Nations

Fair play to Scottish Rugby – not words you often hear, it’s true. Fair play to them for their enthusiasm in putting players and coaches in front of cameras and around tables, fair play for all the access and all the opportunity to pick brains before the Six Nations. If the championship was decided on such things, the Scots would be contenders. Favourites, possibly.

The other week we had six different players put in front of us on a loop on the same afternoon. Radio, television, social media, newspapers, podcasts. They did the lot, with a smile. But…

Everybody’s bored of an unchanging narrative. The players have had it up their tonsils with the fighting talk, knowing that only deeds and not words are going to get the job done, beginning in Rome on Saturday.

There are some wonderful communicators in this Scotland team but, in the politest sense, they’re fed up communicating and are just desperate to start delivering. They can’t say they’re going to deliver, of course, because they’ve never delivered. They think they’re capable, but they haven’t proven it. They’re all in a rugby no-man’s land.

These past weeks, in their search for truth, they’ve walked the line between self-belief and self-criticism. They know that, in part, they can be brilliant and, in other part, they can be brutal. They can dominate chunks of a game with their excellence and then contrive to lose that same game with their mental wobbles.

To hear them engaging in psychoanalysis you could be forgiven for thinking that they’ve spent as much prep-time for Rome in therapy as they have on the training ground. These are fine players, almost in pain with the frustration of not being able to kick on with their country as most of them are doing with their clubs.

From the outside, it would be understandable if you thought Scotland are fancying their chances this year, what with Glasgow Warriors tearing it up in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup. There are nine Warriors in the starting line-up against Italy and another five on the bench.

Understandable, but ignorant of the way things are. The fatalism, the quarter of a century of not contending, the grinding down of expectation. Hope lives – as it must – but there isn’t a more realistic bunch of supporters in this tournament than the Scots. When they hear outsiders describing them as bullish they tend to wonder what planet these people are living on.

The backdrop to this Six Nations is anger over head coach Gregor Townsend and his inability to take the team forward. This is his ninth campaign. On his watch, Scotland have finished fifth once, fourth on five occasions (including the past two) and third twice. He’s won 19 out of 40 Tests.

With Farrell rolling the dice in his selection – dropping James Lowe as well as giving Cian Prendergast a rare start – there were interesting subplots aplenty as the game neared.

Such was the nature of the Paris performance, however, that few such themes could be given fair scrutiny.

Ireland had picked a team to compete in the air but rarely challenged in that regard with the new-look back three of Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale largely on the periphery.

While the loss of both usual starting props to injury, as well as two back-ups on the loose-head side, was unwanted, it gave the opportunity for others to step up and show what they can do, yet the set-piece was rendered a virtual non-factor.

Indeed, Ireland won a scrum penalty in the 45th minute but, such was the lack of pressure elsewhere, it was the first time Les Bleus had drawn a whistle from Karl Dickson.

Discipline had been a key area to improve after the autumn but, while Ireland did concede only six penalties, with 38 missed tackles across the game they frequently did not get close enough to infringe either.

Ireland’s failure to get to grips with the non-negotiables – what Farrell called the “main part of the game” – left little point in sifting through much else.

“I think you make your own luck in this game,” said Farrell.

“Without the ball, I thought we lost that battle in the first half. The things like the high ball and winning the scraps on the floor, running through tackles or missing tackles etc – that’s the main part of the game.

“We certainly came off second best in that regard in the first half. Our response was gallant, but that’s not what we want to be, we don’t want to be a responding team. We needed to show it from the get go.”

Volker Turk appeals for $400m after cuts to operations in 17 countries.

The human rights chief of the United Nations says his office has been pushed into “survival mode” as he appealed for $400m to cover its funding needs this year.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Thursday that budget cuts last year reduced operations in 17 countries, including Colombia, Myanmar and Chad.

Turk warned the cuts are undermining global human rights monitoring as he outlined his agency’s funding needs after the United States and other major Western donors last year reduced their humanitarian spending and support for UN-linked agencies.

“These cuts and reductions untie perpetrators’ hands everywhere, leaving them to do whatever they please,” he told diplomats at his office’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “With crises mounting, we cannot afford a human rights system in crisis.”

While the US government under former President Joe Biden was the top single donor to Turk’s agency in voluntary contributions at $36m in 2024, the current administration under President Donald Trump halted its contributions in 2025.

“I am thankful to our 113 funding partners, including governments, private and multilateral donors, for their vital contributions,” Turk said. “But we are currently in survival mode, delivering under strain.”

Trump has repeatedly said the UN has potential but has failed to live up to it. During his time in office, the US has withdrawn from UN bodies such as the World Health Organization and UNESCO and cut funding to dozens of other agencies.

