This was the year of the Irish, if not London Irish, who plunged back into the Championship at the first attempt. Ireland won the grand slam and beat New Zealand at home for the first time and Leinster secured the Pro14 and European Champions Cup double. Ireland were named team of the year at World…
Category: Rugby
Jonny May hopes his trip to Texas will keep him up to speed
While Jonny May acknowledges a 100-metre sprint between the world’s fastest wings is a fanciful if fascinating idea, it is a safe bet the England international would make the podium if it ever were to happen. For they do not come much quicker than May, who last autumn revealed he set a new personal best…
Rugby union: talking points from the Champions Cup weekend action
Pool 1: Leinster primed to swat Wasps next There is no stopping Leinster, that defeat at Toulouse proving a blip, and they will surely be too powerful for Wasps when the champions travel to Coventry next Sunday. Johnny Sexton watched his replacement Ross Byrne give a dominant display in the 29-13 win over Toulouse, once…
Premiership Rugby decides selling majority share is ‘not preferred option’
Premiership Rugby has declined to accept a £275m offer from the private equity firm CVC for a 51% share because the clubs are fearful of handing control to a third party. With collective losses of around £35m, the clubs remain on the lookout for fresh investment but at Tuesday’s board meeting they unanimously agreed that…
Manu Tuilagi keeps Australia guessing as Jones retains him in England squad
Eddie Jones has lobbed a tantalising curveball in Australia’s direction by retaining Manu Tuilagi in his 26-man squad for this Saturday’s Test at Twickenham, barely 24 hours after the head coach described the centre as “very doubtful” and suggested England would not rush him back prematurely. With England not due to confirm their lineup until…
Steve Hansen to step down as New Zealand coach after 2019 World Cup
Steve Hansen’s all-conquering reign as the New Zealand coach will end after the 2019 World Cup. The 59-year-old, who has been in charge of the All Blacks since 2012 and has had 16 years within the setup, will leave after his side’s title defence in Japan. “I think change after the World Cup will bring…
Danny Cipriani waiting on England call after Owen Farrell hand surgery
Danny Cipriani will find out in the coming days if Owen Farrell’s thumb injury leads to an England reprieve and a place in the squad to prepare for their Six Nations opener against Ireland. Last week Cipriani was omitted from England’s 35-man squad but Eddie Jones has yet to decide whether he needs an extra…
Warren Gatland may coach in Premiership again after Wales farewell
Warren Gatland, who ends his 12-year association with Wales at the end of the World Cup, has held discussions about his next full-time job and has not ruled out a return to the Premiership where he enjoyed a trophy-rich period with Wasps in the 2000s. Gatland is preparing for his final Six Nations as Wales…
Record-breaker Beauden Barrett scores four as All Blacks thump Wallabies again
Michael Cheika may or may not go as Australia coach any time soon, but it will take a cultural revolution to bridge the yawning chasm between the Wallabies and the All Blacks. The All Blacks’ 40-12 win against the Wallabies in the second Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday night kept…
Joe Cokanasiga crosses late for Bath to restrict lowly Sale to draw
Every point is going to be precious in the lower reaches of this year’s Premiership and this grim, low-scoring draw will hardly lift the sinking morale of Bath’s sodden supporters. Failing to beat the league’s bottom-placed side at home is rarely a positive sign and the club’s director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, made no attempt…