An emotional return to the front line
Maro Itoje has been restored to England’s starting XV for the Calcutta Cup trip to Scotland following an emotional period attending his mother’s funeral.
The England captain missed sections of the pre-tournament training camp to travel to Nigeria after the passing of his mother, Florence.
He was restricted to a replacement role during the opening weekend victory over Wales at the Allianz Stadium.
“It’s been great being back with the team,” the Saracens lock said.
“Throwing yourself into a tournament like this is perhaps one of the best ways to get your mind off things.”
The influential forward paid tribute to his late mother ahead of the trip to Edinburgh.
“My mum was a huge influence in my life. There’s not a part of my life that her hand hasn’t been on. She will be sorely missed.”
History beckons for Borthwick’s men
Steve Borthwick’s side travel north in imperious form, targeting a 13th successive Test victory.
However, they face a formidable historical barrier at Murrayfield.
The visitors have not secured a victory in the Scottish capital for six years.
“I’m massively excited. The Calcutta Cup is a historic fixture,” Itoje added.
“It is an opportunity for us as a team to write a new chapter in our book.”
Townsend fights for survival
While England arrive with momentum, the mood in the opposing camp is starkly different.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is facing a battle to save his job following a shock defeat by Italy in Rome during the opening round.
Despite the pressure, the former fly-half boasts an impressive recent record in this fixture.
The Scots have lifted the Calcutta Cup in six of the last eight meetings between the old rivals.
“It’s our biggest game of the season,” Townsend admitted.
“It’s even more important on the back of a loss.”
Team GB’s men fell to a 9-7 defeat against hosts Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics after a calamitous first end saw them concede four shots.
Bruce Mouat’s rink arrived at the Cortina Curling Stadium boasting a perfect record.
They had previously dispatched defending champions Sweden, but this encounter proved a different beast entirely.
A nightmare start in Cortina
The match began in the worst possible fashion for the world’s top-ranked side.
An aggressive attempt to score two with the final stone backfired spectacularly.
An unfortunate kiss on a red stone cleared the house, allowing Italy to steal four points to the delight of a raucous home crowd.
Horns and bells rang out around the venue as the Scottish quartet were left staring at a scoreboard reading 4-0.
The horrified expressions on the British players’ faces told the story of a gamble gone wrong.
Resilience from the world number ones
Despite the horror start, the British outfit displayed the resilience of world champions.
Slowly but surely, they chipped away at the Italian lead.
A masterful shot from skip Mouat, verified by a measurement compass, helped claw back two points in the third end.
Ferocious sweeping from Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie then forced a steal, narrowing the gap to a single point by the break.
Remarkably, the visitors roared back to level proceedings in the ninth end, silencing the wooden bleachers.
Hosts hold their nerve
However, the fairytale comeback was denied in the tenth and final end.
Italy, who had also beaten the Swedes, held firm to secure the two points needed for victory.
“We had to dig deep and we played nine really good ends and controlled it from there, but we just couldn’t do enough to get the win,” lead Hammy McMillan told BBC Sport.
The result leaves Team GB with two wins from three round-robin matches.
Seven victories are usually required to guarantee a semi-final berth, keeping Mouat’s side in a strong position.
The men return to the ice on Saturday to face the Czech Republic at 13:05 GMT.
Norway have asserted early authority at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, leaving the USA trailing behind the hosts as Team GB await their first podium finish.
The century-old sporting spectacle is now fully underway across northern Italy following the opening ceremony on 6 February.
Scandinavians set the pace
The Norwegians have arrived as overwhelming favourites to retain their crown as the most successful nation in the history of the competition.
Having claimed a staggering 16 golds in Beijing four years ago, the winter sports powerhouse looks poised to eclipse closest rivals Germany once again.
While the American contingent was expected to mount a fierce challenge for supremacy, they currently find themselves looking up at the host nation in the early standings.
Hosts delight home crowd
Italy have surged into the upper echelons of the table, boosting hopes of a definitive top-10 finish on home snow.
Alpine neighbours France and Switzerland are also keeping pace in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested European battle.
Canada remains in the hunt, looking to disrupt the European dominance as the games progress.
