English rugby should set up an independent medical panel to analyse injury trends in the professional game and suggest ways of minimising risk to players to help insulate clubs, and the Rugby Football Union, from legal action in the future, according to a leading negligence lawyer. From 2019-20, campaigns will last longer but players will…
Month: March 2019
Super Rugby final points way for Wallabies in Bledisloe opener
As Australia prepare for Saturday’s opening Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Sydney, the recent Super Rugby final between the Crusaders and the Lions should be compulsory viewing in the Wallabies’ team room. The Crusaders’ 37-18 win in Christchurch two weeks ago might just have shown the Wallabies what to do – and…
Warren Gatland’s Wales head to Rome with another record on their minds
Warren Gatland predicted this would be Wales’s toughest game of the Six Nations. He claimed that if Wales beat France in Paris they would have a great chance of winning the championship. He is right. Having pulled off the biggest comeback in Championship history with their extraordinary 24-19 victory, Wales swan off to the Riviera…
Twickenham considers NFL-style plan for elite to split into two regions
The Rugby Football Union has proposed expanding the Premiership to 16 teams – split into two conferences – to resolve the continuing debate over promotion and relegation. Nigel Melville, the interim RFU chief executive, believes a move towards an American model, dividing the league along geographical boundaries, would answer the long-standing issue of whether to…
Rob Kearney back as Ireland ring changes for Six Nations trip to Scotland
Rob Kearney will return at full-back for Ireland’s Six Nations trip to Scotland, with Chris Farrell parachuted into the centres. Munster’s Farrell will partner Bundee Aki in midfield, with Robbie Henshaw dropping out of Ireland’s match squad because of a dead leg. Henshaw struggled positionally when shifted to full-back in last weekend’s 32-20 home loss…
Wasps face the might of Leinster and then another player exodus
When Wasps last entertained Leinster in Europe, they won 51-10 on their way to the Champions Cup semi-finals. It was only three years ago and completed an 84-16 season’s double, but when the sides meet at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday it is the Premiership side who are facing the hiding. Wasps have not won…
Wales’ Liam Williams helps turn scramble into a frolic against Tonga
Warren Gatland praised the strength in depth of the Wales squad after his side claimed an eighth consecutive win by crushing Tonga. Wales’ winning sequence is their longest since the 2004-05 season, and victory over South Africa next Saturday would complete a first autumn Tests clean sweep. Jacob Stockdale scores only try as Ireland earn…
England’s Daley-McLean on point for Le Crunch clash in Women’s Six Nations
England and France notched up more than half a century of points in their opening fixtures of the Women’s Six Nations and Sunday’s meeting in Doncaster will decide the fate of this year’s title. Simon Middleton, the England coach, happily concedes that last season’s grand slam winners are favourites but the only certainty at Castle…
Alex Lewington’s late try adds gloss to Saracens’ routine win over Lyon
This is no time to be sniffy if you are an Englishman in Europe, so two wins from two for Saracens, English flag-bearers, is on balance an achievement to celebrate. But the faithful of north London remained largely in their seats throughout this mundane exercise in result collection. No one thought for a moment that…
Owen Farrell rues ‘game that got away’ but says England will peak at World Cup
Owen Farrell believes the controversial defeat to New Zealand was easier to take because England will be closer to their peak if the sides meet in next year’s World Cup. England thought they taken the lead five minutes from time, but Sam Underhill’s try was ruled out after Courtney Lawes’s chargedown from an offside position….