All posts tagged "Nick Cain"
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British and Irish Lions
/ 3 days agoNick Cain: Andy Farrell still at 6s and 7s in his British and Irish Lions back row conundrum
While Henry Pollock is the talk of the town, and deservedly so following his meteoric rise and selection for the 2025...
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Champions Cup
/ 1 week agoNick Cain: At last! Welcome words reinforce value of jeopardy
One of the few signs of clear-thinking rugby union sanity this week came from Simon Gillham, the chairman of the Tier...
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British and Irish Lions
/ 1 week agoHenry Pollock’s energy could give British and Irish Lions that extra boost
By Nick Cain The likelihood of any uncapped young “bolters”, who were a feature of Lions squad announcements in the amateur...
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Champions Cup
/ 1 week agoNick Cain: Backing of franchise rugby is myopic, hypocritical and self-serving …
The parallel universe which some of the main movers and shakers in the RFU/ Premiership currently inhabit has revealed itself in...
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Latest News
/ 2 weeks agoBath 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...
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Miscellaneous
/ 2 weeks 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 weeks 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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Columnists
/ 3 weeks 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
/ 3 weeks agoNick Cain: Payments may not be swift for Worcester Warriors
The spin over substance element in the administration of the game in England has been highlighted by fears that Worcester’s undertaking...
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Latest News
/ 3 weeks 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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Columnists
/ 1 month 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
/ 1 month 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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English Championship
/ 1 month 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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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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English Championship
/ 2 months agoSimon Halliday’s blast: The RFU keeps ignoring the Championship
By Nick Cain Simon Halliday has slammed the proposed loan bail-out for Newcastle Falcons, the Premiership’s basement club, and the continued...
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Latest News
/ 2 months agoTom Curry wins my Six Nations True Grit award
By Nick Cain The “True Grit” award for the 2025 Six Nations has to go to Tom Curry. I will...
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Latest News
/ 2 months 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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Latest News
/ 2 months agoSix Nations: Rampant England find new ways to impress against Wales
By Nick Cain Wales ..................................14pts Tries: B Thomas 31, 77 Conversions: Anscombe 32, J Evans 77 Tries: Itoje 3, Roebuck 10,...
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Letters
/ 2 months agoThe 7-1 bench split must be given the boot
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The reality of the 7:1 bench split is unmasked. The development...
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Podcast
/ 2 months agoPODCAST (S4, E26): France target Six Nations title and Wales target England scalp with Alex Cuthbert
After a cracking weekend of rugby in which the championship tilted in French favour following their stunning win in Dublin, Ollie...
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Latest News
/ 2 months agoFrancis Baron: It’s time for the entire RFU Board to go
By Nick Cain Francis Baron has called for the replacement of the entire RFU Board, adding a radical dimension to the...
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Latest News
/ 2 months agoSix Nations: France get back their va va voom to end Ireland’s Grand Slam hopes
By Nick Cain Ireland............................... 27pts Tries: Sheehan 43, Healy 77, Conan 81 Conversions: Prendergast 44, 78, 81 Penalties: Prendergast 35, 43...
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Latest News
/ 2 months agoTommy Freeman deserves a run in the centres
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The England midfield has been a mishmash of failed partnerships, wishful...
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Latest News
/ 2 months agoPressure is building on the RFU Board to stand down
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The Whole Game Union has added its weight to the call...
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Latest News
/ 2 months agoBen Youngs lifts the lid on Steve Borthwick – but too late
By Nick Cain Ben Youngs lifted the lid last week on Steve Borthwick being a “risk-averse” coach, and stated that the...
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Miscellaneous
/ 2 months agoSupport for change at RFU keeps on building
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week As the SGM vote calling for regime change at the RFU...
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Podcast
/ 3 months agoPODCAST (S4, E24): England regain Calcutta Cup, Wales show signs of life & France flourish in Rome, with Nick Heath
Three fixtures told three hugely different stories in the third round of the 2025 Six Nations. Ireland held off a promising...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoEngland 16-15 Scotland: Fin Smith has diamonds on the soles of his shoes
By Nick Cain at Twickenham England ..............................16pts Try: Freeman 9 Conversion: M Smith 9 Penalties: M Smith 56, 67; F Smith...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoCut bench in half to make a game of it
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The bench is damaging rugby union, and this Six Nations should...
