If you heard a low rumbling noise last Thursday, it may well have been a collective sigh of relief from armchair rugby fans across the country. You’ve no doubt heard…
Tournaments
BBC retain Six Nations but lose England home games to ITV
It’s a victory for common sense – but there’s no doubting the Six Nations TV deal announced today will draw sighs from traditionalists. The BBC, the permanent home of Five/Six…
Analysis: Five reasons the Highlanders won the Super 15 final
“Nobody said we could” – that was the rabid rallying cry issued by fly-half Lima Sopoaga as the Highlanders took to the pitch for the second period of Saturday’s phenomenal Super 15…
30 Minutes with… Charlie Sharples
Gloucester full-back Charlie Sharples talks pranks, party guests and PlayStation
Super Rugby: Hurricanes and Highlanders set to thrill in all-Kiwi final
As if any more ballast was required to reinforce New Zealand’s World Cup credentials, it comes in the shape of this Saturday’s Super Rugby final – the first all-Kiwi affair…
Merger of Biarritz and Bayonne ruled out
The controversial proposal to create a Basque Super Club by merging Biarritz and Bayonne is now off the table
Ardie Savea: The red-hot Hurricane omitted by the All Blacks
“People are always afraid of what is different. They are afraid of change. It is the same everywhere.” So runs a line from Shaolin Tiger, a book written by Australian children’s author Sandy…
Aaron Smith and Waisake Naholo: All Blacks double-act
Whenever a New Zealand squad is announced, a palpable air of intimidation accompanies it. You know they possess an astounding abundance of talent, but it is not until the list…
The Clubhouse Podcast: The French foreign legion
With the Top 14 final ending in the favour of Stade Francais – a 12-6 win over bad luck magnets Clermont Auvergne giving the Paris outfit the title – we…
Top 14: Clermont bow under the weight of expectation
Professional sport is a cruel business. Stade Francais partied long and hard after winning the Top 14 title on Saturday night and wound up their celebrations on Monday evening, at…