Leicester announced Geordan Murphy had been promoted from interim to permanent coach hours after Manchester United had sacked José Mourinho. The two clubs, dominant forces in the Premiership eras of their sports, were moving in the same direction, despite the contrasting decisions. United and Leicester were last champions in 2012-13, for the 13th and eighth…
Month: March 2019
Chris Ashton hoping to stay with England training camp
Eddie Jones is set to name a 35-man squad for England’s autumn training camp in Bristol starting on Sunday. Among those hoping to be involved are Sale’s Chris Ashton, who is suspended, and the uncapped Saracens flanker Michael Rhodes, with Leicester’s fit‑again Manu Tuilagi also awaiting the announcement with interest. Jones’s main priority is to…
Chris Ashton: ‘Going away to spend the year in France really helped me’
Few England players have known such highs and lows as Chris Ashton. Either he is airborne over a try-line somewhere or else wondering why things have gone so spectacularly awry. There is no cosy mezzanine level – and probably never will be – for rugby’s modern version of Icarus. Small wonder he sounds thrilled to…
Leicester legend Geordan Murphy on a mission to restore Tigers’ bite
When Geordan Murphy took over as Leicester’s interim head coach after the sacking of Matt O’Connor a couple of days into the season, he gathered his players together and told them that, while he had secured a job he coveted by means he had not wanted, he intended to grasp his opportunity and secure the…
CVC cash may put Premiership clubs on trail of Racing 92 target Kieran Read
Racing 92’s bid to sign the New Zealand captain Kieran Read after next year’s World Cup on a £1m-a-year contract could be gazumped if Premiership clubs accept an investment of more than £200m from a private equity firm next month. The clubs will vote on the offer for a minority stake in Premiership Rugby by…
Wallabies: Tui says he does not want ‘to play anymore’ after altercation with fan
Click:dance costume costumes A distraught Lukhan Tui has told teammates he is “not going to be playing anymore” following an ugly post-match altercation with a fan, according to Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Woeful Wallabies stunned as Argentina win in Australia for first time since 1983 Cheika claimed the incident was sparked by Tui’s sister being…
Premiership eases fears of spending splurge after £230m deal goes through
Premiership Rugby has completed a deal thought to be worth around £230m with the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners and has moved to ease concerns the windfall will be splurged on player wages. The 12 Premiership clubs, as well as the Championship leaders London Irish, will each receive around £18m from the deal, having…
Ireland Six Nations squad unveiled with positive update on Johnny Sexton
Ireland’s coach, Joe Schmidt, gave a positive update on Johnny Sexton’s fitness when naming his squad for the opening two rounds of the Six Nations on Wednesday. Sexton, the reigning World Player of the Year, has been troubled by a knee tendon issue and will miss Leinster’s final European Champions Cup pool match at Wasps…
‘Never underestimate underdogs’: Wallaroos buoyant ahead of women’s rugby Test
Australia are massive underdogs for their women’s rugby Test with New Zealand, but try telling the Wallaroos it’s a mission impossible assignment. Things have changed dramatically since the teams last met in 2016, when the Black Ferns produced a 67-3 demolition job at Eden Park. New Zealand claimed last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup as…
Wallabies hit Rugby Championship floor after Springboks loss
Kurtley Beale has done his best to recover from a first-minute brain explosion, but it wasn’t enough to stem the bleeding as the struggling Wallabies fell 23-12 to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth. Things couldn’t have started worse for the visitors after Beale’s ambitious pass was intercepted in the 24th second and South Africa quickly…