Six Nations LIVE: England and Ireland announce squads and new captains ahead of tournament

Steve Borthwick and Andy Farrell revealed their squads after the drama surrounding Wales and Louis Rees-Zammit’s stunning move to quit rugby for the NFL

Gatland aware of Rees-Zammit’s NFL switch only ‘an hour’ before Wales squad announcement

The countdown to the 2024 edition of the Six Nations continued after the shock news that Wales have lost star Louis Rees-Zammit as he pursues a career in the NFL.

Earlier in the day, England named their squad, with Jamie George replacing Owen Farrell as captain after the fly half took a break from international rugby to prioritise his mental wellbeing. Borthwick’s selection for the tournament includes a number of eye-catching potential debutants, including Exeter pair Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ethan Roots.

Then it was the turn of Ireland, with Andy Farrell selecting Peter O’Mahony as his new captain to replace the retiring Johnny Sexton. Head coach Farrell’s 34-man selection does not include any uncapped players. However, there are recalls for Leinster quartet Cian Healy, Harry Byrne, Ciaran Frawley and Jordan Larmour, Ulster trio Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale, and Munster wing Calvin Nash.

Follow all the reaction to both squad announcements below:

England and Ireland Six Nations squad announcements - live updates

• Jamie George to lead England as Six Nations squad revealed
• Andy Farrell selects Peter O’Mahony as Ireland captain for Six Nations
• Wales and Scotland named their squads yesterday for next month’s Six Nations
• The 2024 Six Nations gets underway on 2 February with France v Ireland

[17 January 2024 09:42 · Ben Fleming]

Turning to the annoucement

We are expecting confirmation of England’s squad in the not-too-distant future and there are a few questions to answer. Crucially, who will England’s captain be after Owen Farrell’s departure from the international team?

Elsewhere there are also concerns for England’s depth in the front row and a number of uncapped players who could be in line for a maiden call-up to the England squad.

Something tells me there will be plenty to talk about...

[17 January 2024 09:32 · Ben Fleming]

British and Irish Lions announce historic first-ever women’s tour

Some more good news for rugby fans - this one from yesterday - saw confirmation of the inaugural women’s Lions tour against New Zealand in September 2027.

A Lions statement on Tuesday morning confirmed the tour will not overlap with that year’s men’s World Cup and will include warm-up fixtures, but said the full schedule had not yet been finalised. However, it is expected that five fixtures against provincial sides will form the build-up schedule.

British and Irish Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said: “Playing three Test matches against the current world champions, the Black Ferns, in New Zealand, in front of thousands of fans, represents the ultimate challenge and makes for a fantastic sporting spectacle.

“We look forward to working with all our stakeholders including New Zealand Rugby to finalise an exciting inaugural tour.”

[17 January 2024 09:25 · Ben Fleming]

Jamie George signs Saracens extension

The England hooker is widely expected to be named as England’s new captain following Owen Farrell’s break from international rugby.

There’s more good news for the 33-year-old today as he’s just announced that he will be signing a contract extension with Saracens.

[17 January 2024 09:15 · Ben Fleming]

‘Wolverine’ Ellis Genge promises Six Nations return after ‘miraculous’ recovery

Ellis Genge claims he will be fit for the start of the Six Nations and jokingly cited his Wolverine-like miraculous powers of recovery for ensuring he has shaken off a hamstring injury.

Prop Genge picked up the issue while training for club side Bristol Bears in December and it was thought the injury may rule him out of the start of the Six Nations – which begins for England away to Italy on Saturday 3 February.

But having worked closely with the Bears medical team, the 28-year-old insists he’s almost back to full fitness and while this weekend’s Champions Cup game against Connacht will come too soon, the Gallagher Premiership clash with Bath on 27 January is a possible target for his return.

Steve Borthwick names his England squad for the Six Nations on Wednesday morning, with Genge expected to be included, and his return will be a huge boost for the coach as he battles a string of injuries and retirements at loosehead prop.

