Following much hyperbole and no little excitement, the World Cup year is finally upon us. Over the next 12 months, a galaxy of stars will be born as rugby asserts…
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Blues-Dragons derby a shadow of yesteryear
Close your eyes at Cardiff Arms Park on Boxing Day and you might just imagine you’ve stepped back in time. A bumper crowd is expected for the Blues-Dragons Guinness Pro12…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Staying strong It is six months since Owen Williams suffered a serious spinal injury while playing for Cardiff Blues in a tens tournament in Singapore and the former…
Dan Carter breaks the million pound transfer-window
IT’S THE numbers that get you gasping. Dan Carter is off to join Racing Metro in Paris on a three-year deal in the aftermath of the World Cup. If the…
Big Debate: Should the Premiership keep the salary cap?
Read two experts' views and then cast your vote
End of an era as Wasps up sticks
With impeccable timing, Wasps will unwrap a big, shiny Christmas present to their fans this Sunday – the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Like Santa Claus himself, they’ve been handing out…
Toulouse power struggle threatens Europe’s aristocrats
There’s not much Christmas spirit in Toulouse right now. In fact the atmosphere in the Pink City is what coach Guy Noves recently called ‘Nauséabond’. Imagine a rotten chunk of…
Rugby statistics: Tracking England player burn-out
With a World Cup approaching, expect much talk of growing the game and new commercial opportunities. Potential showpiece events such as the winners of Super Rugby and the European Champions…
European Champions Cup player analysis: Sam Burgess, Bath
What a treat. After months of opinions ranging from social media suggestions to ostentatious open letters, there was actually some meaningful action on which to judge how Sam Burgess is progressing…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Tame Tiger Measured and diplomatic are not words you might readily associate with the Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill. A fiery player in his day, he…