Latest News
Bath 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 investment and stability to the...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 2 days 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
/ 2 days 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
/ 2 days 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
/ 2 days 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
/ 2 days 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
/ 2 days 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
/ 2 days agoLitterick takes high road to Scotland
PETER JACKSON RHYS Litterick, a tight-head graduate from the Adam Jones school of scrummaging, joined Cardiff from Harlequins two years ago...
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Columnists
/ 2 days 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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Jeff Probyn
/ 2 days agoPromotion should not depend on capacity
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME IT IS funny how quickly things change once the pressure of a...
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Columnists
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 1 week 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
/ 2 weeks 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
/ 2 weeks 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
/ 2 weeks 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
/ 2 weeks 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
/ 2 weeks 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...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 2 weeks agoMemo to the suits: Give us some jeopardy
RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER I FEEL the need to tap out a...
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Columnists
/ 2 weeks agoJeff Probyn: Drop the tackle height for everyone
A front row view of the game The University of Edinburgh has discovered through research and by watching and comparing 18,702...
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James Harrington
/ 2 weeks agoTop 14: Raffaele Storti set to get his chance at Grenoble
French Column by James Harrington Portugal winger Raffaele Storti has made a habit of not doing things the easy way –...
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Champions Cup
/ 3 weeks agoJeremy Guscott: Champions Cup still has a role to play
By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week... The European Cup is as big as the clubs involved want to...
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English Championship
/ 3 weeks agoWorcester Warriors return – RFU Board should tell us what it thinks
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The first act of the new Tier 2 Board, which has...
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Chris Hewett
/ 3 weeks agoOwners should be careful what they wish for
By Chris Hewett The ambition among some Premiership owners to turn the league into rugby’s version of cricket’s T20 is a...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 3 weeks agoBritish and Irish Lions: Come on, Andy Farrell, put a bolter on your list
Thinking Allowed by Chris Hewett Henry Pollock is the most headline-grabbing talent to emerge in English rugby since Maro Itoje, who...
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Latest News
/ 3 weeks agoFijian captain Waisea Nayacalevu fails to make appearance for Ospreys
By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know In the natural world of all things ornithological, the sighting of...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 3 weeks agoBrendan Gallagher: I’m all for the thrills but keep game real
Rugby Matters - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher Like many of you, I was...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 3 weeks agoBrendan Gallagher: Let’s get these tapped pens taken from the right place
By Brendan Gallagher As a follow up to my main theme, I offer a little warning on tapped penalties as we...
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Features
/ 3 weeks agoDudley was right about the money…
JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME IT SEEMS that Dudley Wood, the former RFU secretary (equivalent of the...
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James Harrington
/ 3 weeks agoTop 14: All set for exciting race to the finish
French Column - By James Harrington Twelve Top 14 teams were involved this Champions and Challenge Cup round-of-16 weekend. The two...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 1 month agoJeremy Guscott: Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching team shows he has an eye on the future
By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable, every week... Before I went on a Lions tour I knew a bit about...
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Latest News
/ 1 month agoRFU must prioritise return of promotion to Premiership
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week In defeat, defiance. For supporters of the incumbent RFU administration who...
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Chris Hewett
/ 1 month agoExplosion of tries is turning into a circus
By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed Some of us remember “Mr Creosote”, the Monty Python character who, after a light dinner...
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Latest News
/ 1 month agoMaro Itoje ready to follow in steps of Sir Gareth Edwards
By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Maro Itoje has climbed so high so swiftly that he will...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 1 month agoThe day Alex ‘Grizz’ Wyllie gave the British and Irish Lions pack a monstering
Rugby Matters - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher It's a shame fly-on-the-wall sports documentaries...
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Columnists
/ 1 month agoJeff Probyn: Regional powers will help grow the game
By Jeff Probyn - A front row view of the game With the SGM now concluded, the English game will be...
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James Harrington
/ 1 month agoTop 14: Paul Gustard to stay at Stade Francais after all
French Column - By James Harrington So, Paul Gustard will remain at Stade Francais next season after all, despite asking to...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 1 month agoJeremy Guscott’s British and Irish Lions XV – Maro Itoje has the respect to be captain
By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week This Lions selection is based on players who are in form and...
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Latest News
/ 1 month agoThis Premiership cartel is strangling our game
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Welcome to gridlock. Everything that is wrong with the English club...
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Chris Hewett
/ 1 month agoTwo point tries for rolling mauls? The giants who are spoiling it for all of us
Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed Poor old Italy came up with plenty of solutions to the problems posed by Ireland in...
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Miscellaneous
/ 1 month agoThorburn calls for a restart ‘at every level’
PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PAUL Thorburn has seen Wales take a few batterings since his touchline goal...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 1 month agoBrendan Gallagher: Switzerland precision too sharp for Germany
Rugby Matters - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points by Brendan Gallagher Amid the torrent of international rugby...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 1 month agoEngland still need to have a plan B
By Jeff Probn - A front row view of the game Well, what a Six Nations we have just had with...
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