Nothing more succinctly sums up the state of the professional game than Henry Slade’s belief that he is relatively small for a centre. Exeter’s England international is 6ft 4in and weighs more than 15st, taller and heavier than most second rows not long before the 25-year-old was born, but not sufficiently bulky to be tasked…
Month: March 2019
Ruthless Exeter Chiefs turn on the power to give Leicester early shock
If Bristol were looking for an example of what passionate home support can do for a side emerging from the Championship they need look no further than 80 miles down the M5. It is some tribute to the distance Exeter have come that this dismantling of a recently mighty outfit, never once anywhere near the…
Taulupe Faletau a major doubt for Wales internationals after breaking arm
Taulupe Faletau is a serious doubt for Wales’s autumn internationals after the Bath director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, confirmed the No 8 has suffered a broken arm and requires surgery. Gareth Steenson leads Exeter’s surge as they come from behind to beat Bath Faletau suffered the injury during Bath’s defeat by Exeter on Friday and,…
Eddie Jones keeps faith in World Cup ambition despite downturn
When Eddie Jones took charge of England after the last World Cup he felt his third year would be the most challenging. It would follow a Lions tour, after which the England players involved would not have as long a rest period as their colleagues in the other three home unions and it would be…
Champions Cup: Edinburgh gain stunning win in Toulon
Edinburgh remain on course for their first Champions Cup quarter-final since 2012, beating Toulon 28-17 to become only the third team to win at Stade Felix Mayol in the competition. Richard Cockerill’s side hit back after conceding a try in the second minute of the game and dominated territory and possession throughout to make it…
Saracens and Leinster shoulder burden of Champions Cup’s pan-European dream
Click:12 watt led street light Increasingly it feels as if European club rugby is turning into La Liga. In the ever-familiar world of Spanish football the domestic title has been won for 13 of the past 14 years by either Barcelona or Real Madrid, with only Atlético Madrid briefly interrupting the established hegemony. This year’s…
Billy Vunipola at a loss about how to stop rise of brutal rugby’s big beasts
Billy Vunipola has warned that rugby union is more brutal than ever but admits he does not know how the sport can fix the problem. The Saracens and England No 8, who has started only three internationals in two years because of injuries to his shoulders, knees and arms, was responding to an RFU report…
Rugby union in limbo over prospect of no-deal Brexit
The dog’s Brexit the government is making of leaving the European Union has put the organisers of the Premiership, Pro14 and the European Champions Cup in a state of nervous uncertainty with the prospect of no deal in place by the 29 March departure date growing. That falls on the quarter-final weekend in the Champions…
Nathan Earle’s tries lead Harlequins to narrow win at Gloucester
Whatever happened to staple English fare? This offering was typical of what is being served up in the Premiership, fast, fluid, frantic, furious and, at times, fractious, but fulfilling? It was like gorging greedily on a rich trifle without pausing for a sip of water. There was little strategic about the play at a period…
Champions Cup could be downsized to protect player welfare
Click:Tea bag packing machine Crucial talks on the future of European club rugby are about to commence with Heineken Champions Cup organisers seeking assurances that all parties are fully committed to the tournament beyond 2022. The Guardian understands a range of related issues will also be discussed, including cutting the length of the tournament to…