he stepped up to skipper saracens this season in the wake of owen farrell's departure to france — andith more on that, and the rest of the squad announcement, here's our rugby union correspondent chris jones. the big news from here is england have a new captain, maro itoje replacing jamie george in the role. george led england through 2024 but at the age of 3a and with pressure for his place from players, he has moved in a different direction. maro itoje tipped as england's captain for ages, he led the under 20s to a junior world championship in 2014, a mainstay of the side since 2016, barely missing a game, has barely a second of action. for some reason he had not been the permanent england skipper, but at the age of 30, he is now the captain, at his club saracens, the feeling is now it is time. there always a number of factors to consider in these decisions, in really good team i have been involved in you have a number of excellent leaders and we are developing that within the squad. maro itoje is a guy who is a world—class player. an incredible professional, and i feel we are devel

he stepped up to skipper saracens this season in the wake of 0wen farrell's departure to france — and, and the rest of the squad announcement, here's our rugby union correspondent chris jones. the big news in here england have a new captain, maro itoje replacing amy george in the role, george led england through 2024 but the age of 34 and with pressure for his replacing some players he has moved in a different direction, maro itoje tipped as england captain for ages, he led the under 20s to a junior world championship in 2014, a mainstay of the side since 2016, barely missing a game billy mrs a second of action. for evil reason he had not been the permanent england skipper, but at the age of 30 he is now the captain at his club saracens the feeling is now it is time. . , ., , is time. there always a number of factors _ is time. there always a number of factors to — is time. there always a number of factors to consider _ is time. there always a number of factors to consider these - of factors to consider these decisions, in really good team i have — decisions, in really good team i hav

also ongoing right now is saracens at munster. six it is currently six — three to the saracens. welford road. in the challenge cup cardiff were edged out by perpignan 23—20 but edinburgh with a good win in brittany against top 1a side vannes. later this evening, england's women will bid to regain a trophy that has alluded them for a decade — the women's ashes. the last series in 2023 was drawn, leading to australia retaining the trophy. one theory it all begins tonight with the start of a three—match one day series in sydney. our reporter henry moeran sent us this report earlier. here in sydney, the weather is thankfully a lot better for the warm up match that it was a few days ago. the first of a few international matches to be played, sunday local time and we're almost ready to go. we have with the 2017 winner. i am so excited _ have with the 2017 winner. i am so excited for _ have with the 2017 winner. i am so excited for this. _ have with the 2017 winner. i am so excited for this. you've - have with the 2017 winner. i —n so excited for this. you've got the england team train

they ran in five tries to beat saracens 31—22 at sandy park. it a corker in south wales where scarlets held on to beat edinburgh 30—24. the home side took control of the game with loan nicholas scoring one of scarlet�*s three tries. edinburgh's late fightback saw them score 12 points injust ten minutes — but it wasn't enough. elsewhere, cardiff lost at home to sharks. in premiership women's rugby, harlequins missed the chance to leapfrog gloucester—hartpury at the top of the table after they were beaten at home by saracens. the win lifts sarries third though. loughborough lightning stuffed leicester tigers 61—12 in a one sided east midlands derby at welford road. elsewhere bristol's playoff push was dented — losing 39—38 to trailfinders. now, the tension of any professional sport can be high as athletes try to execute theirjobs to perfection — but a new bmx competition in manchester will see riders encouraged to try tricks they've never attempted before, with the promise they won't lose points if they fall. it's been launched by former pro seba

the saracens fly half is also eligable for england, but qualifies for scotland through his glasweiganrst call up for glasgow back—rower jack mann, while sione tuipulotu has been confirmed as captain. he's been speaking to paul barnes. i kind of, take more responsibility and i feel like it fuels my game a little bit when i wear the ca ptain's armband. it feels special to me, if you know what i mean, and i'd like to think the added responsibility, the added pressure fuels my game and my mindset to want to perform at the highest level and i love it. i love rocking up to game day knowing that your team will be looking at you to lead the way and i suppose, you put a bit more pressure on myself and a little bit more responsibility to try and perform for your teammates. it's been a long, long time since scotland and have won the championship, the five nations as it was back then. what can we expect from scotland year? i want the public to know that we're really focused on this first game against italy. this is something, this is a game that we got wrong last year in the championship and ende

