By Alan Dymock AS OUTSIDERS we can analyse and chirp and break down what we can of the Rugby Championship from our cosy hemisphere, perhaps tainted by a little bit…
Rugby World
Gaining Six Nations release from the Top 14
By Alan Dymock FRANCE IS a place of cruel and lucrative circumstance, we are told. A place where teams allegedly have to balance slugging it out like dribbling Neanderthals all…
The hardest men in rugby
By Alan Dymock “CAN YOU pick a definitive list of rugby’s hard men?” is one of those nice innocuous questions – the kind that comes up in the pub, once…
Bledisloe Cup: Matt Toomua ahead of Quade Cooper for Wallabies
By Alan Dymock THE GLIB and the dry amongst us would perhaps chuckle to themselves as Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie opted not to look after his faithful servant Quade Cooper…
Bledisloe Cup: No surprises or weak links in All Blacks selection
By Alan Dymock THE SUPER Rugby semi-final in Hamilton. An hour gone. Ryan Crotty fires out a loose pass to one of his Crusaders team-mates but before it can touch…
Increase your speed: the shuttle test
THIS MONTH we’re all about speed! John Dams, Harlequins head of performance, has designed a workout to help you increase your speed – a key focus of Quins’ training. It…
Rugby World Cup: Canada and USA fighting to qualify
By Alan Dymock THE RUGBY World Cup may appear nicely teed up in the minds of fans from the traditional rugby heartlands, with spectators already looking forward to South Africa…
One year to go until the Commonwealth Games
By Alan Dymock ONE YEAR to go. That’s the word in Scotland as Glasgow prepares to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Some of the biggest names in sport will be…
Pro’s Playbook: Lineout middle peel
EACH MONTH we ask the pros for their best rugby tips, to help you improve your performance. In the September edition of Rugby World, we asked Matt Ferguson, Bristol’s forwards coach, how…
Hotshots: Edinburgh rugby’s young star, Alex Allan
When did you first play rugby? When I was seven my dad took me to Harrogate rugby club. He didn’t play but he thought I’d enjoy it. Later on I…