This year's Six Nations will feature 20-minute red cards for the first time after the law variation was trialled during the November internationals, organisers said. Under the change, some red card offences will see a player sent to the sin bin for 20 minutes with the offender then able to be replaced on the field by a teammate off the bench when the punishment has been completed.

This year's Six Nations will use 20-minute red cards for the first time. The trial was in place for the Autumn Nations Cup in November and has been extended to this year's men's, women's and Under-20s Championships.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has said he would welcome back Louis Rees-Zammit, but added he has had no contact with him and expects him to stay in the U.S.

Coach Warren Gatland is counting on some returning old heads to lead his young Wales squad in the Six Nations and create a siege mentality following a team record run of 12 defeats in a row that has plunged the country's rugby into crisis.

Head coach Warren Gatland says he faces the most exciting challenge of his career and warns critics to "write Wales off at their peril".

Antoine Dupont will make a much-awaited return to the Six Nations after a one-year hiatus that cemented his status as one of France's top athletes, hoping Les Bleus can win the tournament on the back of a perfect autumn series.

French Olympic star Antoine Dupont will bring his "aura" to Les Bleus as they seek to deny Ireland an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title, head coach Fabien Galthie said at the tournament launch on Tuesday.