#six-nations

#six-nations

There have been so many world-class players to have represented the six countries since Italy's inclusion to the championship in 2000. Success also comes into the equation, and longevity and influence. In many ways, these are linked, yet it was important to also recognise the outstanding individual contributions of those even if their sides were not title winners. Balancing, say, the achievements of the great England team at the start of the 2000s with the later achievements of Wales, France and Ireland is tricky.

On the surface it was business at usual at this year's Six Nations launch in a chilly Edinburgh. Had the city's most famous literary sleuth poked his nose into the venue at the top of the Royal Mile, Inspector Rebus would have clocked the usual suspects: head coaches trying not to divulge any secrets, captains quietly studying their opposite numbers and content creators seeking to jazz up their tournament previews.

Binning an unwritten law that was never worth the paper it wasn't written on, could be a game-changer Unwritten rules are hypocritical for obvious reasons. Nobody can see them. Verbal questions are different. Anyone can ask them.

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

I was in Carton House when I got the call that dad had been knocked off his bike and taken by ambulance to hospital in Limerick where his condition was critical. It was Tuesday February 7, 2023. The previous Saturday I'd started the first game of that season's Six Nations and was due to start the following Saturday against France. In my world, everything was going well.