Three bonus-point victories from three for Exeter, 17 tries and further evidence they are by a distance the No 1 challengers to Saracens’ crown. Henry Slade’s early-season swagger continues and this is now the Chiefs’ beststart to a Premiership campaign. It will not rank among their very best performances but with Alex Cuthbert’s first try…
Category: Rugby
Harlequins full-back Mike Brown angry after no action taken over tackle
Mike Brown hit out at the officials at Twickenham for taking no action when he was taken out in the air and hit the ground head first during Harlequins’ 20-13 victory over Wasps. Sale’s Steve Diamond embroiled in media fracas after win at Gloucester The incident happened during the first half on Saturday when the…
Michael Hooper aims to combat Wallabies player drain with long-term deals
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper, who signed a five-year contract extension on Friday, believes long-term deals can be a big weapon in Rugby Australia’s attempt to combat player drain. Hooper is just the second player in Australian rugby history to take up a five-year deal after ex-rugby league star Lote Tuqiri in 2007. The flanker is…
Wales lose Cory Hill for Six Nations in blow to grand slam hopes
Wales have suffered a blow to their hopes of securing the grand slam with news that the lock Cory Hill will miss the remainder of the Six Nations because of an ankle injury. Hill was hurt during Wales’s 21-13 victory against England at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. The Dragons forward scored a crucial try…
Owen Farrell outshines Danny Cipriani as Saracens thrash Gloucester
The match had been billed as the battle of the fly-halves but in truth it was never really a contest. Owen Farrell comfortably outshone Danny Cipriani in their personal duel but, thanks to the performance of his dominant forwards – led by the relentless Maro Itoje – he had considerable help. Eddie Jones was not…
Leaders Exeter punish errant Toby Flood to secure win at Newcastle
Exeter Chiefs extended their unbeaten run to stay top of the Premiership with a hard-fought 24-17 win at Kingston Park. “We came up here last season and lost but we came here this time and go away with a win and a win away from home in this league is something to cherish,” said Exeter’s…
Whistleblower Wayne Barnes prepares to call time on refereeing career
The start of a new rugby union season is not just about players and coaches. Rarely have top-level referees been under more scrutiny, increasingly caught between a congested ruck and a hard place. Decisions in the modern game grow more hairline, the demands on its leading officials more intense. Without a capable whistle-blower to make…
Victory over France can propel Wales to Six Nations glory, says Gatland
Warren Gatland won his first Six Nations in charge of Wales in 2008 and believes he will have an excellent chance of repeating the feat in his final year with the men in red if they win in Paris on the opening night of the tournament next month. France lost at home to Fiji in…
Warren Gatland ‘bricking’ himself over attempts to go out on a high with Wales
Warren Gatland may be entering the final year of his contract with Wales but he is determined to go out at the very top and believes his side are contenders to win the World Cup next year. Gatland, a normally inscrutable New Zealander, became emotional when asked how much it would mean to him to…
Lima Sopoaga snatches thrilling late win for Wasps over Newcastle
A late Lima Sopoaga penalty snatched a 23-22 victory for Wasps at Kingston Park. The Falcons led 15-13 at half time and then 22-13 when Johnny Williams grabbed his second try, but a scorching 60th-minute score from Juan de Jongh converted by Sopoaga made it 22-20 and the Wasps fly-half then landed a crucial 45-metre…