Major teams: Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, Cardiff Blues, Toulon Country: Wales Test span: 2002-2016 Wales caps: 126 (90 starts) Lions caps: 5 (5 starts) Test points: 20 (4T) It seems that…
Rugby World
The greatest tightheads of all time: Carl Hayman
Major teams: Otago, Highlanders, Newcastle, Toulon Country: New Zealand Test span: 2001-07 Test caps: 45 (37 starts) Test points: 10 (2T) Carl Hayman made his Test debut from the bench…
Top 14: Could La Rochelle become French champions?
A gambler would have got enticing odds if he’d bet a few euros on La Rochelle to be leading the Top 14 a month into the new season. Four matches…
Player analysis: The rise and rise of Maro Itoje
By Alex Shaw Everyone in the rugby world knows the name Maro Itoje. The 21-year-old has been riding the crest of a wave that has grown, exponentially, over the last…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Four more from Seymour Scoring two tries against champions Connacht last week seemed like a good start to the season for Tommy Seymour, but the Glasgow Warriors wing…
Lions bolters: Eight players who could make New Zealand in 2017
From Will Greenwood in 1997, to Keith Earls in 2009, the selection announcement for the Lions tour always springs its surprises. And with eight months to go until Warren Gatland’s…
Lions 2017: Why Warren Gatland is ready to take on Mission Impossible
Back in January, when the Six Nations was being launched at the oh-so-posh Hurlingham Club, Warren Gatland was asked about the itinerary for the British & Irish Lions tour to…
WIN a trip to the Hong Kong Sevens
The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is one of the most exciting events in the world and a must-do tour for rugby fans. The carnival atmosphere is second-to-none and truly…
The Rugby Championship: The game Australia dare not lose
By Alex Shaw Rugby is a results business and if those results fall below challenging for titles and championships for the Springboks and Wallabies, it simply isn’t good enough. Coaches…
Lions coach Warren Gatland faces the biggest challenge of his career
Congratulations Warren Gatland – and, er, commiserations. For while being named head coach of the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand is a great honour, one to…