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Tag: Toulon

Andrew Sheridan gives up rugby

1 August 2014 1 comment

Andrew Sheridan’s days as a rugby player are over according to French reports. The former England loosehead is said to have terminated his contract amicably […]

Hamilton hopes to restore reputation by leaving French coast

1 August 2014 0 comments

Big lock lifts the lid on why he left France for Saracens and his remorse over leaving Gloucester for the money.

“We’re up for a fight,” Dorian West tells Richard Cockerill

31 July 2014 0 comments

Saints forwards coach rubbishes suggestions by Leicester boss that his side may lack hunger to defend their Premiership title next season.

The Big Interview: A Q&A with Conor O’Shea

26 July 2014 0 comments

Neale Harvey sits down with the Harlequins boss and discusses preparation for the new season.

Brendan Gallagher: It’ll be a fight to the death for Saracens and Toulon

19 June 2014 2 comments

The seeding process for the inaugural European Champions Cup is just as unfathomable as its Heineken Cup predecessor but one thing is for certain, it […]

Peter Jackson: Willie John’s Lions are dwarfed by Toulon titans

6 June 2014 1 comment

When the Lions secured their only series win against New Zealand in 1971, they did so with a pack averaging 15 stone-a-man. Back then long […]

Nick Cain: Surely Steffon Armitage warrants exceptional treatment

5 June 2014 0 comments

Steffon Armitage’s omission from the England squad for the tour of New Zealand raises an interesting question. If, before the 2019 World Cup, some of […]

England boss justifies latest Steffon Armitage snub

5 June 2014 0 comments

Percentage of EQPs in Premiership justifies the rule that prevents overseas based stars from donning a red rose jersey.

Toulon confirm Jonny Wilkinson’s coaching role

29 May 2014 0 comments

As expected, Jonny Wilkinson will take up a coaching role at Toulon when he retires at the end of the season. The rugby icon, who […]

Brendan Gallagher charts the career of Jonny Wilkinson, the player who has transcended the game

28 May 2014 1 comment

Talk about synchronicity. When confirmation of Jonny Wilkinson’s much-touted retirement was filtering through this week I was actually rummaging around my garage looking for a […]

Jeremy Guscott: A moment of brilliance from George North could swing it

28 May 2014 0 comments

There is a certain kind of justice that the top two teams from the nine month league campaign have made it to the final and […]

Steffon Armitage wins ERC Player of the Year award

26 May 2014 0 comments

Steffon Armitage has been named 2014 ERC European Player of the Year. The Toulon flanker, who was Saturday’s final man of the match, won 19 […]

Farrell and Vunipola doubtful for Premiership Final and England tour

26 May 2014 0 comments

Saracens could be without Owen Farrell and Mako Vunipola for the Premiership final against Northampton on Saturday at Twickenham. Farrell, who played 65 minutes against […]

Peter Jackson: Warren Gatland’s Law takes a mauling from WRU!

23 May 2014 0 comments

Warren Gatland made a strange announcement last Tuesday over the resurrection of the Welsh trial match, buried long ago with other traditional fixtures beneath the […]

“There won’t be many chips in Toulon’s armour” – Richard Wigglesworth

22 May 2014 2 comments

Saracens take on Toulon in the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff of Saturday and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth is fully aware of the huge task ahead. […]

Nick Cain talks to Rob Baxter about the Heineken Cup final

22 May 2014 0 comments

Rob Baxter is in the unique position for an English coach of having done the surgery on the victims-in-common of Heineken Cup finalists Saracens and […]

Jonny Wilkinson to hang up boots

19 May 2014 0 comments

As revealed in The Rugby Paper on March 23, Jonny Wilkinson will retire at the end of the season. Seventeen years after making his debut […]

Jeff Probyn: IRB must raise qualification period to at least eight years

9 May 2014 0 comments

The two biggest spending clubs in France and England, Toulon and Saracens, have proved that money can buy success. Although it has taken them some […]

Nick Cain talks to three great English Lions to gather their views about the England back-row

8 May 2014 0 comments

Back-row expertise does not come with better credentials than that offered by Roger Uttley, Mike Teague and Peter Winterbottom. The trio are legends of the […]

Peter Jackson: So, have the roaring 40s blown Brad Thorn off course?

2 May 2014 1 comment

Brad Thorn was saying only the other day how he planned to be playing ‘top level footy’ at 40, a long-distance landmark beyond the reach […]

GK IPA Championship play-offs preview – part 1

1 May 2014 1 comment

Bristol Regular season With a strong squad at his disposal Andy Robinson has simply put the accent on piling up the points and developing […]

Nick Cain: Fizzing George Ford ready for next step with club and country

1 May 2014 0 comments

George Ford has come of age. Finally. It has been a long time coming because Ford has been lumbered with the tag of English rugby‘s […]

Toulon to take on Saracens in Heineken Cup final

27 April 2014 3 comments

Toulon will have a chance to defend their European crown as they beat Munster 24-16 in Marseille in the Heineken Cup semi-final today. Simon Zebo […]

Old Warhorse Nathan Hines desperate to avenge Toulon ‘body blow’

25 April 2014 0 comments

Clermont second row Nathan Hines believes multi-tasking Saracens are a bigger threat to his side’s league and cup double-winning ambitions than Leicester were ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final showdown at Twickenham.

