The ultimate Irish rugby party may not have materialised but this season’s European Champions Cup final should still be one for the connoisseur. Forget the theory about Leinster being unbeatable this year: if Racing 92 perform for 80 minutes in Bilbao on 12 May with the same power and panache which shredded Munster early on a…
Category: Rugby
England women make adjustments for Six Nations grand slam crunch in France
England’s women will be in the Stade des Alpes on Saturday night knowing they have to take their game to new heights against a French side itching to avenge last summer’s World Cup semi-final defeat in Belfast. The meeting in Grenoble really is Le Crunch for two unbeaten teams harbouring grand slam ambitions. England have…
South Africa prepare for ‘step up’ against England after late loss to Wales
South Africa are relishing the chance to heap more misery on Eddie Jones and England in their three-match Test series. The Springboks were beaten 22-20 by Wales in Washington DC – Ryan Elias’s late try won it for Warren Gatland’s side – but the team fielded by Rassie Erasmus in the US capital will be nothing like the…
Sale hopes of a Champions Cup place ended by George Ford’s salvo
This was a bizarre frolic to end the season for two sides with Europe on their minds. Despite the unbroken sunshine the floodlights were switched on 20 minutes into the game and the warm, dry conditions nurtured a rash of handling errors rather than continuity. Leicester had spent the previous two weeks in a daze…
Eddie Jones expects fresh England to bounce back against South Africa
By the time Eddie Jones’s England squad complete their three-Test trek around South Africa this month, several big questions will have been answered. Are they still a flourishing side who simply endured a blip during the Six Nations? Are Jones’s players still energised by their master’s voice? The first Test at Ellis Park this weekend…
England captain Dylan Hartley ruled out of South Africa tour with concussion
Dylan Hartley will miss England’s three-Test tour to South Africa in June after being told to take the summer off following the Northampton hooker’s latest concussion. The 32-year-old England captain has not played since taking a blow to the head in their final Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham. He ended the 2016 championship…
Wallabies prop James Slipper banned after positive cocaine test
James Slipper has been banned for two months by Rugby Australia after testing positive to cocaine twice, with a tribunal factoring in the Wallabies prop’s mental health issues before settling on the most lenient punishment available. Punishment for cocaine use while taking part in sport does not fit the crime | Sean Ingle Slipper returned…
Eddie Jones revels in being ‘under the pump’ as England face Ireland test
Eddie Jones has claimed he loves having a target on his back despite conceding that his side are in the midst of their most testing period since he took charge. A chastening defeat by France has led to his most radical team selection to date but England’s head coach is unfazed by the heightened criticism…
England are not learning fast enough, says Eddie Jones after title surrender
Eddie Jones has vowed to crack England’s problems at the breakdown after defeat in Paris ended their defence of the Six Nations title and left them in danger of finishing in the bottom half of the table, but said it would take time. England conceded 10 penalties in the tackle area against France, most of…
Waratahs win inaugural Super W grand final in golden point thriller
Click:HE 5000 Captain Ash Hewson has landed an after-the-siren extra-time penalty goal to give NSW a dramatic 16-13 win in the inaugural Super W women’s rugby final at Allianz Stadium. Fullback Hewson pulled off a sensational try-saving tackle on Queensland counterpart Samantha Treherne just before full-time on Friday evening with the scores locked at 13-13….