As the fallout from the tunnel fracas before England’s Calcutta Cup defeat rumbles on Ryan Wilson, the Scotland No 8 who clashed with Owen Farrell during the scuffle, has been cited for allegedly making contact with Nathan Hughes’s eye area in a separate incident shortly before half-time. Wilson faces a Six Nations disciplinary hearing on…
Month: March 2019
Saracens hammer relegated London Irish to secure home Premiership semi
The England No 8 Billy Vunipola produced a rampaging 20-minute cameo as Saracens secured a home play-off semi-final against Wasps or Newcastle by crushing relegated London Irish. Making his first appearance since breaking an arm in mid-January, Vunipola’s first involvement left Irish flanker Jake Schatz in a crumpled heap, soon to be withdrawn, and he…
George Ford: England need more hunger in defence after ‘embarrassing’ loss
George Ford has admitted England’s record-breaking defeat at the hands of the Barbarians was “embarrassing” and questioned his side’s effort following a fourth successive loss under Eddie Jones. England conceded their most points in 20 years and their most ever at Twickenham as Chris Ashton ran in a 22-minute hat-trick for the invitational side, who…
Danny Cipriani to leave Wasps at end of season: ‘My job is far from finished’
Danny Cipriani says he will “take some time to decide my next move” following confirmation he is to be released by Wasps at the end of this season. The 30-year-old fly-half, capped 14 times by England, has options in France and Japan but will be giving up any prospect of reviving his international career if…
Kyle Sinckler the bulldozer steps in to give Harlequins win over Bath
Kyle Sinckler sets about winning his England place back on Monday with a spring in his step after a timely reminder of his talents, coming off the bench and almost immediately bulldozing over for the decisive try in Harlequins’ gritty win against Bath – a first in the Premiership in 2018. Joe Simmonds’ early flurry…
Israel Folau to face disciplinary World Rugby hearing
Wallabies fullback Israel Folau will face a hearing in front of World Rugby officials after receiving a warning over a second incident separate to his yellow-card offence in Australia’s series-deciding loss to Ireland in Sydney. Folau was sin-binned in the 31st minute on Saturday for unnecessary contact with Peter O’Mahony during an aerial challenge that…
Soft-spoken Joe Launchbury out to show England’s hard edge in Scotland
The problem for Joe Launchbury has always been one of perception. At first Eddie Jones was not convinced – and neither was Warren Gatland when selecting his Lions squad – but as Launchbury prepares to win his 50th cap against Scotland on Saturday there will be few players more certain of their name on England’s…
Wales recall Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar for Ireland clash
Warren Gatland has called on his Wales team to use their experience to deal with an expected aerial assault from Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. Wales have made three changes from the side that lost 12-6 at Twickenham in the last round, with each one aimed at adding to their kicking game in defence and…
‘A bloody idiot’: Waratahs player Nick Phipps apologises for urinating on bar
Wallabies and NSW Waratahs halfback Nick Phipps has been fined $4,000 after admitting to urinating on a bar during his buck’s night, an act he said made him look “a goose” and “a bloody idiot”. Dressed in a cow suit, Phipps was taken out of Sydney’s Woollahra Hotel on Saturday, 21 April for an incident…
Sione Kalamafoni shows his class as Leicester launch comeback at Bath
It was more bash than clash as Leicester, picking up the scent of the play-offs as they tend to do at this time of the year, powered their way to a bonus-point victory to move into the top four and leave Bath, who have lost seven of their last 10 Premiership matches, facing the European…