Italy

John Barclay will make his first Scotland start since November 2013 after being named in the team to face Italy in Saturday's third World Cup warm-up clash at Murrayfield.

Greig Laidlaw will captain Scotland in their third World Cup warm-up match.

Scotland coach Vern Cotter admitted he was pleased to see Scotland finally get back to winning ways - but admitted the Dark Blues will have to improve before the World Cup.

Scotland finally brought their eight-month wait for a win to an end as they edged a drab affair against Italy in Turin with a 16-12 victory.

Grant Gilchrist will finally get the chance to lead out Scotland when they face Italy in Turin on Saturday.

Any team that enters this year’s Rugby World Cup has but one initial goal – emerge from the group stages and qualify for the quarter-finals.

Italy's World Cup preparations have been dealt a blow due to an arm injury suffered by fly-half Kelly Haimona.

The bidding battle to host Rugby World Cup 2023 is set to be between four countries - Ireland, France, Italy and South Africa.

Italy's rugby bosses have brokered a deal to end the players' strike and set their World Cup preparations back on track.

The World Rugby U20 Championship is approaching its conclusion and though it’s the teams at the top that are drawing most of the attention, there have been plenty of standout performances from players battling it out away from the spotlight.

Italy's Rugby World Cup preparations have been thrown into disarray by a player strike over tournament bonuses.

The World Rugby U20 Championship kicked off in Italy last week and we have been rewarded with not only a feast of entertaining rugby, but also a glimpse at the superstars of tomorrow.

Italy international Robert Barbieri is to leave Aviva Premiership play-off contenders Leicester and rejoin Treviso.

The connection between South Africans and Italy in rugby goes way back. You think Nick Mallett, Quintin Geldenhuys among the notable connections, now Luhandre Luus.

If you like mathematics, statistics or bonus points, then this is the subject for you. I am lucky enough to be at Twickenham this Saturday and as the game starts I will know how many points England need to win by!

Italy captain Sergio Parisse has been ruled out of Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales at the Stadio Olimpico.

The penultimate round of the 2015 Six Nations offered up a true spectrum of international rugby.

France recovered from back-to-back RBS 6 Nations defeats to condemn sorry Italy to a 29-0 defeat in Rome on Sunday.

Italy centre Andrea Masi has delivered a warning to France ahead of Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash between the countries in Rome.

The need for rugby, that's what it feels like as we approach the weekend in the northern hemisphere. The annual viewers come out to spectate on pub TVs, the critics gun for SL and PSA and the BBC bring out presenters with trendy new scarves and coats.