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Posted 28 mins ago
By Bea Asprey, Rugby World Writer
In a nutshell
Leinster won the Heineken Cup for the third time in four years, beating Ulster 42-14 at Twickenham. The Northern Irishmen started the game well, enjoying the majority of the possession early on and kicking the first penalty. But although they created their share of chances they failed to capitalise on their opportunities, and…
Posted 22 hours ago
By Sarah Mockford, Rugby World Features Editor
In a nutshell
A rather drab and uninspiring final with Biarritz able to ensure their Heineken Cup qualification thanks to the boot of Dimitri Yachvili in wet conditions at the Stoop. They were fortunate, however, that Toulon couldn’t get the ball to Jonny Wilkinson in the final minutes or he could have slotted another of…
Posted 1 day ago
By Sarah Mockford, Rugby World Features Editor
THE FRENCH and English clubs have fallen by the wayside in this season’s Heineken Cup, so Twickenham will play host to the first all-Irish final on Saturday afternoon. Leinster are bidding for their third title in four years and hope to become the first team since Leicester to win back-to-back Heineken Cup titles, while…
Posted 2 days ago
IT’S AN all-French affair in Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup final at the Stoop as Toulon take on Biarritz. Did we say ‘all-French’ affair? That’s a bit like saying Arsenal against Chelsea is an all-English affair. Both clubs reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the Top 14 with Biarritz boasting the likes of England World Cup winner Iain
Posted 2 days ago
The Crusaders will play the Blues this Saturday night for the second time this season. They last played at Eden Park in the opening round of the Super Rugby season and the Crusaders won by 19 points to 18. This time the Crusaders will host the Blues at the new AMI Stadium in Addington.
Head Coach Todd Blackadder has named his…
Posted 2 days ago
Wider Training Group lock / loose forward Steven Luatua will make his run-on debut for the Blues when they face the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday night (kick-off 7.35pm).
21-year-old Luatua, who became a fulltime member of the Blues squad following injuries to Jerome Kaino, Brad Mika and Chris Lowrey, came off the bench last week against the Lions, but is…
Posted 2 days ago
After keeping an unchanged squad for the past two rounds, the Western Force coaching team have made six changes for their Round 13 clash against the Rebels on Sunday.
The backline has seen a significant reshuffle with Ben Seymour moving into the playmaker role for his second start in the run on side this season while David Harvey moves to fullback.
Skills…
Posted 3 days ago
FIVE UNCAPPED players have been named today in Scotland’s 28-strong playing squad for their summer tour to Australasia. They are the Glasgow Warriors forwards Ryan Grant, Robert Harley and Tom Ryder and the Edinburgh Rugby backs Tom Brown and Tim Visser.
The first four-named were among the Scotland A squad who put England Saxons to the sword 35-0 at Netherdale in…
Posted 3 days ago
THE GREAT thing about Eurovision, is that when it’s all over, Engelbert Humperdinck — win or lose — will return to relative obscurity, writes Richard Grainger.
Sadly, the same will apply to one, if not both, of the teams who will contest the Championship final, irrespective of the outcome.
Unless the RFU and Premiership Rugby Ltd surprise everyone and come up with…
Posted 5 days ago
By Owain Jones, Rugby World Editor
WALES HEAD coach Rob Howley has named four uncapped players in his 38-man touring party to face the Barbarians before travelling to Australia for a four-test Tour.
Scarlets full-back Liam Williams, prop Rhodri Jones, Ospreys centre Ashley Beck and Cardiff Blues wing are all named to make the trip Down Under.
Wales will face the Barbarians on…
Posted 7 days ago
By Bea Asprey, Rugby World Writer
In a nutshell
An error-strewn game saw the scores level on penalties til the final quarter of the game, and with Nick Evans showing his human side, missing two penalties during the game, Quins were left playing catch up. Lee Dickson’s try extended the Saints’ lead to make it 15-23, but a Joe Marler try in…
Posted 7 days ago
By Sarah Mockford, Rugby World Features Editor
In a nutshell
Leicester reached their eighth straight Premiership final with a hard-fought win over defending champions Saracens. As you would expect when these two teams go head-to-head, it was a ferociously physical contest, but it was Leicester’s guile rather than their brawn that produced two decisive tries – Alesana Tuilagi and Steve Mafi crossing…
Posted 8 days ago
By Gavin Mortimer
IS THIS going to be the season when Toulon finally climb back to the summit of French rugby? The last time they were there was exactly twenty years ago when a side containing the likes of Aubin Hueber and Yann Delaigue defeated Biarritz 19-14 to win the Bouclier de Brennus. Many hard years followed that triumph until Mourad…
