By his own admission, Zach Mercer is “the last one hanging on”. It is less of a case of the next cab off the rank, more of the last, but one of Eddie Jones’s apprentices looks likely to finally win his first England cap this autumn. Amid England’s back‑row crisis through injury and suspension, opportunity…
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…
RFU’s Nigel Melville insists Premiership trapdoor will not be closed
Around this time of year the Christmas decorations go up and England’s top clubs start complaining about one of them having to go down. No wonder Nigel Melville, the Rugby Football Union’s interim chief executive, was ready with an instant quip at Twickenham when the inevitable subject was raised. “I wonder why we’re talking about…
Johan Ackermann: player fatigue could harm England’s Six Nations prospects
Eddie Jones has been warned he faces a struggle to keep his England squad fresh given the demands placed on some players by the Champions Cup. Saracens and Exeter are still in contention for qualification and Gloucester’s head coach, Johan Ackermann, believes fatigue could impact on the national team’s prospects at the Six Nations. In…
Wales and Scotland plan to ‘donate directly’ to Doddie Weir charity
The Welsh Rugby Union and Scottish Rugby say they will “donate directly” to Doddie Weir’s motor neurone disease charity after the autumn Test series opener between Wales and Scotland on Saturday. Both organisations have committed to donating a joint six-figure sum from proceeds of the Principality Stadium match to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the…
Exeter Chiefs turn on the power to leapfrog Saracens as leaders
Christmas comes around about as often as Saracens lose games of rugby nowadays but this was a seasonal stuffing in every respect. After 22 matches unbeaten in all competitions the Premiership champions were abruptly dragged back to earth by a fiercely motivated Chiefs side who, for now, sit three points above their main rivals at…
‘White noise’: RFU banks on new England shirt providing spark
It is an expression more usually associated with sending people to sleep. But the Rugby Football Union will be hoping that the “white noise” that has inspired England’s new kit for the 2018-19 season can provide a wakeup call to Eddie Jones’s side. The new shirt – which costs £95 – will be worn for…
Shaun Edwards to make league return as Wigan Warriors head coach in 2020
Shaun Edwards will return to rugby league in 2020 as the Wigan head coach after fulfilling his commitments with Wales rugby union side following the World Cup next year. Edwards, who played for Wigan from 1983 to 1997, has been widely linked with a return to league since Shaun Wane announced in May that he would…
Leinster cruise past tame Wasps and train their sights on Ulster
Almost three years ago to the day Leinster came here and were duly sent home, tails between their legs, having shipped more than 50 points. If ever there was a demonstration of how the tables have turned since then it was this routine bonus-point victory in which they were rarely required to find top gear….
Dylan Hartley still striving for fitness as he takes reduced England training
Dylan Hartley faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the season following five months out with concussion after it emerged he did not take a full part in England’s pre-season training camp over the weekend. Hartley returned to the England set-up for a three-day get-together in Teddington having missed the…