Read the full interview below:

[17 January 2024 09:06 · Ben Fleming]

Gregor Townsend undecided on Scotland captain amid Jamie Ritchie fitness battle

Yesterday, Gregor Townsend revealed his Scotland squad but said he is still to decide on whether Jamie Ritchie will captain Scotland for the upcoming Six Nations as the Edinburgh back-rower bids to prove his form and fitness ahead of the tournament.

The 27-year-old flanker has led the national team since succeeding Stuart Hogg in the role for the 2022 summer tour of South America but has been hindered by injury since the World Cup last autumn.

It was notable when Townsend announced his 39-man squad for the tournament on Tuesday afternoon that nobody was listed as skipper.

Read more of the Scotland head coach’s thoughts below:

[17 January 2024 08:26 · Jack Rathborn]

When is the Six Nations? Fixtures and schedule for 2024 Championship

The Six Nations returns with Ireland hoping to defend their Grand Slam crown.

The start of a new cycle has seen significant change in the six competing unions since a thrilling Rugby World Cup in France.

England, Ireland, Wales and France are all likely to have new captains at the helm, while Italy begin life under Gonzalo Quesada after a post-tournament coaching change.

Scotland will be hoping to build on a third-placed finish a year ago in what looks to be an open edition of one of rugby’s most storied championships.

Here’s everything you need to know.

[17 January 2024 08:15 · Jack Rathborn]

What Owen Farrell’s potential move to France says about the future of club rugby

One only needs to be a casual consumer of club rugby union to recognise that the winds of change are blowing. If the news that Owen Farrell is giving strong consideration to a move to Racing 92 came as a bombshell, the idea of an English player contemplating a move from the Premiership Rugby to the Top 14 did not.

Farrell’s situation is different to most but his mulling of a move across the Channel reflects the general direction of rugby’s labour migration. France’s Top 14 is now firmly established as the world’s top domestic league financially, with a bumper TV deal, buoyant crowds and a thriving structure beneath it sustaining professional clubs across three tiers.

Conversely, English club rugby has shrunk, with the loss of four clubs in 12 months highlighting the financial issues within the system, where the challenges of Covid have led to a depression of the salary cap. Proposals are on the table to lift the current limit on player spending from £5m per year back to the previous figure of £6.4m, but with most clubs recording major financial losses each season, a number are reluctant for the cap to rise again.

[17 January 2024 08:06 · Jack Rathborn]

Warren Gatland unsure if ‘freak’ Louis Rees-Zammit can crack NFL: ‘Good luck to him’

Wales boss Warren Gatland admits he has “no idea” if Louis Rees-Zammit will play rugby union again following his switch to American football.

While Wales prepare for a Six Nations opener against Scotland, Rees-Zammit will be concentrating on the NFL’s International Player Pathway in the hope of forging a gridiron career.

His move to the United States with immediate effect has left Wales and his club Gloucester without a box-office wing, whose try-scoring ability thrilled crowds on domestic, European and international stages.

Rees-Zammit’s rugby union career comes to a halt after winning 32 Wales caps and a World Cup campaign in France when he scored five tries.

Asked if the 22-year-old would come back to rugby one day, Gatland said: “No idea. There aren’t a lot of people who make it in the NFL who haven’t been brought up with the game and played it at a young age.

[17 January 2024 08:05 · Jack Rathborn]

Wales and Scotland name Six Nations squads amid Louis Rees-Zammit bombshell

Wales boss Warren Gatland named five uncapped players in his squad for the upcoming Six Nations while Scotland named four – including an ex-England international.

Both squad announcements, though, were overshadowed by Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit being released by Gloucester to pursue his dream of a career in the NFL.

For Wales, uncapped Cardiff quartet Cameron Winnett, Evan Lloyd, Alex Mann and Mackenzie Martin, plus Bath prop Archie Griffin, have all been included among a 34-strong group.