New Zealand v South Africa Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock and Andrew Hore have all been drafted back into the All Blacks‘ starting XV for the […]
Latest Posts
“I’ve got to oust Nick Easter to achieve my dream,” says Tom Guest
Harlequins No.8 Tom Guest admits his international aspirations will remain on hold unless he can elbow aside Nick Easter and nail down a starting spot. […]
My Life in Rugby: Ian Smith – Former Leicester coach and captain
Soon after I became the first head coach of Leicester in the pro era, I sneaked into Welford Road and walked out onto the grass, […]
Peter Jackson: “It seemed so unfair to have my dream taken away,” says Lloyd Burns
He blazed across the skies of the rugby globe like a meteor, a trans-global journey of fairytale dimension from Cardiff to Auckland. Lloyd Burns’ magical […]
Saracens Mako Vunipola is in shape to make up for lost time
On the face of it Mako Vunipola’s life at Saracens could not have begun any better – two starts, two man-of-the-match awards – however, the […]
Dream Team: Nick Adams – former Wasps and Pirates prop
1. Alan Paver – A stalwart for Pirates, who was a true professional and a great lad to boot. Always felt more comfortable going into […]
Jeff Probyn: Cips may shine but it’s the Sale scrum that matters
At last the season has begun, with much anticipation and excitement. For the players on international duty this summer, it must seem as if the […]
Four-week ban for Saints’ Van Velze
Northampton No.8 Garrit-Jan van Velze has been suspended for four weeks after being found guilty of a ‘tip tackle’ offence in Sunday’s Aviva Premiership match […]
“Jonny Wilkinson remains in the frame,” says Warren Gatland
Jonny Wilkinson is not yesterday’s man as far as Lions coach Warren Gatland is concerned. Gatland opened the door to the 2003 England World Cup […]
Warriors announce capture of Josh Strauss
Glasgow Warriors revealed today their biggest signing in the club’s history with the arrival of South African No.8 Josh Strauss on a three-year contract. The […]
Wallabies get set to cash in on the Lions
The Australians have drawn up plans to cash in on the Lions by charging £200 a ticket for the three-Test series. As proof that there […]
Premiership Round 2 review
Bath (beat Wasps 30-23) They arrived at the Rec on the back of an unconvincing win at Worcester facing the flying Wasps but they rolled […]
Inspirational Dylan Hartley lead Northampton to bonus-point win over Exeter
Dylan Hartley put down an early marker for a Lions selection with a superb performance to help Northampton claim a 24-21 bonus-point win over Exeter […]
Room 101: Dave Walder – former England and Mitsubishi Dynaboars fly-half
1. Ineffective Touch Judges It amazes me how TJs fail to get the number of an offending player or can’t suggest a punishment worthy of […]
Lions greatest XV: Ian Mclauchlan (1971-1974) – loosehead
The Lions have fielded some of the greatest props the game has seen, mirroring the finest scrummaging tradition within the four Home Unions. Paramount among […]
Young Gun: Tom Stephenson – Northampton centre
Centre Tom Stephenson is the third generation of Northampton season ticket holders in his family and it might not be long until his granddad and […]
Jeremy Guscott: Watch out if Cowan makes Gloucester’s back line tick
I have a sense of huge anticipation for the upcoming Aviva Premiership mostly based on the rugby I’ve watched over the summer. It may be […]
20 Questions: Mike Denbee – London Welsh flanker
From Weston-Super-Mare to the Premiership… pinching yourself? I’ve certainly gone the long way round… Weston to Plymouth to Spain to Birmingham & Solihull, and now […]
London Wasps will have to meet fire with fire at Bath says Dai Young
London Wasps head coach Dai Young reckons his side will have to meet fire with fire if they want to comeback from the Rec with […]
Premiership Round 2: preview and predictions
Bath v London Wasps Lee Mears will make his 250th appearance tomorrow in a Bath side with two changes from the team that claimed their […]
Rugby Championship Round Three: preview and predictions
Australia v South Africa Australia have made their intention clear before their crucial clash against South Africa in Perth, they will run the ball and […]
RaboDirect Pro12 Round 2: preview and predictions
Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh Wales Grand Slam winners Sam Warburton, Leigh Halphpenny, Alex Cuthbert and Bradley Davies all return for Cardiff in a much stronger […]
Top 14 Round 4: preview and predictions
Mercurial fly-half Frederic Michalack will not make is starting debut for Toulon as Jonny Wilkinson retain his No.10 jersey for the reception of Bordeaux-Begles tomorrow. […]
James Hook finds it’s always time for tee in new tryless Top 14
Welsh fly-half James Hook believes that the emphasis placed on defence by French clubs has placed more responsibility on kickers. The 27-year has just started […]
Chance to have controlling interest lured Shane Geraghty back to Irish
Fly-half Shane Geraghty has relished the link-up with Brian Smith and says the opportunity to be the fulcrum in London Irish‘s new-look backline was enough […]
My Life in Rugby: John Gallagher – 1987 New Zealand world cup winning full-back
Despite what Brian Moore and Jonathan Davies might have said at the time, the New Zealand team that won the 1987 World Cup was in no […]
Jenkins not released for start of Lions tour?
