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Guinness Men’s Six Nations: England break Scotland curse as Ireland march on

After a week off, the Guinness Men’s Six Nations roared back into action over the weekend.

England claimed the Calcutta Cup as they finally ended their hoodoo by beating old rivals Scotland, while Wales’ woes continued in another defeat against Ireland. There are now just two gameweeks to play and Ireland look set to win the competition for the third time in a row. Can anyone stop them?

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

TeamPlayedWonDrawLostPoints DifferenceBonusPoints
1Ireland330028214
2France320191311
3England3201-3210
4Scotland3102-326
5Italy3102-5404
6Wales3003-5911

Ireland survive scare to claim Triple Crown

Wales 18-27 Ireland

Ireland avoided a potential banana skin as they produced a phenomenal second-half comeback to pile more misery on Wales. The Irish followed up wins against England and Scotland to secure the Triple Crown and continue their march towards another title.

Considering Wales’ recent form, Ireland would have felt that they were in for an easy afternoon in Cardiff. The hosts didn’t make it comfortable but class ultimately prevailed as Ireland powered through to condemn them to a 15th consecutive defeat.

Ireland centre Garry Ringrose was shown a 20-minute red card in the first half, which allowed Wales to dream of a famous upset as they led 13-10 at half time. The visitors may have felt their hopes of a record third consecutive Guinness Men’s Six Nations title were falling away, particularly as Wales edged further ahead after the break, leading 18-10.

But second-half tries from Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne masterminded a triumphant comeback to continue their course towards another Grand Slam. The Irish face their trickiest test this weekend with a home clash against France.

If they come through that game unscathed, another Guinness Men’s Six Nations title will be within touching distance. Meanwhile, Wales are looking to avoid another wooden spoon after finishing bottom of the pile last year – they face Scotland and Wales in their final two games.

England see off Scotland to win Calcutta Cup

England 16-15 Scotland

History will eternally show that England finally broke their curse against Scotland on Saturday – but it could have been oh so different had Finn Russell’s last minute conversion kick been a few inches to the right.

Scotland were in control from the off and found themselves three points ahead at the break thanks to tries from Ben White and Huw Jones. The visitors looked set to continue their chokehold on England, having beaten them in each of their last four Guinness Men’s Six Nations meetings.

But England edged into the lead thanks to some phenomenal kicking, with two confident penalties from Marcus Smith and an incredible Fin Smith effort from the halfway line. Despite their professional display, Scotland looked to have won it late on when record try scorer Duhan van der Merwe went over to put them just a point behind.

All Scotland needed was a conversion to break English hearts once again. As the bulk of the Allianz Stadium resigned themselves to yet another defeat to the Scots, Russell’s misjudged kick narrowly missed the posts and London erupted as the Scots were condemned to a second defeat in as many games.

The win secured England the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020 and they now trail Ireland by four points in the table. The good news for Steve Borthwick’s side is that they’ve got their trickiest fixtures out of the way, with Italy and Wales to come.

But they’ll need France to do them a favour against the Irish this weekend. Meanwhile, Scotland face Wales next before travelling to France on the final weekend.

France put Italy to bed in ruthless performance

Italy 24-73 France

With France’s clash against Italy not taking place until Sunday afternoon, there may have been some nerves among the players and fans alike. They would have watched Ireland grind out yet another win the day before and they knew they had to match it to stand any hope of winning this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

But they needn’t have worried. The 2022 champions were imperious in Rome, putting the hosts to the sword in a ruthless performance. France scored a phenomenal 11 tries, including two from star man Antoine Dupont who has shown his side exactly what they were missing this time last year.

In any other game, Italy would have been proud of the points they managed to get on the board, with three tries and some confident kicking earning them a respectable tally. But those points are meaningless when they’re so emphatically dwarfed by the dominance of their opponents.

France will now be full of confidence going into next week’s vital clash against Ireland. The winner of that game will feel they have one hand on the trophy – although a France win could be good news for England.

Meanwhile, Italy will be licking their wounds as they look to bounce back at Twickenham. England may not be as free scoring as the French but they’ll be hard to break down and will make it tough for their Italian visitors.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations week four fixtures

Ireland v France – Saturday 8th March, 14:15
The Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Scotland v Wales – Saturday 8th March, 16:45
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh

England v Italy – Sunday 9th March, 15:00
Allianz Stadium, London

20 years of Engage: Our favourite events of the last 20 years

As we continue Engage’s 20th birthday celebrations, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to look at some of our favourite sporting events of the last two decades.

From football, cricket and rugby to an incredible home Olympics, there have been so many iconic moments since we launched – and fingers crossed there are a whole lot more to come. Here’s to another 20 years!

2005 Ashes

As we look back on 20 years of Engage, we’re going back to the very start for one of our favourite ever events and arguably one of the best in English sporting history. The 2005 Ashes has become an iconic win, mainly due to it being England’s first Ashes success since 1987.

