Ireland 20 - England 16

match report:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/scotland/matchcentre/16120.php

**

Jonny Wilkinson of England kicks for goal during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on February 27, 2010 in London, England.

**

A fine brace of tries from Ireland wing Tommy Bowe ended England's Grand Slam hopes at Twickenham.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8537514.stm

**

Tommy Bowe of Ireland outpaces Jonny Wilkinson of England to go over for a try.

**

Bowe double sinks England

England had their Grand Slam dream extinguished on Saturday as a Tommy Bowe double guided Ireland to a 20-16 victory at Twickenham.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5987062,00.html

**

Jamie Heaslip of Ireland and Steve Borthwick of England jump for a line out during the RBS Six Nations match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium.

**
England manager Martin Johnson was left to look back on a "tough, tough loss" after seeing his side go down 20-16 to Ireland.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_5988898,00.html

**

Steve Borthwick (L) of England tackles Stephen Ferris (R) of Ireland.

**
next test:

Scotland v England

March 13 2010

Murrayfield

*

Ireland v Wales

March 13 2010

Croke Park

**
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php

***

Italy 16 - Scotland 12

match report:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/16117.php

*

Alastair Kellock of Scotland in action during the Italy v Scotland RBS Six Nations match at the Stadio Flaminio on February 27, 2010 in Rome, Italy.
**
Rome celebrates at last
A single try proved enough for Italy to snatch their first Six Nations victory in two years with a 16-12 victory over Scotland at Stadio Flaminio.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_5986552,00.html
**
Quintin Geldenhuys of Italy is tackled during the RBS 6 Nations match between Italy and Scotland.
**
Rome celebrate their Italian gladiators
The one-try-to-nil victory - which lifts the Italians ahead of the Scots at the foot of the Six Nations table - is the first for Nick Mallett's team since they beat Scotland in Rome in March 2008.
http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_27210171502.php
**
next test:
Scotland v England
March 13 2010
Murrayfield
*
France v Italy
March 14 2010
Stade de France
**
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php
***

France 26 - Wales 20

match report:
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/scotland/matchcentre/16105.php
*

Imanol Harinordoquy (R) and David Marty of France tackle Lee Byrne of Wales during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between Wales and France at the Millennium Stadium on February 26, 2010 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

**

Welsh fightback comes up short

Wales once again thrilled in a fightback on Friday, but could not find the final flourish, going down 26-20 to France in Cardiff.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_5984372,00.html

**

Julien Bonnaire of France rises to claim the ball in a line out during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between Wales and France.

**

French relieved to survive Welsh scare
The visitors led 20-0 at the break and were on course for a comfortable victory before a stirring Wales fightback .

http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_27210104501.php
**

General View of a lineout, with the roof closed, during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between Wales and France at the Millennium Stadium on February 26, 2010 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

**

next test:

Ireland v Wales

March 13 2010

Croke Park

*

France v Italy

March 14 2010

Stade de France

**
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php
***

Heeling Out!

Rare and unusual trade card from Freeman Hardy and Willis @1900?

**

The shoe retailer was established in 1875 and was named after three employees of the company. For many years, there was a branch in nearly every town in the United Kingdom. In 1929 the company was acquired by Sears.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman,_Hardy_and_Willis
***

kick for goal

Shot in England c.1925 (Guys Hospital vs Harlequins) and published in French magazine "Le Miroir des Sports"

**

Dandy Shandy, 1910 'rugby' advertisign sign

"Down goes the thermometer, Down goes Dandy Shandy" claims this 1910s lithograph advertising sign for "Dandy Shandy".
*
The Sign is likely English or possibly Australian. “Shandy” is still a popular drink today in many former British colonies. It is quite delicious and tastes like a combination of beer and ginger ale.
**

French Rugby Pioneers

*

*

1930's

a player sporting a beret

*

1925

Carpentras v Chateaurenard
**

***

RBS 6 Nations 2010 Standings

2 - 0

PF 51. PA 19. Tries 5. PTS 4

**

2 - 0
PF 47. PA 29. Tries 4. PTS 4
**

1 - 1
PF 39. PA 44. Tries 3. PTS 2
**

1 - 1
PF 48. PA 54. Tries 5. PTS 2
**

0 - 2
PF 33. PA 49. Tries 2. PTS 0
**

0 - 2
PF 23. PA 46. Tries 1. PTS 0
**
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/match-centre_statistics2010.php?folderid=1314&includeref=doclist15725
***

England 17 - Italy 12

match report:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/15950.php

**

Nick Easter of England charges upfield during the RBS Six Nations match between Italy and England at Stadio Flaminio on February 14, 2010 in Rome, Italy.
**

England hang on for dour win
On the evidence of this match England will not be a match for the table-topping French when the two sides meet in Paris on March 20 - in what may well be the tournament decider.
http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_14210174503.php
**
England scrape past gutsy Italy
England scraped to a 17-12 victory over a vastly improved Italy side in their Six Nations clash at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome.
http://www.scrum.com/sixnations/rugby/story/110510.html
**
next test:
Italy v Scotland
Feb 27
Stadio Flaminio
*
England v Ireland
Feb 27
Twickenham
**
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php
***

