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Tag: Lions

Easter: Battle for promotion is vital

7 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Chinnor director of rugby Nick Easter believes promotion/relegation is integral to British sport and says National One is the strongest league in […]

Louw leads way for Lions

7 January 2024 0 comments

Sharks …………. 18 Lions……………..20 A LATE rolling maul try by Marius Louw led the Lions to their first ever win against the Sharks in the […]

Rae: Championship has much to offer

31 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Coventry head coach Alex Rae has launched a staunch defence of the Championship in the wake of Bill Sweeney’s disparaging comments about […]

Bailey glad to learn from Finn

31 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE After being prematurely cast as Bath’s first-choice fly-half, precocious homegrown talent Orlando Bailey says he is enjoying his supporting role to main […]

Dream Team with Mark Mapletoft

31 December 2023 0 comments

Mark Mapletoft, the former England, London Irish, Harlequins, Saracens and Gloucester fly-half, now England U20s head coach, chooses the best XV he has played with… […]

Playing against best in the world is good test

31 December 2023 0 comments

NOW we’re into the second year of the expanded Champions Cup, I thought I’d reflect on just how the inclusion of South Africa’s finest club […]

When Merlene Ottey’s leotard grew nine sizes

31 December 2023 1 comment

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points NEW Year’s Eve and rugby always brings to mind England’s slightly eccentric […]

Farewell to these fine men of rugby

31 December 2023 0 comments

Come hell or high water, The Grim Reaper never fails to take a day off from scything through his grisly business. A sample of his […]

Proud men who graced the game

31 December 2023 1 comment

Brendan Gallagher recalls the achievements of those from across the globe that the world of rugby lost in 2023 Sydney Millar CBE (Ballymena, Ireland, Barbarians, […]

One XV that would challenge the best

31 December 2023 0 comments

Joe Santamaria selects his Tier Two Team of the Year While the major nations were battling for sporting immortality at the Rugby World Cup, the […]

Saracens in hunt for big name wing

24 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens have held informal talks with England wingers Jonny May and Joe Cokanasiga about a move to London at […]

The French out in front? That’s not how it looks

24 December 2023 0 comments

With 12 victories in 16 games, Paul Rees reflects on a promising start by English clubs in the Champions Cup It has been a chastening […]

Day when the tears flowed for Devereux

24 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE Brewery Field in Bridgend last Wednesday night offered more than a few famous old faces in […]

Ex-captain Brian Price dies at 86

24 December 2023 0 comments

FORMER Wales captain Brian Price has died at the age of 86. A second row and lineout specialist, Price, below, captained both the Newport team […]

AWJ urges players to have heart check

24 December 2023 0 comments

ALUN Wyn Jones has revealed he underwent surgery to correct the heart condition atrial fibrillation after his career drew to a close at Toulon. The […]

Tenth defeat in a row for battling Falcons

17 December 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Lions blindside Emmanuel Tshituka scored two second-half tries as Newcastle were taken back to school by a brutally powerful South African side […]

Toulouse’s victory over Quins is top of my list

17 December 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS THE greatest single performance in the Heineken Cup? That’s a tricky one, there have been so many, but when pressed I normally opt […]

Millar knew how to keep ref onside

17 December 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS Dr Syd Millar was many things – Ballymena stalwart, redoubtable Ireland Test prop, successful Ireland coach and innovative rugby administrator at the dawn […]

Ryan has to wise up and show respect

17 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Maybe one day James Ryan will find it in him to send a note of gratitude to […]

The day Syd needed his teeth to be in

17 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Syd Millar’s Himalayan climb along the cutting edge of rugby history encompassed three momentous events: the invincible Lions tour of 1974, the inaugural […]

Lions still roaring after vital victory secured

17 December 2023 0 comments

■By BEN MORRIS Leicester L ……25 Cinderford……. 20 LEICESTER Lions maintained hopes of survival with a vital and hard-fought win against a very physical Cinderford […]

Playing in this league is so sweet for top scorer Honey

17 December 2023 0 comments

By EDDIE McATEER Title contenders Rams’ top scorer Fraser Honey believes National One is by far the best league in England thanks to its competitive […]

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 17/12/23

15 December 2023 0 comments

Alongside a report from their Saturday night clash with Cardiff, we talk to Bath’s Finn Russell and how he’s moved to the ‘rugby mad city’ […]

Challenge Cup round two Friday and Saturday preview

15 December 2023 0 comments

Having got their campaign underway with victory last week, Gloucester are now back to nearly full strength for a crucial match against Clermont under the […]