The England side was packed full of superstars, including Freddie Flintoff, Michael Vaughan, James Anderson, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss. It was considered one of the tightest Ashes series in history, which only adds to the elation surrounding England’s glory.

The hosts ran out 2-1 winners, with one match drawn and another decided by a two-run margin. The result came down to the final day of the series and after Pietersen scored his first ever Test century, England were crowned winners on an emotional day at The Oval.

FA Cup finals

There have been so many incredible FA Cup finals since Engage started, both in Cardiff and at Wembley. Nine different teams have won the competition in the last 20 years, with Chelsea topping the pile having lifted the trophy five times in that period.

Despite their dominance, the Blues were on the losing side of one of the best finals in recent history. They lost 1-0 to Leicester back in 2021, with Youri Tielemens bagging the winner.

Another low scoring but iconic final came back in 2013. A year after winning their first Premier League title, Manchester City were looking to add another FA Cup to their collection. But they came unstuck against Wigan and a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Ben Watson secured the trophy for the relegated side.

And arguably the greatest FA Cup final of the modern era came back in 2006. Liverpool met West Ham in Cardiff and after an end-to-end battle, Steven Gerrard stepped up to fire in a late equaliser to make the game 3-3. Gerrard then found the net again as Liverpool triumphed in a penalty shootout.

Six Nations

The Guinness Men’s Six Nations is currently underway, which has given rugby fans up and down the country the chance to look back on some of the best tournaments of the last 20 years.

In that time, England have won the competition four times and they still harbour hope of adding a fifth this year. Their most impressive victory in that time was their Grand Slam win back in 2016. Owen Farrell was on fire that year, topping the scoring charts as England stormed to victory.

It came down to the final night and England needed to win in France to secure a record-breaking 13th Grand Slam. And they didn’t disappoint as they held on to record a famous 31-21 victory.

Andy Murray

For so many years, the British public were starved of a tennis superstar that the entire nation could get behind. That was until Andy Murray came along. The Scottish sensation was at the top of the game for much of the last 20 years, becoming an established member of the so-called ‘big four’ alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

After losing the 2012 Wimbledon final, Murray went one better the following year to become the first British man to win the famous competition since Fred Perry back in 1938. He added the Wimbledon title to his maiden Grand Slam, having won the US Open the previous year.

Murray went on to win Wimbledon for a second time in 2016, the same year he secured his second consecutive Olympic gold medal. The tennis legend also won gold on home soil back in 2012, beating Federer in the final.

Women’s Euros

While England’s men’s football team have come so close in recent years, losing two consecutive Euros finals, the women have gone one better. Sarina Wiegman has been a sensation since taking charge and she masterminded the Lionesses’ first ever major trophy back in 2022.

England strolled through the group stage, winning all three games before seeing off both Spain and Sweden in the knockouts. They met old rivals Germany in the final and after matching one another in normal time, substitute Chloe Kelly scored a sensational winner in extra-time.

Cricket World Cup

England aren’t used to winning World Cup finals, which explains the jubilant scenes on one sunny day at Lord’s back in 2019. After a thoroughly entertaining Cricket World Cup, hosts England faced the daunting task of trying to get the better of New Zealand.

And they just about did. After finishing level on 241 runs after 50 overs, the final was sent to a Super Over for the very first time. Ben Stokes, who scored an unbeaten 84 runs in his innings, returned to the crease with Jos Buttler and the pair combined to score 15 runs.

The Kiwis needed to beat it and looked to have done so with the final ball of the match. But as Martin Gupthill raced back to secure the winning run, Jason Roy found Buttler’s glove to deliver a dramatic run-out and hand England the World Cup.

London 2012

No sporting event has completely united the country quite like the London Olympics back in 2012. From the incredible opening ceremony to the weeks of events, there was a feeling of unity, joy and inclusivity across the nation for much of the summer.

A lot of that came down to how successful Team GB were throughout the games. As hosts, we won an incredible 65 medals, including 29 golds. Murray triumphed in tennis, Anthony Joshua won in boxing and the cycling team were on fire, with the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Laura and Jason Kenny and Victoria Pendleton winning multiple gongs.

Meanwhile, the athletics team delivered one of the most incredible days in British sports history. Dubbed ‘super Saturday’, 4th August 2012 saw Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all claim gold in their respective events. Farah went on to secure a second gold medal a week later, capping a sensational summer of sport for Team GB.

Looking ahead at a huge year of Golf

This year’s PGA Tour is already underway and after a thrilling 2024, the world’s best golfers will be looking to make a strong start to the new campaign. We’ve got countless competitions to look forward to, including the four major championships.

First up is The Masters, which gets underway in just under two months, and as the golf season starts to swing into gear, here’s everything you need to know.

When are the four majors?

The Masters – 10th to 13th April
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

PGA Championship – 15th to 18th May
Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, North Carolina

US Open – 12th to 15th June
Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania

The Open Championship – 17th to 20th July
Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland

Last year saw all four major championships won by American golfers for the first time since 1982, as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau shared the glory. The top prizes were also shared by US stars in 2020, although the Open Championship was cancelled that year due to the pandemic.

