Fin Smith’s path to international rugby has involved dealing with significant mental and physical challenges, including the onerous task of washing Steve Diamond’s car. While Northampton Saints is now Smith’s home, his journey to test rugby started at Warwick School before entering the Worcester Warriors academy and a period of his fledgling professional rugby career 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 …
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 …
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, 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 …
George Ford revealed he practises drop goals at every training session which gave him the skill to land three as he accumulated a match winning 27 points to give 14 man England victory to launch their Rugby World Cup campaign against Argentina in Marseille. Jonny Wilkinson’s Cup winning drop goal in 2003 has a special Read More …
Fiji rugby chiefs have revealed they have ring fenced a budget of £3.8m (Fiji$11m) to help the Flying Fijians make an impact at the Rugby World Cup in France despite the union facing worrying debts. An investigation into the Union’s financial troubles has seen debts of £1.2 million (Fiji $ 3.5m) uncovered, however, FRU board Read More …
Sale boss Alex Sanderson says a “simmering” Manu Tuilagi is ready to prove his England career is not over when he faces Northampton at Franklins Gardens. Tuilagi has seen Bath’s Ollie Lawrence chosen in the defence busting role against Italy after Harlequins Joe Marchant was picked to partner captain Owen Farrell in the loss to Read More …
Mateo Carreras is a constant reminder of the clear and present danger waiting for England at the Rugby World Cup and the recent 30-29 Twickenham loss to pool opponents Argentina helped oust Eddie Jones from his role as head coach. That defeat during a disappointing Autumn international series for England triggered a regime change with Read More …
Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, has never been afraid to push the boundaries to prepare his players for extreme physical and mental challenges which is why six Thai masseurs arrived at the club’s Carrington training ground this week as the team dealt with a five day turnaround between matches. While this latest Read More …
