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Warren Gatland warns Six Nations rivals to ‘write Wales off at your peril’

21 January 2025 0 comments

Warren Gatland believes that people will write Wales off at their peril in this season’s Guinness Six Nations. The form guide suggests another difficult campaign […]

Anthony Watson: I had to quit, I was in so much pain

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees As Anthony Watson trudged off five minutes into the second-half in Leicester’s match at Sale in December, he knew deep down that […]

Uncapped Fergus Burke gets nod from Gregor Townsend in Scotland Six Nations squad

19 January 2025 0 comments

Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke has been named in Scotland’s squad for the Six Nations as they look to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. New […]

Prop Jack Boyle called up to Ireland Six Nations squad after Tom O’Toole ban

19 January 2025 0 comments

Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has called up Leinster’s uncapped prop Jack Boyle, 22, for the Six Nations to replace the suspended Tom O’Toole. […]

Match Preview – Brad Barritt backing the new boys as Saracens welcome Castres

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, StoneX Brad Barritt won the Champions Cup three times with Saracens and believes the club are on course to […]

I want the Red Roses to be unstoppable, says Zoe Aldcroft

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Dan Robertshaw Newly appointed England captain Zoe Aldcroft insists there is work to be done before her side can set their sights on glory […]

Captains don’t have to play the full 80

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed It seems your columnist’s hotline to the England head coach Steve Borthwick has turned positively polar. “Don’t take the […]

South America aiming for four teams at Rugby World Cup 2027

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Joe Santamaria After a historic 2024 for rugby in South America, former Argentina head coach Daniel Hourcade is turning his attention to the future. […]

A hat-trick to beat them all

19 January 2025 0 comments

PETER Brown, born into one of Scotland’s most decorated footballing families during the Second World War, responded to the privilege by daring to do a […]

Farewell, Hammer of the English

19 January 2025 0 comments

SCOTLAND wins over England are ten a penny these days but there was a time when they were a rarity which is why former Scotland […]

I was astonished when Leicester got in touch

19 January 2025 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY MICHAEL VAN VUUREN THE FORMER JUNIOR SPRINGBOK, CHEETAHS, STADE FRANCAIS, KINGS, LEICESTER, BATH, LONDON SCOTTISH, LONDON IRISH, NORTHAMPTON, BEDFORD, AMPTHILL, EALING, WASPS, […]

Bill’s tour depends on fame, not facts

19 January 2025 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Well, it hasn’t taken long for Bill Beaumont to reveal what we were all thinking, with […]

Spandler hits four for Bath

19 January 2025 0 comments

England U20 By BEN JAYCOCK Bath United……………… 50pts England U20……………. 28pts JASPER Spandler scored four first-half tries as Bath came out on top against reigning […]

Rob Baxter: Tom Hooper will be the first of a few big-name signings for Exeter Chiefs

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Tom Hooper is the first of a number of big signings Exeter intend to make before the end of the season as […]

Anthony Watson announces retirement after injury struggles

17 January 2025 0 comments

England and Leicester wing Anthony Watson has been forced to retire from professional rugby on medical grounds. The 30-year-old has had a number of injury […]

Ilona Maher: Rugby union needs culture shift to create stars and grow the game

15 January 2025 0 comments

Ilona Maher says that rugby union has to shift culture and mindset if it is going to evolve as a sport. With more than eight […]

Lock Jonny Gray and hooker Dave Cherry recalled by Scotland for Six Nations

15 January 2025 0 comments

Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray and Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry have been recalled to the Scotland squad for the Guinness Six Nations. Uncapped duo Jack Mann […]

Steve Borthwick backs new skipper Maro Itoje to lead England at 2027 World Cup

15 January 2025 0 comments

Steve Borthwick insists Maro Itoje can lead England into the next World Cup after appointing him captain for the upcoming Six Nations at the expense […]

Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as England captain for Six Nations

14 January 2025 0 comments

Maro Itoje will lead England into the upcoming Guinness Six Nations after replacing Jamie George as captain. George has been in charge since the 2023 […]

Is Bill Beaumont the right man for the job?

12 January 2025 0 comments

Rugby Union’s dire inability to handle the crisis threatening a great sport’s future is reflected in Sir Bill Beaumont’s hasty appointment as interim Rugby Football Union chairman.

Stade Francais 45-35 Northampton Saints: Henry Pollock power show can’t rescue Saints

12 January 2025 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway at Stade Jean Bouin Stade Francais- 45 Tries: Dakuwaqa 22, Van der Mescht 29, Tanga 40+2, 57, Penalty 46, Ezeala 51, Gabrillagues […]

Rampant Stormers too good for Sharks

12 January 2025 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Stormers ……………………… 40pts Sale ………………………………… 0pts Tries: Schickerling 21, Libbok 25, Sithole 45, Gelant 54, De Wet 63, Venter 70 Conversions: Libbok […]

Injuries are tough but I’m a fighter – Johnny Williams

12 January 2025 0 comments

Simon Thomas talks to Johnny Williams about beating cancer, life as a Scarlet and his Wales ambitions For Johnny Williams, the ups and downs of […]

We need to watch rugby in the raw

12 January 2025 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed According to Inkoo Kang, a leading critic at The New Yorker magazine and, almost by definition, a writer whose words […]