Scheffler claimed the Masters for the second time last year, having also won it in 2022. They remain the 28-year-old’s only major titles – he finished four strokes ahead of Ludvig Åberg to secure the green jacket at Augusta last April.

Meanwhile, Schauffele was at the double as he claimed the first major titles of his career in the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. The 31-year-old broke the scoring record in his PGA win as he finished 21 under par, just one stroke ahead of DeChambeau.

While DeChambeau just missed out in Kentucky, he made up for it as he came out on top at the US Open in North Carolina. It was the second time he’s triumphed in the competition after winning by six strokes back in 2020.

Who could challenge for glory this year?

While last year’s four winners will be hoping to add more titles to their name, there are plenty of challengers looking to claim glory this year. Rory McIlroy has four majors to his name, with the Masters the only one to evade him so far.

He’ll be keen to put that right this year, having come so close back in 2022. McIlroy also came close to securing a fifth in last year’s US Open, narrowly missing out at the death to DeChambeau. The Northern Irishman has already won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this year and he’ll hope to have many more titles under his belt by the time 2025 comes to a close.

Åberg will also have his eyes on his first major after missing out at the Masters. The 25-year-old is fairly new to the tour, having made his professional debut less than two years ago, and he’ll be desperate to prove that he’s the next big thing in the sport.

Elsewhere, Brooks Koepka always carries a threat and has five major championships to his name, including the 2023 PGA Championship. The likes of Max Homa and Shane Lowry could also challenge – Homa tied for third at the Masters in 2024 while the vastly experienced Lowry could repeat his Open Championship heroics from 2019 as it returns to Royal Portrush.

Outside of the major players, there are often a few surprises in the final leaderboards as up and coming stars look to make a name for themselves. Rasmus Højgaard is only 23 but is already one to watch after beating McIlroy by one stroke to win the Irish Open back in September. Meanwhile, his twin brother Nicolai is also highly rated and was part of Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup winning side.

What are the other big tournaments?

As well as the majors, there are plenty of other big tournaments that the world’s best players will want to win, including the Ryder Cup. Europe are the reigning champions after beating the USA 16 ½ – 11 ½ back in 2023. The biennial competition returns to the States this year and Europe will be looking to become the first side to win on foreign soil since 2012.

Arnold Palmer Invitational – 6th to 9th March
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida

The Players Championship – 13th to 16th March
Players Stadium Course, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

The Memorial Tournament – 29th May to 1st June
Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio

Genesis Scottish Open – 10th to 13th July
The Renaissance Club, North Berwick, Scotland

AIG Women’s Open – 30th July to 3rd August
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales

Tour Championship – 21st to 24th August
East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta, Georgia

BMW PGA Championship – 9th to 14th September
Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey, England

Ryder Cup – 26th to 28th September
Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York

ICON Golf Days

If you fancy unleashing your inner Tiger Woods, why not join us on one of our renowned ICON golf days? Get set for a thrilling round of 18 holes, some of the best food you’ll ever try, unrivalled drinks packages and celebrity guests.

We’ve got two events taking place at The Grove this year in May and September – enquire today to reserve your place.

What is changing at this year’s Cheltenham Festival?


Good news, horse racing fans – it’s almost time for the biggest event in the calendar. This year’s Cheltenham Festival gets underway in just under a month, with the world’s best horses and jockeys set to go head-to-head across four days of top-class action.

This year’s event takes place from Tuesday 11th March until Friday 14th March and the festival is home to some of the most iconic races on the planet, including the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup. Willie Mullins’ gelding Galopin Des Champs has won the event in each of the last two years and Paul Townend is favourite to complete the hat-trick in the showpiece event on the final day.

The pair stormed to a third consecutive victory in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month and are the clear favourites to repeat the feat at Cheltenham. Meanwhile, Constitution Hill is looking to win back his crown in the Champion Hurdle.

The Nicky Henderson trained horse stormed to victory back in 2023 but was pulled out before last year’s race, handing victory to State Man. But the unbeaten star is set to team up with Nico de Boinville once again in a bid to win the hurdle for the second time.

What’s changed for this year’s festival?

Organisers of the Cheltenham Festival are making a few changes this year, both on and off the track, in order to increase interest and field size, as well as improving the experience for visitors.

The Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase was first run in 2011 and was famously won by Ruby Walsh three years in a row on three different champions. However, the event has been downgraded and replaced by a Grade Two novice handicap chase.

Meanwhile, the National Hunt Chase is set to allow professional riders, having previously been only open to amateurs. The chase has been run more times than any other at Cheltenham and is among the festival’s oldest, having first taken place in 1860.

The prize money of the event is now at £4.93 million – the Jockey Club have increased the pot for the four-day event by £115,000. And for those planning on attending the festival, you can expect changes to your experience as well.