Last month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in a letter sent to all UN member nations that the world body faces “imminent financial collapse” unless its financial rules are overhauled or all 193 member nations pay their dues.

Last year, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had appealed for $500m in voluntary contributions but received $257m. It received $191m through the regular budget, about $55m less than initially approved, The Associated Press news agency reported.

Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham – the top two try-scorers in Scotland history – as well as British and Irish Lions Test full-back Blair Kinghorn have been left out of the side for the Six Nations opener against Italy.

Coach Gregor Townsend has opted for a back three of Bristol’s Tom Jordan at full-back flanked by Glasgow Warriors wingers Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie – who will make his first start in a Six Nations game – for Saturday’s game in Rome.

Graham is among the replacements but Van der Merwe and Kinghorn are not even in the matchday 23, with stand-off Adam Hastings and scrum-half George Horne the other backs cover.

Other than the shock omissions of three 2025 Lions tourists, Townsend’s selection for Scotland’s first game of the championship is otherwise predictable.

Grant Gilchrist, 35, has beaten off the challenges of the more youthful Gregor Brown and Max Williamson to partner Scott Cummings, who missed last year’s championship through injury, in the second row.

Matt Fagerson, vice-captain Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey form an all-Glasgow back row, with versatile Warriors forward Brown also covering the breakaway unit.

Ewan Ashman, Scotland’s leading try-scoring forward, gets the nod at hooker ahead of George Turner and will have Lions props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson either side of him.

Ben White partners vice-captain Finn Russell at half-back despite strong claims from in-form Horne.

The midfield is the familiar pairing of Huw Jones and captain Sione Tuipulotu – the 18th Test match the pair have played together.

We are inching towards a sliding doors moment in the life of Gregor Brown.

The day is surely fast approaching when Brown is no longer quizzed about being Blair Kinghorn’s cousin and when the Scotland full-back is instead asked what it is like being related to the Glasgow forward.

It is not exactly clear which position Brown is going to play for Scotland in the Six Nations, or indeed, if he starts or is on the bench, but there is one certainty – he is going to be pivotal to the team’s hopes.

The 24-year-old is only really 18 months into his time as a top-level player – a whirlwind of progress that he calls “insane” – but his impact has been enormous.

He has played Test matches with four, five, six and seven on his back. He has started against France at lock and against New Zealand and Argentina at blindside flanker.

He was Jonny Gray’s understudy in the Six Nations last season and by the summer had played some minutes for the British and Irish Lions in Australia.

“If I went back 18 months and you told me that I would have done all this, I would have laughed at you. Like, no way. It’s just been absolutely mental,” he says.

True, but Brown is a pivotal figure now for Townsend, a guy who gives the coach some questions to answer.

Townsend’s natural inclination for Rome on Saturday might be a second row of Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings. That would leave Brown either starting at six or, more likely, on the bench covering lock and blindside.

Prop Jeremy Loughman will make his first Ireland appearance in two years against France in the opening game of the 2026 Six Nations on Thursday, but there is no place in the starting team for James Lowe, James Ryan or Tadhg Furlong.

With Ireland’s three first-choice loose-heads, Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle, all missing through injury for the game at the Stade de France (20:10 GMT), the 30-year-old Loughman will play at Test level for the first time since the Six Nations of 2024 and make his first international start since November 2022.

Loughman’s Munster team-mate Michael Milne, who won his only two previous caps against Georgia and Portugal in July, will be the loose-head back-up on the bench.

With Hugo Keenan missing because of the fractured hand he sustained in training last week, Jamie Osborne starts at full-back in what will be his first action since Ireland faced Japan in November.

Osborne had been expected to be in a straight shootout for the 15 jersey with Jacob Stockdale, but the Ulster player instead takes the place usually occupied by James Lowe on the left wing.

The exclusion of British and Irish Lion Lowe is not the only big call made by head coach Andy Farrell, with Connacht’s Cian Prendergast wearing six in the absence of Ryan Baird.

With Tadhg Beirne, who was another option to start at blind-side, joining Joe McCarthy in the second row, that means there is no place in the starting line-up for James Ryan who is one of six forwards on the bench.

France won the Six Nations last year, with their sole defeat against England at Allianz Stadium.

Captain Antoine Dupont ruptured cruciate ligaments in his knee in round four against Ireland but Fabien Galthie’s side got over the line without their talisman.

The scrum-half is back and will want to remind the rugby world of what he can do on the biggest stage, but they are without prop Uini Atonio, who was forced to retire with a heart problem.

