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Tag: Japan

Flamboyant Harlequins add steel to their spine

21 July 2024 0 comments

HARLEQUINS are following the path trodden by Northampton a year ago, one that took the Saints to Twickenham and the title as a team known […]

Playing for your country is the biggest honour

21 July 2024 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER USA HOOKER AND HEAD COACH, WHO PLAYED PROFESSIONALLY FOR HARLEQUINS AND PONTYPRIDD TOM BILLUPS IWAS born and raised in a […]

Wrong that Hill was picked in the first place

21 July 2024 0 comments

GIVEN the dysfunctional state of their national game, perhaps only Wales could find a long-overdue win mired in a sorry controversy entirely of their own […]

It takes a long time to learn ‘the dark arts’

21 July 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME SO IT was a second defeat in New Zealand for an England team that promised so […]

Patchell becomes a rocket in Japan

21 July 2024 0 comments

On the move: Rhys Patchell scoring a try for the Highlanders last season PICTURES: Alamy WALES fly-half Rhys Patchell has joined NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu […]

Underhill so impressed by England’s improvement

14 July 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Sam Underhill is a decent barometer of England’s progress in the last 12 months having watched them from in and outside the […]

On-target Garbisi shows the way for Italy

14 July 2024 0 comments

International round-up Italy beat Tonga 36-14 in Nuku’alofa as the Azzurri bounced back from a shock defeat to Samoa on their Pacific tour. Fly-half Paolo […]

Try happy Scotland face USA in fight for promotion

14 July 2024 0 comments

U20s TROPHY By JAMES ORPIN SCOTLAND will be looking to book their return to the U20s World Championship on Wednesday when they contest the Trophy […]

Smith is enjoying the life of a tourist

7 July 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Dunedin Marcus Smith has been throwing himself into touring life down under as he makes the most of the current trip […]

England go close but All Blacks have enough to take honours

7 July 2024 0 comments

By NICK CAIN New Zealand……………….. 16pts Tries: Reece 16, Savea 25 Penalties: McKenzie 55, 66 England ………………………… 15pts Tries: Itoje 21, Feyi-Waboso 48 Conversion: Smith […]

NZ chief is backing All Blacks to get back to top

7 July 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY New Zealand CEO Mark Robinson is confident the All Blacks can rise to the top of the world game despite the recent […]

DREAM TEAM

7 July 2024 0 comments

Tom Savage, the Moana Pasifika and former Gloucester and Suntory Sungoliath second row, chooses the best XV he’s played with… 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin – Big […]

Big guns in danger of just looking after No.1

7 July 2024 0 comments

ANALYSIS PAUL REES WONDERS HOW THE SPORT CAN KEEP PAYING FOR ITSELF IN HARD TIMES….WHILE UNIONS BUILD FOR THE FUTURE When the professional era started […]

Dangers of brain trauma not new

7 July 2024 0 comments

The perceived wisdom is that rugby was not overly aware of the dangers of concussion and brain trauma back in the day but I’m not […]

Borthwick happy to go back for future

7 July 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME So it looks like Steve Borthwick has learned a lesson and decided what many thought was […]

19-try Scotland set points record

7 July 2024 0 comments

Men’s U20 Trophy SCOTLAND smashed the U20 Trophy points-scoring record with a 123-15 win over Samoa in Pool A at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh as […]

Freeman ready to roast the All Blacks

30 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Auckland Tommy Freeman has one more box to tick before he packs his golf clubs for a well-earned break in Majorca […]

Youngs backing his old mates to deliver

30 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Ben Youngs is backing his old England pals to upset the odds and “do something special” in the All Blacks backyard. The […]

Savea gets on the right track

30 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Star man: Ardie Savea in action for the Steelers PICTURE: Alamy WORLD Player of the Year Ardie Savea has poured scorn on […]

England looking good for first Test

30 June 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK It was imperative that England won their opening game against Japan before taking on New Zealand in a […]

Time for England’s rock-steady crew

30 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK NOW comes the acid test of England’s attacking progress. When Steve Borthwick side face New Zealand in […]

Borthwick is right to keep faith with Smith

30 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees Looks at the challenges facing England in New Zealand… While another Aussie steps in at Leicester Steve Borthwick hopes to name an unchanged […]

Cheika knows he will be judged on results

30 June 2024 0 comments

Leicester were once a byword for stability. Like Liverpool FC, they had a reputation for promoting from within and benefiting from a boot room that […]

England have enough to down the All Blacks

30 June 2024 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Steve Borthwick’s England team have taken their first step of their summer tour and returned with […]

Series 3, Episode 43: England beat Japan and the crazy life of Shaunagh Brown

24 June 2024 0 comments

In a congested weekend of rugby England put 50 points past Japan to carry some momentum into their two-test series against New Zealand. The Rugby […]

