tag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/21/Woodward_backs_Warburton_lead_Lions_8bc0

England World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward believes Wales' Sam Warburton should captain the British and Irish Lions on their forthcoming tour of Australia.

2013-03-22T03:04:30ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/Dont_make_scapegoats_6Nations_French_9e32

French clubs on Wednesday fired back at criticism labelling them as the main reason France performed so badly in the recently-concluded Six Nations.

2013-03-20T18:28:28ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/20/ODriscoll_gets_three-week_stamping_5e03

Ireland great Brian O'Driscoll was given a three-week ban on Wednesday for stamping on Italy's Simone Favaro during their Six Nations clash in Rome.

2013-03-20T15:38:45ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Rowntree_seeks_clarification_over_referee_d661

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree is to seek "clarification" from the International Rugby Board (IRB) regarding the performance of referee Steve Walsh in Saturday's 30-3 defeat by Wales.

2013-03-20T01:46:31ZAFP European Editionby Julian Guyertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/England_seek_clarification_over_referee_75bd

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree is to seek "clarification" from the International Rugby Board (IRB) regarding the performance of referee Steve Walsh in Saturday's 30-3 defeat by Wales.

2013-03-20T01:44:37ZAFP Global Editionby Julian Guyertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/ODriscoll_citing_hearing_Wednesday_55a6

Brian O'Driscoll will face a citing hearing in London on Wednesday for stamping on Simone Favaro in Ireland's 22-15 Six Nations defeat by Italy, tournament organisers have announced.

2013-03-19T18:48:11ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/ODriscoll_citing_hearing_Tuesday_b45c

Brian O'Driscoll will face a citing hearing in London on Tuesday for stamping on Simone Favaro in Ireland's 22-15 Six Nations defeat by Italy, tournament organisers have announced.

2013-03-19T18:27:08ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/19/Queensland_Reds_coach_quits_linked_57d2

Queensland Reds coaching director Ewen McKenzie will quit at the end of the Super Rugby season, with reports linking him to the Wallabies or Six Nations side Ireland.

2013-03-19T03:35:29ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/ODriscoll_cited_over_stamping_bff1

Irish rugby great Brian O'Driscoll was on Monday cited for stamping on Simone Favaro in Ireland's 22-15 Six Nations defeat by Italy, the tournament organisers announced.

2013-03-18T21:13:13ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/Welsh_quartet_race_Nations_accolade_666f

Four members of the Six Nations-winning Wales team, Adam Jones, Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny, are in the running for the award for the player of the championship.

2013-03-18T16:04:21ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/golden_dawn_sight_French_rugby_b9e0

Normally a Six Nations wooden spoon two years ahead of the World Cup would not augur well for a country's chances but when it's France all bets are off.

2013-03-18T11:10:02ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/17/Wales_captaincy_worry_Warburton_24f8

Sam Warburton has insisted it won't bother him if he never regains the Wales captaincy even though his reticence could deprive him of the honour of leading the British and Irish Lions in Australia.

2013-03-18T01:43:22ZAFP European Editionby Julian Guyertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/17/Michalak_ruled_least_weeks_3d77

France and Toulon half-back Frederic Michalak faces at least three weeks on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder, his national team boss Philippe Saint-Andre said Sunday.

2013-03-17T11:43:28ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/17/Brunel_wants_more_from_Italy_d4f9

Italy coach Jacques Brunel insisted his side have plenty to do if they are to become a true force to be reckoned with despite finishing their Six Nations campaign on a high with an historic win over Ireland.

2013-03-17T03:40:03ZAFP Global Editionby Justin DAVIStag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/16/Lancaster_vows_England_will_learn_6fbd

England coach Stuart Lancaster insisted his youthful side would learn from a record-breaking 30-3 loss to Wales which denied them both the Grand Slam and the Six Nations title.

2013-03-17T02:47:45ZAFP Global Editionby Julian Guyertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/16/Welsh_Lions_kings_Australia_scalps_c8cc

Rob Howley forecast several Wales players would be returning to Australia with the British and Irish Lions after they retained their Six Nations title with a record-breaking 30-3 win over England.

2013-03-17T02:14:19ZAFP Asian Editionby Julian Guyertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/16/French_land_wooden_spoon_despite_c4e0

France landed the dreaded wooden spoon for the first time since 1999 despite beating Scotland 23-16 at the Stade de France on Saturday in their final Six Nations match.

2013-03-16T22:15:31ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/16/Wales_hammer_England_retain_Nations_5cc3

Wales thrashed England by a record-breaking 30-3 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday to retain the Six Nations title and deny the visitors a Grand Slam.

2013-03-16T19:28:44ZAFP Global Editionby Julian Guyertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/16/Italy_tame_Irish_Ciceros_farewell_333a

Italy produced a breathtaking display to hand Ireland a 22-15 defeat on what was Andrea Lo Cicero's 103rd and final appearance for the Azzurri and possibly Brian O'Driscoll's last game in an Irish shirt.

2013-03-16T18:29:54ZAFP Global Editionby Justin Davistag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/15/Grand_finale_Nations_England_face_8129

History beckons for both Grand Slam chasers England and defending champions Wales when they meet at the Millennium Stadium in the key match of Saturday's final day of the 2013 Six Nations Championship.

2013-03-16T02:23:25ZAFP Global Editionby Julian Guyer