Maro Itoje played the whole of England’s autumn campaign with the knee injury that has now deteriorated to the extent his participation in England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland is in question. The Saracens second-row has a chipped bone in his knee but it is understood he picked up the initial problem during England’s training…
England fans urged to ‘be vocal’ and drown out All Blacks’ haka
England supporters have been urged to drown out the haka with Swing Low, Sweet Chariot before Saturday’s showdown against the All Blacks. Eddie Jones said this week he pays so little attention when the haka is taking place “they could be playing the Spice Girls and I wouldn’t know”. But it has become a tradition…
Danny Cipriani sent off for shoulder to face as Munster beat Gloucester
Danny Cipriani capped a bad week with a first-half red card for a high tackle that sent 14-man Gloucester spinning to defeat against at Thomond Park. Cipriani, snubbed by Eddie Jones on Thursday when England’s autumn series squad was named, was sent off in the 28th minute by the French referee Alexandre Ruiz after the…
Premiership clubs hope for billion pound league if takeover goes ahead
Premiership rugby executives believe their league could be a billion pound business by 2025 if agreement can be reached this month to inject significant fresh capital into the club game. The owners will meet on Tuesday to debate a £275m offer from a private equity firm for a 51% stake in Premiership Rugby, with a…
Owen Farrell tips ‘brilliant’ Dylan Hartley to resume England captaincy
Owen Farrell has given Dylan Hartley a ringing endorsement to resume the England captaincy after the Saracens fly-half assumed the role on the summer tour of South Africa. Eddie Jones gave no guarantees Hartley would return to the role when including the hooker in his August pre-season training camp and does not intend to confirm…
Michael Cheika will see out Wallabies contract, says Rugby Australia
Under-fire Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has the full support of the Rugby Australia board and will see out his contract, according to CEO Raelene Castle. But at the same time, Castle said the governing body “can’t just ignore” the team’s below-par performances across the first two Bledisloe Cup Tests. Castle is set to meet with…
David Strettle ensures Saracens are back to winning ways against Worcester
Saracens return to winning ways but without the emphatic response they would have wanted. A failure to claim a bonus point means they stay in second place behind Exeter going into the new year and, truth be told, they deserved little more. David Strettle’s try eventually made the match safe but this will not be…
England left with plenty to work on after Wales rise to the occasion
Some rugby days are hard to beat. Saturday was one of them, particularly for those with Welsh blood pulsing through their veins. In terms of gladiatorial combat, passion, fellowship and emotion, it is hard to imagine a more vivid piece of Six Nations theatre. The Welsh Rugby Union’s pre-match entertainment would impress even PT Barnum…
Dai Young calls for overhaul after ‘ridiculous’ ban for Nathan Hughes
The Wasps director of rugby, Dai Young, has described Nathan Hughes’s six-week ban – which rules him out of three of England’s four autumn internationals – as “ridiculous” and called for an overhaul of the Rugby Football Union’s disciplinary process. Hughes was initially set to be banned for four weeks for punching Gloucester’s Lewis Ludlow…