England’s head coach, Eddie Jones, says he no longer feels safe using British public transport after being verbally and physically abused on a train and at a station following his side’s Calcutta Cup defeat on Saturday. Jones has also criticised jingoistic comments made by Scottish rugby figures which he feels helped to fuel an unsavoury…
Month: March 2019
Ben Ryan: ‘I felt no joy in my last final with England … I was completely flat’
“I much preferred Fiji – even with a dictator in charge, a boss who was convicted for manslaughter, my phone being bugged, the bankruptcy and black magic – than my last year at the RFU,” says Ben Ryan, as he sips on a double espresso and reminisces about an extraordinary journey that culminated in him…
Maro Itoje back on form as Saracens ease past sluggish Harlequins
England’s struggle this season has, as ever, generated debate about the fault line in the professional game in a country where the first loyalty of players is not to their national team but their employers, the clubs. Eddie Jones has been accused of flogging his squad in training but the only time he has control…
Professional rugby in England gets clean bill of health on drugs
No player involved in professional rugby in England failed an anti-doping test in 2016-17 for performance‑enhancing drugs but there is concern banned substances are a problem in schools. The Rugby Football Union published its anti-doping report on Thursday which showed 623 samples were taken at professional level last season, with 87% of the tests coming…
Eddie Jones calls on Georgia’s help to bolster England scrum
England’s pursuit of a third consecutive Six Nations title shows no signs of relenting this week with Eddie Jones revealing he has arranged two full-blooded training sessions against Georgia. Jones had initially hoped to take his squad to Tbilisi to face what he has described as “the strongest scrum pack in the world” but Georgia are…
George North finally plumps for move to Ospreys from next season
It took him five months to make up his mind but the British & Irish Lions wing George North will be joining Ospreys next season after signing a national dual contract. North made the decision to return to Wales last November after spending five seasons at Northampton. He joined them from the Scarlets, who had…
Irish Rugby Union to review futures of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding
Irish rugby executives will review the futures of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding after the Ulster pair were acquitted of rape following a nine-week trial in Belfast. Jackson and team-mate Olding had always denied raping the same woman at a house in south Belfast in June 2016. Jackson was also found not guilty of sexual…
Stadium for Cornwall moves step closer with £3m of council funding
A new stadium for Cornish Pirates rugby club is a significant step closer to being constructed after Cornwall council agreed to pay £3m towards the £14.3m project. Another £3m still needs to be raised, with pressure being put on the government to honour a commitment made by David Cameron, when he was prime minister, to…
Steve Hansen decision could lead to Ireland’s Joe Schmidt joining All Blacks
Steve Hansen will reveal a decision on his future before Christmas that could yet see Joe Schmidt join New Zealand’s coaching ranks after the 2019 World Cup. The All Blacks coach said he already knows his plans and will make them public before the turn of the year. Schmidt is out of contract with Ireland…
Doncaster prop forward Ian Williams, 27, dies after collapsing at training
The Doncaster prop Ian Williams has died at the age of 27 after he collapsed at training. Williams, who joined Doncaster from nearby Rotherham last summer, collapsed at the club’s Castle Park ground and could not be resuscitated. The Oxford graduate had made six appearances for the Knights since his arrival, including off the bench…