the latest rugby news stories from around the world
Louis Rees-Zammit of Bristol Bears runs at Rob Du Preez of Sale Sharks in his comeback game(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Here are the latest rugby headlines on the evening of Sunday, September 14.
Coach happy with Rees-Zammit
Bristol Bears coach Pat Lam was happy with what he saw from Louis Rees-Zammit on his return to rugby. The Welshman came off the bench for the final 30 minutes of Bears’ defeat to Sale Sharks on Saturday after 18 months away from the sport.
While he struggled to hit top gear in appalling weather conditions, Lam was encouraged by the early signs despite his side going down 24-15 in the Premiership Rugby Cup encounter.
He told The Rugby Paper: “It was a positive that Louis got out there and got some game-time. You can see he tried to have a go a couple of times and he’s a threat.
“By the time he came on, unfortunately the rain was coming down but you could see how dangerous he is. That’s the first of some big steps he’s going to make going forward. He’s happy, I’m happy, and we’ll move through to the next stage.”
The coach previously revealed the winger was having to work hard to regain his rugby fitness after training in a very different environment during his NFL stint and putting on weight.
He has already shed over a stone since returning to the UK and is the fastest player in the Bristol squad, as evidenced by a wonder try he recently scored in training. Bristol begin their Gallagher PREM campaign against Leicester on Sunday, September 28, but Rees-Zammit could face old club Gloucester at Kingsholm on Friday in the second round of Premiership Cup fixtures.
Farrell left out by England
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Owen Farrell has been left out of England’s pre-autumn training camp, suggesting he will not make an international return in the near future. The 36-year-old is a big name omission from the 36-man squad picked by Steve Borthwick, with his return to Saracens for the upcoming season makes him eligible for selection.
Maro Itoje, the current England captain, will be present for the three-day camp in Surrey that runs until Tuesday but will not spend any time on the field.
The 30-year-old Lions skipper failed an HIA after 27 minutes of the third Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 2 and has been stood down from training as Borthwick begins plotting the downfall of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina this autumn.
England’s Lions stars miss the opening two rounds of the Gallagher Premier as part of the post-tour mandatory rest period and Saracens have given Itoje an additional week off before reporting for pre-season.
While there is currently no concern over Itoje’s availability for the autumn, Farrell’s prospects of being involved have receded with his absence from the camp.
The 33-year-old was last month overlooked for one of England’s 25 elite player squad contracts despite swapping Racing 92 for Saracens and proving his fitness as a late call-up to the Lions tour.
Now Borthwick has given a stronger indication of his thinking for November by picking George Ford, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith as his fly-halves and looking to Ollie Lawrence, Seb Atkinson and Fraser Dingwall as his inside centre options.
Tom Curry, Elliot Daly, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Will Stuart join Itoje in being given the camp to rehab injuries alongside England’s medical team.
Ireland players collapse in tears
By PA Sport Staff
Ireland fell agonisingly short of a place in the last four of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, throwing away a 13-0 half-time lead to crash out 18-13 to France in their quarter-final at Sandy Park.
The Irish players were left in floods of tears as the final whistle blew, as they botched a stoppage time lineout five metres out from the French line. The match was overshadowed somewhat by a biting controversy.
Scott Bemand’s team were looking for just a second ever semi-finals appearance and looked to be in command after Linda Djougang and Stacey Flood went over in the first half.
However, France stunned them with a dramatic comeback after the interval, Joanna Grisez going over with the crucial score with 13 minutes remaining to break Ireland hearts.
It had all started so promisingly. Niamh O’Dowd was brought down close to the line but her front-row partner Djougang powered over for the opening score. Dannah O’Brien was just wide with the conversion.
Rose Bernadou was then sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle on Eve Higgins before Ireland doubled their lead in the 30th minute.
Aoife Wafer went close as the ball emerged from the scrum and with a player advantage, Ireland worked it through the hands where Flood was waiting to cross the line. O’Brien’s conversion again was wide of the mark.
The fly-half finally found success between the posts to extend the lead to 13-0 with a penalty before an onslaught to finish off the half saw them go through 33 phases, but Ireland were unable to extend their lead.
Still, they went in at the break in a dominant position.
Morgane Bourgeois’ penalty at the start of the second half began the France fightback, then Ireland’s position grew more precarious when Grace Moore was sent to the sin bin.
Number eight Charlotte Escudero found space to break Ireland’s line after France had moved the ball well through the hands to claw it back to 13-10.
Then came a moment in which the quarter-final turned. Amee-Leigh Costigan was left with a two v one as her side looked to extend their lead from a good position, but after she was caught out.
Grisez took possession inside the Ireland half and ran the length of the pitch to hand her side the lead for the first time.
Bourgeois kicked a late penalty to leave Ireland needing a try to haul themselves back into the contest, but France clung on to progress to the last four.