Category Sports News

England vs. Scotland in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations

The Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium will host a game on Saturday, April 19; the kickoff time is 16:45 BST.

When it was suggested that England had not been put under enough pressure, Lock Abbie Ward laughed.

34 players were involved in the comfortable bonus-point win, and the team’s 23-game winning streak has now come to an end.

Before a home rugby world cup kicks off in August, there are indications that the Red Roses need a thorough test.

The game against Scotland in Leicester on Saturday looks like another routine five points to prepare for the likely Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam match against France at Allianz Stadium on April 26.

Lock Ward, 32, revealed pressure is present on the training field in abundance with the gap still growing between England and the other home nations.

The inclusion of nine newcomers for the game against Scotland gives some big names the perfect opportunity to enter a potential title showdown.

At age 10, Holly Aitchison, Mitchell’s preferred fly-half option, will want to show off the running prowess that initially gave her an advantage over in-form Zoe Harrison.

Lucy Packer, Aitchison’s half-back partner, continues to appear lively off the bench and is rewarded with a start as she looks to add to her four try assists, which are the tournament’s joint-highest, to prove dignified of a spot next to Natasha Hunt.

Marlie Packer, the former England captain, makes her first appearance since the opening-round defeat of Italy in front of an open-side flanker.

The 35-year-old has won the Six Nations trophy twice in the past two years, but Zoe Aldcroft took over as skipper in January.

Packer’s management was taken into account when Saracens won the Premiership Women’s Rugby final a week before the opening Six Nations game. However, Sadia Kabeya, the 2014 World Cup winner, has been under pressure due to back-to-back strong performances from Loughborough Lightning.

Even having World Cup winner Alex Matthews back up, the number eight position on Maddie Feaunati’s team is extremely competitive, especially with Maddie Feaunati’s transition to the back row.

Former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly, “Some really difficult decisions will be made, but it is in their hands to play their hearts out.”

I’m not entirely certain whether England has any younger senior players who can do that. You want some older senior players in your squad.

Jade Shekells, a powerful Gloucester-Hartpury center, was a surprise guest for her Saturday debut Red Roses.

Her powerful carry caught Mitchell’s attention before the 28-year-old captained her against Italy to add another player to a list of talented centers. She had only recently re-joined XVs from sevens.

Emily Scarratt, a 117-cap player, makes her first appearance since the opening round and, like Packer, she makes a comeback to the matchday squad.

Scarratt, the 2014 World Cup winner, told BBC Sport, “We are completely blessed at the moment with so much strength and depth with so many good kids.”

“The team is awesome, really pushing everyone to push themselves,” says one employee.

England will win their fourth successive Grand Slam and help them win the tournament against Scotland in Italy, which will give them a run for their money.

Ward said the Red Roses must keep an eye on her dangerous Bristol Bears team-mates despite not losing any of her 23 Six Nations games against Scotland. The Red Roses have only managed to resolve five of their encounters by an overall score of 266-22.

The Bears’ Premiership Women’s Rugby season opener features hooker Lana Skeldon, eighth-ranked Evie Gallagher, and center Emma Orr.

“From my experience at Bristol, I am aware that Scotland have some incredible players. Bristol’s Ward told Rugby Union Weekly that she and some of the best players from Scotland.

They will turn up for England without a doubt; it will be a huge game. They will likely have a fire in their bellies when they arrive.

Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Talling, Matthews, Hunt, Rowland, Scarratt, and others.

Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhee, Nelson (capt), Mattison, Young, Skeldon, Clarke, Bonar, Boyd, Gallagher, McLachlan, Konkel, and Orr.

Replacements: Phillips Scott, Martin, Bartlett, Poolman, Ferrie, Bell, Clarke, and Clark.

Referee: Italy’s Clara Munarini.

England vs. Scotland in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations

The Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium will host a game on Saturday, April 19; the kickoff time is 16:45 BST.

When it was suggested that England had not been put under enough pressure, Lock Abbie Ward laughed.

34 players were involved in the comfortable bonus-point win, and the team’s 23-game winning streak has now come to an end.

Before a home rugby world cup kicks off in August, there are indications that the Red Roses need a thorough test.

The game against Scotland in Leicester on Saturday looks like another routine five points to prepare for the likely Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam match against France at Allianz Stadium on April 26.