the dismal day for the english sides continued as saracens' unbeaten run was ended by munster 17—12.in the knockouts. leicester host ulster in at 8pm. in the challenge cup cardiff were edged out by perpignan 23—20 but edinburgh with a good in brittany against top 14 side vannes. later this evening, england's women will bid to regain a trophy that has alluded them for a decade — the women's ashes. the last series in 2023 was drawn, leading to australia retaining the trophy. it all begins tonight with the start of a three—match one day series in sydney. here's our reporter henry moeran. here in sydney, the weather is a lot better than it was for the warm up match a couple of days ago. we almost set up for the women's as is, 3—1 of the internationals to replace in the morning local time and you're almost ready to go. this is what is _ you're almost ready to go. this is what is about. _ you're almost ready to go. this is what is about. i _ you're almost ready to go. this is what is about. i am - you're almost ready to go. ti 3 is what is about. i am so excited for this. you've got the en

but saracens are on course to leapfrog them after scoring a bonus point try in this evening's game againstainst australia. the aussies started the day trailing by 176 runs and lost early wickets, mohamed siraj taking two of them in the same over to put australia 39—4. debutant beau webster was a bright spark. having been brought in for the out—of—form mitchell marsh, he top—scored for his side with 57, but australia were bowled all out for 181, three runs shy of india's total. the tourists started strongly but then lost three wickets in quick succession, scott boland taking all of them, including virat kohli, in what is likely to be his final test innings down under. but then pant came to the crease and produced an explosive innings, firing 61 runs from just 33 balls to put india in the driving seat. they finished day two 1111 for 6, leading by 145 runs. i think both attacks were blessed with some probably generational talent that we are witnessing. the surfaces in australia have been like this for a period of time, so they've been difficult to bat on, there has been more seem, the bowling

the saracens forward replaces his club team mate jamie george to lead england at the six nations.l serve as vice—captains in steve borthwick�*s 36—strong squad. you need any really good team i have been involved in, you have a number of excellent leaders, and i think we are really developing that within the squad, and marrow is a guy i think everyone can see he is a world—class player, a incredible professional who never spent —— immense respect for, and ifeel there really developing a good depth of leadership in the squad. snooker�*s world number one judd trump us through to the quarter finals of the masters after a 6—1 win over barry hawkins. the two—time champion pounced on his opponents mistakes — hawkins scored just 59 points in the first five frames. trump finished in style with a break of 112 and will face ding junhui next. and these are live pictures from alexandra palace where 2018 champion mark allen takes on chinese debutant si jiahui. best of 11 frames. and it's currently 2—1 to the northern irishman. in charge and that fourth frame at the alexandra palace. the treasur

north of ireland, when i left, because militarily, there were the tanks, the, what they call the pig saraceng men in, you know, uniform and weapons, and i come back, coming backwards and forwards, but suddenly it hit me, probably towards the end of the �*70s, when i was now 26, 27, was, i was looking at 18—year—olds in these uniforms. i was not looking at, when i was18, 19, looking at these big, you know, men, dangerous fellows looking at me. i'm now looking at these young boys, 18—year—olds in the garb. and that's quite a wake—up call as well. you've been back to northern ireland to work, on a number of occasions, but what i was struck by was you going back, with all of the cast, to what was a pretty special red carpet premiere, in northern ireland, of the movie, and of course most of the audience would be belfast people looking and wanting to know whether you had captured the real essence of their city at that particular time. what kind of reaction did you get? well, i rememberjust before we were going to be introduced, to this very, very full house of 2,500 people, with this big event of

