England’s Six Nations preparations have been dealt a significant blow by an injury to their powerful centre Ben Te’o. The Worcester player had been expected to start against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday but has been ruled out with a side strain, forcing Eddie Jones to reshuffle his midfield plans. Following the injury, sustained during…
Category: Rugby
John Mitchell finally begins new role as England rugby defence coach this week
John Mitchell has finally been appointed as the England defence coach after the Rugby Football Union agreed a compensation package of £200,000 with the Blue Bulls. Scott Wisemantel will also continue as England’s attack coach, having taken on the role during the summer tour of South Africa. Mitchell, who was the All Blacks coach at…
Controversial Leicester red card spoils eight-try classic as Wasps prevail
In terms of breathless, end-to-end entertainment this frenzied blur of a midlands derby was unquestionably the club game of the season so far. For Leicester, however, the bitter comfortably outweighed the sweet in the wake of the 40th-minute red card shown to their lock Will Spencer which swayed an eight-try thriller in Wasps’ favour and…
Mike Brown dropped by Eddie Jones for England Test against South Africa
Eddie Jones has omitted Mike Brown, Ben Morgan and Michael Rhodes from his England squad to face South Africa on Saturday, with Courtney Lawes also ruled out through injury. Bath’s Zach Mercer and Ben Moon of Exeter are in line to play in a Test for the first time, with the New Zealand-born back-row Brad…
Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny ruled out of Springboks match due to concussion
Wales will be without Leigh Halfpenny against South Africa on Saturday. The Lions’ full-back has not recovered from the concussion he suffered after being clattered by Samu Kerevi during the victory over Australia this month, creating a dilemma in his position and at outside-half for a side seeking a first autumn clean sweep. South Africa…
Chris Ashton hoping to stay with England training camp
Eddie Jones is set to name a 35-man squad for England’s autumn training camp in Bristol starting on Sunday. Among those hoping to be involved are Sale’s Chris Ashton, who is suspended, and the uncapped Saracens flanker Michael Rhodes, with Leicester’s fit‑again Manu Tuilagi also awaiting the announcement with interest. Jones’s main priority is to…
Geordan Murphy’s priority is to show what it means to be a Tiger
Leicester announced Geordan Murphy had been promoted from interim to permanent coach hours after Manchester United had sacked José Mourinho. The two clubs, dominant forces in the Premiership eras of their sports, were moving in the same direction, despite the contrasting decisions. United and Leicester were last champions in 2012-13, for the 13th and eighth…
Chris Ashton: ‘Going away to spend the year in France really helped me’
Few England players have known such highs and lows as Chris Ashton. Either he is airborne over a try-line somewhere or else wondering why things have gone so spectacularly awry. There is no cosy mezzanine level – and probably never will be – for rugby’s modern version of Icarus. Small wonder he sounds thrilled to…
CVC cash may put Premiership clubs on trail of Racing 92 target Kieran Read
Racing 92’s bid to sign the New Zealand captain Kieran Read after next year’s World Cup on a £1m-a-year contract could be gazumped if Premiership clubs accept an investment of more than £200m from a private equity firm next month. The clubs will vote on the offer for a minority stake in Premiership Rugby by…
Leicester legend Geordan Murphy on a mission to restore Tigers’ bite
When Geordan Murphy took over as Leicester’s interim head coach after the sacking of Matt O’Connor a couple of days into the season, he gathered his players together and told them that, while he had secured a job he coveted by means he had not wanted, he intended to grasp his opportunity and secure the…