The Championship blog – Week 17 round-up

NEWCASTLE HAVE qualified for the knock-out stages of the Championship; not that this was ever in much doubt. And, with five rounds remaining, even if they do not score another…

joe launchbury england

[imagebrowser id=35] THE NEW issue of Rugby World is packed with Six Nations stars, including Joe Launchbury, Brian O’Driscoll, Leigh Halfpenny, Jim Hamilton, Mike Brown and Justin Tipuric. Will Carling…

Stephen Jones has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. Jones has had a magnificent career - racking up 104 caps for Wales and six for…

EVERY TIME we head to the pub with our mates there is a sort of social one-upmanship where every party has to demonstrate that they know more than the other,…

THE SRU have generated negative headlines recently with their ‘project players’ – and I have to agree with them. Bringing players over from South Africa – or elsewhere – with…

ACCORDING TO one of the games most legendary kickers, the standard of place kicking “is higher now than ever.” Neil Jenkins, former Pontypridd, Wales and Lions kicker has today spoken…

Wayne Barnes

IT’S A tough life being a referee – hundreds of decisions to make, crowds jeering you, coaches blaming you. There was an even more painful moment for Wayne Barnes recently.…

Christophe Lamaison france

“IF YOU any good ideas, give them to me,” said Philippe Saint-Andre in the aftermath of Saturday’s Six Nations defeat to England. The coach of France was responding to a…

Rugby World TV round 3 analysis

  AFTER A brief sojourn from the RBS 6 Nations, we were rewarded with three fascinating Six Nations duels in Round 3. England are now the only side capable winning…

THE FURTHER we wade into the 6 Nations the clearer the Lions picture becomes. After the latest matches, Rugby World’s Round 1 picks of Lion O’Driscoll, Owen Farrell, Stuart Hogg,…