The Lions are about the integration of the coaches as much as the players, and Warren Gatland has made good choices in picking Rob Howley, […]
Latest Posts
20 Questions: Ed Jackson – London Welsh No.8
Still pinching yourself about playing in the Premiership? A little bit. You keep looking up and seeing international players you’ve only seen on TV before, […]
Nick Cain: Heineken Cup needs refreshing for the fans
Another Heathrow hotel meeting, and another Heineken cup impasse. That was the outcome from the battle of the suits this week as English and French […]
My Life in Rugby: Richard Birkett – former Wasps lock
I spent most of my Wasps career hitting every ruck in sight so that Simon Shaw could stand out on the wing doing all the […]
Peter Jackson: Wales may rue Gatland snub for Edwards
Shaun Edwards spent the week keeping a profile low enough as to be positively subterranean over Warren Gatland‘s decision to make him surplus to Lions […]
Dream Team: Ben Pienaar – Moseley and former Leicester back-row
1. Graham Rowntree – Just a wise old head who’s been there, done that, and knows what’s happening in the front row much more than […]
Jeff Probyn: Heineken Cup row could damage the Six Nations
The Heineken Cup, despite all the trials and tribulations is rumbling along in its usual fashion, with all but one group topped by either English […]
Room 101: Gavin Cattle – Cornish Pirates scrum-half
1. Mobile phone-obsessed friends During the week it’s nice to meet up with some of your team-mates and go for a coffee together, although sometimes […]
Sale Sharks still alive with bonus-point defeat at London Wasps
Sale secured a last gasp losing bonus-point against London Wasps to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive this afternoon. While Wasps had the game […]
Live: Wasps v Sale
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as London Wasps take on Sale in the eleventh round of the Aviva Premiership at Adams Park […]
Nick Cain says the best coaches never believe they cannot improve a winning team
England will not be de-railed this season by skidding on the media and blog froth that has surrounded his squad since their record win over […]
Young Gun: Will Carrick-Smith –Exeter lock
Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Bus’, Exeter Chiefs lock Will Carrick-Smith spent an age waiting for his first-team chance – then two came along at once this […]
Jeremy Guscott casts an expert eye over where England go from last week’s tumultuous victory
Despite the importance of the Heineken Cup mid-pool round, it’s still hard to forget England and New Zealand because last weekend’s match was so compelling. […]
Josh Lewsey is backing Ben Foden to win battle of No.15s
Ben Foden has seen his full-back throne usurped by two younger pretenders but England‘s World Cup winner Josh Lewsey believes the Northampton man will return […]
London Wasps flyer Tom Varndell firing on all cylinders
When it comes to spare time, tweeting and playing video games rank pretty high on most rugby players’ list of hobbies. But yesterday, Tom Varndell […]
20 Questions: Davey Wilson – Bath and England prop
Enjoy being involved against New Zealand last week? It was the highlight of my international career. To beat the All Blacks – the world champions […]
Premiership round 11: preview and predictions
Bath v Saracens Bath Rugby have made six changes to the starting line-up that beat Calvisano in the Amlin Challenge Cup last weekend as they […]
Jet-heeled Carlin Isles aims to be America’s darlin’
‘I want to be great and show the world what I can do – I want to be one of the best XVs and Sevens […]
Nick Cain: Group of Death can deal mortal blow to 2015
Forget all the flannel following the nightmare RWC 2015 draw that England and Wales have to beat everyone of note to win a World Cup […]
My Life in Rugby: Harry Ellis – former Leicester and England scrum-half
I couldn’t bring myself to watch any of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, not even England in the final – being at home injured during […]
Peter Jackson: Halfpenny finds his currency on the rise
The battering taken by Wales during a troubled month threatens to have long-term consequences even for those who managed to stay in one piece. Recovering […]
Scott Johnson appointed Scotland interim coach
Scott Johnson has been appointed Scotland interim head coach for the 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship and the summer tour of South Africa. The announcement […]
Gloucester’s Alex Brown forced to retire
Gloucester lock Alex Brown has today announced his retirement from professional rugby due to a shoulder injury. The 33-year-old, who made 227 Premiership appearances for […]
Dream Team: Daniel Browne – London Welsh No.8
1. Soane Tonga’uiha – A great scrummager and the best ball-carrying prop around. Went to my school, I’m three years older but he was the […]
Top 14 giants vie to shower riches on Dan Carter
Toulon have entered the race to sign Dan Carter with the battle against fellow moneybags Racing Metro set to make the All Blacks fly-half the […]
Jeff Probyn: Lions tour could damage Lancaster’s World Cup bid
Last week’s surprise win against the current world champions was thoroughly deserved as the players delivered on all counts and it made everybody sit up […]
James Percival looks to Wales for Test spot
Worcester second row James Percival has had talks with Warren Gatland about switching allegiances from England to Wales. Despite being part of the England U21 […]
Castrogiovanni to leave Leicester?