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Sunday round-up

11 December 2023 0 comments

Sunday saw a fourth meeting in as many seasons of La Rochelle and Leinster in the Champions Cup, with their last two clashes both having […]

George set to carry on at Saracens

10 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England and Lions hooker Jamie George is ready to turn don a lucrative move to French outfit Lyon and […]

Lions set to ring the changes

10 December 2023 0 comments

■By BEN JAYCOCK Preview… Perpignan v Lions Today. 1pm LIONS head coach Ivan van Rooyen will be banking on the strength of his squad as […]

Barton is on target to rescue Gloucester

10 December 2023 0 comments

■By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Black Lion ………. 10ptsTry: Matkava 20 Conversion: Matkava 21 Gloucester ……… 15pts Penalty: Matkava 68 Penalties: Barton 11, 17, 28, 48, 71 […]

Newcastle are hoping for a cold front in basement battle

10 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Newcastle v Montpellier Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Kingston Park IT will be a case of bottoms up at Kingston Park today when […]

Minnows can make splash of a whale

10 December 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED ACCORDING to Donald J Trump – you may have heard of him – “losers” are the lowest of the low, “suckers” […]

A team stuffed full of captains

10 December 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER I was having one final lingering look at that 2003 England reunion […]

Too many are being pushed to the edge

10 December 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees says it’s time to ensure players spend less time in the gym and more with the ball in their hands Max Malins […]

No room at the top for Welsh regions

10 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW AS Anglo-Welsh duels of the blood-and-guts variety go, one springs foremost to mind: a humdinger of a […]

Only right that the Lions play in Ireland

10 December 2023 0 comments

The Lions used to go out of their way to make friends in little towns not much bigger than villages. Now that they have to […]

Yates leads the way as Park take maximum points

10 December 2023 0 comments

By TOM BULMER Darlington MP…….29 Leicester Lions …… 3 DARLINGTON Mowden Park returned to winning ways with a dominant display against Leicester Lions. Garry Law’s […]

Lions set up Aviva date with Argentina for 2025

7 December 2023 1 comment

The British and Irish Lions will play a match in Ireland for the first time in their history when they face Argentina at the Aviva […]

Murley is aiming for England comeback

3 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Cadan Murley made a late start to his Premiership campaign when he returned from a knee injury in the last round and […]

Lawes delays decision on his future until Six Nations

3 December 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Courtney Lawes will make a decision on his Northampton future during the Six Nations window in February. Lawes announced his retirement from […]

Farrell set to remain Sarries marquee man

3 December 2023 0 comments

Saracens are closing in on agreeing terms to a new contract with skipper Owen Farrell, below, who is out of contract at the end of […]

Bears step up hunt for new tighthead

3 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Bristol Bears have stepped up their search for a tighthead as they face up to the prospect of losing […]

Don’t confuse hatred on social media with responsible debate

3 December 2023 0 comments

NO-ONE in their right mind wanted to see Owen Farrell exit the international stage after announcing this week that he wants to prioritise his and […]

Exodus of talent isn’t always a disaster

3 December 2023 0 comments

Sabbaticals are all the rage. Sam Cane, the New Zealand captain who chased gold at the recent World Cup but ended up seeing red, is […]

John was the first to sidestep celebrity

3 December 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW OWEN Farrell’s maternal grandfather had only just begun creating the ultimate Anglo-Irish dynasty when word from the […]

Heartbreak for Ospreys as Benetton snatch it

3 December 2023 0 comments

By ROB COLE Benetton ……….. 18pts Tries: Bernasconi 16, Da Re 76 Conversions: Umaga 17 Penalties: Umaga 65, 69 Ospreys …………. 13pts Tries: Nagy 42, […]

14-man Lions too good for Dragons

3 December 2023 0 comments

By HAMISH Lions……………… 49pts Tries: van Wyck 11, Horn 28, 70; van der Merwe 43, 77; van der Berg 57 Conversions: Nohamba 29, 44, 53, […]

Georgia happy to be joining the party

3 December 2023 0 comments

The Challenge Cup is being used to widen boundaries. A Georgian side, Black Lion which will play its home matches in Tbilisi, has been included […]

In-form Chinnor show why they are riding high

3 December 2023 0 comments

By RHYS PAUL Leicester L …… 15 Chinnor………….40CHINNOR maintained their top-of-the-table challenge with a comprehensive victory. The Lions started strongly and took the lead with […]

Twenty years on and still looking good…

3 December 2023 0 comments

Brendan Gallagher looked on as England’s World Cup winners from 2003 got together recently WAISTLINES have expanded and hairlines receded while even those still blessed […]