Rather in the way journalism is often considered the first draft of history, the Heineken Cup was effectively European Rugby’s first foray into big-time professional […]
So the European legislators, God bless, have finally caught up with the rugby world and officially recognised Cornwall as being very different to the rest […]
The Murderball challenge is on. Mike Brown, already proud ambassador for Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, wants to celebrate Harlequins’ coming on board as formal partners […]
The Championship play-offs have attracted more than their fair share of criticism over the last four years which I find astounding given the quality rugby, […]
There is much to admire about Stuart Lancaster’s England but I remain unconvinced by this “Little England” attitude which bars prospective England players plying their […]
Over the years camp followers have suffered from severe sunburn, hypothermia and trench foot watching the HSBC Rosslyn Park School Sevens but that all comes […]
The thud and thunder of battles won and lost will never recede entirely, nor will those lightning forks of brilliance that lit up dark afternoons at […]
For decades it was the pin-ups at half-back who always seemed to hold sway, the mercurial playmakers and distributors who were often their team’s main […]
There was a fascinating and rather poignant moment down at Sixways the other night as Worcester trooped off after losing to Leicester in the Premiership, […]
There might have been a more influential and committed ‘overseas’ signing than Ruan Pienaar in the last 18 seasons since rugby turned professional but I […]
Jim Telfer shakes his head in amusement and then caves in completely and laughs uproariously. It happens occasionally: “All really good sides need a nutter […]
BEST NEWCOMERS BTSport for their lively match day coverage and excellent Sunday lunchtime round-up show which is the must-watch rugby programme of the week; Isreal […]
The security guard’s radio crackled around a deserted Twickenham: “Lawrence Of Arabia and a Man Called Horse are leaving the stadium. Please see these gentlemen […]
John Carter may look like Sebastien Chabal’s younger, wilder, brother and when his battered body can be welded together for 80 minutes he often plays […]
1914 06 09 14 Xavier ‘Gastofer’ Mayssonnie (France): The only Toulouse player in France’s first Five nations game. Adjutant 259ème Regiment d’Infanterie. KIA Meuse 14 […]
And still Wales can’t make the breakthrough the nation demands and expects and their talent warrants. For all their excellence on the European scene – […]
Somewhere up in Ray French’s attic, amid thousands of programmes, is a dusty typed letter from the RFU clearing him to re-continue his voluntary coaching […]
Lawrence Dallaglio wipes his plate clean – the monster ‘Magnifica’ breakfast at Carluccios in Richmond having been routed with lip-smacking relish – orders fresh coffee […]
A mate of mine, literary agent David Luxton, has had the brilliant idea of organising the inaugural London Sports Writing Festival this week at Lord’s […]
While the ERC blazers, club representatives from England and France and TV executives squabble endlessly over the future of a European club competition, the likes […]
Why is ‘legendary’ status conferred on some outstanding rugby personalities but denied others? Who decides these things and how? Does the rugby pubic instinctively recognise […]