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Itoje replaces George as England’s Six Nations captain

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Maro Itoje has been promoted to England captain for the Six Nations, replacing Saracens team-mate Jamie George in the role.

Itoje, 30, led England to the Under-20 world title in 2014 but only stepped up to skipper Saracens this season in the wake of Owen Farrell’s departure to France.

“I’m at a point in my career where I feel ready to give my all to serve the team and the fans with the captaincy, and also produce my best on the field,” he said.

Hooker George and Bristol prop Ellis Genge will serve as vice-captains in Steve Borthwick’s 36-strong squad.

In-form number eight Tom Willis is called up but Ben Spencer – who started the autumn as first-choice scrum-half – drops out to make way for Alex Mitchell’s return from injury.

Leicester prop Dan Cole, 37, is also omitted, with his clubmate Joe Heyes and Sale’s Asher Opoku-Fordjour brought in as tight-head options.

Bath’s Ted Hill is selected with his clubmate Sam Underhill set to have surgery on an ankle injury while Harlequins wing Cadan Murley comes in to replace Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who is facing the possibility of an operation to fix a shoulder complaint.

Oscar Beard and Fraser Dingwall are the alternative midfield options to the first-choice pairing of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade, but there is no place for Alex Lozowski.

Northampton’s George Furbank is still out with a fractured arm, leaving Leicester’s Freddie Steward as the sole specialist full-back, although Saracens’ versatile back Elliot Daly and fly-half Marcus Smith are options in that position.

Sale loose-head prop Bevan Rodd, who partners Opoku-Fordjour in the front row at club level, fills the vacancy left by the retired Joe Marler.

“I’ve selected a squad where every player brings something unique to the group,” said Borthwick.

“The Six Nations is always a fiercely contested and exciting tournament, and this year will be no exception.”

England’s Six Nations campaign begins away to defending champions Ireland on 1 February and their tough start continues when they take on France at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium seven days later.

England last won the title in 2020 but have not contended since then and finished third last season.

Borthwick’s side endured a difficult autumn – losing to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in successive weeks – and in total they won five of their 12 games across 2024.

England’s performance in the men’s Six Nations will be the backdrop to a vote on the future of the Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney, which is set to be held in late March or April.

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Havertz online abuse has terrible consequences – Arteta

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the online abuse of striker Kai Havertz and his wife has “terrible consequences” and needs to be “eradicated from the game”.

Havertz was criticised for his performance in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United, after he missed a glorious chance to win the game in normal time and then had his penalty saved in the shootout as United won 5-3 on penalties following the 1-1 draw.

The German’s wife Sophia shared screenshots of the “shocking” abuse she received on social media amid the game, including threats to the couple’s unborn child.

Arsenal have reported the abuse to the police and are working with a specialist data firm to identify the culprits, but Arteta says more must be done as he spoke before Wednesday’s north London derby against Tottenham.

“It’s incredible, honestly,” he said. “We really have to do something about it, because accepting that and hiding this has terrible consequences.

“It’s something we have to eradicate from the game because it’s so cynical and dependent to a result of an action.

“There is no other industry like this. When we played Ipswich on December 27, we won 1-0 and Kai Havertz scored. The whole stadium after that is singing the ‘Waka, Waka’ (his chant). That was 20 days ago. Where is the perspective?

“We are all responsible. That’s a really serious matter. It affects me. It affects him and everybody that is in the industry.

“We can accept it and say ‘that’s our job’, but there are certain limits and the line has to be drawn. We put a lot of attention on technology and what is next in football.

“What is next in football is that this should be prohibited. It cannot happen. That’s it.”

Meta, who own Instagram, removed the content for violating its policies.

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I will not be the coach of a Red Bull team – Klopp

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Jurgen Klopp says he has made a “clear commitment” that he will not become manager at one of the Red Bull clubs after starting his role as the organisation’s head of global soccer.

The former Liverpool manager was named in the role last year before officially starting at the beginning of 2025.

He has not had a managerial role since leaving Anfield last summer following a highly-successful nine year spell.

Klopp’s new role sees him take more of an oversight role across a number of clubs including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.

But when asked at a media conference on Tuesday whether he might be tempted back into day-to-day management if a role at one of the clubs becomes available, Klopp said emphatically said “no”.

“I will not be the coach of a Red Bull team,” he said. “That is a clear commitment. As much as you can give a guarantee, I will not be a coach at all.

“I am probably the only person in this room who will be asked where are you in five years, I don’t have a clue.

“But I will not be a replacement of one of the Red Bull coaches.

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Rising star Fonseca knocks out ninth seed Rublev

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Joao Fonseca had a Grand Slam debut to remember as he knocked out ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the first round of the Australian Open.

The 18-year-old Brazilian thrilled the crowd as he caused the biggest upset of the tournament so far with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) victory against Rublev.

Fonseca was playing in his first main-draw match at a major, having come through three rounds of qualifying without dropping a set in Melbourne last week.

The victory extends his winning streak to 14 matches – but who is tennis’ latest rising star?

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