In an effort to increase attendance, ticket prices have been frozen this year, with discounts applied for those visiting on multiple days. Organisers have also brought in more food and drink options. Unfortunately for Guinness fans, prices of a pint are increasing by 30p. But if you join us in our exclusive hospitality areas, you can make the most of our complimentary drinks options.

Cheltenham Festival race schedule

Day 1 – Tuesday 11th March

1:20pm – The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race
2:00pm – The My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase
2:40pm – The Ultima Handicap Chase
3:20pm – The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race
4:00pm – The Unibet Champion Hurdle
4:40pm – The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race
5:20pm – The National Hunt Novices’ Chase

Day 2 – Wednesday 12th March

1:20pm – The Turners Novices’ Hurdle Race
2:00pm – The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase
2:40pm – The Coral Cup Hurdle
3:20pm – The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase
4:00pm – The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase
4:40pm – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
5:20pm – The Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Day 3 – Thursday 13th March

1:20pm – The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
2:00pm – The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
2:40pm – The Pertemps Network Final
3:20pm – The Ryanair Steeple Chase
4:00pm – The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
4:40pm – The TrustATrader Plate
5:20pm – The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase

Day 4 – Friday 14th March

1:20pm – The JCB Triumph Hurdle
2:00pm – The William Hill County Handicap Hurdle Race
2:40pm – The Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Steeple Chase
3:20pm – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race
4:00pm – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
4:40pm – The St James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase
5:20pm – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival hospitality

Engage are delighted to offer exclusive hospitality at all four days of the Cheltenham Festival in our ICON facility. You’ll be located in the Long Run Boxes on level two and as well as unrivalled views of the racing action, you’ll also get all this:

●    Admission to the Club Enclosure
●    Morning coffee on arrival
●    Champagne reception
●    Complimentary bar
●    Four-course premium lunch
●    Afternoon tea
●    Expert tipsters
●    Racing icons in attendance
●    VIP hostess service

If you fancy joining us in the best seats in the house to enjoy the races in style, enquire today to reserve your place.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations: England stun France and Ireland win again

After the second week of the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, all signs are pointing to it being Ireland’s year once again as they strolled to their second win in a row.

Despite losing to the reigning champions in week one, England will harbour ambitions of topping the table after a dramatic win over France. Meanwhile, things continue to look bleak for Wales after yet another defeat.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

TeamPlayedWonDrawLostPoints DifferenceBonusPoints
1Ireland220019210
2France21014226
3England2101-426
4Scotland2101-215
5Italy2101-504
6Wales2002-5011

Are Wales destined for another wooden spoon?

Italy 22-15 Wales

After a disastrous 2024, things have gone from bad to worse for Wales. Warren Gatland’s side suffered their second successive defeat in this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, this time at the hands of Italy who they would have had in their sights as a target to put their poor form behind them.

It was Wales’ first defeat in Rome for 18 years and they’ve now lost 14 consecutive matches. They look set to finish bottom of the table once again and things don’t get much easier – they face reigning champions Ireland next time out.

For Italy, it was a much-needed win after they started their campaign with a defeat to Scotland. They were almost out of sight at half-time as they led 16-3 thanks to Ange Capuozzo, who scored their only try in style.

Tommaso Allan was also key with his boot, scoring five penalties and a conversion in the game to alleviate Wales’s signs of a second-half comeback. An Aaron Wainwright try and a penalty try for the visitors threatened a resurgence but the hosts held on to pile more misery on Gatland, whose position as boss is now hanging by a thread.

While Wales’ job only gets harder, Italy also face a tough test next time out. They meet France, who will be out for blood after suffering late heartbreak against England at the weekend.

England leave it late to stun France

England 26-25 France

England’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign came alive in dramatic style at the weekend as they enjoyed a late late show against France. Elliot Daly was the man of the moment, going over to score a try in the 79th minute, which Fin Smith duly converted to give England a one-point victory.

It was Smith’s first start at fly-half and he repaid Steve Borthwick’s faith in him by stepping up when it mattered. A cagey first half was littered with sloppy play, poor handling and plenty of errors as it took until the 29th minute for the first points to be recorded.

The game finally roared into life when Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored the opening try, which was quickly cancelled out by Ollie Lawrence to keep things level at the break. England found themselves 18-12 behind but would have felt they were in a good position to win when Fin Baxter scored to put them ahead.

A second Bielle-Biarrey put the visitors in the ascendancy and England may have felt that it wasn’t to be their day. But they never stopped fighting and finally got their reward when Daly stormed home to steal the win in a dramatic afternoon in south west London.

With a weekend off, both sides will be looking to regroup as they look ahead to week three. Next time out, England are aiming to win the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020. They take on Scotland, who have had their number in each of their last four Guinness Men’s Six Nations meetings.

France suffered a blow in their quest to win the title for the second time in four years. They’ll regroup as they prepare to face Italy – they’ll need Ireland to trip up at some point if they want to finish top of the table.

