England’s players have been urged to show no mercy to France at Twickenham and to reach an even higher level than they achieved in their opening Six Nations game in Ireland last Saturday. The head coach, Eddie Jones, and the captain, Owen Farrell, both sense there is further improvement to be made and believe complacency…
Ben Ryan: ‘If rugby were a company people would be comparing it to an Enron’
If you love rugby union what follows will be a tough read. According to one of the world’s leading coaches, however, the time has come for the sport to get real. “If rugby were a company people would be comparing it to an Enron,” says Ben Ryan, Fiji’s Olympic gold-medal winning sevens mastermind. “It’s completely…
Premiership clubs seek talks with RFU over ending promotion and relegation
The owners of Premiership clubs are seeking talks with the Rugby Football Union over ending promotion and relegation in England’s top flight. Fears had been raised about England’s top clubs forcing a breakaway but the league’s governing body, Premiership Rugby, has pledged to thrash out a way forward with the RFU. Taking rugby into Star…
Gregor Townsend bullish over Scotland chances but hails ‘outstanding’ France
Gregor Townsend believes opportunity knocks for Scotland in Paris despite his side being denied the services of a string of key performers. The stand-off Finn Russell, the full-back Stuart Hogg, the centre Huw Jones and the back-rower Ryan Wilson have all been ruled out of Saturday’s match against France as Townsend’s injury woes continue to…
Premiership’s cash injection could hit fans, players and lower-tier clubs
“Money love can help you on, heal you and sustain you, but never turn your back upon, how money love it can change you.” So sang Brian Protheroe in 1974 and money has certainly changed rugby union in the last 24 years. As the 12 Premiership clubs, along with London Irish, plot how to spend…
Sergio Parisse has lost 100 times but says Italy are not making up numbers
If it is true you learn more about yourself when you lose, there cannot be much left for Sergio Parisse to discover. Parisse has played in 134 Tests for Italy and lost 100 of them. From the first, 64-10 to the All Blacks in Hamilton way back in 2002, to the last, 29-27 to Scotland…
New Zealand stun South Africa thanks to Ardie Savea’s last-gasp try
The replacement flanker Ardie Savea scored a try in the final minute as New Zealand staged a stunning comeback to secure victory over South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria in their final Rugby Championship game. The Springboks led by 12 points with four minutes to play, but after the lock Scott Barrett brought the…
England women hoping investment will deliver grand slam glory
With investment comes expectation for England. As the first full-time XVs squad in women’s rugby, a move their captain, Sarah Hunter, has called revolutionary, there is an obvious backdrop against which this year’s championship takes place. As their head coach, Simon Middleton, said: “We’ve got it now, we’ve got to use it.” But he believes…
Scotland lose injured Finn Russell as France drop Lopez and Parra
Finn Russell has been ruled out of Scotland’s Guinness Six Nations clash with France on Saturday after failing to recover from a head injury he suffered playing for his club Racing 92 over the weekend. Ellis Genge hoping to be the man with a dragon tattoo The stand-off had given Scotland a glimmer of hope…
Ian Robertson hangs up his mic: ‘You don’t gain anything from being an assassin’
At school the teachers called Ian Robertson “Chatterbox”. It was “Chatterbox! Silence!” and “Chatterbox! Stop it!” and “Chatterbox! Shut up!” And he would tell them: “Yes sir, sorry sir, but I just mean to say, sir!” Robertson has had a lot of jobs since. He has been a player, teacher and coach, he has written…