World Rugby Trophy
The Over50s rugby fans seem to have disappeared!
Lions Tour 2025
The British & Irish Lions have today released the nine-match schedule for the 2025 Tour to Australia including three Test matches against the Wallabies. Two years out from the Tour, it’s been confirmed that the eagerly awaited Test clashes will take place on 19 July, 26 July and 2 August. The Lions will travel to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney respectively for the Test matches.
So…Wales beat England …things looking up!
We do it again at HQ next week
Senior men’s head coach Matt Sherratt has named the Wales team to play Japan in the first Test at a sold-out Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu on Saturday 5 July (KO 06.00h BST, live on BBC One Wales and iPlayer). Josh Macleod starts at openside flanker to make his first appearance for Wales since the 2022 Autumn Nations Series. Alex Mann is selected at blindside flanker and Taulupe Faletau completes the back row at No. 8. Sam Costelow and Ben Carter return to the starting line-up at fly-half and lock respectively, having both missed the 2025 Guinness Six Nations due to injury. Teddy Williams joins Carter in the second row.
Kieran Hardy is named at scrum-half for his first Wales appearance this season. Johnny Williams is selected at outside centre, having last featured for Wales at Rugby World Cup 2023. Ben Thomas partners Williams in the midfield. Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker, Nicky Smith is at loosehead prop and tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti completes the front row. Josh Adams and Tom Rogers are selected on the wings, while Blair Murray completes the starting XV at fullback. There is a six-two split among the Wales replacements. Hooker Liam Belcher is in line to make his Wales debut off the bench. Archie Griffin, who missed the Guinness Six Nations due to injury, provides cover at tighthead prop and Gareth Thomas is the cover at loosehead prop. James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright and Tommy Reffell provide the remaining forward cover. Rhodri Williams and Joe Roberts are the replacement backs. Sherratt said: “We had a very good build-up. We tried to give everyone a fair chance of selection. “One of the key messages was it’s going to be a 23-man job. So, we’ve tried to spread the experience out in terms of getting some experience coming off the bench. “I think an 80-minute performance, that physical edge and making sure that we transfer training into the game is going to be the biggest thing for us. “It’s going to be humid. It’s going to be hot. Japan traditionally play quite a fast brand of rugby, so us getting up to speed with that is going to be key. “We’ve seen from just being around Kitakyushu this last week, there seems to be a real affinity between some of the Japanese locals and the Welsh team. Hopefully it will be fantastic on Saturday.” On Josh Macleod and Liam Belcher Sherratt added: “Something we made a big point of in the first team meeting. There’s a number of players who’ve worked their way back into the squad. “Josh Macleod is an obvious one. He’s struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive. “I think you could tell from the players’ reaction when Liam Belcher was selected how much he deserves it. “He’s been in the regional game for 10 years. He’s changed clubs. He’s gone back to university to do an electrician’s degree and then he’s managed to work his way into the national squad. So yeah, delighted for Liam.” Wales team v Japan – 1st Test 15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 8 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 9 caps)
13. Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 7 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 12 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 61 caps)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 18 caps)
9. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 23 caps)
- Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 54 caps)
- Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 20 caps) – captain
- Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
- Ben Carter (Dragons – 12 caps)
- Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 6 caps)
- Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
- Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 2 caps)
- Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 108 caps) Replacements 16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
- Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 40 caps)
- Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 6 caps)
- James Ratti (Ospreys – 1 cap)
- Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 57 caps)
- Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 27 caps)
- Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 9 caps)
- Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 5 caps)
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NZ v France 0700 GMT Sky
Lions 100O GMT on Sky.Highlights on S4C.
WRC 2026
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The Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off tonight with England up against USA in the curtain-raiser at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland.
The Red Roses are the dominant force in women’s rugby right now with just one defeat in their last 58 matches across the globe.
Captain Zoe Aldcroft will be careful to shield her team from complacency going into a home tournament England are expected to win.
World Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne will be determined to get the ball rolling with a bang in the North East against the USA, who actually won the first Women’s RWC back in 1991.
RadioTimes.com has rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch England v USA in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 on TV and online.
When is England v USA?
England v USA will take place on Friday 22nd August 2025.
What time is kick-off?
England v USA will kick off at 7:30pm UK time.
What TV channel is England v USA on?
You can watch the game live on BBC One from 6:30pm, with coverage hosted by Gabby Logan.
How to live stream England v USA online
You can also live stream the match via BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app across a range of devices.
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Check for the broadcaster in your country.
Australia v Samoa
Pool A: Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Kick-off: 12pm BST / 1pm SAST / 9pm AEST / 11pm NZST / 7am ET / 4am PT
Scotland v Wales
Pool B: Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Kick-off: 2.45pm BST / 3.45pm SAST / 11.45pm AEST / 1.45am NZST (Sunday) / 9.45am ET / 6.45am PT
Canada v Fiji
Pool B: York Community Stadium, York
Kick-off: 5.30pm BST / 6.30pm SAST / 2.30am AEST (Sunday) / 4.30am NZST (Sunday) / 12.30pm ET / 9.30am PT
France v Italy
Pool D: Sandy Park, Exeter
Kick-off: 8.15pm BST / 9.15pm SAST / 5.15am AEST (Sunday) / 7.15am NZST (Sunday) / 3.15pm ET / 12.15pm PT