Nick Cain talks to Brad Barritt about Saracens and England

24 April 2014 0 comments

Brad Barritt is not going to see the England No.12 jersey handed over to Billy Twelvetrees, Luther Burrell, Kyle Eastmond, or any other rival inside-centre […]

Brendan Gallagher: The day that Munster found vintage form in Bordeaux

24 April 2014 0 comments

Munster‘s love affair with the Heineken Cup has become the stuff of legend but in nearly two decades I recall no bigger match or occasion […]

Sam Warburton left out in the cold by regions

21 April 2014 2 comments

Sam Warburton has no regional team to play for next season after the Welsh regions reaffirmed their stand against central contracts. The Lions captain signed […]

Brendan Gallagher: Matt Giteau counts his blessings amid sun, sea and rugby stars

17 April 2014 0 comments

There was a fascinating cameo for people watchers at the end of Toulon‘s mighty win over Leinster at Stade Felix Mayol the other Sunday. Following […]

Brendan Gallagher: John Bull agenda is robbing England of some top talent

16 April 2014 0 comments

There is much to admire about Stuart Lancaster‘s England but I remain unconvinced by this “Little England” attitude which bars prospective England players plying their […]

Nick Cain: Here’s how All Blacks Test could have moved

9 April 2014 2 comments

There are times when it is blatantly obvious that the standards of excellence now demanded of England‘s professional rugby players are not always mirrored in […]

Toulon beat Leinster to march on to Heineken Cup semi-final

6 April 2014 0 comments

Brian O’Driscoll has played his last Heineken Cup game as Leinster crashed out in the quarter-finals losing to Toulon 29-14 at the Stade Mayol. In […]

Dream Team: Dean Schofield – Worcester and former Sale & Toulon lock

31 March 2014 0 comments

1. Eifion Lewis-Roberts – I played with him at Sale Sharks and Toulon. He’s one of the most powerful props I’ve come across and to […]

Peter Jackson: Hanno Dirksen heads the new foreign invasion

28 March 2014 1 comment

France will be free to pick another South African next season and install Rory Kockott as their prospective scrum-half for the World Cup. As from […]

Nick Cain: Moaning Robin McBryde should face all the facts

20 March 2014 1 comment

If Robin McBryde wants to know why Gethin Jenkins was sin-binned against England last weekend he does not need to go the IRB for an […]

Leigh Halfpenny out for four months

14 March 2014 0 comments

Leigh Halfpenny will be out of action for up to four months as he requires a shoulder surgery. The Wales full-back dislocated his shoulder in […]

Master spy James O’Connor is impressed by England

5 March 2014 1 comment

James O’Connor believes England are “building towards something special” and admits Australia will have their work cut out to beat them at the 2015 World Cup.

Defeat at Twickenham carries £2m price tag

4 March 2014 0 comments

England and Wales will be playing for high stakes in next Sunday’s Six Nations eliminator at Twickenham.

My Life in Rugby: Simon Shaw – former lions, England & Wasps lock

25 February 2014 0 comments

In 1994 I went on the England tour to South Africa – the first post-Apartheid tour. That is a big highlight because it was not […]

Peter Jackson: James Hook plays the Invisible Man come hail or shine

20 February 2014 1 comment

The Invisible Man of the Six Nations could be seen down by the Mediterranean the other day, literally warming up for his club’s fight to […]

Brendan Gallagher: Ruan Pienaar keeps faith with Ulster

14 February 2014 0 comments

There might have been a more influential and committed ‘overseas’ signing than Ruan Pienaar in the last 18 seasons since rugby turned professional but I […]

Nick Cain: ‘Slammin Sam’ Burgess could be hit for England

13 February 2014 0 comments

Sam Burgess might just be the answer to England‘s 2015 prayers. The idea of an outstanding 18 stone, 6ft 5ins athlete at inside-centre, who comes […]

Nick Cain: Sam Warburton could be the first casualty of Welsh war

7 February 2014 0 comments

Sam Warburton’s central contract with the WRU is threatening to become an unholy mess. When the news broke last weekend that the Wales captain had […]

James O’Connor joins Toulon

6 February 2014 0 comments

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has confirmed James O’Connor has signed a six-month deal with the European champions ahead of next season. London Irish confirmed last […]

Heineken and Amlin Cup QFs schedule revealed

27 January 2014 1 comment

ERC today announced the schedule for the Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup quarter-finals. The heavyweight confrontations in the Heineken Cup last eight begin with four-time […]

Alun Wyn Jones signs new Ospreys deal

24 January 2014 0 comments

Alun Wyn Jones Jones has ended speculations on his future by putting pen-to-paper on a contract that will see him remain with the Ospreys until […]

Leigh Halfpenny to leave Blues and join Toulon…

23 January 2014 2 comments

As revealed in The Rugby Paper by Peter Jackson on December 8, British & Irish Lions full back Leigh Halfpenny will leave the Cardiff Blues […]

Nick Cain looks at the challenge awaiting England in their opening six nations match in Paris

22 January 2014 2 comments

Le Crunch 2014 is going to leave either England or France broken*. The opening Test of the Six Nations in Paris a fortnight from now […]

Saracens bait Adam ‘Hair Bear’Jones with £300k

21 January 2014 0 comments

Saracens have entered the bidding war for Wales and Lions star Adam Jones offering him £300,000 a season

Home Heineken Cup semi-final draw for Saracens

20 January 2014 0 comments

Saracens have been handed a home Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont or Leicester should they reach that stage. The Premiership leaders will first have to […]