Six Nations 2024: A guide to the teams and top players at rugby union’s big tournament BBC Newsround

As a result, several of the sport’s finest have cemented their reputation at the tournament. This includes rugby legends like Jonny Wilkinson, Alun Wyn Jones and Ronan O’Gara, whose names remain synonymous with the championship. Very few players, if any, throughout the world of rugby exude leadership, passion and dedication like Michael Hooper does whenever he plays for the Wallabies.

Other Ireland players to watch

He was not a halfback until he was and once he was he willed himself into being one of the best of all time. Hughes’ rugby league story begins in Queensland, where he spent years wandering through underage and lower-grade football. Memories can fade, but medals don’t and accolades like the Dally M are how we talk to each other about rugby league history across time, so getting it right https://just-bet.org/ matters. The new voting system, where a player can get six points in a single match, means a late-season run can overshadow a season of consistency, as we saw with Kalyn Ponga pipping Shaun Johnson last year. The Dally Ms aren’t always an easy thing to believe in and they can be even harder to set your compass by as you wade through rugby league history, trying to sort things out.

Finn Russell, fly-half, Scotland

The trio came together in an interview to expose alleged corruption occurring behind closed doors at Fiji Rugby Union (FRU). It was revealed that FRU had been withholding payments to not just those three players but the entire team and their staff. Rounding out the top players are two more outstanding selections and stars that will likely be selected by a lot of fantasy players. Forced to play in a dual playmaker role for an extended period under former coach Eddie Jones, the two players somewhat stifled each other on many occasions. Certainly, there were moments of good, but in reality, Farrell’s presence as both the alpha and leader for England meant Ford was more of a distributor than a decision-maker. Historically, Ireland has steered clear of rushing players onto the international stage, but the 6’4” Prendergast is an exception.

Spain climb World Rugby Men’s Rankings after historic win

If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. With the likes of Mark Telea and Will Jordan keeping him from returning to the All Black line up, Reece will be hoping to push his case to return to the national side – but he has a lot of competition. An effective kicker, dangerous in broken play and a strong finisher, the decision to re-sign him for two years is a strong indication of his potential as an attacking weapon.

Related News

And being named co-captain with Rory Darge signals an end to his previously stormy relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend. Following his recent move to Lyon, Monty Ioane is also one of this year’s Six Nations players to watch. The same goes for Lorenzo Cannone, another up-and-coming player whose powerful tackles have cemented his place in the Italian squad.

All Blacks ‘livid’ over French move that ‘devalues mega series’ by standing down stars from 2025 NZ tour

That’s neither here nor there because NZ rugby and their fans (if this site is a reflection) don’t value our respect. This is the standard that World Rugby expects all rugby nations including New Zealand to adhere to. Respect for team-mates, opponents, match officials and those involved in the game is paramount. A surprising amount of people were happy when the Irish team beat the All Blacks as it was good for the game.

Spain secure seventh straight Rugby Europe Women’s Championship title

Was also a menace at the breakdown, coming up momentum swinging steals in both halves, and made more tackles than any other Welshman. 2 – Elliot Dee – 6On a long list, it was the line-out that was most abject in Wales’ game last week. Dee’s accuracy here meant England wouldn’t get handed free balls at the set-piece. It was a brave call to go to the back of the line within striking distance, but it worked and Wales won a penalty try from the subsequent maul. As the Barrett brothers have proven time and time again, it is hard to keep any of them down (especially when playing together).

• The Wales side was also hit with the shock announcement that one of their star players, Louis Rees-Zammit has quit rugby union to try and play American football professionally in the NFL.
• With his long-term teammate and friend now unavailable and seemingly on his way to the Top 14, Ford could prove to be both the first-choice fly-half and English captain this year.
• Last year, with Ireland winning all their matches to secure the Grand Slam, they also won the Triple Crown.
• Rangy runs, athletic grabs under high balls, he also offered a target at the line-out.
• This was the fifth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players moved up or fell off last year’s lists.
• He was a good footballer though, fast and tough and smart and brave, the kind of player who could play anywhere and find a way to do a good job of it, and that was more than enough.
• I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous and scared because you’re going into the real world now.

A world of sport in one place

A force on both sides of the ball, the 23-year-old will be looking to transfer his impressive form for Benetton on to the Test arena. His significant size in the backrow opens up a whole world of possibilities at set piece for Los Pumas – in particular, his explosive power getting off the ground quickly for lineouts and kickoff receipts. Not since the great Joe Rokocoko has New Zealand Rugby had a winger who ties together immense physicality with guile to the level of Telea.

