Tell us about your rugby background… My dad and grandad played and I started when I was about six at Ballynahinch. Then I played schools rugby at Wallace High in…
Rugby World
Hotshot: Leicester Tigers flanker Will Evans
When did you first play rugby? When I was about five. My mum’s work colleague said I should go along to Wymondham RFC. I didn’t enjoy it too much to…
Hotshot: Glasgow Warriors flanker Matt Smith
How did you get into rugby? I started in primary school, gave it up for a year to play football, then started again at high school and have been with…
Hotshot: Saracens wing George Perkins
When did you start playing rugby? When I was about five or six, at Upminster rugby club. I didn’t play a lot of other sports when I was younger –…
Hotshot: Toulon fly-half Anthony Belleau
Where did rugby begin for you? I am from a village close to Agen in south-west France, so I played for my village from the age of six to 15,…
Analysis: The sights and sounds of the breakdown battle between England and Australia
When Eddie Jones announced his selection, the script was written. For all the ‘Bodyline’ bluster, Australia were going to tear apart England’s back-row. Despite Six Nations success, the trio of Chris…
Hotshots: Glasgow lock Callum Hunter-Hill
When did you first play rugby? At about eight, at my local club North Berwick. I loved it and was a front-row until I shot up in height in my…
Analysis: Taulupe Faletau try against New Zealand shows new way for Wales
Speaking candidly in an excellent interview with European football journalist Graham Hunter in April 2015, Gary Neville admitted that he had “no interest” in examining goals during his role as…
Five talking points from New Zealand v Wales
Wales use the left side of their brain Despite a 39-21 defeat at Eden Park, and a last twenty minutes where the All Blacks’ superior ball control dominated, Wales were…
Summer Test: Australia 28-39 England
In a pulsating encounter in Brisbane, Australia outscored England four tries to three but 24-points from Owen Farrell in a brilliant kicking display saw England come away with a vital…