Conor O’Shea is braced for the “usual tripe” in the build up to Italy’s clash with Georgia in Florence next month which is certain to revive the debate over introducing relegation in the Six Nations championship. Georgia have replaced Romania as the obvious contenders to push for a place in the Six Nations and Italy’s Read More …
Newcastle versus Exeter; Battle of the Back Rows 6. Don Armand © Vs Gary Graham 7. Matt Kvesic Vs Will Welch © 8. Sam Simmonds Vs Mark Wilson Armand Armand led the defensive effort for Exeter, working tirelessly at the breakdown and ‘trucked it on’ in attack. 7/10 Graham The blind side flanker was clearly Read More …
Danny Cipriani is consistent on and off the pitch. With ball in hand the outside half has always been able to unlock defences with handling and vision that few of his rugby generation can match. Off the pitch, he is a walking accident waiting to happen. He even opted out of Britain to escape his Read More …
The Samoa Rugby Union have appointed former Auckland Blues Assistant Coach Steve Jackson to replace Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua as head coach just a year away from the Rugby World Cup in Japan. S.R.U. Chief Executive Officer, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i, has confirmed to Radio New Zealand that Jackson has been chosen from a 40 strong list Read More …
Steve Hansen’s gut instinct tells him this is the right time to give Richie Mo’unga the chance to prove he really is an international alternative to Beauden Barrett as New Zealand move menacingly towards next year’s World Cup in Japan. That is why Mo’unga makes his debut for the All Blacks against Argentina on Saturday Read More …
English chiefs have boosted their coffers by selling space on the iconic Twickenham stadium roof to British Airways to provide the airline with a unique advertising board for all flights heading into Heathrow. The multi-million pound deal comes as the Rugby Football Union attempts to sort out its finances following a reported £30m overspend on Read More …
Former All Black No10 Nick Evans wants the Richie Mo’unga to be given the chance to prove he could lead New Zealand to World Cup glory in Japan by being thrown into meaningful Rugby Championship matches ahead of Beauden Barrett. Evans knows all about the pressures created by competition for the play-maker role in the Read More …
Willie Le Roux, the most experienced back in South Africa’s squad, will play just three Rugby Championship matches and one test in November under a deal agreed with Wasps, his Gallagher Premiership club. Le Roux’s international rugby career has been revived by the arrival of Rassie Erasmus as Springboks coach and the full back was Read More …
Schalk Brits has ended his self-imposed retirement from rugby after being convinced by South African coach Rassie Erasmus that he can win a place in the Springboks squad for the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Brits and Erasmus have been in close contact since the former Saracens hooker returned for the Springboks in the final Read More …
Billy Vunipola has undergone surgery to repair the arm he broke for a second time in England’s losing test series with South Africa and now faces another long period of rehabilitation. It is understood Vunipola had a plate inserted in the arm last week after breaking it in the same place in the second test Read More …
