England forward Jonny Hill, who was given a 10-week suspension following an incident involving a Bath fan in June, will signal the end of a year he would rather forget by returning to action for Sale Sharks in the Investec European Champions Cup clash at Glasgow Warriors. Hill suffered a serious patella injury in the Read More …
As Callum Chick led the Newcastle Falcons in a raucous rendition of Blaydon Races, the song they belt out in the changing rooms after a win, he realised that half the players didn’t know the words. That was hardly surprising as the victory over Exeter ended a debilitating 25 game losing run in the Gallagher Read More …
The towns of Treviso and Townsville are separated by 9,293 miles but linked by their emotional importance to one of the most famous players to pick up a rugby ball. Michael Lynagh, the 1991 World Cup winning Australian outside half, played for Queensland 100 times scoring 1166 points and also helped Benetton Treviso become champions Read More …
Former Wasps flyer Ali Crossdale’s personal Top 14 highlights reel includes the moment he burnt French international wing Damian Penaud to score a great individual try in Perpignan’s win over Bordeaux last season and that pace has always marked him out as a special talent. The win offered Perpignan the chance to finish in the Read More …
When newly promoted Vannes starting selling season tickets for their Top14 debut more than 50,000 applied causing the club’s website to crash. The club’s president, Olivier Cloarec, had to issue a public apology for the failure of the website to deal with the rush which is even more remarkable when you consider the town only Read More …
Michael Cheika was about to move his family from Paris back to Australia when he was offered the chance to turn Leicester Tigers from also rans into a team that could recapture former glories and is aiming high by targeting the Gallagher Premiership and the Investec Champions Cup for his new squad. Having agreed a Read More …
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 …
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 …
Adam Hastings, the Gloucester outside half, has an uncanny ability to capture the attention of social media, including an incredible drop goal from his own half and being on the receiving end of a massive hit delivered by a 123kg Fijian second row. His latest internet contribution has been constantly replayed to try and work Read More …
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 …
