rugby results: Italy beat England 23-18 in Rome with a late, decisive try, handing England their first-ever Six Nations loss to Italy and lifting the Azzurri above England in the table; Energie All‑Ireland League Round 15 produced multiple high-scoring matches and confirmed divisional winners. MU Barnhall and Galwegians sealed Division 2A and 2B titles while St. Mary’s College and Clonmel booked semi-final berths in the AIL. Several AIL fixtures finished in dramatic fashion, including Clontarf 54 Old Belvedere 51 and Ballynahinch 28 Cork Constitution 26.
Rugby Results: Six Nations shock in Rome
Italy recorded a historic 23-18 victory over England at the Stadio Olimpico, the first time the Azzurri have beaten England in this fixture. England opened with tries from Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck and two second-half penalties from Fin Smith, but the match turned on disciplinary moments that left England reduced in numbers. Captain Maro Itoje was sin‑binned for a yellow card for slapping the ball out of Alessandro Garbisi’s hands, leaving England briefly down to 13 and creating the platform for Italy to seize the opportunity.
Tommaso Menoncello produced critical attacking moments and Leonardo Marin finished the decisive score after a powerful wing run and inside offload. The result moved Italy ahead of England on the Six Nations table with nine points to England’s six, keeping Italy in contention for a best-ever Six Nations finish and plunging England into renewed scrutiny over form and direction under head coach Steve Borthwick.
Energia AIL Round 15: titles, tallies and tight finishes
The Energia All‑Ireland League Round 15 served both confirmation and chaos: unbeaten MU Barnhall and Galwegians clinched Division 2A and 2B titles respectively, while St. Mary’s College and Clonmel secured semi-final spots. High-scoring affairs marked the weekend: Clontarf edged Old Belvedere 54-51 in a match featuring multiple tries from Peter Maher and Dylan Donnellan; Ballynahinch overcame Cork Constitution 28-26 with two tries from Conor Rankin and a late surge; Lansdowne beat Young Munster 31-13 at the Aviva back pitch.
Other fixtures produced decisive margins and squad rotation notes, with managers deploying replacements in the run-in toward playoffs and promotions. The AIL round clarified which clubs will contest knockout honours and which will prepare for relegation battles, tightening an already competitive ladder.
Immediate reactions and what’s next
Maro Itoje, captain of England, said: “It’s obviously disappointing. It’s on us as players. We have to wear the performance. This team over the last year has put in good performances. We haven’t recently. We have to face that and get back to work. We have to figure it out. If we knew why we wouldn’t be in this position. Teams go through tough periods. We’re in a tough period now. We’re in a results based business and we have to own the result. As captain I take responsibility for that. “
Michele Lamaro, captain of Italy, said: “Obviously there was a lot of tension before the game. We felt we were close so felt tension and were nervous. But during the game we built that confidence and stuck close to them the whole game. Then when they got those two yellow cards we managed to get over the line. We fought together as always and that was the most important thing. “
Looking ahead, Italy remain on an upward trajectory in the Six Nations and will aim to build on the morale-boosting win, while England face immediate selection and tactical questions. In domestic action, AIL clubs now prepare for semi-finals and promotion playoffs as the season’s climax approaches. Expect further updates to rugby results as knockout fixtures and international recovery plans unfold.