Hong Kong China men claim fifth consecutive Asia title

• Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes beats James Tedesco to the NRL Dally M Medal by one vote, while Roosters back rower Olivia Kernick is named the NRLW’s best player.
• The cup is named after the former Scotland international lock Doddie Weir who died from motor neuron disease and was created to raise awareness of the illness.
• Blessed with speed, vision and footwork, it became common nature to see the young wing slide through and around defences to run in try after try – five of which were scored in a single test against Tonga.
• With the likes of Mark Telea and Will Jordan keeping him from returning to the All Black line up, Reece will be hoping to push his case to return to the national side – but he has a lot of competition.
• We sought out the expertise of current Stade Francais defence coach Paul Gustard for what defensive attributes the perfect player has.
• 9 – Tomos Williams – 6.5It was his frenetic spark that turned the game against Scotland last week.
• The Irish «romped» to the Grand Slam in as «dominant a fashion as the championship has ever seen,» said Sky News, beating each side by at least 13 points.

They will open this year’s tournament against favourites France, with the winner opening up the path to another perfect championship. Although it gives a team a great chance of overall success – winning the Triple Crown doesn’t always mean you win the Six Nations. The Grand Slam is the cherry on top of the cake for any team that has won the Six Nations, as this additional achievement is only awarded to a team that has won all of their matches during the tournament. The game is played by two teams of 15, with each team made up of eight forwards and seven backs. The sides all compete in one group with all the teams trying to win more points than the others. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament wins the championship.

Italy

He backed up his good performance against the old enemy in the 2024 Six Nations, scoring a hat-trick – with each try coming from some individual brilliance. Our round-up of the finest rugby union players in the world right now. Lakapi Samoa, the nation’s rugby governing body, has not yet stated whether the head coach will continue in his current role. «It’s such a rollercoaster of emotions,» rugby player Stephanie Rovetti said. In a last-minute upset, the U.S. women’s rugby team beat out Australia in rugby sevens and claimed the bronze medal. Woods announced his retirement earlier this month after a 14-year career which included 269 NRL games, 14 games for New South Wales and 17 appearances for Australia.

There is a lot of opportunity for Emoni to excel in the back three for Waikato in 2024, and he looms as probably the most exciting bolter of the whole competition. Scoring eight tries in the 2023 season, this flying Fijian went on to earn his first cap for the All Blacks, as they demolished Los Pumas in Mendoza to kick off their Rugby Championship campaign. Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists. What was most remarkable was how, despite rotating and changing the team almost weekly, their efficiency remained incredibly high. The Springboks have an established way of playing that continues to yield results. The emergence of young loose forwards like Carlo Tizzano and Fraser McReight was a huge plus, while the growth of Harry Wilson was impressive.

Super Rugby’s top 50 players in 2024, 20-11: All Blacks next generation shines through

The once-intimidating aura of the All Blacks seems to have faded.They are by no means in crisis like the Wallabies, but at the moment, they aren’t performing at a level that puts them among the elite. The Wallabies finished last, with only a last-minute win against Argentina in South America to their name. Australian rugby is clearly feeling the effects of a disruptive tenure under Eddie Jones.Joe Schmidt has a massive job ahead of him. The Wallabies are in the doldrums and need a significant boost in quality in their forward pack, particularly in the tight five, as well as finding a flyhalf capable of controlling the game. The 2024 Rugby Championship was filled with thrilling encounters between four of the top rugby nations. Bet Central takes a look at how all the teams fared in this year’s competition.

F1: Hungarian Grand Prix Preview And Predictions

One of the most exciting talents in the game, Russell is a magician of a fly-half with the skills to unpick any defence. Being named co-captain signals an end to his stormy relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend and he has been revitalised by his move to Bath, who are flourishing as a result of his arrival. A host of rugby’s most gifted players will go head to head over the coming weeks in the 25th instalment of the Guinness Six Nations. Here the PA news agency looks at five stars expected to grab the headlines.

Italian Rugby’s crown jewel, Capuozzo is the sprinkling of magic dust that takes the Azzurri backline to another level whenever he is fit and firing. Argentina’s captain is a no-nonsense, blue-collar worker who does the dirty work so his teammates can shine. Joining his fellow Irish centers, Henshaw is a hybrid of Aki and Ringrose, with the ability to slot into both the 12 and 13 shirts seamlessly.

• The high-profile Englishman had spent his entire career at Saracens in the English Premiership.
• The lock has won more than 100 caps for his country, and continues to be one of, if not the best lock in the world.
• Worse perhaps was the custard-soft penalty he gave away when Adams kicked from his own in-goal area to gift England three points.
• One of the standout All Blacks of 2023, Roigard is looming as the perfect successor to Aaron Smith in Scott Robertson’s starting side.
• Historically, Ireland has steered clear of rushing players onto the international stage, but the 6’4” Prendergast is an exception.
• Five years later, at the close of 2023, he was finally granted French citizenship.

We got insight from one of Scotland’s all-time greats, Chris Paterson, who was quick to praise Toulouse star Blair Kinghorn. Rugby is a collision sport, which means that power in contact is a bare minimum for players. However, some players are physical beasts on the pitch, and we got insight from ex-England back-rower Nick Easter about who the most powerful player in the 2024 Six Nations is. Planet Rugby teamed up with Two Cents Rugby, eToro and a host of former players and coaches to answer that question.