Ireland cruise to another win

Scotland 18-32 Ireland

Ireland are targeting a third Guinness Men’s Six Nations title in a row and they’ve already got one hand on the trophy. They’ve won their first two games of 2025 and after France slipped up against England, it’s now very much in Ireland’s hands.

After beating England themselves in week one, Ireland continued to purr at the weekend with a confident win over Scotland. They claimed another bonus point thanks to tries from Calvin Nash, Caelan Doris, James Lowe and Jack Conan.

The visitors stormed into a 17-0 lead and only a Duhan van der Merwe try at the end of the first half gave the Scots credit at the break. Ireland continued to dominate in the second half and looked out of sight, with Ben White’s second-half try slightly reducing the arrears.

It was Ireland’s 11th consecutive win since losing to England in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations. That game prevented a second Grand Slam in a row and they’ll be looking to make up for that this time around. With Wales up next, they’ll expect to win comfortably and will then only be two games from yet another title.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations week three fixtures

Wales v Ireland– Saturday 22nd February, 14:15
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

England v Scotland– Saturday 22nd February, 16:45
Allianz Stadium, London

Italy v France– Sunday 23rd February, 15:00
Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Can Kansas City Chiefs make Super Bowl history against Philadelphia Eagles?

Super Bowl LIX takes place this Sunday and reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs have the chance to do something no other NFL side has achieved before.

They’ve claimed the Vince Lombardi trophy in each of the last two years and they’re looking to become the first team to ever win the Super Bowl three times in a row. Philadelphia Eagles are the opponents looking to prevent the threepeat.

And they have extra motivation as they look to avenge their Super Bowl defeat of two years ago. In a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, Kansas City Chiefs are targeting their fourth win in the last six years.

Seven other teams have won the trophy in successive years but the Chiefs are the first in history to have been handed the chance to make it three in a row. This year’s showpiece event takes place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans and ahead of the action, we’ve taken a closer look at the two sides involved.

Kansas City Chiefs

Experience counts for a lot in high-profile games and after winning the last two Super Bowls, it’s no wonder the Chiefs are the bookies’ favourites to do the threepeat. They’ve enjoyed a phenomenal season so far, winning 15 games and just losing twice.

Andy Reid’s side finished top of the AFC division before narrowly overcoming the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. And they’ll be looking to deliver one last big performance as they aim to make history this weekend.

It’ll be their seventh ever Super Bowl appearance and their fifth in the last six years. They’ve won it four times, losing twice, with their most recent defeat coming in 2021 at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If they want to secure their third win on the trot, they’ll need their star names to step up. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes hasn’t had a breathtaking season by his own high standards but he’s still more than played his part. The 29-year-old had seven game-winning drives this season, the joint second most of all time.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s famous partner Travis Kelce recorded his side’s most receiving yards with 823. DeAndre Hopkins came in mid-season and immediately made a difference, recording 437 receiving yards in just five starts.

Super Bowl matches have been fairly tight in recent years – just three points have separated the finalists in each of the last three contests. The Chiefs were on the winning side of the coin last time out, beating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22, and they’ll be desperate to repeat the feat this time around.

Philadelphia Eagles

Standing in the Chiefs’ way will be the Philadelphia Eagles, who are targeting their first success since beating the New England Patriots at Super Bowl LII in 2018.

The Eagles are still reeling from their defeat two years ago and will have more motivation than ever as they look to avenge that 38-35 defeat to Sunday’s opponents. Like the Chiefs, they’ve enjoyed a strong season and will also have momentum on their side.

Nick Sirianni’s team won 14 times this season, losing just three games as they finished top of the NFC East. They then beat the Green Bay Packers, LA Rams and Washington Commanders in the playoffs.

They’re set for their fifth Super Bowl appearance and will be hoping to avoid a fourth defeat – that triumph in 2018 remains their only success. And like their opponents, victory hinges on the performances of their key players.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been a key cog in the Philadelphia machine since joining in 2020 and he had yet another strong season for the Eagles. Elsewhere, their most vital player was arguably Saquon Barkley.

The running back starred in his first season with the Eagles after being snapped up just under 12 months ago. In an impressive debut campaign, the 27-year-old became just the ninth player in league history to record 2,000 rushing yards in a season and he’ll be key if they’re going to stand any chance of winning.

Who is performing the Super Bowl half-time show?

While the Super Bowl is the main event, many people around the world will secretly be tuning in for the iconic half-time show. Last year, Usher was the headline act, bringing out the likes of Alicia Keys, will.i.am and Ludacris to entertain the crowd.

This year, Kendrick Lamar will perform at half-time, fresh off the back of winning five awards at the Grammys on Sunday. The rapper was announced back in September and has revealed that SZA will be among his special guests.

Kendrick is no stranger to the Super Bowl stage. He performed in the half-time show in 2022, alongside Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J Blige.

