Rugby

SYDNEY (AP) — Joe Schmidt has agreed to continue as head coach of the Wallabies until after the 2025 Rugby Championship to allow Rugby Australia time to find a replacement.

Canada's under-20 women's rugby team will face its Irish counterpart in Dublin in May.

LONDON (AP) — The Six Nations opened to expectations. Ireland began its three-peat bid by blowing away England during 30-plus minutes of controlled aggression in the second half in Dublin for a 27-22 comeback win.

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland got off to a five-point start to its bid for an unprecedented third straight outright Six Nations rugby title, overpowering England in a second-half recovery to rack up a 27-22 victory in Dublin on Saturday.

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Moments of brilliance by a backline shorn of its best player spared Scotland from a second straight humbling by Italy in Six Nations rugby on Saturday.

PARIS (AP) — Superstar scrumhalf Antoine Dupont conducted France's clinical dismantling of Wales by 43-0 to begin its quest for the Six Nations title on Friday.

BRISTOL, England (AP) — U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher will start for the Bristol Bears on Saturday after missing a game last week because of a facial injury. The 28-year-old Maher, who helped lead the U.S.

They look the same, sound the same, are the same height, went to the same schools and play for the same club — in the same position, naturally.

SYDNEY (AP) — Sydney's 83,000-seat Olympic Stadium will once again host a Rugby World Cup final, this time in 2027 and 24 years after the home team was left bitterly disappointed in the championship match against England.

ENGLAND World ranking: 7 Captain: Maro Itoje Coach: Steve Borthwick Schedule: R1 at Ireland R2 vs France R3 vs Scotland R4 vs Italy R5 at Wales Recent Six Nations history: 2020 1st 2021 5th 2022 3rd 2023 4th 2024 3rd Prospects: More disappointment.