Rugby Union News

England National Rugby Team

The England National Rugby Team head coach, Australian Eddie Jones, is aiming to learn lessons from successful managers in other sports including hockey, judo, and cycling. An optimistic Jones intends for his coaching staff to learn from their counterparts as they plot to replace Team New Zealand as rugby’s dominant side. Jones’ men won a Grand Slam and earned a 3-0 series whitewash of mighty Australia this summer down under since Jones took charge after England’s embarrassing early exit from the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Overall, Team Great Britain won 67 medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Rugby Sevens made its debut at Rio 2016 with the following squad who battled their way to compete in the final match against Fiji earning a silver medal.

Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Bibby (England Sevens), Phil Burgess (England Sevens), Sam Cross (Wales Sevens), Ruaridh McConnochie (England Sevens), James Davies (Scarlets), Ollie Lindsay Hague (Harlequins), Tom Mitchell (England Sevens, Captain), Dan Norton (England Sevens), James Rodwell (England Sevens), Mark Robertson (Scotland Sevens), Marcus Watson (Newcastle Falcons).

Reserves: Luke Treharne (Wales Sevens), Charlie Hayter (England Sevens)

Jones says he would be happy for his coaching staff to join next summer's British and Irish Lions New Zealand Tour if they are chosen by Warren Gatland. Wales boss Gatland will name his staff on December 7th, with England rugby forwards coach Steve Borthwick and defense coach Paul Gustard both potential choices.

"We need to coach better - so our staff have been working very hard investigating other sports," said Jones. "With Great Britain doing so well at the Olympics, there are a number of sports to look at and learn from. If you look on face value at the talent in that team compared to the Holland team, it's probably not as great, so his ability to create such a dynamic and hard-working team is fascinating. It's a great opportunity for them to learn from Warren, who is one of the most experienced coaches in the world."

Newly appointed British and Irish Lions boss Warren Gatland looks forward to the challenge that awaits his men when they tour New Zealand next summer. Hopes are high that the former Wales manager will mastermind the Lions first series win against the All-Blacks since 1971.

Six Nations International Rugby Calendar

The Rugby Six Nations tournament will be unchanged by the recent international rugby calendar shake-up led by World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont and Vice-chairman Agustin Pichot. Rugby administrators worldwide reached a tentative agreement on a new rugby union calendar, that comes into effect after the World Cup in 2019 resulting in fewer international matches, with summer tours set to be scrapped at least once per four-year cycle. The Six Nations will not move from its traditional February to March calendar. The British and Irish Lions series and the World Cup will retain their places in the calendar. The changes are expected to be ratified at the next council meeting at the end of November with the following protocol.

The Lions will tour in July and August in 2021. Summer tours will be scrapped after World Cup years. Premiership and Pro12 competitions will start later and finish later, at end of June. Super Rugby in southern hemisphere will finish at a similar time. The Six Nations and World Cup tournaments will be unaffected.

While a “global season” cannot be worked out, the new calendar will see a greater alignment between the two hemispheres. Under the new plan, the Premiership and Pro12 leagues will start later and finish at the end of June, with the Super Rugby competition in the southern hemisphere ending at a similar time. The plan is to have less overlap between international rugby and domestic tournaments, which is currently a point of consternation among European clubs with rugby player welfare foremost in the discussions. Future summer tours are likely to be scrapped the season following a Rugby World Cup to enable a longer rest and recovery period for international players.

2016 Rugby Autumn Internationals Update

After the excitement of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2016 Six Nations tournament, the Autumn Internationals rugby union games return in November 2016. The four UK home sides, England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland are looking forward to going face-to-face against the southern Hemisphere’s titan teams.

Internationals 2016 Fixtures & Rugby Union Tickets

Be there live to support your national team as they battle for glory and silverware in the 2016 Autumn Internationals tournament beginning on Saturday, November 5 at Wembley Stadium in London, Principality in Cardiff, and Soldier Field in Chicago. They best Autumn Internationals rugby union tickets for Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand are for sale at great prices from the LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk online rugby union ticket marketplace! Buy Autumn Internationals tickets now!

Saturday November 5, 2016
Wales v Australia at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Barbarians v South Africa at Wembley Stadium, London
New Zealand v Ireland at Soldier Field, Chicago

Friday November 11, 2016
Barbarians v Fiji at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast

Saturday November 12, 2016
Italy v New Zealand at Stadio Olimpico, Rome
England v South Africa at Twickenham Stadium, London 2
Scotland v Australia at BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
France v Samoa at Stadium Municipal, Toulouse
Wales v Argentina at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Ireland v Canada at Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday November 19, 2016
Italy v South Africa at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
England v Fiji at Twickenham Stadium, London
Wales v Japan at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Scotland v Argentina at BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Ireland v New Zealand at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
France v Australia at Stade de France, Paris

Saturday November 26, 2016
Italy v Tonga at Stadio Euganeo, Padova
England v Argentina at Twickenham Stadium, London
Scotland v Georgia at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
Ireland v Australia at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wales v South Africa at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
France v New Zealand at Stade de France, Paris

Saturday December 3, 2016
England v Australia at Twickenham Stadium, London