Join us for NFL London

If you’re an American football fan but heading across the pond for the Super Bowl is too unrealistic, why not enjoy the next best thing? Each year, the NFL heads to London for a series of showpiece games and we offer exclusive hospitality packages.

Enquire today to reserve your place for this year’s NFL London games.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Ireland get revenge over England to start title defence

After weeks of build-up, the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations finally got underway at the weekend. France kicked things off in style with a triumphant win over Wales, while Ireland came from behind to beat England and avenge last year’s Grand Slam-ending defeat.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

TeamPlayedWonDrawLostPoints DifferenceBonusPoints
1France11004315
2Scotland11001215
3Ireland1100515
4England1001-511
5Italy1001-1200
6Wales1001-4300

France run riot as Wales woes continue

France 43-0 Wales

It was a familiar story for Wales as they were forced to merely take part in Friday night’s opening Guinness Men’s Six Nations match. France have established themselves as one of the most-feared nations in world rugby in recent years and they showed exactly why in Paris.

The hosts were on fire as they raced into a stunning 28-0 half-time lead, inspired by the returning Antoine Dupont. The France talisman missed the competition last year in order to focus on representing his nation in the rugby sevens at the Olympic Games.

And after claiming a gold medal, he put on a gold star performance, providing three assists in the 49 minutes he was on the pitch. While he wasn’t among France’s points scorers, he was central to almost all of their attacking play and he beautifully set up both of Theo Attissogbé’s first-half tries.

Attissogbé’s opposite wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey also scored a double and the pair will undoubtedly be feared by any defence they come up against in the coming weeks. While France partied, Wales will be wondering when things might turn around for them.

Not even a red card for France’s Romain Ntamack gave them any hope of scoring. 2024 saw Wales become the first international side since 1937 to lose every match in a calendar year.

Their dismal form saw them claim the wooden spoon after finishing rock-bottom of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations table and if Warren Gatland doesn’t find answers soon, they’re in danger of repeating the feat this time around.

Scotland start strongly against Italy

Scotland 31-19 Italy

Duhan van der Merwe was the star of the show for Scotland last year as he became their all-time leading try scorer. But the wing turned provider at the weekend as he played his part in helping Huw Jones grab the headlines with a stunning hat-trick.

The centre scored his first after just eight minutes and after it was converted, Scotland were in dreamland as they led 10-0. Italy recovered well but the hosts held firm to go into the break 19-9 up.

An even second half meant the Scots stayed in control, as Jones added two more tries to take his international tally to 22. It was the perfect start for Gregor Townsend but his side have bigger tests to come, starting against defending champions Ireland this week.

Meanwhile, Italy are set for a huge clash against Wales. Both sides will be desperate to avoid the wooden spoon and it’s highly likely that the loser of Sunday’s meeting will be destined to finish bottom of the pile in this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

Ireland come from behind to sink England

Ireland 27-22 England

As England took to the field in Dublin on Saturday evening, they would have been forgiven for thinking they had more than a chance of getting a result. Just over 11 months ago, a dramatic last-gasp drop goal from Marcus Smith earned England a one-point win over their old rivals.

That win ultimately prevented Ireland from securing a second successive Grand Slam. And while England were confident at kick-off at the weekend, they’d have been pinching themselves at half-time after going into the break with a 10-5 advantage.

A debut try from Cadan Murley set them on their way in a battling opening period. Sadly for England, they’d hurt Ireland’s pride, which ultimately woke the beast. The hosts came out firing in the second half and took control. A trio of tries from Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan all but secured a bonus point win for the Irish and a triumphant start as they seek their third consecutive Guinness Men’s Six Nations title.

The visitors clawed back some pride late on, with tries from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman confirming a losing bonus point. While Steve Borthwick’s side will have had high hopes going into the competition, they’ve now lost six of their last seven games and a meeting with France this weekend could further compound their misery.

Ireland face a tricky trip to Scotland but they’ll be full of confidence. They then face minnows Italy and will expect to be flying high at the top of the table by the time they meet the French in week four.

Guinness Men’s Six Nations week two fixtures

Italy v Wales – Saturday 8th February, 14:15
Stadio Olimpico, Rome

England v France – Saturday 8th February, 16:45
Allianz Stadium, London

Scotland v Ireland – Sunday 9th February, 15:00
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Can Ireland claim their third successive Guinness Men’s Six Nations title?

With the Guinness Men’s Six Nations kicking off tomorrow evening, we’ve saved the best until last. Ireland are ranked as the second best side in the world behind New Zealand and they’re targeting a third consecutive title.

They meet old rivals England in their opening fixture on Saturday and ahead of their title defence, we’ve taken a closer look at their chances.

How have they been playing?

After securing the Guinness Men’s Six Nations last year, Ireland showed exactly why they’re not quite ranked the best side in the world in the Autumn Nations Series.

They came up against New Zealand in their opening game and were ultimately schooled in their own backyard as they lost 23-13. The All Blacks have developed into something of a bogey team for the Irish, having knocked them out of the World Cup in their previous meeting.

