From courtside student to Wimbledon champion

Britain’s Henry Patten, who as student used to input scores for IBM on the outside courts, completed a remarkable Wimbledon story collecting the men’s doubles title alongside Finland’s Harri Heliovaara, winning 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 against Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, the Australian 15th seeds in an enthralling final on Centre Court. Unseeded Patten and Heliovaara, Read More …

Sam Matavesi on life as a top flight rugby player and Royal Navy star

Northampton hooker Sam Matavesi is the Royal Navy’s most high profile professional rugby player which is why he had to ask an Admiral for permission to face Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final at Croke Park. Matavesi, Fiji’s Rugby World Cup No2, juggles the demands of his dual role with the help of both Read More …

Zach Henry making a major impact with Stade Francais in Top14

Zack Henry, the Stade Francais outside half, has faced many personal challenges on his unique journey to the pinnacle of the Top14 in France, defying the odds to establish himself in the toughest league in the world. Last season, while helping Pau avoid relegation from the French top flight, he was regularly flying back to Read More …

Gareth Baber asked to help Fiji make it three Olympic sevens gold medals

Gareth Baber knows all about handling the massive expectation of a nation after masterminding the Fiji men’s defence of their Olympic Games sevens gold medal in Tokyo. Baber had to replicate the gold medal success of Ben Ryan’s men in Rio and now he has accepted the challenge of helping Fiji win a third successive Read More …

Mark Evans; Fijian Drua can cope with loss of head coach and has plans to halt loss of young talent

The Fijian Drua head into the Super Rugby Pacific competition knowing they could imminently lose head coach Mick Byrne if he is chosen to replace Simon Raiwalui at the helm of the Flying Fijians. The possible loss of Byrne comes as a tropical storm is bringing flooding to parts of the Islands nation, but Mark Read More …

Steve Diamond insists Newcastle Falcons Premiership future is secure

Steve Diamond has vowed Newcastle Falcons will not follow London Irish, Wasps and his former club Worcester Warriors into “oblivion” and insists he cannot see how he can fail as the new director of rugby despite the club being bottom of the Gallagher Premiership. Diamond, who received two letters today from Worcester supporters wishing him Read More …

Val Rapava Ruskin England hopes dealt massive blow

Val Rapava Ruskin, the Gloucester prop, has suffered a “devastating blow” in his bid to break into the England squad with knee surgery ruling him out of contention for the Six Nations championship. George Skivington, the Gloucester director of rugby, does not expect to have his powerhouse prop back in action until the “back end Read More …