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Tag: New Zealand

Waratahs prove too strong for Crusaders

3 March 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK The Crusaders suffered back-to-back defeats to begin their title defence after the impressive Waratahs secured a stunning 37-24 […]

England set to defend WXV crown in Canada

3 March 2024 0 comments

CANADA will host the 2024 WXV 1 series in the autumn. WXV 2 will again take place in South Africa and WXV 3 returns to […]

Wigglesworth: Major changes not answer

3 March 2024 0 comments

By LOUIS CHAPMAN-COOMBE England assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth insists widespread change isn’t the solution to their attacking woes following last weekend’s Calcutta Cup disaster. England’s […]

Wales to play Boks in double header at HQ

25 February 2024 0 comments

Four heavyweights of world rugby will grace the Twickenham turf in an historic double header on June 22 – with a clash between South Africa […]

Edwards in firing line as France lose rhythm

25 February 2024 0 comments

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S too easy to say that France have fallen off and are no longer the team they were, after a […]

As usual, Gibson-Park enjoys life in top gear

25 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER It’s more than a little sobering to think that Ireland’s win over Wales on Saturday was probably their “iffy” performance of their 2024 […]

Lethargic France in need of new drive

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES PREVIEW…France vs Italy (Today. Kick-off 3pm, Decathlon Arena, Lille) IT does not come any more demanding in the Six Nations than visits […]

Waugh’s battle is going to be tough

25 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED WHO has the toughest job in rugby? It certainly doesn’t belong to the loadsamoney establishment lawyers plotting a course across the […]

Red Roses: Gloucester-Hartpury prop Maud Muir

25 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Birthplace: Oxford Date of Birth: 12/07/01 Community Club: Oxford Harlequins Red Roses Debut: vs New Zealand November 2021 Caps: 25 Why I […]

When the B grade was full of A stars

25 February 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER AS England A crank back into action today against Portugal A after […]

Chiefs on a mission to down Crusaders

25 February 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Pacific round-up By BEN JAYCOCK Super Rugby Pacific started with a bang as a repeat of last year’s final saw the Chiefs overcome […]

Ireland return to strongest team for Celtic Clash

22 February 2024 0 comments

Preview: Ireland vs Wales (Saturday, 2:15pm) Ireland continue their Grand Slam pursuit by making seven changes to return to their strongest XV against a winless […]

Who can put themselves forward for Lions selection this Six Nations

21 February 2024 0 comments

The Six Nations Championships is an annual international men’s rugby union competition that takes place between the teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and […]

O’Shea wants more England A fixtures

18 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Twickenham is looking to arrange up to four England A fixtures in the coming years following the resurrection of the side this […]

Hendrickson enjoying his new life in Japan

18 February 2024 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Tom Hendrickson is settling well to life in the Far East having swapped the Premiership for that of Japanese Rugby League One. […]

The piano shifters are playing modern tune

18 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Much of the “tactical” kicking across the opening rounds of the Six Nations would have left Fred Flintstone wondering what happened […]

Red Roses: Helena Rowland

18 February 2024 0 comments

Loughborough Lightning fly-half Birthplace: Doncaster Date of birth: 19/09/99 Community club: Aylesbury RFC Red Roses debut: vs Italy November 2020 Caps: 28 Why I play […]

Short-term contract takes Grace to Bath

18 February 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Former Wales rugby league star Regan Grace has signed a short-term contract with Bath. The 27-year-old switched to rugby union and joined […]

Scarlets battle for pair

18 February 2024 0 comments

Scarlets are ‘fighting hard’ to keep star forwards Vaea Fifita and Sam Lousi. Fifita, 31, above, is in his second season with Scarlets and has […]

Borthwick is still in search of right mix

18 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees predicts a close encounter in the Calcutta Cup but sees Ireland winning another Grand Slam THE second round of the Six Nations was […]

To have played 41 times for Wales is a blessing

18 February 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Emyr Lewis – The former Wales, Llanelli & Cardiff No. 8 looks back on his career in the game FOR […]

Crusaders aiming for six of the best

18 February 2024 0 comments

Super Rugby Preview Ben Jaycock looks forward to the new Super Rugby season with the Melbourne Rebels fighting to survive THE last time an Australian […]

Scotland launch restructuring plan

18 February 2024 0 comments

Scottish Rugby is to scrap its Super 6 club series and reinstate a national “A-team” as part of a comprehensive restructure of the professional game. […]

Crusaders captain Heinz catches up with his old pals

11 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Willi Heinz led the Crusaders against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday night and used his week in England to catch up […]

Once again, England escape to victory

11 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By NICK CAIN at Twickenham England ………………………… 16pts Tries: Earl 20, Dingwall 63 Penalties: Ford 48, 72 Wales…………………………….14pts Tries: Penalty 17, Mann […]