However, Ireland recovered to prove themselves as one of the top sides on the planet. They secured narrow wins over Argentina and Australia, while they tossed Fiji aside in their clash, beating them 52-17 in Dublin.

In last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Ireland won four of their five matches, with a one-point defeat at the hands of England preventing a second consecutive Grand Slam. Marcus Smith broke Irish hearts as he fired home a drop goal in the dying embers of the game to secure victory for England at Twickenham.

Ireland will be looking to avenge that defeat as they face England in their opening game this weekend. If they can beat England, all eyes will be on their clash with France in Dublin on Saturday 8th March.

If both sides perform to the best of their ability in their opening four games, that could well be the match that decides the winner of this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

Who are Ireland’s key players?

With coach Andy Farrell taking some time out to focus on the British and Irish Lions, Simon Easterby has stepped up to take charge for this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign.

And the defence coach hasn’t been afraid to shake things up. Uncapped 22-year-old Jack Boyle is in the squad for the first time after impressing for Leinster. Meanwhile, a string of familiar faces are back in the fold, with James Lowe, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong back in the squad after injury. However, Furlong is set to miss out this weekend following the recurrence of a calf injury.

Jimmy O’Brien is also set for a return to the Ireland set-up. The fullback has not played for his nation since Ireland’s quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup. Caelan Doris will captain the side for the Guiness Men’s Six Nations campaign.

Tom O’Toole is not in the initial squad after being suspended for six matches, while Craig Casey missed out through injury. Perhaps surprisingly, there’s no space for Thomas Ahern – the Munster lock misses out despite his impressive form this season.

Ireland Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixtures

Ireland v England – Saturday 1st February, 16:45
The Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Scotland v Ireland – Sunday 9th February, 15:00
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Wales v Ireland – Saturday 22nd February, 14:15
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Ireland v France – Saturday 8th March, 14:15
The Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Italy v Ireland – Saturday 15th March, 14:15
Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Hospitality for Ireland’s matches

If you want to watch Ireland defend their crown in style, you can make the most of our exclusive hospitality area in the Marian College Marquee.

It’s located a short walk from the Aviva Stadium and as well as premium seats, you’ll get all this:

●    Early admission to the corporate hospitality areas
●    Full complimentary bar
●    Delicious three-course gourmet meal paired with superior wines
●    Finger food during the post-match reception
●    Interview with current Ireland players
●    HD TVs with video replays, ref talk and an official match programme

To join us for either of Ireland’s Guiness Men’s Six Nations matches at the Aviva Stadium, enquire today to reserve your place.

Ireland squad

Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster) Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster)

Scotland dream of first Guinness Men’s Six Nations title

With the Guinness Men’s Six Nations getting underway this weekend, our attention turns to Scotland. Having already previewed England and Wales’ chances, we’ve taken a closer look at Gregor Townsend’s side, who enjoyed a positive showing in the Autumn Nations Series.

How have they been playing?

Despite finishing fourth in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Scotland fans have every reason to be positive going into this year’s competition. They performed well in the Autumn Nations Series, winning three of their four matches.

The Scots stormed past Fiji in their opening game, scoring nine tries in a 57-17 rout, with Darcy Graham bagging four. They followed that up with a defeat to South Africa before beating Portugal in their third game.

Scotland came up against Australia in their final match of the series and against all odds, they ran out 27-13 winners in a triumphant performance. Duhan van der Merwe notched his 30th international try to edge back in front as Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer.

Their strong showing at the back end of last year will breed confidence ahead of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, as will their recent head-to-head record against England. Scotland have won their last four meetings with their neighbours. In fact, England have won just one of the last seven meetings between the two nations.

Scotland will be desperate to continue that run but they’ll need to improve their results against the other sides. They’ve not won the competition since its final outing as the Five Nations back in 1999, while they’ve only finished in the top half of the final table twice in the last decade.

They start their campaign against Italy, which could breed some much-needed confidence into both the players and the fans. On the other hand, a difficult game and a negative result could see them doomed before the tournament has barely started.

Who are Scotland’s key players?

Fergus Burke will be looking to make an impression after being drafted into the Scotland squad for the first time. The 25-year-old is from New Zealand but qualifies for the Scots through his grandfather.

The fly-half has plenty of pedigree, having joined Saracens last year to replace Owen Farrell. Burke is joined in the squad by fellow first-timer Jack Mann, who will be hoping to gain his maiden international cap this weekend.

Elsewhere, the experienced Jonny Gray is back in the squad after missing the Autumn Nations Series through injury. Dave Cherry has also earned a recall, while Glasgow Warriors centre Sione Tuipulotu will captain his nation.

Record try scorer Van der Merwe is in the squad and will be hoping to continue his rich scoring form – he scored nine tries in 2024, including a hat-trick in Scotland’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations win over England.