• The sport continues to gain popularity and may eventually land players on the list.
• Making his senior debut for Leinster last season in the URC, he has begun to get more first-team opportunities this season.
• George has been picked by the England head coach for his tactical nous, ability to build relationships, and emotional intelligence.
• The versatile back, who has won the Super Rugby title multiple times with the Crusaders, has at least one more Rugby World Cup cycle in him to add to his points tally.
• The Triple Crown is given to the team that defeats all the other original home nations and only England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are able to win it.
• Gets extra points for a one-on-one tackle on the much larger Tommy Freeman that saved a try early in the second half.
• Could have benefited from more punch through the rush, but didn’t need a midfield thanks to his sniper-accurate cross-kicks.

Born in France, Capuozzo qualified for Italy through his paternal grandparents. He made his international debut at the 2022 tournament, where he scored a brace against Scotland. In the next game, he set up Edoardo Padovani’s winning try against Wales. Every year, the Six Nations showcases some of rugby union’s greatest players.

In the USA, FloRugby will broadcast some of the best international rugby fixtures of 2024. “Always, if I was unsure, I’d always ask a question and then they always said there’s no dumb questions, you know. Some players might be able to take it in at easier, other players it might take a little bit longer to understand what they’ve got to do. With his own future now secured, Woods advised the current and future crops of NRL players to “keep asking questions”. “So what I really wanted to do while I played but I just didn’t, I didn’t have enough time, was I’d love to open up a coffee shop and just get to meet people in the local area.

If the All Blacks are to reclaim the World Cup next year, Savea will be pivotal to their chances of success. With 15 tries in 11 tests, it’s easy to understand why Will Jordan was crowned World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2021. Blessed with speed, vision and footwork, it became common nature to see the young wing slide through and around defences to run in try after try – five of which were scored in a single test against Tonga. Now a first-choice selection on New Zealand’s team sheet, another big year beckons for Jordan in 2022 as he looks to maintain his immaculate strike rate.

With Scott Barrett also captaining the Crusaders, Jordie will also be desperate to get his hands on a Super Rugby title. This will be a year of significant growth for the talented loose forward, with spots now wide open and a chance to impress his former coach, Scott Robertson. After a strong year in Super Rugby that saw the Crusaders retain their title, Blackadder was called into the All Blacks squad for the World Cup as an injury cover. While he only featured in one Test, Blackadder looms as one of the All Blacks most exciting prospects coming through the ranks, and certainly has already established himself in the Crusaders line up. A shoo-in for the Blues starting XV, he looms as one of their most dangerous attacking weapons and one of the best finishers in the competition.

They will have to do so without the «talismanic figure» of Johnny Sexton, who has retired. Jack Crowley looks likely to take over as the new playmaker at No. 10 and experienced Munster flanker Peter O’Mahony is the new captain, reported Sky News. And with the key games against France and England being away from Dublin, back-to-back Grand Slams would be a «real achievement», said the paper. Scotland also won the Calcutta Cup last year – the oldest trophy in international rugby is presented to the winner of the Six Nations England vs Scotland match.

Taking to the international stage like a duck to water, Crowley already has featured in several significant test matches. Jack Crowley took full control of the backup position at the 2023 Rugby World Cup; the uber-talented Munster star already has shown all of the hallmarks required of a top-quality international. The competition will feature the same 10 teams from the 2023–24 season. Host Darcie McDonald is joined by former NRL winger Josh Mansour to bring you your daily dose of NRL conversation. The team give you context and depth beyond the headlines in this footy conversation that’s equal parts thoughtful, insightful and fun.

A superb tactician, George will take the place of Owen Farrell at this year’s Championship. Unless you’re a London Irish or Harlequins fan, then Chandler Cunningham-South is a name you might not know. However, he could become a familiar face following the 2024 Six Nations. Praise is due for Cyril Baille as well, who is the solitary front rower in the top ten.

With Louis Rees-Zammit making the shock decision to leave rugby and pursue a career in the NFL, there is no better time for Rio Dyer to cement himself as Wales’ fast man. The current line-up is missing many of the team’s biggest names, with Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric retiring in the last 12 months. Not to mention Louis Rees-Zammit, who has departed the squad for a career in the NFL.

He made 10 clean breaks, beat 30 defenders, made 28 tackles and scored five tries at the tournament. Aki has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland and the Pro12 with club Connacht. “I always asked a thousand questions and a lot of times some coaches took it the wrong way, even when I was a leader or a media player,” he explained. “We’ve always been that rugby league player where people have done our health insurance and our pay and all that sort of stuff. If you haven’t looked into that while you were playing now you’ve got to go out and really get to know what the real world is all about. This issue is quite concerning for the Flying Fijians as they are one of the best Tier 2 nations in World Rugby and, quite frankly, don’t deserve to be labelled as such.