Josh Charnley has insisted he can leave rugby union with his head held high despite cutting short his time with Sale to return to rugby league with Warrington. The 26-year-old has signed a deal with the Wolves until the end of the 2020 season, 18 months after crossing codes to join Sale from Wigan. Despite…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
Israel Folau asked to explain post claiming gay people will go to hell
Australia’s full-back Israel Folau has been summoned to a meeting with leading Australian rugby officials to explain his recent message on social media that homosexuals would be condemned to “hell” unless they “repent” for their sins. Raelene Castle, the chief executive of Rugby Australia, and Andrew Hore, the chief executive of New South Wales Rugby,…
Burger happy to have taken tough option as Saracens head to Leinster
Schalk Burger has a vineyard that sprawls over 180 hectares of Western Cape countryside waiting for him as soon as he decides to retire. Had he taken what he calls “the easy option” he would be winding down the clock right now and topping up the bank balance in Japan rather than preparing for a…
Ireland seal grand slam with storming win over England in Six Nations finale
Beware the slides of March. England’s descent continued with a third successive defeat in the sleet as Ireland achieved a third grand slam and their third title in five years. It was the home side’s first defeat here since the 2015 World Cup and their first at home in the Six Nations for six years….
Exeter Chiefs move 11 points clear at top of Premiership by beating Bath
The champions Exeter moved 11 points clear at the top of the Premiership after Joe Simmonds’ late penalty thwarted Bath 20-18. The young fly-half booted half of his team’s points, while his older brother – the England No 8 Sam – scored a try, along with the Chiefs lock Jonny Hill. London Irish face fight…
Scarlets’ Aaron Shingler: ‘I need to keep pressing for World Cup place’
Aaron Shingler was one of Wales’s standout players in the Six Nations but the Scarlets flanker goes into Good Friday’s European Champions Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle feeling he has something to prove after being left out of the final match against France. The 30-year-old forward, whose international career looked to have tapered off last…
Australia’s Michael Cheika wary of ‘best Ireland team in history’ before first Test
Ireland caused shockwaves in 2011 by defeating Australia at the World Cup. Since triumphing in Sydney in 1979 they had won only two of the following 20 Tests against the Wallabies as the southern hemisphere established a gap over the north, closed briefly by England in the early 2000s. Now Ireland are second in the…
Keith Murdoch: disgraced All Black who ‘went bush’ in Australia dies at 74
Keith Murdoch played just three Tests for the All Blacks, but his name was etched in New Zealand rugby folklore after he became a recluse in the Australian outback following a scandal that ended his career. The hulking prop, whose death aged 74 was confirmed by New Zealand Rugby, became the only All Black ever…
Warren Gatland warns Lions must arrive earlier for 2021 South Africa tour
Warren Gatland has hit out at Premiership Rugby Limited and warned that British & Irish Lions players face the risk of serious injury if they are not given adequate time to prepare for the 2021 tour. Gatland – the Lions head coach in 2013 and 2017 – has repeatedly called for the team to be…
Eddie Jones insists England are ‘moving forward’ despite Ireland defeat
England slumped to their third successive defeat and their lowest position in the Six Nations for 12 years as Ireland became only the second side to secure a grand slam at Twickenham since France in 1981, but Eddie Jones insists his side is moving forward. Ireland seal grand slam with storming win over England in…