Max Williamson has missed out on the squad with an injury. Meanwhile, Kyle Steyn is also injured, but could make a return for Scotland’s later games.

Scotland Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixtures

Scotland v Italy – Saturday 1st February, 14:15
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Scotland v Ireland – Sunday 9th February, 15:00
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

England v Scotland – Saturday 22nd February, 16:45
Allianz Stadium, London

Scotland v Wales – Saturday 8th March, 16:45
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh

France v Scotland – Saturday 15th March, 20:00
Stade de France, Paris

Hospitality for Scotland’s matches

Three of Scotland’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations matches take place at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium and you can join us for the action in the best seats in the house.

You’ll be treated like royalty from minute one, with priority check-in, dedicated turnstiles and unrivalled views of the pitch. Plus, you’ll also get all of this:

●    Welcome drink of champagne, gin and tonic or beer
●    Three-course meal and post-match snack created by our Executive Head Chef
●    Fully inclusive bar with dedicated drinks hosts
●    Fine wines chosen by our sommelier alongside your meal
●    Entertainment from rugby legends past and present
●    The chance to win exclusive memorabilia

We’d love for you to join us in the Thistle Suite – enquire today to reserve your place.

Scotland squad

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Gregor Brown (Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Will Hurd (Leicester), Jack Mann (Glasgow), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Sharks), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh)

Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon)

Wales look to bounce back in Guinness Men’s Six Nations

After previewing England’s chances in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, our attention now turns to Wales. Warren Gatland’s side get this year’s competition underway a week tomorrow with a tough test away at France.

Ahead of their opening fixture, we’ve taken a look at their chances as they look to bounce back from a nightmare 2024.

How have they been playing?

Wales took the wooden spoon for the first time in 21 years in last year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations. They finished rock-bottom of the table as they lost all five of their matches, just three years after lifting the trophy back in 2021.

Wales’ disastrous Guinness Men’s Six Nations showing 12 months ago set the tone for the year. They lost all of their remaining matches in 2024, becoming the first international rugby team to lose every single match in a calendar year since 1937.

Five of those defeats came at the hands of Australia and South Africa, which would usually be forgiven. Yet their 24-19 defeat to Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series in November was a cause for concern and Gatland has a job on his hands to turn their fortunes around.

A trip to Paris in the curtain-raiser will be tricky but following that they’ll be heading to Italy, who they’ll fancy their chances of beating. A win over the Italians would likely be enough to avoid a successive wooden spoon, although they should realistically be setting their sights higher.

Wales end their Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign by welcoming neighbours England to Cardiff in mid-March. Depending on how the competition goes, there’s every chance that clash could be Gatland’s final time in charge.

Who are Wales’ key players?

Following a 2024 to forget, Wales clearly needed a huge shake-up so it’s no surprise that Gatland has shaken up his squad. With Dewi Lake injured, Ospreys forward Jac Morgan has taken over as captain for the spring fixtures. Sam Costelow is also out with an injury, which has led to a few raised eyebrows after fly-half Gareth Anscombe was left out.

Meanwhile, Wales have been strengthened by the return of some key players from injury. Josh Adams, Elliot Dee, Taulupe Faletau, Dafydd Jenkins, Joe Roberts and Liam Williams are all back in the fold having missed the Autumn Nations Series through injury.

Like England, Wales have named two uncapped players in their squad in the shape of Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards and Scarlets wing Ellis Mee. And they might not be their only Guiness Men’s Six Nations debutants – eight players that made their debut in 2024 are hopeful of their bows in the iconic competition.

Gatland’s squad is packed full of youth and inexperience. With an average age of 26, there are an astonishing 18 players in the camp with 10 caps or fewer. The Wales boss will be hoping that a new-look group with a fresh mindset will fire them into action as they look to put 2024 behind them.

Wales Guiness Men’s Six Nations fixtures

France v Wales – Friday 31st January, 20:15
Stade de France, Paris

Italy v Wales – Saturday 8th February, 14:15
Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Wales v Ireland – Saturday 22nd February, 14:15
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Scotland v Wales – Saturday 8th March, 16:45
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium Edinburgh

Wales v England – Saturday 15th March, 16:45
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Hospitality for Wales’ matches

As ever, you can enjoy all of Wales’ home Guiness Men’s Six Nations games from the comfort of our premium hospitality facility.

The exclusive area at the Principality Stadium is located in the iconic Gaucho restaurant – as well as unrivalled views from your Category A seat, you’ll also get all this:

●    Sparkling wine reception
●    Three house beverages per person (Guinness, draught lager or wine)
●    Delicious three-course lunch with half a bottle of wine per person
●    Guest speakers
●    Complimentary match programme
●    Hostess service

If you’d like to watch the rugby action in Cardiff from the best seats in the house, enquire today to reserve your place.

Wales squad

Forwards: Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), WillGriff John (Sale Sharks), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Sam Parry (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Thomas (Scarlets), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby)

Backs: Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Saracens), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby)

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