Blogs
Posted 33 days ago
in Blogs, England, Ireland, Lions 2013, Scotland, Wales / Comments Off

IN THE aftermath of the Six Nations and with time running out we are all confronted with the starkest of choices: who are our Lions? An obvious point of conjecture, there were at least some standouts in recent weeks. So in the interest of making clear what Warren Gatland, Graham Rowntree, Rob Howley and Andy Farrell face before the squad announcement on 30 April, Rugby World will sift through runners and riders in each key position.
Posted 36 days ago
in Blogs, News, Top 14, Tournaments / Comments Off

THERE’LL BE a new face in the Top 14 next season, captained by an old face , and an English one at that. Former Bristol flanker Joe El-Abd joined Oyonnax last summer after three seasons with Toulon, a stint on the Cote d’Azur that had him sharing a dressing room with some of the greats of the game: Jonny Wilkinson, Sonny Bill Williams, George Smith and Tana Umaga to name but a few.
Posted 36 days ago
in Blogs, England, Ireland, Lions 2013, News, Scotland, Wales / Comments Off

IN THE aftermath of the Six Nations and with time running out we are all confronted with the starkest of choices: who are our Lions? An obvious point of conjecture, there were at least some standouts in recent weeks. So in the interest of making clear what Warren Gatland, Graham Rowntree, Rob Howley and Andy Farrell face
Posted 36 days ago
in Blogs, News, Scotland / Comments Off

THERE IS a coaching job available. There is no velvet rope cordoning-off the hot seat and there is not a flashy pop-up spamming every ambitious coach around, but there is a job there for anyone willing to fight for it. A little more clarity, we are not talking about the Ireland job.
Posted 39 days ago
in Blogs / Comments Off

IN THE aftermath of the Six Nations and with time running out we are all confronted with the starkest of choices: who are our Lions? An obvious point of conjecture, there were at least some standouts in recent weeks. So in the interest of making clear what Warren Gatland, Graham Rowntree, Rob Howley and Andy Farrell face
Posted 39 days ago
in Blogs, The Championship / Comments Off

IT’S QUIET, drinking in the last chance saloon. The barman has gone home and told London Welsh to lock up on their way out. Because, unless someone from the Championship can defeat unbeaten Newcastle; and someone who would also fail the Premiership criteria, the saloon door will swing closed and the Kassam lights will go out for rugby.
Posted 43 days ago
in Australia, Blogs, Lions 2013 / Comments Off

PULSES HAVE been set racing south of the equator as Robbie Deans named a preliminary Australia squad to meet for an ‘exercise’ this Sunday, omitting Quade Cooper but naming Waratah Israel Folau in his 30-man group.
Posted 45 days ago
in Blogs, Lions 2013, Top 14 / Comments Off

CAUGHT BETWEEN the Devil and a deep red rage, Nathan Hines angered the people of Perpignan in 2009 by skipping the Top 14 final in order to travel to South Africa with the British and Irish Lions. That year Perpignan triumphed without the oversized lock, besting Clermont Auvergne, Hines current club, 22-13.
Posted 46 days ago
in Blogs, Lions 2013 / Comments Off

LAZARUS HAD never seen the Rocky movies, but if he had it is impossible to imagine him losing the Bethany heavyweight title. Confusing myth with reality – badly? Well you would be forgiven for doing so just weeks before the Lions squad is selected. The word “comeback” is firmly on everyone’s lips.
Posted 46 days ago
in Blogs, Lions 2013 / Comments Off

WITH No 8s there is the potential for Lions coach Warren Gatland to be harangued by fans for whatever choices he makes because there are so few options out there. An obvious point of conjecture, there were at least some standouts in recent weeks. So in the interest of making clear what Warren Gatland, Graham Rowntree, Rob Howley and Andy Farrell face before the squad announcement on 30 April, Rugby World will sift through the runners and riders in each key position.