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Tag: Scotland

Stick with Marcus Smith, he’s the best in England

5 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Steve Borthwick has put three outside halves on hybrid contracts and he has less than a month to decide which one to […]

Steve Borthwick and England facing historic USA test

5 January 2025 0 comments

EXCLUSIVE By Jon Newcombe England’s summer tour will include a historic Test against the USA, as well as the already announced two-match series against Argentina. […]

Northampton ring the changes

5 January 2025 0 comments

Full of life: Ollie Lawrence is enjoying his time on the pitch for Bath PICTURE: Getty Images SAINTS rounded off 2024 with a resounding 61-0victory […]

Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots

5 January 2025 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE description ‘Hybrid Central Contracts’ does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of this, and […]

Glorious Gerald,a man of true class

5 January 2025 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW EVERY now and then, Gerald Davies would take a stroll through the rare old times when Wales […]

Big two still leading the way

5 January 2025 0 comments

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO 2025 AND SEES SOUTH AFRICA AND IRELAND KEEPING THEIR PLACES AT THE TOP OF THE TREE A NEW year carries […]

When the Pontypool front row became a hit

5 January 2025 0 comments

IT’S pretty much 50 years ago to the day that the Pontypool front row became a thing, well sort of. Before January 4, 1975 Charlie […]

A Tier 2 XV to have you out of your seat

5 January 2025 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER You won’t ever see my 2024 Tier 2 All Stars XV take […]

My office at home is like a shrine to rugby

5 January 2025 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER MET POLICE, WASPS AND SARACENS NO.8, WHO REPRESENTED MIDDLESEX, LONDON, BRITISH POLICE & THE BARBARIANS LEE ADAMSON Decent: Lee Adamson […]

Strength in depth at Bath and Scotland is huge, says Josh Bayliss

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe On form: Josh Bayliss Josh Bayliss enjoyed his best run in a Scotland jersey over the autumn but insists competition for places […]

Ollie Sleightholme is the right man for England

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Jeremy Guscott – Outspoken and unmissable every week… Since Ollie Sleightholme won his first two England caps against New Zealand last summer, and then […]

Firefighter Jade Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins

29 December 2024 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Firefighter Jade Konkel has ignited a Harlequins title charge following a run of miserable successive seasons for the 2020/21 winners. The 31-year-old […]

Dream Team – Josh Davies

22 December 2024 0 comments

JOSH DAVIES, THE FORMER WALES U20s, EALING, LONDON WELSH & BARNES SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. Rhodri […]

DREAMTEAM

22 December 2024 0 comments

JOSH DAVIES, THE FORMER WALES U20s, EALING, LONDON WELSH & BARNES SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Rhodri Jones […]

DREAMTEAM

22 December 2024 0 comments

JOSH DAVIES, THE FORMER WALES U20s, EALING, LONDON WELSH & BARNES SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Rhodri Jones […]

England’s outsiders deserve a chance

22 December 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England […]

England’s outsiders deserve a chance

22 December 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England […]

England’s outsiders deserve a chance

22 December 2024 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England […]

England have to wait on Afo Fasogbon

22 December 2024 0 comments

Here’s hoping that the knee injury that Gloucester’s Afo Fasogbon sustained against Harlequins on Friday does not rule him out for long – because England […]

England have to wait on Fasogbon

22 December 2024 0 comments

HERE’S hoping that the knee injury that Gloucester’s Afo Fasogbon sustained against Harlequins on Friday does not rule him out for long – because England […]

England have to wait on Fasogbon

22 December 2024 0 comments

HERE’S hoping that the knee injury that Gloucester’s Afo Fasogbon sustained against Harlequins on Friday does not rule him out for long – because England […]

Steyn looking forward to a sibling showdown

22 December 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER PREVIEW… Glasgow v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 3pm, Hampden Park Fit again: Kyle Steyn FIT-AGAIN Scotland wing Kyle Steyn is relishing the prospect […]

Steyn looking forward to a sibling showdown

22 December 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER PREVIEW… Glasgow v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 3pm, Hampden Park Fit again: Kyle Steyn FIT-AGAIN Scotland wing Kyle Steyn is relishing the prospect […]

Kyle Steyn looking forward to a sibling showdown

22 December 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Match Preview Glasgow v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 3pm, Hampden Park Fit-again Scotland wing Kyle Steyn is relishing the prospect of making his […]

Cattle: Knights will be hard nut to crack

22 December 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Cornish Pirates v Doncaster K Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Mennaye Field CORNISH Pirates are on a high after handing Coventry their first […]