“I tried to get a good part of the injury off and spend it with my family and friends, so I can do other things and come back with more mental freshness,” Dupont told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Galthie showed that no player is safe in his squad by leaving out France’s all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud, number eight Gregory Alldritt and veteran centre Gael Fickou.

Will that bold call pay off? The fixtures could aid their chances, with games against Ireland and England at home meaning Les Bleus have a strong chance of retaining their title.

“France have threats all over the park. How they differ from any other team in the Six Nations would be the fact that if they lose five of their top players, it doesn’t matter,” La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara told BBC Sport.

“France have a mentality of there is very little between certain players in certain positions – with the exception being Dupont.”

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres appears to point at Trump as critics say his ‘Board of Peace’ aims to replace UN.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that international “cooperation is eroding” in the world, during a media briefing where he took aim at one – maybe two – powerful countries undermining efforts to solve global problems collectively.

In his annual address as secretary-general, where he outlined priorities for the UN, Guterres said on Thursday that the world body stood ready to help members do more to address their most pressing issues, including the climate catastrophe, inequality, conflict and the rising influence of technology companies.

But he warned that “global problems will not be solved by one power calling the shots,” in apparent reference to United States President Donald Trump’s administration and his moves to abandon much of the UN system, while also impelling countries to join his newly-created “Board of Peace”.

Guterres went on to say that “two powers” would also not solve key problems by “carving the world into rival spheres of influence”, in what appeared to be a reference to China and its growing role in global affairs.

Guterres, who will step down from his position at the end of the year, underscored the UN’s ongoing commitment to international law amid concerns that treaties, which countries have abided by for decades, are coming undone.

Amid Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and the brazen abduction of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro by US forces, the UN chief warned that international law is being “trampled” and “multilateral institutions are under assault on many fronts.”

But, he added, the UN was still “pushing for peace – just and sustainable peace rooted in international law”.

Beginning in his first term as US President, Trump sought to end his country’s formal participation in many aspects of the UN system, while also eager to wield influence over key decision-making bodies, including through the use of the US veto in the UN’s powerful Security Council.

Trump’s current administration has also imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur for Palestine Francesca Albanese and threatened to sanction negotiators involved in UN talks on shipping pollution at the International Maritime Organization.

The US leader’s actions have drawn criticism.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva earlier this month accused Trump of wanting to create “a new UN”.

Lula made his comment just days after Trump launched his “Board of Peace” initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

While more than two dozen countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe have signed up as founding members of the peace board, several major nations, including France, have turned down invitations to join, and Canada has been excluded.

France said the Trump-led peace board “goes beyond the framework of Gaza and raises serious questions, in particular with respect to the principles and structure of the United Nations, which cannot be called into question”.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell must pick from a depleted squad after a spate of injuries which has robbed him of seasoned Test players like Andrew Porter, Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and Robbie Henshaw.

But Farrell’s Ireland defied the odds when they secured an impressive opening win over France in Marseille in the 2024 Six Nations with a performance that emphatically eased fears of a post-World Cup hangover.

“The Farrell factor is the bit that balances it up,” said Andrew Trimble, who won 70 Ireland caps between 2005 and 2017.

“On paper, it feels like the scrum is more important than ever. [There are] one or two other injuries, a handful of lads you’d want to be in better form, and then no stability or consistency at 10.

“There’s so many guys all playing OK at best. If there were so many young lads banging on the door, then you’d go ‘OK, a spark of youth and enthusiasm to ignite this team’ but there’s only a couple of those guys.

“All of that on paper says we can’t go to Paris and be excited, but Farrell always finds a way to get something out of these guys. He’s done it less recently but he has enough credit in the bank.”

Murray, who played in the 38-17 win in Marseille two years ago, echoed Trimble’s comments and insisted Farrell will use his motivational skills to ensure Ireland improve on the standards that saw them fall to New Zealand and South Africa in November.

“Talking about the Marseille game in ’24, we were questioned about form and not clicking.

“The last game we had played was the quarter-final against New Zealand and we had the most detailed review of a game I had in my career.

“We looked at that game and Andy pointed out in black and white so many situations where we could have been better, that last 20 minutes against New Zealand when we struggled and tried to find a try.

“Andy showed clips of us if we were a little bit braver or believed in ourselves and stuck to the plan that Andy will be trying to instil in them. That’s where my confidence comes in this group.

Wainwright’s family were in the stands when he won his first cap in Wales’ historic 13-12 win against South Africa in Bloemfontein – the only time the men’s national team has won a game against the Springboks on their soil.

The prop from Prestatyn, then with Saracens after earning a move from Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC), helped win a scrum penalty that set up field position for Josh Adams’ late try that was converted by Gareth Anscombe.

