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Tag: Japan

Fading myth of invincibility

25 June 2023 0 comments

As the World Cup approaches, Paul Rees reports on why the All Blacks need to hit the ground running For the first time in 28 […]

Williams heading for Japan

25 June 2023 0 comments

WALES and Lions wing Liam Williams has left Cardiff midway through his contract to join Kubota Spears in Japan. The 32-year-old had a year to […]

Eligibility rules are cause for concern

25 June 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER These newish eligibility regulations are still open to opportunists and if not […]

Familiar faces find some new identities

25 June 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Nine New Zealanders, four Australians, a goalkicking Irishman and an English prop are on track to make […]

2023 – Can it change the sport of Rugby? What’s missing?

18 June 2023 0 comments

As the most celebrated event in the oval ball sport comes closer with the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, we stumble across a crucial […]

Borthwick has it all to play for

18 June 2023 0 comments

Paul Rees considers the head coach’s options as he prepares to name his World Cup squad on August 7 England may have struggled in recent […]

King Campo was simply the best

18 June 2023 1 comment

World Cup icons…1991 >> Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage All sorts of players have taken the World […]

The wake of the Northern Hemisphere & the Rugby World Cup

13 June 2023 0 comments

The biggest celebration of the oval ball sport is here – the Rugby World Cup 2023 is just a few months away as France prepares […]

No more excuses: Time to get serious, England

11 June 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK AS soon as Steve Borthwick got the England head coach job he will have been straight into the […]

Argentina won't host Rugby World Cup in 2027

How a boat trip on the Seine swung the vote

11 June 2023 0 comments

The IRB took the momentous decision to stage a first World Cup in March 1985 in strange circumstances. Prior to their annual council meeting in […]

We will have to front up, says Laidlaw

4 June 2023 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Scotland’s players need to swiftly “front up” to the reality of their World Cup pool if they are to avoid a second […]

Young Guns: Scarlets & Wales U20 scrum-half Archie Hughes

4 June 2023 0 comments

Archie Hughes is looking to show the Scarlets and the world what he can do at the U20s World Championship later this month in South […]

Strewth, mate! Fast Eddie’s cash jackpot

28 May 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Eddie Jones returned to Twickenham this week as an RFU-made millionaire coach. Jones, who was paid over […]

Odogwu gets Italy chance

21 May 2023 0 comments

ITALY have called up former England prospect Paolo Odogwu as one of five uncapped players in their pre-World Cup training squad. The 26-year-old, who can […]

Wales refs fail to make the World Cup grade

14 May 2023 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to WRU head of refereeing Paul Adams about the dearth of top officials in Wales For the first time in the Rugby […]

Japan League One round-up

7 May 2023 0 comments

It’s advantage to Mitsubishi Dynaboars and Honda Heat in the Japan Rugby League One relegation play-offs as both sides were victorious in the first legs […]

Rugby World Cup France 2023: A Celebration of Rugby and Culture

1 May 2023 0 comments

France is getting ready to welcome the world for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which will be the second time they host the tournament after […]

Lawes, Tuilagi provide boost for England

30 April 2023 0 comments

Courtney Lawes has rejected offers from abroad to sign a new deal with Northampton. The 34-year-old England forward, who has 97 caps, made his Saints […]

Sanderson annoyed by Ashman’s move north

30 April 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Alex Sanderson is unhappy with the departure of Ewan Ashman to Edinburgh next season, adamant the hooker would be better off staying […]

How Far Will England Go at the Upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup?

27 April 2023 0 comments

Since reaching the Rugby World Cup final four years ago, England have endured a turbulent time in the international arena. They haven’t finished above third […]

Evans is plotting another Fiji shock

23 April 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON A globe-trotting Welshman has become a major part of Fiji‘s grand plan to make World Cup history repeat itself against Wales come […]

Tuilagi agrees one-year extension

23 April 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER England and Lions centre Manu Tuilagi will this week sign a contract that will keep him with Premiership high-flyers Sale for another […]

Politicians should give sport wide berth

16 April 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT The current US President and leader of the free world (so it says on the press release) is almost old enough to remember […]

Going abroad won’t make players better

16 April 2023 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME I really am getting fed up with the constant call from players wanting to have their […]

Itoje warned: Be ready to take pay cut

9 April 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England lock Maro Itoje has been warned to lower his salary expectations when his current deal with Saracens runs […]

Hard to stop the drain of players going overseas

9 April 2023 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Am I the only one thinking that Maro Itoje is living in cloud cuckoo land when […]

