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 …
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 …
Brad Barritt believes the support of key members of the double winning Saracens leadership team will ensure Owen Farrell handles the pressure of the England captaincy as he attempts to guide the team to glory at the World Cup in Japan. Farrell’s form has been patchy in the warm-up tests for the tournament with one Read More …
Jacques Burger believes it would be a tactical masterstroke for South Africa to deploy veteran hooker Schalk Brits at No8 during the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has hinted that the 38-year-old former Saracens hooker could play in the back row during the Cup to give the first choice players in Read More …
Maro Itoje has warned the rest of the World Cup nations heading for Japan that Manu Tuilagi is an “absolute monster” after overcoming numerous injury problems to help England destroy Ireland in record breaking style 57-12 at Twickenham today. Try scorer Tuilagi put in a man of the match performance in the No13 jersey normally Read More …
Alex King, the Montpellier backs coach, believes an England team based around the Saracens “machine” will nullify World Cup pool arch-rivals France despite the attacking firepower on show in Saturday’s Top 14 final between Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne in Paris. Both teams carry potent attacking options for French coach Jacques Brunel who has yet to Read More …
Alex Goode, the European Player of the Year, believes the constant criticism and claims of salary cap breaches has helped turn Saracens into triple Heineken Cup champions. Saracens defeated Leinster 20-10 in Newcastle, a win that confirmed their status as the best club team in Europe and Goode’s personal award only increased questions about why Read More …
Maro Itoje has set his sights on another Heineken Cup and Premiership double after helping Saracens outmuscle Leinster to become European Champions at St James’ Park. Itoje was yellow carded and saw Leinster move into a 10-0 lead but insisted his 10 minutes off the pitch was “ all part of the master plan” which Read More …