Lock Ward, 32, revealed pressure is present on the training field in abundance with the gap still growing between England and the other home nations.

The inclusion of nine newcomers for the game against Scotland gives some big names the perfect opportunity to enter a potential title showdown.

At age 10, Holly Aitchison, Mitchell’s preferred fly-half option, will want to show off the running prowess that initially gave her an advantage over in-form Zoe Harrison.

Lucy Packer, Aitchison’s half-back partner, continues to appear lively off the bench and is rewarded with a start as she looks to add to her four try assists, which are the tournament’s joint-highest, to prove dignified of a spot next to Natasha Hunt.

Marlie Packer, the former England captain, makes her first appearance since the opening-round defeat of Italy in front of an open-side flanker.

The 35-year-old has won the Six Nations trophy twice in the past two years, but Zoe Aldcroft took over as skipper in January.

Packer’s management was taken into account when Saracens won the Premiership Women’s Rugby final a week before the opening Six Nations game. However, Sadia Kabeya, the 2014 World Cup winner, has been under pressure due to back-to-back strong performances from Loughborough Lightning.

Even having World Cup winner Alex Matthews back up, the number eight position on Maddie Feaunati’s team is extremely competitive, especially with Maddie Feaunati’s transition to the back row.

Former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly, “Some really difficult decisions will be made, but it is in their hands to play their hearts out.”

I’m not entirely certain whether England has any younger senior players who can do that. You want some older senior players in your squad.

Jade Shekells, a powerful Gloucester-Hartpury center, was a surprise guest for her Saturday debut Red Roses.

Her powerful carry caught Mitchell’s attention before the 28-year-old captained her against Italy to add another player to a list of talented centers. She had only recently re-joined XVs from sevens.

Emily Scarratt, a 117-cap player, makes her first appearance since the opening round and, like Packer, she makes a comeback to the matchday squad.

Scarratt, the 2014 World Cup winner, told BBC Sport, “We are completely blessed at the moment with so much strength and depth with so many good kids.”

“The team is awesome, really pushing everyone to push themselves,” says one employee.

England will win their fourth successive Grand Slam and help them win the tournament against Scotland in Italy, which will give them a run for their money.

Ward said the Red Roses must keep an eye on her dangerous Bristol Bears team-mates despite not losing any of her 23 Six Nations games against Scotland. The Red Roses have only managed to resolve five of their encounters by an overall score of 266-22.

The Bears’ Premiership Women’s Rugby season opener features hooker Lana Skeldon, eighth-ranked Evie Gallagher, and center Emma Orr.

“From my experience at Bristol, I am aware that Scotland have some incredible players. Bristol’s Ward told Rugby Union Weekly that she and some of the best players from Scotland.

They will turn up for England without a doubt; it will be a huge game. They will likely have a fire in their bellies when they arrive.

Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Talling, Matthews, Hunt, Rowland, Scarratt, and others.

Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhee, Nelson (capt), Mattison, Young, Skeldon, Clarke, Bonar, Boyd, Gallagher, McLachlan, Konkel, and Orr.

Replacements: Phillips Scott, Martin, Bartlett, Poolman, Ferrie, Bell, Clarke, and Clark.

Referee: Italy’s Clara Munarini.

The Belgian won the Brabantse Pijl, which was held on the roads in the area he grew up in four months after suffering rib, shoulder, and hand injuries in the training accident.

After colliding with a postal vehicle’s open door, the 25-year-old also suffered lung contusions, a dislocated right clavicle, and several torn ligaments.

Evenepoel said that if I had played tennis or basketball, my career would have come to an end as a result on Thursday before the race.

With just under a third of the lead, Van Aert, a Soudal-Quick Step rider, and Van Aert, a British rider, joined by British rider Joe Blackmore, who is 22 years old, in the attack.

Evenpoel attacked on the final climb, but Portugal’s Antonio Morgado won the group sprint to finish third. Israeli-Premier Tech rider Blackmore was dropped.

“I’m taking my own chances.” Evenepoel remarked, “I was very fresh. I’m pleased with my sprint especially. I’ve been working hard on my explosiveness since late, and it has paid off.

Evenepoel won his first world time trial title at the World Championships in Zurich in September 2024, making it his second.

In order to prepare for the Tour de France this year, the Belgian plans to compete in the three Ardennes classics as well as the Tour de Romandie.

Last summer’s Paris Games included gold in the Olympic time trail and road race.

