Fears are growing that Dan Biggar will be unable to lead Wales in their Autumn internationals with the outside half seeking specialist advice on his knee injury but Courtney Lawes has taken the first important steps on his return from concussion and could become a captaincy option for Eddie Jones, the England head coach. Phil Read More …
Exeter boss Rob Baxter believes a 13 team Premiership is hindering the game in England and is calling for an end to constant rule amendments in the sport insisting: “I cannot think of many changes in the last five years that have improved the game.” The current financial woes of Worcester and Wasps have raised Read More …
Steve Diamond, the most experienced director of rugby in the Premiership, is facing the toughest 10 days of his career and has asked his Worcester Warriors players to continue training despite the looming threat of closure as the club enters administration. If the Worcester players and staff are not paid their wages at the end Read More …
The Fiji Rugby Union is conducting an internal investigation with three staff members sacked while John O’Connor, the chief executive, has agreed to take annual leave. Over the years various Pacific Islands rugby unions have faced investigations over the financial handling of their affairs and now Fiji is dealing with speculation and rumour at a Read More …
England’s bid for Rugby World Cup glory in France next year is about to become tougher with Samoa aiming to add former All Blacks Lima Sopoaga and Steve Luatua to their Pacific Nations Cup winning squad, although including 103 cap Ma’a Nonu looks unlikely. Head coach Seilala Mapusua has revealed his plans to RugbyPass as Read More …
European rugby chiefs are driving plans to create a Club World Cup to be played every four years involving eight teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres but English officials insist that nothing has been signed or agreed. The Club World Cup is understood to be driven by Mark McCaffery, formerly in charge of Premiership Read More …
Sir Buck Shelford has slammed the All Blacks as they prepare for the deciding test with Ireland in Wellington delivering a withering verdict on the team’s 23-12 defeat in Dunedin that squared the series. The manner of the defeat left one of the greatest ever All Blacks questioning the skills of the players and this Read More …
Nick Evans believes Harlequins have to deliver back-to-back Premiership titles to achieve their goal of becoming the “most admired club in Europe.” Standing in the way of the reigning champions on Saturday at the StoneX stadium are arch-rivals Saracens in the play-off semi-final and Evans, one of the sport’s outstanding attack coaches, insists his players Read More …
Tom Wood, one of the outstanding forwards of his generation, has decided to retire after a career that brought him 50 England caps and a double title winning season with Northampton. Wood will hang up his boots at the end of this season after years as the embodiment of Northampton’s rugby culture, leading by example Read More …
La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara has admitted captain Victor Vito is in a “massive race against time” to face Leinster in Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final in Marseille and is looking at using a hurling glove to allow another All Black Tawera Kerr-Barlow to play despite two broken bones in a hand. Vito, who would Read More …
