FOSTER NIUMATA

France's coach Fabien Galthie watches as he team warm-up before the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Scotland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Six Nations review: France saves Galthié, England has mojo back and aging Ireland squad
 
The French team players Antoine Dupont, center, and Gregory Alldritt, right, celebrate with the trophy after the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Scotland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Six Nations takeaways: France triumphs despite Mauvaka madness and Lions squad shaping up
France prevailed in the Six Nations and the standings didn’t change on the final day in an anticlimactic end. Scotland was game but outgunned in Paris. France won 35-16 for its second championship under Fabien Galthié, the coach since 2020.
 
France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey, top, celebrates after his teammate Damian Penaud scored a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and France, at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Injured Dupont backs France to win Six Nations without him after toppling Ireland
France will try to win the Six Nations without its talisman after captain Antoine Dupont ruptured cruciate ligaments in his right knee at the weekend.
 
Ireland's Conor Murray during the Six Nations rugby union international match between Wales and Ireland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)
Three of Ireland rugby’s greatest make their last home stand in Dublin against France
Ireland rugby greats Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Cian Healy will make their last home appearance in Dublin on Saturday. The Irish host France in a huge title-swaying match between the No. 1 and 2 teams in the Six Nations.
 
Wales' Ellis Mee falls short of the try line , during the Six Nations rugby match between Wales and Ireland, at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
Halfway through the Six Nations, Ireland still rules and Dupont’s France rebounds
Ireland and France have set up their blockbuster clash in the Six Nations next month with contrasting wins in the third round.
 
FILE -Wales head coach Warren Gatland speaks during a news conference in Toulon, France, Oct. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
Gatland out as coach on record losing run but Wales’ problems run deeper
Warren Gatland has left his role as Wales rugby coach midway through the Six Nations with his team on a national-record losing streak of 14 matches.
 
Ireland's Sam Prendergast in action during the Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Sunday Feb. 9, 2025. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
Six Nations: Ireland unbeaten, France upset by England and Italy dominates Wales in round 2
The Grand Slam is on for Ireland after a compelling second round of Six Nations rugby. Only Ireland remains unbeaten after it swatted aside Scotland 32-18 at Murrayfield on Sunday.
 
Wales' Taulupe Faletau, center, runs into New Zealand's Codie Taylor, right, during the rugby union international match between Wales and New Zealand at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff Wales, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)
Faletau returns for floundering Wales for the first time since 2023 Rugby World Cup
Wales great Taulupe Faletau will reappear for the national team for the first time since it last won a rugby test. Faletau was picked at No. 8 on Thursday against Italy in Rome in the Six Nations on Saturday.
 
France's Antoine Dupont, right, tries to get to the line during the Six Nations rugby union match between France and Wales at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Six Nations: Ireland impresses, France steamrolls Wales and Scotland survives in Round 1
Ireland began its Six Nations three-peat bid by blowing away England during 30-plus minutes of controlled aggression in the second half for a 27-22 comeback victory in Dublin.
 
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt speaks to his team before the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Wales and Australia at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Schmidt giving wounded Wallabies emotion on his old Ireland stomping ground
Australia hoped to arrive at the 150th birthday of the Irish Rugby Football Union in Dublin this weekend with a chance to crown a rare Grand Slam tour. Scotland spiked those plans last weekend.
 
New Zealand's Wallace Sititi, takes the ball at a line out during the the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
All Blacks eager to replace France pain with a tour-ending show in Turin
The thrilling loss to France in Paris last weekend caused New Zealand to cast a more critical eye on its rugby tour finale against Italy in Turin this weekend. The All Blacks have picked a stronger side than intended for Saturday’s game.
 
Wales' Taine Plumtree and team-mates react after during the Autumn international match rugby match between Wales and Fiji at Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Sunday Nov. 10, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Wales face a winless 2024 and a thumping from the world champion Springboks
South Africa looks to pile on Wales’ misery and complete a first unbeaten autumn rugby tour of the north in 11 years in Cardiff on Saturday. The world champion Springboks start overwhelming favorites to extend Wales’ worst losing streak to 12 tests.
 
Wales' Taine Plumtree and team-mates react after during the Autumn international match rugby match between Wales and Fiji at Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Sunday Nov. 10, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)
Wallabies come down from England high to face nervous Wales
Wales in Cardiff on Sunday is a timely second rugby match for the touring Australians. Far better than Scotland and Ireland who follow.
 
France's Antoine Dupont holds a ball as he warms-up for the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between France and Japan at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
France and All Blacks clash in tip-top shape before second-rate 2025 tour
France against New Zealand before a sold-out Stade de France under lights on Saturday could be the last competitive rugby test between them for a while.
 
FILE - Ireland's Jack Conan reacts after the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File)
Ireland keen to prove a point against Pumas after All Blacks nightmare
Argentina rolling into Dublin this week hasn’t come fast enough for Ireland. New Zealand last week breached the fortress that was Aviva Stadium for 19 consecutive rugby tests and nearly four years.
 
FILE - South African players celebrate at the end of the Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Scotland at the Stade de Marseille in Marseille, France, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, file)
Springboks ready to pummel Scotland with two packs to be fresher for England
Signals coming from the South Africa camp this week seem to be baiting Scotland to give the Rugby World Cup champion a tough autumn contest on Sunday at Murrayfield.
 