This Irish dynasty will keep on going

11 February 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WAS the speed of the Irish recovery after the World Cup surprising? No, because I don’t call it […]

The day John took on the NZ bully boys

11 February 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Barry John shall forever occupy a unique place in the rugby Pantheon in celebration of his readiness […]

Crusaders make it tough for Bears as lively crowd enjoy fright night

11 February 2024 0 comments

FRIENDLIES By ROGER PANTING Bristol……………………… 14pts Tries: Davies 27, Marmion 56 Conversions: MacGinty 27, 56 Crusaders……………….. 31pts Tries: Springer 39, 51; Aumua 62, 66; Hotham […]

All Blacks in Dublin will be the acid test

11 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED EARLY February is not obviously the moment to select a highlight of the calendar year. Especially if that highlight is still […]

Legend who had no wish to be one

11 February 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says it was hard not to fall in love with rugby as a young boy, watching his hero play for Cardiff RIP the […]

Superstar who paved the way for many more

11 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S hard to quantify genius let alone compare one genius with another – although that never stops us trying – but for what […]

Red Roses: Lucy Packer

11 February 2024 0 comments

HARLEQUINS SCRUM-HALF Birthplace: Swansea Date of birth: 02/02/2000 Community club: Amman United Red Roses debut: vs USA November 2021 Caps: 16 Why I play rugby: […]

My first foreign mission was in deepest Siberia

11 February 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Rob Debney – The former international and Premiership referee talks about his journey in the game RUGBY refereeing took me […]

Erasmus to take Springboks through to 2027

6 February 2024 0 comments

Rassie Erasmus will return as head coach of South Africa through to the next Rugby World Cup after the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster. […]

Wales great John dies at 79

5 February 2024 0 comments

Wales and the British and Irish Lions’ legendary former fly-half Barry John has died aged 79. Widely considered an all-time great of the game, John […]

Barnes backing World Rugby legal action

4 February 2024 0 comments

Legal action is being taken after match officials and players suffered online abuse during the Rugby World Cup. World Cup final referee Wayne Barnes retired […]

It wasn’t quite Bazball but George’s men did enough to get the job done

4 February 2024 0 comments

BRENDAN GALLAGHER WELL, it wasn’t quite the ‘Bazball’ rugby that Jamie George apparently aspires to – did we really expect things to change overnight? – […]

Scotland hold off amazing Wales revival

4 February 2024 0 comments

SIX NATIONS 2024 By PETER JACKSON Wales…………………………… 26pts Tries: Botham 47, Dyer 53, Wainwright 60, Mann 68 Conversions: Lloyd 54, 61, 69 Scotland ……………………… 27pts […]

That was a must-watch match of real quality

4 February 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT SIX NATIONS 2024 THE Six Nations opener in Marseille between France and Ireland was a really good game of rugby in which the […]

Top dogs who build teams in own image

4 February 2024 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED According to an article on the American website “Psychology Today”, there is scientific evidence to suggest that dogs not only look […]

Red Roses: Lilli Ives Campion

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Loughborough Lightning lock Birthplace: Shrewsbury, Date of birth: 10/10/03 Community club: Telford, Hornets Caps: 0 Why I Play Rugby: I do it […]

Hunter wants World Cup to build legacy

4 February 2024 0 comments

By EDDIE McATEER Former England captain Sarah Hunter believes the side can build a legacy beyond its success on the pitch. England, who have won […]

Unlucky Bev had just the two caps

4 February 2024 0 comments

It was remiss of this column not to note the passing of former Bristol and England prop Bev Dovey last month aged 85. Dovey, below, […]

Cotter off to winning opener with Blues

4 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Super Rugby’s Blues demolished Tokyo Sungoliath 43-7 in the first of four games in the inaugural Cross-Border Rugby series between teams from […]

Red Rose legends can’t wait for Lions to set sail

4 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL MARTIN Maggie Alphonsi and Danielle Waterman share 156 England caps between them but both would have traded a few for a chance to […]

Slammers France and Ireland clash in seismic opener

31 January 2024 0 comments

Preview: France vs Ireland (Friday, 8pm) The highly anticipated 2024 Six Nations gets underway as the two tournament favourites, France and Ireland, clash in Marseille on […]

Atkinson gets his chance to prove himself at No.10

28 January 2024 0 comments

By PAUL REES Starts: Charlie Atkinson CHARLIE Atkinson will make only his third Premiership start since Wasps folded 15 months ago with Gloucester looking to […]

Clouds of confusion hang over Evans

28 January 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW At the end of a week when the clouds of confusion thickened over Wales, one victim of […]

Good to see Bryn enjoying life at 93

28 January 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Throughout his distinguished career for Wales and the Lions as the finest hooker of his generation, Bryn Meredith, right, never once got the […]