Leicester Tigers might have to look for a new tighthead prop as Toulon are thought to be interested in signing Martin Castrogiovanni for next season. […]
Toulon deny Jenkins’ Blues return
Toulon team manager Tom Whitford has denied rumours that Gethin Jenkins will leave the Top 14 club at the end of the season and return […]
Saracens in control after Munster win
Saracens are in control of Pool 1 after a 19-13 defeat of Munster at Vicarage Road today in the fourth round of the Heineken Cup. […]
Room 101: Craig Newby – former Leicester and All Black flanker
1. Video analysis Sitting in a room for an hour (or more) watching a film about what you did wrong in a match at the […]
Tommy Bowe to undergo surgery
Ulster winger Tommy Bowe is to undergo surgery “later this week” following the knee injury he suffered in the closing stages of the game against […]
Castres leave it late to beat Glasgow
Castres had to wait until the late stages of the game to secure a 10-8 win over Glasgow in the fourth round of the Heineken […]
Nick Cain talks to Warren Gatland about the 2013 tourists to Australia
When Warren Gatland held court at Cardiff Castle this week to do an early 2013 Lions stock-take with the autumn series in its last knockings, […]
Exeter and Clermont earn European victories
Exeter have claimed a 30-20 win over the Scarlets at Sandy Park in the fourth round of the Heineken Cup today. They went off to […]
Young Gun: Danny Herriot – Northampton prop
With Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Mujati both apparently on their way out of Franklin’s Gardens there are some big boots to fill in the Saints […]
Wins for Leicester and Ospreys
Leicester went top of Pool 2 but had to wait until the 76th minute and a penalty try to claim a 14-13 win over Treviso […]
Live: Treviso v Leicester – Exeter v Scarlets
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Leicester Tigers take on Treviso in the fourth round of the Heineken Cup at Stadio di […]
Biarritz and Racing overcome weather to win
Biarritz defeated Connacht 17-0 in a mud bath at the Parc des Sports Aguilera tonight. The boot of Dimitri Yachvili and a try from World […]
20 Questions: Tom Homer – London Irish full-back
Has your injury cleared up? Yes, thank goodness. I had a grade 2 MCL strain on my knee which wasn’t getting any better, so I […]
Live: Edinburgh v Racing – Biarrtitz v Connacht
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Edinburgh take on Racing Metroin the fourth round of the Heineken Cup at Murrayfield in Edinburgh […]
Nick Cain: Robshaw got it wrong but so did Lancaster
The debate over Chris Robshaw‘s late penalty call against South Africa has raged all week, and nothing has been added to it that even remotely […]
Three more years at Kingsholm for Savage
After Jonny May yesterday, Tom Savage has become the latest player to commit his future to Gloucester signing a new three-year contract Witt the Cherry […]
Louis Deacon’s aiming to get back on England’s radar
Louis Deacon refuses to concede his England days are over despite the emergence of youngsters like Joe Launchbury. Rising star Launchbury, 21, was voted man […]
Heineken Cup round 4: Preview and Predictions
Pool 1 Edinburgh v Racing Metro After over a year on the sidelines, Edinburgh welcome Ben Cairs back in their starting line-up for the reception […]
Amlin Cup round 4 preview
Gloucester v London Irish Gloucester’s Nigel Davies has rung the changes for the return visit of Irish to Kingsholm tomorrow, despite his sides 29-22 victory […]
Live: Wasps v Bayonne
Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as London Wasps take on Bayonne in the fourth round of the Amlin Challenge Cup at Adams […]
Hartley handed two-week ban
Dylan Hartley has been banned for two weeks for striking an opponent with his elbow last week. The incident occurred as the Premiership club faced […]
My Life in Rugby: Mark Taylor – former Wales and Ospreys centre
Whenever I get asked about my rugby career, scoring the first try at the Millennium Stadium is the first thing everyone wants to hear about. […]
Ben Cairns return for Edinburgh
After over a year on the sidelines, Edinburgh welcome Ben Cairs back in their starting line-up for the reception of Racing Metro tomorrow. The Scotland […]
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