Unbeaten Knights charge on against the Rams

9 April 2023 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By BEN JAYCOCK SHOTA Horie celebrated his 150th game for Saitama Wild Knights with a try to help the defending champions […]

Farrell can play the Jonny role, says May

2 April 2023 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Owen Farrell can be the “Jonny Wilkinson figure” England will need to capture a second Webb Ellis Cup in France. Former Test […]

Vunipola poised to stay at Saracens

2 April 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Billy Vunipola could signal his intent to fight for his international career by extending […]

South Africa claim the celebratory sevens title

2 April 2023 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Proud: Kirkham coach Jonny Roddam RUGBY School held another event to mark 200 years since the birth of the game last weekend, […]

Shields returning to ‘Canes

2 April 2023 0 comments

FORMER England back row Brad Shields is returning to Super Rugby side the Hurricanes. Shields, 31, is currently playing for French club Perpignan on a […]

England look far too set in their ways

26 March 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Attacking rugby is an art. It’s the ultimate match within a match, and there’s a lot of moving […]

All eyes turn to the World Cup

26 March 2023 1 comment

Paul Rees sees the championship go to form with Ireland and France leading the way The Six Nations was for the second successive year decided […]

Former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen

Hansen: Weight of expectation could be Ireland’s toughest Rugby World Cup opponent

20 March 2023 1 comment

With unbeaten Six Nations and Autumn Nations campaigns and a series victory in New Zealand under their belts inside the last 12 months, there’s no […]

Standing tall as we finish on a high

19 March 2023 0 comments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND What a brilliant start by Wales at Stade de France and what an encouraging performance with which to end […]

Ospreys in talks to keep Williams

12 March 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales fly-half Owen Williams is in advanced talks with the Ospreys about extending his stay at the URC club beyond the end […]

Team spirit key for high-flyers Gloucester-Hartpury

12 March 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Lock star: Gloucester-Hartpury’s Sam Monaghan PICTURE: Getty Images Title chasing Gloucester-Hartpury have taken the Premier 15s by storm this season and look […]

Vunipola has his eye on Japan

5 March 2023 2 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Options: Vunipola Saracens No 8. Billy Vunipola has been looking to see what options are open to him in […]

Why is rugby not a more popular sport in the world?

28 February 2023 1 comment

After watching a thriller of a rugby match, you might wonder why it’s not a more popular sport worldwide. Even though rugby has more than […]

Borthwick right to ask for eligibility changes

26 February 2023 1 comment

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Steve Borthwick has had the guts, and the gumption, to state that the RFU’s ban on selecting […]

Urgent problems that RFU needs to address

12 February 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK England go into the second round of this Six Nations as the only team that Italy have […]

Borthwick puts faith in blitz squad

12 February 2023 2 comments

PREVIEW England v Italy PAUL REES SOUTH Africa have the bomb squad but Steve Borthwick has opted for the blitz squad against Italy at Twickenham […]

All Black half-backs will head to Far East

12 February 2023 1 comment

NEWS EXTRA AARON Smith and Beauden Barrett are the latest New Zealand players to confirm they will play club rugby in Japan after this year’s […]

Nadolo’s late score clinches victory for Waratahs

12 February 2023 2 comments

By CAMERON STEPHENS Former Leicester winger Nemani Nadolo scored a late try for Waratahs as they beat bitter rivals Queensland Reds 33-32 for their first […]

Giteau: I’ve milked the contracts dry

5 February 2023 2 comments

NEWS EXTRA MATT Giteau, 40, has announced his retirement, saying he’s “milked this game and the contracts dry” having played in Australia, France, Japan and […]

Spears point the way with victory at Verblitz

5 February 2023 0 comments

JAPAN ROUND-UP By BEN JAYCOCK Kubota Spears moved top of Japan Rugby League One with a 44-34 victory away to Toyota Verblitz. Tries from Haruto […]

Sharks fear the cap won’t fit for Tuilagi

22 January 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler On his way: Manu Tuilagi looks set to leave Sale SALE Sharks are ready to […]

Chiefs keen to keep Nowell as exodus goes on

22 January 2023 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs are stepping up attempts to keep England and Lions winger Jack Nowell as they bid to stem the haemorrhaging of talent from Sandy […]

Six Nations squads in-depth: Ireland

22 January 2023 0 comments

Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale has been recalled to Ireland’s 37-man Six Nations squad, but Munster fly-half Joey Carbery is a notable absentee. Stockdale joins Stuart McCloskey, […]