Team GB struggle for breakthrough
The British squad has set a confident target of securing between four and eight medals during the fortnight of action.
However, the wait for silverware continues, with the team yet to register a single medal on the board.
Officials are desperate to see an improvement upon the disappointing haul of just two prizes collected in China in 2022.
A divided stage
Competition is split across four geographical zones, ranging from the ice hockey hubs of Milan to the skeleton tracks of Cortina.
Val di Fiemme is currently hosting Nordic events, while snowboarders take to the slopes of Valtellina.
With 116 medal events scheduled before the closing ceremony on 22 February, the standings remain volatile.
Tens of thousands of tickets remain unsold for Wales’ upcoming Six Nations fixtures, sparking urgent concern over the financial future of the game in the principality.
The 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium is usually a fortress of sold-out noise during the championship.
However, official figures reveal a stark disconnect between the national team and its fanbase.
As of Thursday afternoon, 15,700 seats remained empty for Sunday’s clash against France.
The situation appears even bleaker for the tournament finale, with 27,000 tickets still available for the match against Italy in March.
Even the fixture against Scotland has failed to reach capacity, with 6,700 spots left unfilled.
‘Not worth it’
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has insisted that buying habits have changed, noting that tickets are moving at a rate of 1,000 per day.
Yet, the apathy is evident at the grassroots level.
Local clubs, including Swansea and Llandaff North, have taken to social media in an attempt to shift their allocations.
With prices ranging between £40 and £120, fans are voting with their wallets.
Sean O’Sullivan, chairman of Penarth RFC, offered a damning verdict on the current value proposition.
“It’s not worth it. As a family we are going skiing in Poland for two days and it’s not costing us much more than going to Cardiff, with meals and drinks.”
Sean O’Sullivan, Penarth RFC Chairman
O’Sullivan noted that his family trip was only costing marginally more than a matchday experience in the capital.
He added that watching other nations play now feels like “watching a different sport” compared to the struggles of the national side.
Financial viability fears
This drop in demand comes against a backdrop of turmoil both on and off the pitch.
Warren Gatland’s side suffered a humiliating 48-7 defeat to England in the opening round, dampening enthusiasm further.
Meanwhile, a bitter feud over the future of the regional game continues to plague the administration.
Sports economist Professor Calvin Jones warned that the stadium is the economic engine of the sport in Wales.
“I can’t remember in my 30 years as a sports economist this happening before. The stadium is absolutely mission critical to Welsh rugby.”
Prof Calvin Jones, Sports Economist
Jones highlighted that the venue generates the revenue required to prop up the regional game, which has seen declining rates for decades.
While the WRU has diversified income through concerts and cultural events, the core product remains vital.
Jones warned that if low attendance becomes a long-term trend, there would be serious worries regarding the “financial viability of the whole game.”
He concluded that a major effort is now required to rebuild trust between the governing body and the Welsh public.
Ireland captain Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup after sustaining significant knee ligament damage.
The veteran opener suffered the injury after landing awkwardly while taking a catch during Wednesday’s defeat by Australia in Colombo.
Although he attempted to open the batting in the run chase, the pain proved too much.
Stirling limped through a single run before being forced to retire hurt.
Skipper sent home for rehab
Scans have since confirmed the extent of the damage, ending his participation in the tournament.
It is a bitter blow for the Men in Green to lose their most experienced batter and tactical leader.
Wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker has been confirmed as the interim captain for the rest of the campaign.
Replacement drafted in
Sam Topping has been called up to fill the void in the squad.
The batter was conveniently located at an off-season training camp in nearby Chennai.
Graeme West, Cricket Ireland’s director of high performance, confirmed the logistical switch.
“Paul will shortly return home for rest and rehabilitation, ahead of the home summer.”
“To replace Paul, we have called up Sam Topping, who is able to provide immediate cover.”
West noted that Topping’s versatility is crucial for the squad’s depth.
This is particularly vital as Ben Calitz is also managing a hand injury sustained in the same match.
Maro Itoje has opened up on using the Six Nations to cope with the death of his mother as he returns to the starting line-up for the Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland.
The England skipper missed significant portions of the pre-tournament training camp to attend the funeral of his mother, Florence, in Nigeria.