Utilita Bowl, Division One, Rothesay County Championship (day one)

Somerset 94-6: Lammonby 36, Wheal 2-18

Hampshire: Not yet batted

Somerset had no points, and Hampshire had no points.

As Hampshire made the most of the opening day of their County Championship game against Somerset, Kyle Abbott continued his impressive career record.

Abbott added two wickets, bringing his total against Somerset to 71, with 40 of those scalps coming on an average of 12 at Utilita Bowl.

As Somerset fell to a score of 94-6 at lunch, with three wickets falling in 11 balls just before the break, James Fuller and Brad Wheal, who also took two wickets.

However, the visitors’ injuries were spared because of the rain, which ended with lunch.

James Rew was named captain of his country for the first time in the Championship due to Lewis Gregory’s abdominal injury, having previously led the Second XI and England Under-19s. He became the youngest county captain in history by doing so.

Ben Brown chose to bowl under threatening grey skies because his first act called incorrectly at the toss.

Sean Dickson was hurriedly dealing with a Wheal in-ducker and was pinned in front, so the wait for the first wicket only lasted 34 balls.

Archie Vaughan and Tom Lammonby tried to lay a foundation, but both fell within 13 deliveries of Fuller after easing a 55-run stand.

Sonny Baker, a former Somerset tearaway, had been chosen to replace Fuller in the season’s opening two games. However, Fuller is still available because Baker, who is currently working for the ECB, was let go.

He tightened up before rolling his fingers down one to find some unmoving movement and the edge of Vaughan’s bat after being hit for two boundaries in his opening over.

Fuller angled it across the left-hander to avoid Lammonby. He then pitched it further up. Through Brown, he found the edge.

Around 10 minutes until lunch, the morning appeared to end fairly evenly, with 93-3, but Abbott made it clear who the session was with Wheal.

With his wicket, Tom Banton was unlucky in the least. Nick Gubbins sensationally caught the middle-order batter as he whipped a half-volley with gusto.

Rew hesitantly pushed back five balls later. Before Wheal slammed for pace and letting Kasey Aldridge out, Tom Abell added one more run before he was beaten for pace. One run and three wickets were all lost in 11 balls.

A late finish was confirmed just before 16:30 BST due to the rain at lunch, which prevented any further action.

Christian Wade, a former NFL winger and winger, has been signed by the Wigan Warriors on a short-term deal.

After Gloucester’s season is over, the 33-year-old former Wasps and Racing 92 star will team up with the Super League and world champions.

In 10 Premiership games for Gloucester, Wade scored seven tries, including two hat-tricks, to increase his try-scoring total to 89, which is fourth on the all-time list.

He made his pre-season touchdown run of 65 yards for the Bills, but he never made a regular-season appearance.

He joined Racing in 2022, and he then reconnected with Gloucester last summer.

Martin Offiah, a legend at Wigan who left rugby union in 1987 to join Widnes, praised Wade’s signing as significant for the sport.

Since Jonathan Davies joined me at Widnes in the 1980s, Wigan’s signing of Christian Wade was, he claimed, “the biggest coup for the sport of rugby league.”

On Saturday, June 28, boxer-turned-boxer Jake Paul will face former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in California.

In a much-anticipated but underwhelming contest in November, American Paul, 28, defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a divisive match.

Chavez Jr., the 39-year-old son of legendary three-division world boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez, has only ever competed once since 2021.

After a single amateur fight, Paul said, “I made my professional debut five years ago, and every fight since has been a step toward becoming a world champion.”

Paul, who gained notoriety by making prank videos on YouTube, has won 11 games, most of them against former UFC competitors. In 2023, he only lost to British actor Tommy Fury.

Between 2011 and 2012, Mexican Chavez Jr. won 53 of his 61 fights and held the WBC middleweight title.

He and pound-for-pound sensation Saul ‘Canelo ‘Alvarez went the distance in 2017, but he lost to Anderson Silva, a former UFC champion, in a 2021 boxing match.

Fans booed Chavez Jr. after his poor point performance over former MMA fighter Uriah Hall in July.

Chavez Jr. said, “I will show what I can do now that everything is in the right place in my life, both mentally and physically.”

“I feel energized and ten years my senior.”

The boxers will use standard 10oz gloves for the cruiserweight fight, which will last for ten three-minute rounds.