Cattle: Knights will be hard nut to crack

22 December 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Cornish Pirates v Doncaster K Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Mennaye Field CORNISH Pirates are on a high after handing Coventry their first […]

Cattle: Knights will be hard nut to crack

22 December 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Cornish Pirates v Doncaster K Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Mennaye Field CORNISH Pirates are on a high after handing Coventry their first […]

Elite show struggling to fit in

22 December 2024 0 comments

AFTER A GRIM WEEKEND FOR SOUTH AFRICAN SIDES, PAUL REES ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CHAMPIONS CUP LEICESTER attracted the second […]

Elite show struggling to fit in

22 December 2024 0 comments

AFTER A GRIM WEEKEND FOR SOUTH AFRICAN SIDES, PAUL REES ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CHAMPIONS CUP LEICESTER attracted the second […]

Elite show struggling to fit in

22 December 2024 0 comments

AFTER A GRIM WEEKEND FOR SOUTH AFRICAN SIDES, PAUL REES ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE CHAMPIONS CUP LEICESTER attracted the second […]

MY CHRISTMAS DAY XV

22 December 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Versatile: Mark Mapletoft lines up a kick for England PICTURE: Alamy 15 […]

MY CHRISTMAS DAY XV

22 December 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Versatile: Mark Mapletoft lines up a kick for England PICTURE: Alamy 15 […]

My Christmas day XV

22 December 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points by Brendan Gallagher Backs 15 Mark Mapletoft (England): Born December 25, 1971: Made […]

Scotland will benefit from winning habit – Blair Kinghorn

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Blair Kinghorn has been getting into the winning habit with Antoine Dupont and co at Toulouse and reckons that could spell bad […]

Penalise collapsing mauls in open play

15 December 2024 0 comments

THE officiating at the maul needs to be reviewed. When are referees going to penalise collapsing mauls in open play? Twice in the recent Scotland […]

The global travellers who light up game

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed There is nothing especially funny about short-term memory loss, but it may just have an upside when it comes […]

Dream Team – Peter Altham

15 December 2024 0 comments

PETER ALTHAM, THE FYLDE, LANCASHIRE AND FORMER WHARFEDALE AND PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. Soane […]

Farrell looking for answers

15 December 2024 0 comments

ANALYSIS » AS WE PREPARE TO ENTER A LIONS YEAR, PAUL REES CONSIDERS THE OPTIONS WHICH MIGHT COME TOGETHER IN AUSTRALIA THERE were Bristol just […]

Hellfire Corner gives a warm welcome to all

15 December 2024 0 comments

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Rugby was undergoing a massive boom 150 years ago so […]

Away-day fun key to pushing Hinckley back up the league

15 December 2024 0 comments

By Chris Collyer Despite turning out in the fourth tier at the age of 39, Nigel Mukarati believes his age only hardens and sharpens his […]

Brave Lupus banking on Mo’unga class

15 December 2024 0 comments

By MATT McILRAITH THE fourth season of Japan Rugby League One kicks off this week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda […]

Oyonnax must live without Joe El-Abd

15 December 2024 0 comments

By James Harrington Oyonnax’s seven-try 53-10 bonus-point win over ProD2 rivals Soyaux-Angouleme on Friday – their first victory since October 25 – was a relief […]

Darge: We’re all set for Toulon challenge

15 December 2024 0 comments

■By BRYN PALMER Hopeful: Rory Darge in action for Glasgow PICTURES: Getty Images SCOTLAND flanker Rory Darge believes Glasgow’s 2023 Challenge Cup final defeat by […]

Japan League One 2024/25 Season Preview

13 December 2024 0 comments

The fourth edition of Japan Rugby League One kicks off next week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda Heat and Ricoh […]

Winners? It’s hard to look beyond Toulouse – Chris Robshaw

8 December 2024 0 comments

Paul Rees talks to Chris Robshaw about the Champions Cup – and why he rates England’s chances in the Six Nations Chris Robshaw felt lost […]

George Horne hat-trick seals it for Glasgow Warriors

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Bryn Palmer Glasgow Warriors …. 38pts Tries: Horne 2, 12, 39; Rowe 16, Jones 23, Cummings 64 Conversions: Horne 3, 13, 17; Jordan 24 […]

My British & Irish Lions team are ready for take-off

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week… There is a view that picking a Lions Test team almost seven months before the […]

Gabriel Ibitoye must grab chance – Matt Banahan

8 December 2024 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Matt Banahan is looking forward to watching Gabriel Ibitoye press his England claims during the upcoming European window. Banahan, the former England, […]