FILE - Wales' players react at the end of the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Fiji at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France, on Sept. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
Wales desperate to end 9-test losing streak against a reinforced Fiji in Cardiff
Wales takes a nine-test losing streak into its autumn rugby series opener against Fiji on Sunday in Cardiff. It desperately wants to avoid a 10th straight loss, which would equal Wales’ worst losing run from 21 years ago.
 
FILE - Italy's Head coach Gonzalo Quesada watches players warm up before a Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Sunday Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)
Ex-Pumas Quesada and Contepomi duel again as coaches of Italy and Argentina
Argentina comes up against an Argentine coach for the first time in test rugby on Saturday. Gonzalo Quesada, the coach of Italy, admits he’ll have mixed emotions in Udine. Until kickoff.
 
FILE - Ireland's Jack Conan reacts after the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, File)
Ireland and All Blacks clash for the first time since epic Rugby World Cup quarterfinal
Ireland and New Zealand meet in an autumn rugby test on Friday in Dublin for the first time since their epic Rugby World Cup quarterfinal a year ago in Paris.
 
FILE - Ireland's Jonathan Sexton during the Six Nations rugby union international between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)
Sexton-Ioane altercation echoes a year later before Ireland-All Blacks showdown
Jonathan Sexton has been retired from playing rugby for more than a year yet he and Rieko Ioane will loom over the Ireland-New Zealand rugby showdown this week in Dublin.
 
FILE - England's players lock arms as New Zealand perform the haka ahead of their rugby union test match in Dunedin, New Zealand, Saturday July 6, 2024. (Steve McArthur/Photosport via AP, File)
England senses chance of first home win over the All Blacks in 12 years
England hopes third time will be a charm when it plays New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday in its autumn rugby opener. England lost to the All Blacks twice in New Zealand in July.
 
FILE - South Africa's Manie Libbok passes the ball during a training session in Domont, near Paris, Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Tried and trusted Springboks recalled to wrap up Rugby Championship against fearless Pumas
South Africa has been restocked with World Cup winners to wrap up the Rugby Championship title against Argentina on Saturday in Mbombela. The Springboks missed the chance last weekend in Santiago del Estero. The Pumas came back twice to win 29-28.
 
South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi holds the Freedom Cup after winning a rugby championship test match between South Africa and New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Springboks gamble on second string sealing Rugby Championship in Pumas country
South Africa can clinch the Rugby Championship with a game to spare this weekend. The world champion Springboks face Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
 
Argentina's Los Pumas Thomas Gallo, center, is tackled by Australia's Matt Faessler, left, and Marika Koroibete, during a rugby championship test match in La Plata, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Dry and warm forecast lifts expectations for Pumas vs. Wallabies
Argentina and Australia expect a livelier, more open match on Saturday in the Rugby Championship than they produced a week ago. Santa Fe is expected to be dry and warm.
 
South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi takes a selfie with fans at the end of a rugby championship test match between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Erasmus heeds error from Ireland series to try and sink All Blacks again
Rassie Erasmus had Ireland on his mind as he prepared South Africa for a second straight clash with New Zealand in the Rugby Championship this Saturday in Cape Town.
 
Argentina's Agustin Creevy and Pablo Matera celebrate a try against New Zealand during their rugby union test match in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP)
Pumas determined to give retiring Creevy fitting farewell against Wallabies
In a heartfelt message confirming he’s retiring from test rugby, Agustin Creevy promised an unforgettable Saturday night.
 
South Africa's Ben-Jason Dixon, center, waves after they defeated Australia in their rugby union test match in Brisbane, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
All Blacks will be focused on staying calm under Springboks pressure at Ellis Park
Discipline will be stressed by New Zealand when it faces South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday in a rugby rivalry that never needs extra motivation.
 
South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi, right, jumps over Ireland's Dan Sheehan during a test match between South Africa and Ireland at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Springboks counting on ‘bomb squad’ to complete two-test sweep of Ireland
South Africa has chosen its most experienced lineup in test rugby history to try and complete a series sweep against Ireland in their second match on Saturday in Durban.
 
FILE - England's James Anderson gestures to the crowd after taking his 700th wicket on the third day of the fifth and final test match between England and India in Dharamshala, India, Saturday, March 9, 2024. James Anderson has “made peace” with his impending England retirement — even if the evergreen seamer believes he is bowling as well as he ever has done. (AP Photo /Ashwini Bhatia, File)
England great Anderson keen to retire on a high as West Indies seek to spoil his party
It doesn’t matter if James Anderson takes a bunch of West Indies wickets for England in the first test at Lord’s from Wednesday.
 
FILE - England's Jofra Archer participates in a training session ahead of their second T20 cricket match against Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 11, 2023. The return of fast bowler Jofra Archer has boosted England's chances of becoming the first team to win consecutive Twenty20 World Cups. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi, File)
Archer’s return gives England wary optimism of retaining the T20 World Cup title
The return of pace bowler Jofra Archer has boosted England’s chances of becoming the first team to win consecutive Twenty20 World Cups. The tournament starts June 1 in the U.S. and the Caribbean.
 
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