The look of disgust on Kurtley Beale’s face said it all. Beale was hooked in the 63rd minute of the Wallabies’ 26-21 loss to Ireland in the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday night. It wasn’t in the script. Beale, the team’s star playmaker, would usually be one of the last players Wallabies coach Michael…
Author: THEJOHNANTONIOBLOG
John Kingston to leave Harlequins as London Irish defeat proves final straw
John Kingston has become the fourth Premiership director of rugby to leave his job this season – just three months after signing a contract extension at Harlequins – following their disastrous home defeat by London Irish on Saturday. Kingston’s departure at the end of the season will mean that at least a third of the…
Wales get boost with Liam Williams and George North fit to face Ireland
Wales, who need to beat Ireland in Dublin on Saturday to remain in contention for the Six Nations title, have been bolstered by the return to fitness of five of their Lions in New Zealand last summer who missed the defeat by England in the last round. The wings Liam Williams and George North were…
John Hardie back in Scotland squad to face Ireland after three-month ban
As Scotland look to end a wretched sequence of results outside Murrayfield in the Six Nations, they have called up the flanker John Hardie for the first time since he completed a three-month ban for allegedly taking cocaine. The 29-year old, whose last international appearance was against Fiji in June, is one of 10 players…
Ryan Elias’s late try earns Wales win over South Africa in Washington
This was the match barely anyone in the American capital knew was happening, the Washington Post failing to carry a single word to preview Wales’s clash against South Africa. With both sides fielding youthful teams, critics had slammed the encounter pre-match as a money-spinning PR stunt which devalued international rugby. But there are always two…
Newcastle face Wasps in sell-out decider for Premiership third spot
Newcastle were the first winners of the Premiership in 1998 but since then they have largely floundered in the nether reaches, spending a season in the Championship five years ago. Under Dean Richards the Falcons have taken to the air again, qualifying for the play-offs for the first time and enjoying their highest finish in…
Nathan Hughes back in England team for Scotland Six Nations match
Nathan Hughes has been named in England’s starting lineup to face Scotland in the only change made by Eddie Jones for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match. The No 8 has played only 23 minutes since sustaining a knee injury in December but slots into the void left by Sam Simmonds, who is sidelined until next month….
Saracens’ Alex Lozowski ready to step in for Farrell as Leinster tie looms
Click:LC Adapter Alex Lozowski is ready to lead the Saracens backline against Leinster in the European Champions Cup quarter‑final in Dublin on Sunday should Owen Farrell fail to recover from a leg injury. Farrell, who finished England’s Six Nations campaign at fly-half after four matches in the centre, missed Saracens’ 24-11 Premiership win against Harlequins…
Harlequins hoping to take final steps to glory under Gary Street
There can be few better qualified to pass judgment on the current state of women’s rugby than Gary Street. England’s head coach for their World Cup triumph in 2014, Street’s abrupt departure from the Rugby Football Union was at the time mystifying but since then he has climbed back to the top of the club…
Newcastle’s Vereniki Goneva wins Premiership player of season award
Newcastle Falcons’ achievement in reaching this season’s title play-offs has been rewarded with two major accolades at the Aviva Premiership Awards. The Fijian winger Vereniki Goneva has been named player of the season while Dean Richards picked up the best director of rugby award at this year’s ceremony in London. Newcastle Falcons flying high in…