Russian flag removed from Gotovtsev shirt

12 January 2025 0 comments

GLOUCESTER have apologised for the use of a Russian flag on prop Kirill Gotovtsev’s club shirt and said it will no longer appear. Since 2015, […]

Gopperth’s long and winding road

12 January 2025 0 comments

NOW that he’s beginning to make Peter Pan look like a grumpy old man, Jimmy Gopperth’s longevity requires further updating with the advent of another […]

Dorking’s Tom Bristow believes props should keep their options open

12 January 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Experienced prop Tom Bristow is urging young front rowers to learn both sides of the scrum rather than being pigeonholed into one […]

Hansen’s comments proved the final straw for Chris Busby

10 January 2025 0 comments

Ireland and Connacht winger Mack Hansen has provided guaranteed entertainment to the game of rugby by means of his exciting style of play, unselfishness with […]

Ilona Maher ‘loves being a superstar’ as Bristol signing looks to grow the game

7 January 2025 0 comments

Ilona Maher hopes she can inspire and elevate more players to superstar status in women’s rugby. Olympic sevens bronze medallist Maher announced her arrival in […]

Steve Borthwick and England facing historic USA test

5 January 2025 0 comments

EXCLUSIVE By Jon Newcombe England’s summer tour will include a historic Test against the USA, as well as the already announced two-match series against Argentina. […]

I can’t see me returning to coaching, says Geordan Murphy

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Former Leicester boss Geordan Murphy has revealed he is still scarred by the manner of his departure from the Tigers and is […]

Northampton Saints ring the changes

5 January 2025 0 comments

Saints rounded off 2024 with a resounding 61-0 victory over Newcastle Falcons last weekend and director of rugby Phil Dowson has made five changes as […]

Lotte Sharp: It’s been toughest season ever at Saracens

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Lotte Sharp says Saracens are enduring the most difficult campaign since she joined the club 10 years ago but stresses they have […]

A star-studded XV that would lead by example

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed Like “business ethics” and “military intelligence”, the phrase “rugby leadership” is not an oxymoron. Almost, but not quite. Even […]

We need to see a complete shake-up

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Jeff Probyn – A front-row view of the game A new year and change is on the way across many aspects of the game, […]

How Ireland inspired one man’s dream

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Brendan McGilligan As Ireland ran World Cup holders Australia close in the final Pool A match of the 1999 World Cup, a generation of […]

Ilona Maher named on bench ahead of Bristol Bears debut

3 January 2025 0 comments

Social media sensation Ilona Maher is set for her Bristol Bears debut after being named on the bench for Gloucester-Hartpury’s visit to Ashton Gate on […]

‘Trailblazer’ Ilona Maher showing the way, says World Rugby chief

1 January 2025 0 comments

World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin is convinced Bristol Bears TikTok sensation Ilona Maher is just what the sport needs as momentum builds towards this summer’s […]

Bath give Saracens lesson in finishing

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Bath ……………………………… 68pts Tries: Penalty 3, Du Toit 14, Redpath 23, Muir 36, 55, 78; Cokanasiga 45, 75; Underhill 61, Lawrence 71 […]

Big Bill Beaumont must tell Bill Sweeney his time is up

29 December 2024 0 comments

Bill Beaumont will have to be at the top of his game early in the New Year now that an SGM is in motion to […]

Ethan Roots looking to find his old form

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Rees Ethan Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but his year ended with […]

Human tractors pull the big bucks

29 December 2024 0 comments

Back in the early 1990s, the Bristol hooker Mark Regan had a nickname for his tight-five colleague Simon Shaw. “I call him the ‘welded wallet’,” […]

We need a two -tiered solution

29 December 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES CALLS FOR A RESET, NOT A REVOLUTION, WHEN IT COMES TO SORTING OUT THE PROBLEMS FACING THE RFU WATCHING Bristol’s dash and dazzle […]

Pirates are on course to make it five in a row

29 December 2024 0 comments

PREVIEW… Ampthill v Cornish Pirates Today. Kick-off 1.30pm, Dillingham Park ■By BEN JAYCOCK CORNISH Pirates are riding a wave of momentum looking for their fifth […]

Firefighter Jade Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Firefighter Jade Konkel has ignited a Harlequins title charge following a run of miserable successive seasons for the 2020/21 winners. The 31-year-old […]

Choice of ‘popular’ Bill Beaumont a surprise

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Jeff Probyn – A front-row view on the game I may be wrong but the speed at which the RFU has made the appointment […]

Put John Mitchell in charge of Lions, says Maggie Alphonsi

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Paul Eddison John Mitchell is the perfect candidate to lead the inaugural Lions Women team when they tour New Zealand in 2027 according to […]

Henry Arundell lines up England return

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Sam Jackson Henry Arundell, one of rugby’s most exciting talents, is poised to join Bath next season from Stuart Lancaster’s Racing 92, opening the […]

Arundell lines up England return

22 December 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON HENRY Arundell, one of rugby’s most exciting talents, is poised to join Bath next season from Stuart Lancaster’s Racing 92, opening the […]

The motion to call an SGM sent to Bill Sweeney, which had been signed by more than 200 RFU clubs

22 December 2024 0 comments

Dear Bill, 1. The publication of Annual Report (2023/24), including the Remuneration Committee report in respect of the remuneration of the senior leadership within the […]

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