Michael Cantillon

Sports Journalist

Articles by Michael Cantillon

Prop Ellis Genge (second from right) conceded afterwards England 'probably believed the hype'

Analysis

'Heads on the block' - England flounder vs Ireland as Genge apologises to fans

Robert Baloucoune scored one of five Ireland tries as they thoroughly outplayed England at Twickenham

Sensational Ireland cut England apart for record win at Twickenham

Robert Baloucoune's try proved the difference as Ireland came from behind to beat Italy in Dublin

Ireland's replacements provide vital impact in nervy comeback win vs Italy

Tommaso Menoncello scored one of two Italy tries as they secured a superb Six Nations victory over Scotland in Rome

Scotland begin Six Nations with shock defeat to Italy

Scotland enter the 2026 Six Nations as potential dark horses but off the back of some mixed form

Analysis

Can 2026 prove Scotland's year or will it spell end for Townsend?

Louis Bielle-Biarrey (right) scored twice as Antoine Dupont (left) made his Test return in victory over Ireland in Paris

France clinch bonus-point Six Nations victory as Ireland pay for abject 50 minutes

Ireland retain an experienced squad, but there is a sense they are a side whose best days are behind them - can they change that narrative in 2026?

Analysis

Six Nations starts tonight! Can Farrell's Ireland prove they aren't side in decline?

Sam Prendergast has earned the nod from Andy Farrell to start at fly-half once again ahead of Jack Crowley and Harry Byrne

Update

Prendergast, Osborne, Stockdale start for Ireland as Dupont returns for France

Henry Arundell will start for England on the wing against Wales in Saturday's Six Nations opener

Arundell, Ford, Coles start for England vs Wales as Itoje held in reserve

Carlos Alcaraz now remarkably sits on seven Grand Slam titles at the age of just 22 (one Australian Open, two US Open, two French Open, two Wimbledon)

Analysis

Seven Grand Slams at 22 - will Alcaraz become the greatest ever?

Exeter Chiefs No 8 Greg Fisilau has been named as one of three uncapped players in England's 2026 Six Nations squad

Uncapped trio named in England Six Nations squad

Ireland had the chance to become the first side in Six Nations championship history dating back to 1883 to win three outright titles in succession but blew it

Analysis

A baffling change in style: How Ireland blew the chance of a century and a half

Eben Etzebeth has been given a 12-week ban for an 'intentional' eye gouge of Wales' Alex Mann

South Africa's Etzebeth handed 12-week ban for 'intentional' eye gouge

Ireland and England have been handed kind World Cup draws, while New Zealand - despite being ranked No 2 in the world - will likely face world No 1 South Africa in quarters

Explainer

World Cup 2027: England, Ireland with kind routes? Seeds messed up again?

Itoje, Borthwick: Our goal is to win 2027 World Cup - 'We've been very clear'

Blair Murray and Wales welcome the likes of Damian de Allende and the Springboks to Cardiff on Saturday

Wales host fearsome Springboks in Cardiff: Why are they shorn of 11 starters?

England's Curry has been labelled 'a bully' and accused of 'smacking' Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi

Argentina coach claims 'bully' Curry 'smacked' him in Twickenham tunnel

Max Ojomoh enjoyed a day to remember, scoring once and creating two further tries as England beat Argentina

Ojomoh stars as England just hold off Argentina for Autumn clean sweep

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored South Africa's only points of the second half, but it was enough as they faced an Ireland side shown five cards

Springboks win in Dublin as Ireland shown five cards and reduced to 12

South Africa and Ireland meet in Dublin on Saturday for a Test of huge billing - the Springboks undoubted favourites, but the Irish with a handsome record against them

Ireland face daunting SA challenge but have proven Springboks' bogey side

Harri Deaves will make his Test debut vs the All Blacks in Cardiff, competing his journey from roofer to Wales international