France 33 - Ireland 10

Match Report:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/15933.php

**

Stephen Ferris of Ireland is tackled by Lionel Nallet of France during the RBS Six Nations match between France and Ireland at the Stade France on February 13, 2010 in Paris, France.
**
Painful lesson in Paris for Ireland
Ireland were forced to hand over their 2009 Grand Slam bragging rights on Saturday as a top-class French outfit proved a point in Paris, winning 33-10.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5947204,00.html
**
Paul O'Connell of Ireland is carried over other players during the RBS Six Nations match between France and Ireland.
**
Impressive France tame Ireland
Marc Lievremont's France team announced themselves as the true Six Nations favourites on Saturday in Paris with a dominating 33-10 win over last years Grand Slam Champions, Ireland.
http://www.rugbyrugby.com/tournaments/six_nations/story_13210194501.php
**
BBC Six Nations coverage
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/default.stm
**

Times online Rugby Union coverage

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/

**

next test:
Feb 26
Wales v France
Millennium Stadium
*

Feb 27
England v Ireland
Twickenham
**
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php
***

Wales 31 - Scotland 24

Match Report :

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/scotland/matchcentre/15930.php

**

Scotland player Alasdair Dickinson runs through the challenge of Jonathan Thomas during the RBS 6 Nations Championship match between Wales and Scotland at the Millennium Stadium on February 13, 2010 in Cardiff, Wales.

**

Wales claim a stunning triumph

Wales produced one of the greatest escapes ever to claim a 31-24 victory over Scotland in a pulsating Six Nations clash at the Millennium Stadium.

http://www.scrum.com/sixnations/rugby/story/110426.html

**

Welsh break Scottish hearts

Man of the match: He had a hand in every Welsh try, including scoring the killer one. Arise, Shane Williams, your country salutes you!

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5947187,00.html

**

next test:

Feb 26

Wales v France

Millennium Stadium

*

Feb 27

Italy v Scotland

Stadio Flaminio

**

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php

***

6N Preview: France vs Ireland

*

If you want to win a top rugby competition, you have to beat France. It has happened at World Cups and it happens regularly in the Six Nations. If Ireland want to hang onto their title, they are going to have to beat France, and that means a much improved performance from that against Italy.

http://www.rugbyrugby.com/tournaments/six_nations/story_12210003004.php

**

*
Ireland will seek their first win in Paris in ten years in round two of their Six Nations title defence at the Stade de France on Saturday.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5942113,00.html
**
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php
***

mid-week ad

1930

**

France 18 - Scotland 9

Vincent Clerc of France is tackled during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between Scotland and France at Murrayfield Stadium on February 7, 2010 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

*

France lived up to their status as tournament favourites as Marc Lièvremont's team rod rough shot over their hosts in the first half to get their Six Nations campaign off to an ideal start.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5923244,00.html

*

next test:

Wales v Scotland

13 Feb 2010

Millennium Stadium

*

France v Ireland

13 Feb 2010

Stade de France

**

match report:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/scotland/matchcentre/15822.php

*

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php

***

England 30 - Wales 17

Nick Easter (C) of England is tackled by Gareth Williams (L) and Paul James (R) of Wales .

*

England put down an early marker in this year's Six Nations when they overcame the challenge of a decidedly wobbly Welsh team, recording a 30-17 win at Twickenham, London, on Saturday.

http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_6210201501.php

**

Nick Easter of England wins a line out during the RBS 6 Nations match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium on February 6, 2010 in London, England.

*

A ridiculous yellow card and a wayward pass were the margins that cost Wales dear in the Six Nations opener on Saturday.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5921160,00.html

*

James Haskell of England touches down to score a try.

*

Two tries from flanker James Haskell help England open their RBS Six Nations campaign with a 30-17 victory over Wales at Twickenham.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/default.stm

*

next test:

Wales v Scotland

13 Feb 2010

Millennium Stadium

**

Italy v England

14 Feb 2010

Stadio Flaminio

**

match report:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/15804.php

*

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php

***

Ireland 29 - Italy 11

Italy kick off at the start of the match during the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and Italy at Croke Park on February 6, 2010 in Dublin, Ireland.

*

Ireland got their Six Nations defence up and running with a slightly stagnant 29-11 victory over Italy on Saturday.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_5921167,00.html

**

Carlo Del Fava of Italy misses the ball as Paul O'Connell of Ireland takes a tumble.

*

Ireland got their defence of their Six Nations crown off to a winning start, with a comfortable 29-11 win over a willing Italian team at Croke Park, Dublin, on Saturday.

http://www.rugbyrugby.com/news/story_6210174501.php

**

next test:

France v Ireland

13 Feb 2010

Stade de France

**

Italy v England

14 Feb 2010

Stadio Flaminio

**

match report:

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/15800.php

*

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/home.php

***

Six Nations: Ireland

Captain Brian O'Driscoll is adamant Ireland can become the first team in RBS 6 Nations history to win back-to-back Grand Slams - despite having to play France in their own back yard.

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/15634.php

**

France v Ireland

1924-1925

**

Ireland ended a 61-year wait for Grand Slam glory and landed their first RBS 6 Nations title after dethroning Wales 17-15 at the Millennium Stadium in dramatic fashion.
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/13291.php

***