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British and Irish Lions
/ 1 year agoNick Cain: British and Irish Lions must get tough by delivering an ultimatum
The longer the Lions Board continues to be as soft-toy cuddly as the mascot that tour youngster Henry Pollock will have...
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Columnists
/ 1 year agoNick Cain: Championship rebrand can be a real game-changer
The rebranding this week of England’s second professional league as Champ Rugby could be a game-changer in English club rugby, and...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: Andy Farrell still at 6s and 7s in his British and Irish Lions back row conundrum
While Henry Pollock is the talk of the town, and deservedly so following his meteoric rise and selection for the 2025...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: At last! Welcome words reinforce value of jeopardy
One of the few signs of clear-thinking rugby union sanity this week came from Simon Gillham, the chairman of the Tier...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 2 years agoHenry Pollock’s energy could give British and Irish Lions that extra boost
By Nick Cain The likelihood of any uncapped young “bolters”, who were a feature of Lions squad announcements in the amateur...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: Backing of franchise rugby is myopic, hypocritical and self-serving …
The parallel universe which some of the main movers and shakers in the RFU/ Premiership currently inhabit has revealed itself in...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBath owner, Bruce Craig, backs franchise system
Bath owner Bruce Craig argues that scrapping relegation and relaunching the Premiership as a collection of centrally licensed franchises would bring...
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Miscellaneous
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: Invest in the Championship – as well as women’s game
The money cut from the funding to Championship clubs in the last five years is believed to be very close to...
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Columnists
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: Bruce Craig’s protectionism is not what we want
The decision by Bath owner Bruce Craig to break cover by jumping on the franchise bandwagon this week is no revelation,...
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Columnists
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: Blueprint for the future lacks rational thinking with franchise idea
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week We are coming to the franchise crunch. Finally, after five years...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoLeinster are good … but they would not beat France
By Nick Cain The hype was in full flood after Leinster’s two-match 142-0 European Cup haul against Harlequins and Glasgow, when...
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Columnists
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: Premiership clubs need to set higher standards
The most concerning aspect of the Harlequins no-show against Leinster at Croke Park last weekend, which finished in a 62-0 European...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoNick Cain: Time to dismantle the ivory towers
TV adverts are a mixed bag, but at their best they paint a picture that nails an irksome aspect of modern...
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English Championship
/ 2 years agoWorcester Warriors return – RFU Board should tell us what it thinks
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The first act of the new Tier 2 Board, which has...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoRFU must prioritise return of promotion to Premiership
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week In defeat, defiance. For supporters of the incumbent RFU administration who...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoThis Premiership cartel is strangling our game
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Welcome to gridlock. Everything that is wrong with the English club...
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Letters
/ 2 years agoThe 7-1 bench split must be given the boot
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The reality of the 7:1 bench split is unmasked. The development...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoTommy Freeman deserves a run in the centres
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The England midfield has been a mishmash of failed partnerships, wishful...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoPressure is building on the RFU Board to stand down
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The Whole Game Union has added its weight to the call...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBen Youngs lifts the lid on Steve Borthwick – but too late
By Nick Cain Ben Youngs lifted the lid last week on Steve Borthwick being a “risk-averse” coach, and stated that the...
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Miscellaneous
/ 2 years agoSupport for change at RFU keeps on building
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week As the SGM vote calling for regime change at the RFU...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoCut bench in half to make a game of it
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The bench is damaging rugby union, and this Six Nations should...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSix Nations – England need to be more consistent
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Driving force: Tom Willis has the power to make headway up...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoFreddie Steward, take a tip from the best…
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Freddie Steward was not England’s worst performer against Ireland. However, the...
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Miscellaneous
/ 2 years agoStop giving No.9s so much protection
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Welcome to the 2025 Six Nations, and, unfortunately, a new abomination...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoTime to be brave and start with Henry Pollock at flanker for England
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Are England fit for purpose going into the Six Nations? Steve...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoDo the right thing, Bill Beaumont, and tell Bill Sweeney to be on his way
By Nick Cain Bill Beaumont has a duty to advise Bill Sweeney that his tenure as RFU chief executive is...
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International Rugby
/ 2 years agoGood news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain,...
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Club Rugby
/ 2 years agoOllie Lawrence’s play-acting was shameful to watch
Ollie Lawrence’s sham injury in the closing minutes of a knife-edge finish between Northampton and Bath at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoHybrid Hash will tie Steve Borthwick in knots
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The description ‘Hybrid Central Contracts’ does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoSteve Diamond adjusts the cap to fit
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The season of good cheer got a kick-start last week with...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoNo surprise as France show how it’s done
By Nick Cain Vannes versus Bordeaux is one of my highlights of the 2024-25 season so far, because if you want...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBeaumont needs to show clear thinking
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK BILL Beaumont is stepping into a saloon in which the tables and chairs...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBill Beaumont needs to show clear thinking
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Bill Beaumont is stepping into a saloon in which the tables...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoBeaumont needs to show clear thinking
NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK BILL Beaumont is stepping into a saloon in which the tables and chairs...
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Champions Cup
/ 2 years agoRing fence has made English rugby go soft
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The most positive aspect to come out of the opening round...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 2 years agoMy British & Irish Lions team are ready for take-off
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week... There is a view that picking a Lions Test team almost...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoPressure builds on RFU chief to resign
By Nick Cain Tom Ilube’s tenure as RFU Board Chairman, and his financial credentials, will come under increased scrutiny with the...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoIt’s time for a root and branch clearout at RFU
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week In what sort of world does the wage packet of one...
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Autumn Internationals
/ 2 years agoSteve Borthwick can’t afford another run of failure
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week When it comes to “jam tomorrow” England teams have produced more...
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Nick Cain
/ 2 years agoMega-league plan will have to overcome huge hurdles
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week If 200 of the world’s highest-paid players are about to join...
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English Championship
/ 2 years agoSimon Gillham must get justice for the Championship
Simon Gillham’s arrival as chair of the Championship/Tier 2 Board should be good news for English club rugby. Gillham, below, who...
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International Rugby
/ 2 years agoBuilding blocks for England’s future
England A’s fixture against their Australian counterparts at The Stoop at 2pm today is an essential building block for any head...
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Autumn Internationals
/ 2 years agoSteve Borthwick’s bench policy needs work
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The bench miscalculations cooking England’s goose in the final quarter of...
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International Rugby
/ 2 years agoAussies are hurt by own protectionism
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Whether the Wallabies emerge with a Grand Slam or a slump...
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Autumn Internationals
/ 2 years agoSteve Borthwick needs strength in depth
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The 17 RFU central contracts announced by Steve Borthwick on Friday...
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Autumn Internationals
/ 2 years agoTime for England to walk the walk
By Nick Cain Right here, right now, English rugby union craves forward momentum. It needs something to knock the negatives surrounding...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoWill Collier shows what England are missing
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Will Collier’s command performance for Castres against Toulouse in the Top...
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International Rugby
/ 2 years agoSteve Borthwick should call up these young props
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week It was surprising that neither of England’s U20 world champion props,...
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Latest News
/ 2 years agoMinimum standards criteria must apply to all
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Do title-chasing Bath – and other top tier clubs – meet...
Autumn Internationals
Steve Borthwick explains how England predecessors helped him block out the noise
Autumn Internationals
Steve Borthwick: I know vast majority of my England selections for 2027 Rugby World Cup
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