The very first round of Euro 2016 qualifiers, after Uefa head Platini’s idea to revamp the tournament from 16 qualifiers to 24 out of the 53 European nations, proved the detractors wrong when out of nowhere, televisions were tuned to internationals like never before.

The Manchester United and England captain will make his 100th cap when Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions take on Slovenia at Wembley on Saturday.

England suffered a fifth straight defeat at the hands of world champions New Zealand on Saturday, going down 24-21 at Twickenham as once again the Red Rose fell just short against the world’s number one side.

England manager Roy Hodgson’s comments this weekend on the ‘burden’ of captaincy on Wayne Rooney raises serious questions about his recent performances and whether there is anyone better for the job.

England and New Zealand face each other twice this weekend as both codes of rugby contest international fixtures – but is it union or league that has the better chance of beating the rugby kings?

The family of an ex-Manchester university student who died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are urging the public to sign an e-petition to make CO detectors mandatory throughout England and Wales.

More than 900 children in the North West will wake up homeless on Christmas day this year, a charity has warned.

Wigan Warriors’ Matty Smith is set to make his international debut when England take on Samoa in the first of their Four Nations tests

Cipriani earned his first Test appearance since 2008 on the tour of New Zealand in the summer but has been overlooked by Lancaster and his coaching staff in their latest squad for fixtures against the All Blacks, South Africa, Samoa and Australia

Former England all-rounder Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has joined Brisbane Heat for this year’s Australian Big Bash T20 competition.

Injuries to Geoff Parling and Ed Slater mean that New Zealand born Paterson could be picked by Stuart Lancaster ahead of the Autumn internationals, with the squad announcement due later this week