Wainwright was able to celebrate with his father, who was instrumental on his rise to Test level.

“He was a huge influence,” said the prop. “We were best friends and he did everything with me.

“He was one of the biggest support networks for me and when I got the call-up I thought about him a lot, it was quite emotional.

“We’d speak about everything and he’d watch every game. When I was at the Scarlets he would tell me what to pick up on after every game.

“He was unbelievable for me and that’s why getting this call up was a bit emotional for me. He would have been proud of me – 1,000%.”

A former rugby league player and a construction worker, Shaun ensured that Sam was able to give RGC his full attention.

“I told him I wanted to follow his route and have the rugby alongside it, but he would never let me do it,” said Wainwright, whose exploits earned a chance with Saracens in 2019.

“He said ‘I do this, not you – you just focus on the rugby’. I was part-time at RGC and got a wage, but my dad just told me to eat and sleep rugby.”

Bundee Aki has not travelled with the Ireland squad for their Six Nations training camp in Portugal, with the Connacht centre the subject of a misconduct complaint after his side’s defeat by Leinster on Saturday.

The 35-year-old, a World Rugby player of the year nominee in 2023, is “alleged to have engaged with the match official team on several occasions in a manner which may be deemed to be in breach of the league’s disciplinary rules” during the United Rugby Championship (URC) loss.

He will face an independent disciplinary committee on Wednesday.

Andy Farrell’s side take on France in Paris on 5 February to begin the Six Nations and Aki has been replaced in the squad by Ulster’s uncapped centre Jude Postlethwaite.

An Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) statement said: “The IRFU does not tolerate any form of disrespect shown towards match officials and does not condone actions that fall below the standards expected of players representing Irish rugby.”

“The IRFU are investigating the matter further internally and no additional comment will be made at this time.”

Ireland have already lost two players from the 37-man squad named by Farrell last week.

Prop Jack Boyle was injured playing for Leinster against Connacht, while Munster flanker Tom Ahern has also pulled out.

They were replaced in the squad by Connacht’s uncapped loose-head Billy Bohan and Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu respectively.

Jan. 27 (UPI) — A rapidly growing measles outbreak in South Carolina is the nation’s worst since measles was declared eradicated in 2000, with 789 reported cases.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health reported 89 new measles cases since Friday, raising the state’s total to 789, the most in one state in decades, WOLO-TV reported.

The state’s Public Health Department reported 756 cases in Spartanburg County in northwestern South Carolina, followed by 28 in Greenville County, which is adjacent to and west of Spartanburg.

Fewer than five cases were reported in Anderson County, which is directly southwest of Greenville County, and Cherokee County, which is directly east of Spartanburg.

The outbreak began in October, and most of the state’s measles cases — 692 — were among those who are not vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, and another 63 have an unknown vaccination status, for a total of 755 cases and 96% of those reported.

Another 20 cases occurred among those who are fully vaccinated, and 14 are among those who are partially vaccinated. At least 18 have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

When broken down by age, young children between ages 5 and 11 accounted for 345 cases, followed by 201 among those ages 0 to 4.

Another 149 cases were reported among youth between ages 12 and 17, followed by 26 among those between ages 18 and 29, and 25 cases among those between ages 30 and 49.

Five cases have been reported among people ages 50 and over, while 28 cases are among those whose ages are unknown.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is allocating $1.4 million in aid to help South Carolina officials counteract the outbreak.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also is working with state officials to identify transmission trends and helping to coordinate the state’s response.

The 789 cases reported as of Tuesday in South Carolina exceed the 762 reported in Texas a year ago during a measles outbreak that ended in August.

The outbreaks in those states and others might result in the United States being removed from the Pan American Health Organization’s list of nations in which measles has been eliminated.

Doris, who has made 23 Six Nations appearances, will lead Ireland out against a France side shorn of some high-profile players.

While fit-again captain Antoine Dupont is back, head coach Fabien Galthie opted not to select France’s all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud, veteran centre Gael Fickou and back row Gregory Alldritt, who skippered the side in Dupont’s absence last year.

Having faced Alldritt on several occasions for both club and country, Doris admits he was surprised by the 28-year-old’s omission.

“If you look at the Top 14 week in, week out, there’s so many quality players at the top level, they’ve got an abundance of talent to choose from,” added Doris.

I was surprised Alldritt wasn’t in it. I obviously faced him and La Rochelle a few weeks ago. I rate him very highly but they’ve got quality across the back row and I’m sure [Anthony] Jelonch will represent the eight shirt very well.

“It’s always a big threat playing against France, especially away from home at a hostile place like Stade de France, so looking forward to it.”