Toulon boss Bernard Laporte revealed today that they might not release Wales prop Gethin Jenkins for the start of the 2013 British and Irish Lions […]
Peter Jackson: A spat that ended with an all-Welsh Pro12 punchline
Phil Davies and Simon Easterby go back a long way, to a Third Division scrap in West Yorkshire during the pioneering weeks of professionalism. The […]
Heart-blow Lloyd Burns set to land job with WRU
Wales World Cup hooker Lloyd Burns is in talks over a new career five months after being forced into premature retirement with a heart condition. […]
Dream Team: Don Barrell – Bedford and former Saracens No.8
1. Rhys Gill – Surprise package who’s proved a lot of people wrong. But I have no idea how he’s made it to international level […]
Moment in Time: Gloucester and the 2003 Powergen Cup Final
It is perhaps typical of Gloucester‘s ill-fortune down the years that their 2002-3 campaign is best remembered for two complete and utter disasters: the humiliating […]
Lions announce Warren Gatland as head coach
Wales head coach Warren Gatland was announced yesterday as head coach for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next Summer. It was the […]
Jeff Probyn: TMOs should be allowed to single out the thugs
The Premiership has announced that it intends to increase the powers of the TMO’s at live televised games by allowing them to report foul play […]
So far so good for London Irish’s new ‘offloading machine’ Seitaimata Sa
Plenty of Rugby League converts take months if not years to adapt to the intricacies of Union, but London Irish-bound Setaimata Sa says his Kiwi […]
Top clubs may fight salary cap in court
The legality of Premiership Rugby‘s salary cap is set to be challenged under European Union competition law, according to a leading club insider. Emboldened by […]
Saint-Andre’s regime is to blame for Sale’s slump, says Pete Anglesea
Former director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre must shoulder the blame for Sale‘s slump in fortunes, according to forwards coach Pete Anglesea. But Anglesea insists the […]
Premiership preview (1 day to go): Harlequins, Leicester, Saracens
With the Aviva Premiership starting tomorrow, we take a look at what lays ahead for the last three of the 12 teams. Today, Harlequins, Leicester […]
Room 101: Joe Maddock – Saracens wing
1. TMO’S Television Match Officials – to give them their full title – definitely have a place in the game. But only if they get […]
Aviva Premiership Round 1: Team News and Predictions
Exeter v Sale Tom Johnson returns to the Exeter team after making his England debut on their summer tour to South Africa while new signing […]
Pro12 Round 1: Team news and Predictions
Connacht v Cardiff Blues Scrum-half Kieran Marmion makes his first appearance for the province but summer signing Scottish international Dan Parks will not play against […]
Top14 Round 3: Preview and Predictions
Bottom of the table Mont-de-Marsan face the daunting prospect of unbeaten big spending Toulon with Jonny Wilkinson in fine point scoring form. The World Cup […]
Conor O’Shea challenges Harlequins to become a great team
Good teams win titles, but great teams back it up time and again. That is the view of Harlequins‘ head honcho Conor O’Shea as his […]
RFU Championship Preview: team by team
Bedford Blues The shortening of the play-off format from a top eight to a top four will assist part-time outfit Bedford Blues’ quest for promotion […]
Bath’s Rob Webber out until 2013
England hooker Rob Webber could be sidelined until the New Year after undergoing a second shoulder operation. The new Bath signing has not played since […]
Maxime Mermoz joined with Jonny Wilkinson at Toulon to win titles
After four years at Perpignan, centre Maxime Mermoz says he switched to the other side of the Mediterranean coast to join Toulon with one thing […]
Premiership preview (2 days to go): Northampton, Exeter, Sale
With the start of the Aviva Premiership only two days away, we take a look at what lies ahead for the 12 teams. Today, Northampton, […]
Dylan Hartley says Northampton don’t need Chris Ashton
Northampton captain Dylan Hartley says winger Chris Ashton is gone and forgotten after turning his back on the club to join Saracens. Ashton, 25, racked […]
“We’ll have fun rising to challenge,” says Newcastle’s Dean Richards
Dean Richards will warn his Newcastle troops to expect the unexpected when they finally get their Championship campaign up and running at Bristol on September […]
Young Gun: James Currie – Worcester prop
With a childhood spent exploring the Amazon rainforests, not much will faze Worcester prop James Currie as he navigates the Premiership jungle. Currie – who […]
Fijian Josh Matavesi can lead the Worcester Warriors great offensive
Worcester boss Richard Hill reckons Josh Matavesi could provide the X-Factor to spark the Warriors’ backline into life. Hill’s men struggled to cross the whitewash […]
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