The controversial 32-game limit for a Premiership player in a season is to change, the Observer understands. From 2019-20 elite players will be limited to 30 lots of 80 minutes or 35 involvements in a matchday squad, whichever comes sooner. Previously the limit applied only to members of England’s elite player squad but now it…
Chris Ashton’s chance of England recall hit by ban-related lack of matches
Chris Ashton’s chances of a swift England recall have suffered another blow after Sale Sharks confirmed their winger will be ineligible to play any rugby before the national head coach, Eddie Jones, names his autumn squad. Ashton had hoped to play in his new club’s European Challenge Cup game in Perpignan on 12 October but…
Greig Laidlaw: ‘Italy always believe they can beat Scotland’
Gregor Townsend remembers only too well the last time Scotland began their Six Nations campaign against Italy. It was 19 years ago, Scotland were the title holders after Townsend had inspired them to the last ever Five Nations crown in 1999 – scoring a try in every match – and it was Italy’s first foray…
Sale delight in ensuring Billy Vunipola’s Saracens comeback ends in defeat
Perhaps something is beginning to stir at Sale after all. On a night when the Saracens forward Billy Vunipola marked his comeback from injury with a well-taken opening try and played the full 80 minutes it was the hosts who were celebrating a famous, third successive Premiership victory. On New Year’s Day Sale’s embattled director…
Scotland call up England youth player Sam Skinner for autumn internationals
Gregor Townsend has included the uncapped trio of Sam Skinner, Sam Johnson and Blade Thomson in his Scotland squad for the autumn Tests and the coach has told the players their audition for the 2019 World Cup starts next month. “I believe everyone in this squad can play in the World Cup,” he said. “There…
Manu Tuilagi: ‘I always expect to be good and that is the pressure’
Manu Tuilagi is reflecting on a run of injuries that have plagued his career at the very point the Leicester centre should have been in his prime. “Life is never a straight road,” he says, unless, that is, he has the ball under an arm and a hapless defender in his sights. It was not…
Saracens front an American gold rush still seeking the nugget of success
The American gold rush is showing no signs of slowing down. Last week the Champions Cup organisers were the latest to announce plans to plant a flag on American soil, the Pro14 is casting a covetous eye Stateside, the Six Nations and the British & Irish Lions too. Ireland return to Chicago this autumn, having…
James Haskell clears DJ decks for new lease of life with Northampton
James Haskell was too busy honing his deejaying skills to worry about regaining his England place over the summer after missing out on the series defeat by South Africa. Haskell, who returned to the England party for last week’s training camp, was left at home as Brad Shields and Tom Curry were given chances to…
Chris Boyd’s influence could extend beyond shaking up the Saints
There have been some eye-catching additions to the Premiership this summer, even if the clubs have generally avoided splurging as they grapple with mounting debts. Bristol have recruited the league’s first £1m-a-year player, Charles Piutau, and invested in what is left in the legs of the Wallabies flanker George Smith. Gloucester have fortified themselves with…
England’s Mako Vunipola ruled out of Six Nations with ankle injury
Mako Vunipola has been ruled out of England’s final three Six Nations matches. The Saracens prop, who missed the autumn campaign because of injury, suffered ankle ligament damage against France on Sunday and will be out of action for an expected 10 weeks. Vunipola has been instrumental in England’s winning start to the tournament. He…