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Posted 1 day ago
Headingley was the scene for the latest upset in what is proving to be a fascinating second tier competition, writes Richard Grainger.
The penultimate week the Championship’s Stage One saw Leeds lose 22-24 at home to bottom-placed Esher on Sunday, a reversal which virtually ends Leeds’ Premiership dreams for this season. Of course, the Yorkshire side, currently in seventh place,…
Posted 5 days ago
By Jack Yates
YESTERDAY it was announced that 15 members of England’s Elite Player Squad would be made available for club action this weekend. Amongst the list are players in serious contention for a starting place against Wales in just over a week’s time, including the likes of Toby Flood, Manusamoa Tuilagi and Ben Morgan. However, England boss Stuart Lancaster…
Posted 5 days ago
By Jack Yates
BETWEEN 2002 and 2009 London Wasps accumulated eight major trophies, including two Heineken Cups and four Premiership titles, and boasted legendary names such as Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw, Roy Howley and Josh Lewsey to name but a few. But this golden generation has withered away, with many journeying to foreign shores, such as Paul Sackey who has…
Posted 8 days ago
With wintry conditions decimating the Championship’s week 20 programme once again, at least one thing was decided – no one can catch Bristol in Stage One, writes Richard Grainger.
Bristol romped home 48-13 winners in front of 4322 at the Memorial Stadium to secure a bonus point win and dash any hopes that Moseley might have held of completing the double…
Posted 9 days ago
By Rory Baldwin
ONCE again Scotland come away from a Six Nations Test smarting from errors in judgement that cost them a game in which they were ultimately competitive for the majority of the match.
After going in at half time 3-3 yesterday against Wales in Cardiff, two yellow cards followed a mishandled kick-off at the start of the second half…
Posted 9 days ago
By Bea Asprey, Rugby World Writer
VINCENT CLERC had issued a warning days before France were due to host Ireland at the Stade de France that the freezing temperatures in Paris could render the pitch unsafe to play on. So why was a contingency plan not immediately put into place, and why was it left until kick-off time on the…
Posted 9 days ago
By Ben Coles
So Stuart Lancaster’s men survived the blizzard of Rome and you could say the unique conditions left a significant mark on the quality of the game; this was no weather for miss passes and frivolous skill. Or is that being too generous?
All England fans wanted at half-time was a reaction. England had just conceded two tries within three…
Posted 9 days ago
By Paul Williams
WALES BEAT Scotland 27-13 in Cardiff on Sunday. They’re now two from two in the Six Nations and heading towards a Triple Crown showdown in Twickenham. Let’s take a look at the plusses and minuses of Wales’ performance – and there will be more Welsh analysis throughout the rest of the championship.
Lydiate is a dictator
Dan Lydiate may not…
Posted 12 days ago
By Owain Jones, Rugby World Editor
England venture into the gladiatorial lair of the 82,000 capacity Stadio Olympico on the back of a gritty, yet ultimately, uplifting 13-6 win over the Scots at Murrayfield. However, any fanciful thoughts of duplicating the try fest in last year’s thumping 59-13 win should be immediately eradicated. Expectations will be kept firmly in check this…
Posted 12 days ago
By Alan Pearey, Rugby World Deputy Editor
IT’S one of the great hoodoos of international rugby: since 1972, Ireland have won just once away to France, the magnificent March day 12 years ago when a young Brian O’Driscoll announced himself with a hat-trick.
This time O’Driscoll is unavailable, and in his absence the Irish midfield was trampled on last weekend when Wales…