Deaves in for Wales debut vs All Blacks as Rees-Zammit starts again

Sam Prendergast will start for Ireland against South Africa in Dublin on Saturday, having been backed again by Andy Farrell

Farrell picks Prendergast over Crowley again for South Africa Test

Italy's Sinner clinched the ATP Finals title on Sunday, eventually getting past Alcaraz

Sinner clinches ATP Finals title as Alcaraz toils with hamstring injury

British and Irish Lions Henry Pollock and Tom Curry have emerged from the bench in successive weeks for England vs Australia and Fiji

Analysis

England's replacements bench becoming real point of difference

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was among the try scorers as England kept their heads to beat Fiji on Saturday

England survive Fiji scare to rack up second Autumn victory

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Pollock and Fin Smith are just three of England's emerging talents who appear to be the future of the national side

Exclusive

Borthwick's England increasingly building quality and depth

Marcus Smith will start at full-back for England on Saturday

Marcus Smith starts at full-back in much-changed England side

Caelan Doris returns from his long-term shoulder injury to start for Ireland vs Japan on Saturday

Doris, Stockdale, Farrell brought in as Ireland change eight for Japan

England's Henry Pollock scored the crucial try against Australia at Allianz Stadium Twickenham off the bench in only his second cap

Pollock comes off bench to score crucial try in win over Australia

Andy Farrell's Ireland may be unfancied vs the All Blacks this weekend, but they return to the scene of one of their greatest days in Chicago

Ireland up against it but magical Soldier Field memories vs All Blacks remain

Jack Crowley has been named to start as Ireland's fly-half vs New Zealand in Chicago on Saturday

Crowley named Ireland's fly-half to face All Blacks on Farrell's return

We take a closer look at Noah Caluori, who scored five tries for Saracens in his maiden Prem Rugby start

Analysis

Who is Noah Caluori? Saracens and England's overnight sensation

Emily Scarratt chats exclusively to Sky Sports following her retirement from rugby this week

Exclusive

History-maker Scarratt on 'incomparable' Red Roses growth

Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella and head coach Willie Peters revealed the key themes instilled in the group ahead of their historic treble

Peters: Hull KR took a 'good to great' theme and left a legacy

England's Red Roses put 11 years of hurt to an end to clinch the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup title vs Canada

Clinical Red Roses clinch first Rugby World Cup title for 11 years

Red Roses captain Zoe Aldcroft (right) and experienced scrum-half Natasha Hunt celebrate Rugby World Cup victory

Analysis

How England's Red Roses banished Rugby World Cup final demons

Jones shared her story of grief and determination as she excelled for England a year after the death of both her parents

Exclusive

Jones: From the 'worst year of my life' to 'surreal' World Cup triumph

Meg Jones, Ellie Kildunne and Hannah Botterman are three of England's leading stars at this Women's Rugby World Cup

Analysis

Lightning Kildunne, dynamic Jones, unique Botterman - A Red Roses team of stars

England have named an unchanged squad for Saturday's Women's Rugby World Cup final, with Ellie Kildunne fit to start

Red Roses, Canada unchanged for World Cup final as Kildunne passed fit

Crowdfunding made pre-Women's Rugby World Cup training camps and warm-up Tests possible for Canada, who are now into the final

Canada: Non-professional, crowdfunded but into World Cup final vs England

Amy Cokayne scored one of England's five tries in their Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final victory over France

Nervy Red Roses eventually kick on to beat France and make World Cup final

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz now remarkably sits on six Grand Slam titles at the age of just 22 (two US Open, two French Open, two Wimbledon)

Analysis

Alcaraz has six Grand Slams at 22 - are we witnessing greatest player ever?

Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are all through to the US Open semi-finals, live on Sky Sports Tennis

Analysis

Djokovic out to disrupt 'dominant forces' Alcaraz and Sinner at US Open

Alcaraz is through to the semi-finals of the 2025 US Open and is still yet to drop a set

Alcaraz clinically dispatches Lehecka to make US Open semi-finals