Borthwick: We must improve discipline

23 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan ENGLAND head coach Steve Borthwick warned his side to be squeaky clean in New Zealand after a disciplinary horror show […]

Lawrence ready for All Black challenge

23 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY OLLIE Lawrence revealed England’s current tour of Japan and New Zealand is the perfect tonic for his Premiership hangover. The Bath centre […]

Stylish Smith passes audition at No 10

23 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Japan……………………………. 17pts Tries: Nezuka 66, Tua 69 Conversions: Matsuda 67, 70 Penalties: Seungsin-Lee 2 England ……………………….. 52pts Tries: Cunningham-South 14, […]

Borthwick’s England are on the right track

23 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES EDDIE Jones praised Japan’s improvement in the set-pieces, and a 100 per cent record tended to back him up. But the lineout was […]

When two tribes go to war

23 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES SAYS IRELAND’S TWO-TEST SHOWDOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA WILL BE THE REAL THINGAND NOT A FUND-RAISER THE pick of the summer series pitches the […]

Diamond must find gems for Newcastle

23 June 2024 0 comments

PAUL REES ASSESSES THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FACING STEVE DIAMOND, THE MAN AT THE TOP AT KINGSTON PARK IT SEEMED that the only way for Newcastle […]

Eddie Jones’ mind games will not unsettle England against Japan – Jamie George

19 June 2024 0 comments

Jones’ seven-year Twickenham stewardship ended 18 months ago because of an ongoing decline in results and he is now back in charge of Japan. Jamie […]

Marcus Smith given the keys as Borthwick goes all guns blazing

18 June 2024 0 comments

By Tom Jeffreys Steve Borthwick has decided there is no room for experimentation as he names his strongest squad for this weekend’s fixture against Japan. […]

Carpenter looking to make his mark

16 June 2024 0 comments

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Sale’s Joe Carpenter is aiming for a cap with Steve Borthwick’s Red Rose touring side but admits his heart is […]

Borthwick: We want to get kids engaged

16 June 2024 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Japan Steve Borthwick has urged his side to help youngsters in England fall in love with rugby again after being blanked […]

Borthwick should go with Marcus first up

16 June 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK It will be a choice between Harlequins’ Marcus Smith and Northampton’s Fin Smith at fly-half for the first […]

Mistake to select Tom and not Ted

16 June 2024 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Ted Hill must be wondering what else he has to do to get back into an England […]

Quartet help Cardiff pull off unlikely double

16 June 2024 0 comments

Peter Jackson discovers which clubs and players come out best and worst when it comes to red and yellow cards Despite winning just four matches […]

The unexpected revolutionary

16 June 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees says this should be a summer of opportunities for England and head coach Steve Borthwick Steve Borthwick is an unlikely revolutionary. When he […]

Hill’s recall flies in the face of loyalty

16 June 2024 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Cory Hill walked out of the Wales squad last summer, preferring to join a Japanese team nobody […]

We’ve had brilliant seasons in Croatia

16 June 2024 0 comments

Coach to coach Steve Hill puts the questions to Anthony Posa, below, head coach of Sheffield RUFC and the Croatia National XVs and 7s teams […]

Gregor Townsend will not close the door on George Turner’s Scotland career

13 June 2024 0 comments

Gregor Townsend is adamant the door is not closed on George Turner’s Scotland career although he acknowledged it will be “challenging” for the hooker to […]

Tom Curry named in England’s summer tour squad despite limited game time

12 June 2024 0 comments

Tom Curry has been included in an England squad that contains seven players from newly crowned Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton. Curry features in the 36-man […]

RFU opens books to Team England Rugby as player contract talks reach key stage

11 June 2024 0 comments

The Rugby Football Union has opened up its books to Team England Rugby Ltd as talks over future player contracts reach a key stage. England […]

George Turner raises doubts over Scotland future after making switch to Japan

11 June 2024 0 comments

Scotland’s first-choice hooker George Turner has signed for Japanese side Kobelco Kobe Steelers in a move likely to have implications for his international career. Glasgow […]

Fin Smith sets sights on England fly-half spot as George Ford ruled out of tour

11 June 2024 0 comments

Fin Smith intends on claiming England’s fly-half jersey once he has recovered from Northampton’s Gallagher Premiership title celebrations – a prospect that moved a step […]

England have no issues with taking Tom Curry and Maro Itoje on summer tour

11 June 2024 0 comments

England are comfortable taking Tom Curry and Maro Itoje on their summer tour to Japan and New Zealand after rejecting concerns over their involvement. The […]

Steward: Sinfield has given me belief

9 June 2024 0 comments

By GARY FITZGERALD Freddie Steward hopes to enjoy some Southern Hemisphere comfort after coming through what he admits has been one of the most “challenging” […]