He was restricted to a role from the bench during the resounding 48-7 victory over Wales in the opening round.
However, the Saracens lock has been reinstated to the starting XV for Saturday’s trip to Murrayfield.
Processing grief through performance
Itoje believes that immersing himself in the intensity of championship rugby is aiding his grieving process.
It’s been great being back with the team. It’s been great being with my team-mates and the coaching and support staff in this environment, which I love so much.
Throwing yourself into a tournament like this is perhaps one of the best ways to get your mind off things.
The British and Irish Lions forward paid a touching tribute to the woman who shaped his career.
My mum was a huge influence in my life. There’s not a part of my life that her hand hasn’t been on. She will be sorely missed.
Chasing history in Edinburgh
The 29-year-old’s return comes at a critical juncture for Steve Borthwick’s side.
England have not tasted victory at the home of Scottish rugby since 2020.
Despite this recent record, the visitors arrive in Edinburgh looking to secure a 13th successive Test victory.
I’m massively excited. The Calcutta Cup is a historic fixture. It’s a game I’ve loved playing in.
It’s always a game that’s hotly contested and it’s lovely to be here in sunny Edinburgh for the fixture.
A new narrative
The fierce rivalry between the neighbours adds extra weight to an already pivotal encounter.
Scotland and England are close neighbours. We’re fierce competitors. We know each other pretty well. That brings a competitive spirit in and of itself.
Itoje is determined to end the recent drought north of the border.
It’s an opportunity for us as this England team to create a new narrative. It’s an opportunity for us as a team to write a new chapter in our book.
We’ve continued to grow and continued to get better and the proof will be in the pudding, but I feel we’re in a good position to get the job done.
Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris has confirmed he will compete in the Olympic slopestyle event, just eight days after a concussion left him unconscious following a training fall.
The 32-year-old is targeting a medal in Italy despite the scary incident on the big air course which forced his withdrawal from that specific discipline.
McMorris suffered a blackout, an abdominal strain, and pelvic injuries after hitting a hidden chunk of debris known as a “snow snake”.
Race against time
Speaking to the media, the triple Olympic bronze medallist revealed the extent of his rapid recovery process.
“We’ve been doing a lot of different tests and taking all the necessary steps to make sure I’m in good shape,” he said.
“I’m thankful to have passed all those tests and, at the end of the day, to be feeling good and feeling confident to get back out there.”
The Canadian star has already inspected the slopestyle course at Livigno Snow Park ahead of qualifying next Monday.
A history of resilience
This is not the first time the serial X Games winner has had to overcome significant physical trauma to compete at the highest level.
In 2017, McMorris was placed in an induced coma after a near-fatal backcountry accident left him with a ruptured spleen, a collapsed lung, and 17 broken bones.
Despite the inherent dangers, he remains undeterred in his pursuit of Olympic glory.
“It’s definitely a dangerous sport, definitely part of the sport at times,” he added.
“I just try to be calculated with the risk, mitigate it as much as I can.”
Danger on the mountain
The risks of the sport have been sharply highlighted during the opening week of the Games.
Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu suffered a heavy fall in the women’s halfpipe, sustaining a head injury in a wreck dubbed a “scorpion” due to the hyperextension of the back.
However, for McMorris, the focus remains strictly on the podium.
When asked if his medal goals remained intact despite the physical setback, his response was emphatic.
“Very much so,” he said.
Alessandro Haemmerle has successfully retained his Olympic snowboard cross title, snatching victory on the finish line in a breathtaking display of drama.
The Austrian superstar emerged victorious from a chaotic final that saw fortunes change in the blink of an eye.
It was a race that epitomised the brutal and unpredictable nature of the sport.
A finish for the ages
Lead positions evaporated instantly as riders jostled for position on the technical course.
The phrase "first to fourth" became a harsh reality for his rivals during the frantic dash.
The defending champion, however, held his nerve amidst the carnage to stay in contention.
Snatching victory
With the finish line approaching, the outcome remained in the balance until the very last jump.
Haemmerle threw his board forward to claim the win by the narrowest of distances.
The result sees him etch his name into the history books as a double Olympic gold medallist.