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Podcast
/ 3 months agoPODCAST (S4, E23): Calcutta Cup and Six Nations R3 Preview with Scotland Great Craig Chalmers
It’s almost time for the third round of the 2025 Six Nations, and the headline fixture of the weekend takes place...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoEx-Navy chief aims broadside at ‘one-way’ RFU Roadshow
By NICK CAIN PADDY McAlpine, the chairman of Chichester RFC – a level six community club – has slammed the RFU...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoSix Nations – England need to be more consistent
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Driving force: Tom Willis has the power to make headway up...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoCome in No.10! – Jarrod Evans, ninth time the charm?
By Nick Cain Should Marcus Smith’s understudy at Harlequins find himself back on Six Nations duty this weekend at long last,...
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Podcast
/ 3 months agoPODCAST (S4, E22): Warren Gatland goes and England sink France with Jamie Noon
A weekend full of statement wins and in the aftermath, a mid-tournament coaching departure. Join the guys to review how England...
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Six Nations
/ 3 months agoSix Nations: England ecstasy as Fin Smith seizes the day against France
By Nick Cain at Twickenham England ............................. 26pts Tries: Lawrence 36, Freeman 58, Baxter 70, Daly 79 Conversions: M Smith 36,...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoFreddie Steward, take a tip from the best…
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Freddie Steward was not England’s worst performer against Ireland. However, the...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoSix Nations Predictions League: Round Two with Brett Igoe and The Rugby Analyst
Ahead of round two, the boys from the podcast, alongside this week’s guest, Irish analyst Brett Igoe and YouTube’s Rich Isaac...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoSix Nations – England wilt in Dublin’s red hot furnace
By Nick Cain Ireland............................... 27pts Tries: Gibson-Park 35, Aki 52, Beirne 64, Sheehan 72 Conversions: Crowley 65, 73 Penalty: Prendergast 56...
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Miscellaneous
/ 3 months agoStop giving No.9s so much protection
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Welcome to the 2025 Six Nations, and, unfortunately, a new abomination...
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Latest News
/ 3 months agoSix Nations Predictions League: Round One with Jeremy Guscott and The Rugby Analyst
Ahead of the 2025 Six Nations opener in Paris tonight the boys from the podcast, alongside this week’s guests, England legend...
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Podcast
/ 3 months agoPODCAST: (S4, E20) – Six Nations Championship Preview with Jeremy Guscott and the Rugby Analyst
Here. We. Go. The Six Nations is just two sleeps away and we can’t wait! Join host Ollie Little and a...
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Latest News
/ 4 months agoTime to be brave and start with Henry Pollock at flanker for England
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Are England fit for purpose going into the Six Nations? Steve...
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Latest News
/ 4 months agoDo the right thing, Bill Beaumont, and tell Bill Sweeney to be on his way
By Nick Cain Bill Beaumont has a duty to advise Bill Sweeney that his tenure as RFU chief executive is...
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Podcast
/ 4 months agoS4, E19: England & Scotland hit by injuries, French clubs fire and South Africans slump
What to make of that Champions Cup weekend? On one hand we saw a classic in Northampton’s victory over Munster, however...
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International Rugby
/ 4 months agoGood news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain,...
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Letters
/ 4 months agoSorry, Nick, but it’s different in France
NICK Cain has spent several issues arguing the case for promotion from the Championship and made an unfavourable comparison with French...
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Club Rugby
/ 4 months agoOllie Lawrence’s play-acting was shameful to watch
Ollie Lawrence’s sham injury in the closing minutes of a knife-edge finish between Northampton and Bath at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend...
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Latest News
/ 4 months ago2025 Predictions: More Antoine Dupont dominance + The British & Irish Lions to win down under
2025 has begun and a year of rugby excitement awaits. With it being a World Cup year for the Women’s game...
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Letters
/ 4 months agoWe need return to the County game
In Rugby Paper December 29, Paul Rees refers to Exeter’s Rob Baxter, whose club were bottom of the Premiership after eight...
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Latest News
/ 4 months agoHybrid Hash will tie Steve Borthwick in knots
By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The description ‘Hybrid Central Contracts’ does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually...
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