Ben Ryan guided Fiji to gold at the Rio Olympics and here he casts his eye over the contenders for the Commonwealth Games medals on the Gold Coast
Columns
Secret Player: “Most specialist coaches are shadowy figures”
There are sports, football and basketball for example, whose global popularity lies partly in their intrinsic simplicity. Rugby is not one of those sports. To fully understand what is going…
Secret Player: “I learnt of my Lions selection whilst sunbathing”
WHERE HAVE those 12 years gone? That’s 12 years since the Lions last headed to New Zealand for a good old-fashioned shellacking, with me along for the ride. That’s right,…
Secret Player: “Pros jump at the chance to get blotto”
WE RUGGER players do love a drink. Often enjoyed – popular folklore pretty much has it bang on here – from unusual vessels, such as a standard issue boat shoe.…
Secret Player: “No one is laughing at the French these days”
I’VE BEEN around a bit in my career. I am, I’m not ashamed to say, what they call “a journeyman professional”. An honest plodder, unflashy, trusted to do a solid…
Secret Player: “A few seek media attention in a Lions year “
DESPITE WRONG turns (hello 2005) and crushing disappointments over the past 20 years, the rugby public continue to get their collective panties in a massive bunch at the mere mention…
Secret Player: “You’re essentially being paid to get beaten up once a week”
ALL THIS stuff about player welfare wasn’t even an issue when I started out professionally. Maybe it’s my Protestant work ethic, or my Catholic guilt (I’m never quite sure which…
Why South Africa needs Allister Coetzee
South Africa are at a crossroads. Not only has Allister Coetzee succeeded Heyneke Meyer as head coach but the remnants of the 2007 World Cup winning team has all but…
EXCLUSIVE COLUMN: Chris Cracknell
By Chris Cracknell NOT SO long ago, the highlight of the sevens circuit was the Commonwealth Games, which gives the game the international viewing platform it deserves. However, as we…
EXCLUSIVE COLUMN: Trevor Woodman
The former England and Gloucester loosehead prop and 2003 World Cup winner talks exclusively to Rugby World about his thoughts during that fateful final in Sydney, the talking to he…