the 30—year—old will replace his saracens teammate jamie george, who's been in charge since the 2023l, and nottingham forest had the chance tonight to go three points behind league leaders liverpool. our sports correspondent, katie gornall, was watching all the action at the city ground. this wasn't planned but then the best parties never are. you reds! nottingham forest back battling liverpool at the top of the table. an old rivalry reignited. to be riding high at the minute, it is just crazy. it's fantastic being a forest fan, it's fantastic, and hopefully it stays like this. i think we still feel like we are the - underdogs but, actually, why not give it a go? - is it better than you expected? well, it's quite shocking. inside, the city ground was bouncing. it would soon have lift off. seven minutes was all it took for chris wood to get sight of goal. commentator: chris wood scores again! i a calm finish that sparked chaos in the stands. was this really happening? liverpool had plenty of the ball but couldn't do much with it in the first half. so far, forest's plan was working. ho

exeter�*s win over saracens yesterday means newcastle are now cut adrift at the bottom., sees them slip to seventh. the top eight will qualify for next season's champions cup two games in the united rugby championship today. the first saw glasgow warriors earn a nervy victory over in—form connaught to stay second in the table. the game was moved from friday night due to storm eowyn and it was the home side who breezed into 12 point lead by the interval. argentina winger sebastian cancilliere�*s second of the afternoon just before the hour mark proved decisive as the warriors held off a late connaught comeback to hold on for a 22—19 victory. elsewhere, ulster lost 15—14 at home to zebre. british olympic sprinter, jeremiah azu, says he's excited about returning to his old coach in cardiff after a "bittersweet" experience at the paris olympics. azu was disqualified in the men's 100 metres last summer, before coming back to win a bronze in the relay. he's now back in cardiff and has been telling tom brown why it feels so good to return. back to where it all began for the fas

the saracens forward replaces his club team mate jamie george to lead england at the six nations.bristol prop ellis genge will serve as vice—captains in steve borthwick�*s 36—strong squad. you need in any good team, a number of excellent leaders, and i think we are really developing that within the squad. and he is a guy that i think everyone can see, he's a world—class player. incredible professional, immensely respectful and ifeel we professional, immensely respectful and i feel we are professional, immensely respectful and ifeel we are really professional, immensely respectful and i feel we are really developing and i feel we are really developing a good depth of leadership in the squad. england's ashes hopes are fading fast after slumping to a second straight one day defeat in their series with australia. heather knight's team managed to bowl australia out for 180 inside 45 overs but struggled with the bat as they ended up being dismissed for 159. it means they're four points to nil down in the multi format series and need ten on the board for victory. and, world number onejud

saracens have moved up to third after beating brits to do with bristol bears.elsewhere, this mistake cost sale sharks any hope of a comeback against gloucester. it ended with the winger max llewellyn scoring a bonus point try. they won by 36—20. it was the welshman because microsecond of the match, taking second the scoring chart this far. the win leaves gloucester six on sale fifth. and leicester twice came from behind to beat exeter chiefs by 28 points to 15 at welford road. ben youngs' quick thinking saw him secure the bonus point try to leave tigers fourth in the table. exeter are ninth. a superb innings from rishabh pant brought india back into the fifth and final test match against australia. the aussies started the day trailing by 176 runs and lost early wickets, mohamed siraj taking two of them in the same over to put australia 39—4. debutant beau webster was a bright spark, having been brought in for the out—of form mitchell marsh he top—scored for his side with 57. but australia were bowled all out for 181, 3 runs shy of india's total. the tourists st

the saracens forward replaces his club team mate jamie george to lead england at the six nations.ime whistle has gone at the city ground, and the final premier league game of the evening, it is finished afternoon first 1—1 liverpool, so the ripples still have a six point lead over nothing and for us. that is all this work for now, we have more later. hello there. good evening. generally dry for most of us today with more low clouds, some outbreaks of drizzle towards some western coasts, but also some sunshine. the mild air of course helping the snow to continue melting where we still have it. and it's more of the same as we head through the rest of the week. a mixture of cloud but also some sunny spells. it's largely dry, mild, particularly in the north and the west, and there will be some areas of mist and fog developing too, and that's most likely across the southern half of the uk underneath this area of high pressure, where the winds stay light, the high deflecting these weather fronts out towards the north and the west, but here it's breezier and also much milder too. you can