Latest news with #AutumnNationsCup
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
France to host Ireland in 2026 Six Nations opener
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Wales v Scotland - Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales, Britain - October 31, 2020 General view outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Rebecca Naden/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Nations Cup - Wales v England - Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales, Britain - November 28, 2020 General view inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Rebecca Naden/File Photo France to host Ireland in 2026 Six Nations opener Six Nations champions France will host Ireland in the opening fixture of the 2026 edition in February, organisers said on Monday. The competition, featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, will be played from February 5 to March 14. The final round will be a 'Super Saturday' on March 14 with Ireland hosting Scotland, Italy meeting Wales and France welcoming England. France claimed their seventh Six Nations trophy with a record-breaking 35-16 victory over Scotland in March, clinching the title for the first time since 2022. England, who finished second this year, will host Wales in the first round and will meet rivals Scotland in round two. France host Italy in the third round of action. Round four, the penultimate weekend, will have Ireland hosting Wales, England meeting Italy and Scotland locking horns with France. FIXTURES (all times in GMT) ROUND 1 Thursday February 5: France v Ireland (2010) Saturday 7 February: Italy v Scotland (1410) England v Wales (1640) ROUND 2 Saturday 14 February: Ireland v Italy (1410) Scotland v England (1640) Sunday 15 February: Wales v France (1510) ROUND 3 Saturday 21 February: England v Ireland (1410) Wales v Scotland (1640) Sunday 22 February: France v Italy (1510) ROUND 4 Friday 6 March: Ireland v Wales (2010) Saturday 7 March: Scotland v France (14:10) Italy v England (1640) ROUND 5 Saturday 14 March: Ireland v Scotland (1410) Wales v Italy (1640) France v England (2010) REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-France to host Ireland in 2026 Six Nations opener
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Nations Cup - Wales v England - Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales, Britain - November 28, 2020 General view inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Rebecca Naden/File Photo (Reuters) -Six Nations champions France will host Ireland in the opening fixture of the 2026 edition in February, organisers said on Monday. The competition, featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, will be played from February 5 to March 14. The final round will be a 'Super Saturday' on March 14 with Ireland hosting Scotland, Italy meeting Wales and France welcoming England. France claimed their seventh Six Nations trophy with a record-breaking 35-16 victory over Scotland in March, clinching the title for the first time since 2022. England, who finished second this year, will host Wales in the first round and will meet rivals Scotland in round two. France host Italy in the third round of action. Round four, the penultimate weekend, will have Ireland hosting Wales, England meeting Italy and Scotland locking horns with France. FIXTURES (all times in GMT) ROUND 1 Thursday February 5: France v Ireland (2010) Saturday 7 February: Italy v Scotland (1410) England v Wales (1640) ROUND 2 Saturday 14 February: Ireland v Italy (1410) Scotland v England (1640) Sunday 15 February: Wales v France (1510) ROUND 3 Saturday 21 February: England v Ireland (1410) Wales v Scotland (1640) Sunday 22 February: France v Italy (1510) ROUND 4 Friday 6 March: Ireland v Wales (2010) Saturday 7 March: Scotland v France (14:10) Italy v England (1640) ROUND 5 Saturday 14 March: Ireland v Scotland (1410) Wales v Italy (1640) France v England (2010) (Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in BengaluruEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Wales Online
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Nigel Owens comes out of retirement to take charge of first rugby match in four years
Nigel Owens comes out of retirement to take charge of first rugby match in four years The Welsh referee will be in the middle once again on Saturday after years away from the sport Referee Nigel Owens (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Legendary Welsh rugby referee Nigel Owens is coming out of retirement to take charge of a match for the first time in four years, he has announced. Owens, who was widely regarded as the best referee in the game during his career, will pick up his whistle for a special 150th anniversary match between Lampeter Town RFC and London Welsh on Saturday. He said in a post on social media: "BREAKING NEWS: I'm back. After 4 years I am picking up the whistle again tomorrow for a special 150 years anniversary celebrating Lampeter RFC in their match versus London Welsh. Hope the legs will last the 80 mins." Owens last match as an international referee was the Autumn Nations Cup game between France and Italy in November, 2020. It was also his 100th game as a Test referee. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby Since retiring he has held roles as a World Rugby expert and also works for the WRU as a mentor to referees coming through the system. He was added to Warren Gatland's coaching staff during last year's autumn internationals but did not continue with the role following that campaign. Owens time these days is largely spent working on his farm in west Wales, where he lives with husband Barrie. WalesOnline columnist Owens wrote of his new career: "Retiring from something is always a big adjustment but what was helping me deal with all of it coming to an end after 35 years of refereeing was knowing that I had another interest to pursue in my retirement - and that was farming. Article continues below "Since eight years of age, my goal was to be a farmer and I saved up over the years to achieve it, buying a smallholding with my partner Barrie. "It had been such a dream for me that when the tournament was over in Japan, I couldn't wait to get back home and start the next chapter of my life. "I'm so grateful to have had something like that to focus myself on. If I had nothing else to look forward to after finishing refereeing and it had all just ended overnight, I probably would have struggled like a lot of referees have done when their careers have ended. "As I say, it's a huge adjustment and in every sport, there are players, coaches and officials who have struggled with their mental health when they retire." Owens refereed the 2015 Rugby World Cup final as well as several European club finals during a glittering career that included numerous memorable moments. The 53-year-old has also used his platform to help many people struggling with mental health issues and facing prejudice. In May 2007, Owens publicly came out as gay in an interview with Wales on Sunday, revealing he had attempted suicide at the age of 26 as he struggled to cope. Article continues below As well as farming and his continuing rugby roles, Owens is also a co-presenter of popular S4C show Jonathan with Jonathan 'Jiffy' Davies and Sarra Elgan. His rugby return will take place at 2pm on Saturday. Lampeter Town RFC have already celebrated their 150th year in style by winning Admiral National League Two West and earning promotion to League One for next season.
The Independent
09-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
England v Italy referee: Who is Six Nations official Andrew Brace?
Andrew Brace is the referee for England vs Italy at Twickenham in round four of the 2025 Six Nations. Born in Cardiff, Brace represents the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) after a childhood spent between Wales and Ireland. A former community rugby officer for Munster, the 36-year-old represented Belgium during a brief international playing career, qualifying for the country via his father's family. He made his debut in the then-Pro 14, now known as the United Rugby Championship, in 2015, and has since officiated more than 100 games in the competition. A Test debut arrived in 2017, while three years later, he oversaw both the Pro 14 final and the Autumn Nations Cup decider between England and France at Twickenham. An assistant in 2019, Brace made his World Cup debut with the whistle at the tournament in 2023, taking charge of three pool fixtures as the sole IRFU referee in France. It is a cosmopolitan officiating team for the final fixture of the penultimate weekend, with Welsh, French, South African and Scottish representation alongside the man in the middle. Match officials for England vs Italy Referee: Andrew Brace (Ire) Asisstant Referees: Craig Evans (Wal) & Luc Ramos (Fra) Television Match Official: Marius Jonker (SA)
