as their perfect start to the Guinness Six Nations campaign came to an end with a 32-21 defeat by France in Paris.

Jack Willis made a stunning, roaring return to England's starting line-up as Steve Borthwick's side belatedly launched their new era by mauling gallant Italy into submission.

Recap how England secured their first win of the 2023 Six Nations, and their first under new boss Steve Borthwick, with Sportsmail's live blog. Coverage from MAX MATHEWS.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY NIK SIMON: Traore's last cap was in July and he was left out of this year's Six Nations squad so he's free to have this conversation away from the gaze of his club.

Lawrence is promoted to the starting XV at inside centre as reward for his supreme form at Bath, since an enforced, mid-season move from stricken Worcester.

Steve Borthwick's England will be looking to pick up their first Six Nations win in 2023 when they host Italy on Sunday.

EXCLUSIVE: Sportsmail has learned that the Six Nations have taken charge of collectively selling the TV rights for the six European sides ahead of the World Cup in the hope of getting a better deal.

The visitors dashed into a lead early on and looked to be heading into the interval 13 points ahead, but Ange Capuozzo scored another fantastic try to cut the French lead before the break.

This year's Six Nations will be the subject of a warts-and-all Netflix series, with cameras behind the scenes following the teams and capturing all the drama.

With the Six Nations returning this weekend, France will be looking to retain their title. Sportsmail breaks down how you can watch the full tournament.

SIX NATIONS SPECIAL: Rugby is in a state of turmoil, with new tackle-height laws, financial trouble, the spectre of concussions and dementia and a series of governance scandals.

The Six Nations and Netflix have confirmed they will produce a behind-the-scenes documentary on the 2023 Championship. Filming is set to begin next month.