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Columnists
/ 7 months agoDanny Care: ‘I never thought I’d achieve what I did’
Paul Rees talks to Danny Care about hanging up his boots and the incredible career he’s had at the pinnacle of...
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Challenge Cup
/ 7 months agoEuropean Finals Preview: Northampton Saints and Bath shape up to face the French
Paul Rees sets the scene ahead of this weekend's grand finale to European competition in Cardiff As the Premiership hacks through...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoBrendan Gallagher: European Cup’s given us some real pearlers
So this weekend in Cardiff will be the 30th European Cup Final, a pearl anniversary of sorts. Where did the time...
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Latest News
/ 7 months agoThe Leicester Lip’s still talk of the town
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Stunner: Austin Healey breaks through to set up the winning try against Stade...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 7 months agoI was thrilled to finally receive my Lions cap
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME IT’S funny how at a time when the game is looking forward...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 7 months 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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Chris Hewett
/ 7 months agoChris Hewett: Leinster need to spread the love
"Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.” The American author Gore Vidal was an acknowledged master of the “ouch”...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 7 months agoPeter Jackson: How British and Irish Lion Bobby Windsor found a nice little earner…
Win or lose, the Lions, as identified beneath what used to be the Millennium Dome, will be paid circa £100,000-a-man for...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 7 months agoJeremy Guscott: I hope the British and Irish Lions provide moments we talk about for years to come
The big headlines from the 2025 Lions squad announcement on Thursday are the confirmation of Maro Itoje as captain of the...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 7 months agoAndy Farrell’s big British and Irish Lions test – How four unions can play as one
Paul Rees looks at the challenges ahead for the Lions as they journey into the unknown When rugby turned professional, there...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoRaring to roar: Brendan Gallagher dissects the chosen 38 for the British and Irish Lions
Backs BACK THREE Blair Kinghorn (Scotland and Toulouse): Age 28: Scotland caps 60. Rangy outside back, a quick and versatile player...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoSaints deserve to be given medal for this impressive hat-trick
RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Quality: Tommy Freeman dives in to score against...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 7 months agoI’m surprised that Owen was left out
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Waiting game: Neither Owen Farrell nor, inset, Jamie George were picked by...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 7 months agoJeremy Guscott: Maro Itoje the right man to bring the British and Irish Lions together
By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week... The ceremonial unveiling of the 2025 Lions squad at the O2 Arena...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoBrendan Gallagher: Northampton Saints win over Leinster is the best win on the road I’ve seen
I’ve been reporting on this Heineken Cup, European Cup, Investec Champions Cup – call it what you want – since the...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months 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
/ 7 months 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
/ 7 months 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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Peter Jackson
/ 7 months agoTrio recalled All Black triumph one final time
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW SHORTLY before Christmas, in the hometown of the Manic Street Preachers, a trio...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoBrendan Gallagher: Here are my 37 to tour with the British and Irish Lions
Brendan Gallagher picks his likely lads for the Summer trip to Australia Let the fun begin. Every four years, we all...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoBritish and Irish Lions bolters who truly made their mark
Rugby Matters - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher What exactly do we mean by...
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Columnists
/ 7 months agoJeff Probyn: Women’s game not paying for itself
By Jeff Probyn - A front row view of the game First things first, congratulations to England’s women’s team for winning...
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Latest News
/ 7 months 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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Jeremy Guscott
/ 7 months agoJeremy Guscott: I’m just so excited by Bath’s brilliance
By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week... Where Bath are now, compared to where they have been, leaves me...
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Miscellaneous
/ 7 months 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
/ 7 months 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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Latest News
/ 7 months agoBen Youngs – It’s been an awesome ride and I feel privileged
Paul Rees talks to Ben Youngs as he prepares to call time on his career after 18 years at Leicester and...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 7 months agoChris Hewett: If there is any justice, George Ford will be a British and Irish Lion
By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed The difference between time and eternity? It’s all relative – get it? – but in...
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Champions Cup
/ 7 months agoMission Impossible: How Northampton Saints can beat Leinster
By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Phil Dowson only has to press a button anytime during the...
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Peter Jackson
/ 7 months agoRhys Litterick takes high road to Scotland
By Peter Jackson Rhys Litterick, a tight-head graduate from the Adam Jones school of scrummaging, joined Cardiff from Harlequins two years...
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Columnists
/ 7 months agoPeter Jackson: Pathetic Nolann Le Garrec stoops to a new low
By Peter Jackson Not since Andy Haden and Frank Oliver staged their amateurish theatrics against Wales at the Arms Park in...
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Columnists
/ 7 months agoRugby’s Biggest Scandals: Desire to win can end in tears
Paul Rees on what connects bloodgate, a collapsed scrum, a backhander and the dives of Le Garrec and Haden Racing 92...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoBrendan Gallagher: Little good news is coming out of Africa
By Brendan Gallagher - Rugby Matters Mention recently of the late Claude Saurel and his eclectic coaching career brought back memories...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 7 months agoNorman Mbiko – A Leopard who did change his spots
Norman Mbiko is probably not a name that resonates strongly here in Britain and Ireland, but the feisty scrum-half from the...
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Columnists
/ 7 months agoJeff Probyn: Premiership Promotion should not depend on capacity
By Jeff Probyn - A front row view of the game It is funny how quickly things change once the pressure...
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Columnists
/ 8 months agoTime to show the right spirit, Henry Pollock
By Simon Walters No one can dispute the brilliance of England rugby’s new star, Henry Pollock of Northampton Saints. He scored...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 8 months agoJeremy Guscott: Johnny Sexton divisive for the British and Irish Lions? Not in my book
By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week Whatever conflicting views there are over the appointment of Johnny Sexton to...
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Columnists
/ 8 months 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
/ 8 months 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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Chris Hewett
/ 8 months agoChris Hewett: Geoff Parling is thriving as the quiet ‘Australian’
By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed Whatever lights might be hidden under rugby’s bushel, precious few of them belong to Australian...
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Columnists
/ 8 months agoPaul Rees: A brighter future for Wales lies in its past
PAUL REES SAYS IT WAS THE LOCAL RIVALRIES WHICH HELPED BUILD THE GAME IN WALES AND WHICH NEED TO BE REVIVED...
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Columnists
/ 8 months agoPeter Jackson: Where the ghosts of the greats still roam in Welsh Rugby
By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know In the golden days when the sun never set on Welsh...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 8 months agoBrendan Gallagher: 20 years ago, we had games worth seeing in the Champions Cup
Rugby Matters - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher I have no great wish to...
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Columnists
/ 8 months agoJeff Probyn: Like wine, props used to get better with age
A front row view of the game Earlier this week, I was asked to do an interview for GB News to...
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James Harrington
/ 8 months agoFrench Column: Big guns want to take on All Blacks
By James Harrington Could Fabien Galthie head to New Zealand for July’s three-Test tour with a France squad that looks more...
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Columnists
/ 8 months agoJeremy Guscott: Power of four will be crucial for Andy Farrell
In terms of pedigree, the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad selected by head coach Andy Farrell next month to tour...
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Columnists
/ 8 months 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
/ 8 months 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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Chris Hewett
/ 8 months agoChris Hewett: Dan Biggar’s lessons in staying strong
The last time Wales won a game of rugby against someone other than the Barbarians – those struggling to recall that...
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Latest News
/ 8 months agoQuinnell’s quick pint at The Ferry Boat Inn
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW OF ALL the books written about the Lions, no reference can be found...












