England rugby

Rugby World Cup 2021: England open campaign against Fiji in New Zealand

With the tournament delayed a year because of Covid-19, games have been reorganised, meaning England's opener now no longer clashes with Wales' opening fixture.

The Welsh will play their opener in 2022 against a team who have come through qualifying the next day.

Scotland and Ireland are still looking to qualify for the women's showpiece.

The changes also see England's match with France brought forward to become their second game.

Amor and Ryles leave roles in Jones' England rugby coaching team

Amor and the RFU have mutually decided to part company, while Ryles has decided to stay in Australia with his family due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After winning the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup in 2020, England have suffered a severe slump in form in recent months and finished fifth in the Six Nations, which led to an in-depth RFU review.

The review was completed last month with the RFU standing by Jones, who has a contract through to the 2023 World Cup in France.

England wing Joe Cokanasiga signs Bath contract extension

The 23-year-old moved to the Rec from Gallagher Premiership rivals London Irish in 2018 and has scored 10 tries in 28 appearances for the club.

He made his England debut in November 2018 and was part of Eddie Jones’ squad for the 2019 World Cup, where he won the most recent of his nine Test caps, scoring twice in the pool stage win over the United States.

Rugby star Joe Cokanasiga slams ‘betrayal’ of Commonwealth service personnel

 Ilaitia Cokanasiga served in the Royal Logistic Corps for 14 years, completing operational tours to Iraq and Afghanistan but he still faces applying for a visa to remain in the UK and must now pay fees of £2,389(US$3,301) to complete the application.

 His son has now made an appeal on Commonwealth Day for the fees to be removed and the process simplified for the many families struggling through the application process.

 He is supporting a three-year campaign by the Royal British Legion.

Harry Randall withdrawn from England squad

The uncapped halfback was missing from yesterday’s training session in Twickenham and will now have to wait to earn his first England cap.

An England Rugby statement reads: “Harry Randall has withdrawn from the England squad for the Guinness Six Nations with an ankle injury.

“Alex Mitchell has been called-up to Eddie Jones’ 28-player squad. England are preparing for their next match, against Wales, at their training base – The Lensbury in Teddington.

Coach takes blame for England's Six Nations loss

The fired-up Scots deservedly took the plaudits with their first Twickenham win for 38 years but the game was a tale of woe for the toothless defending champions and the only saving grace was that there were not the usual 82,000 fans in the famous old ground to witness it.

Scotland wing Duhan Van Der Merwe crossed for the only try but the scoreboard the flattered England.

The hosts never looked remotely like scoring a try and barely entered the Scots' 22 all match.

The visitors enjoyed 63 percent possession and 59 percent of the territory.

England centre Ollie Lawrence flattered by Manu Tuilagi comparisons

England embark on their Guinness Six Nations campaign next month without Tuilagi, who is continuing his recovery from a serious Achilles injury.

But in 21-year-old Worcester centre Lawrence, England boss Eddie Jones has a player with similar traits to Tuilagi, given his game-breaking prowess and physical presence.

Lawrence, who was a promising footballer as a child at Aston Villa and Birmingham, made his Test debut off the bench against Italy in October, then started Autumn Nations Cup victories over Georgia and Ireland.

Eddie Jones names 28-man England Six Nations squad

Paolo Odogwu and Harry Randall receive their first call-ups to the senior team, both having played for England at U20 level.

Owen Farrell will captain England for the tournament and there is a return from injury for Courtney Lawes.

Elsewhere, Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson could reach their 50-cap milestones during the championship and Beno Obano may be in line to get his first cap.

England head coach to miss start of Six Nations training camp as isolating

Jones and attack coach Simon Amor have been identified as close contacts of Proudfoot and must self-isolate for 10 days.

In a statement, the Rugby Football Union said Proudfoot was not displaying any symptoms of the disease.

The England squad are due to meet at St George's Park on Wednesday, 27 January to prepare for the Six Nations.

The rest of the England staff are scheduled to arrive two days before that, with Jones and Amor attending meetings virtually.

England unveil 150-year anniversary jersey for February 6 Six Nations opener versus Scotland

It was 1871, at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, that England first clashed with Scotland in a Calcutta Cup match and that enduring history will now be celebrated when the countries meet next month in London, England wearing a one-off jersey created by Umbro which is inspired by the one worn a century and a half ago.