Ahead of the Game: Man United cuts could be copied by other clubs December 30, 2024 Manchester United’s controversial move to slash the funding it provides to its charitable foundation as part of cost-cutting measures introduced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be followed by other Premier League clubs. The Manchester United Foundation are set to be the latest victims of Ratcliffe’s drive to cut costs at Old Trafford, with Sky News [...]
Which stadium is the best in the Gallagher Premiership? December 26, 2024 There are 10 Gallagher Premiership teams fighting tooth and nail to lift the title this season. And a key part of reaching the semi-finals is home form and away form. But which stadium is the best in England and which comes up short? Well here is my ultimate ranking of the 10 Premiership grounds. 10 [...]
Quins boss reveals he almost didn’t pick star man in thrashing of Stormers December 15, 2024 Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson admits he almost scuppered Alex Dombrandt’s man-of-the-match display in their 53-16 win over the Stormers in the Investec Champions Cup. England No8 Dombrandt ran in three of Quins’ eight tries at the Stoop but Wilson revealed afterwards that he considered leaving him out of the team over fitness concerns. “I [...]
Premiership Rugby: Chiefs winless as top four pull away October 28, 2024 That’s it. The Premiership is done and finished for a month. After six rounds the 10 teams will take a month-long break while the Autumn Nations Series takes place. So what have we learned from the final week of action in the first block of top-flight matches? Devonian drought Few would have thought Exeter Chiefs [...]
Harlequins beat Saracens 1,700 days after last derby victory October 13, 2024 Harlequins put an end to Saracens’s unbeaten start to the season, beating their rivals 17-10 in the London derby. Fin Baxter and Lennox Anyanwu crossed for the Twickenham side with Marcus Smith adding seven points off the tee while Hugh Tizard scored the away side’s only try. Five points off the boot of England returnee [...]
Sports teams can make better use of Apprenticeship Levy, ex-Quins CEO says October 9, 2024 A former Premiership Rugby chief executive has called on the government to cut red tape and back sports clubs to use the existing Apprenticeship Levy to fuel upskilling opportunities for athletes and local communities. David Ellis, who served as CEO of Harlequins for eight years until 2019, insists the compulsory tax could be better used [...]
Premiership rugby stays on free-to-air TV in new two-year deal September 30, 2024 Premiership rugby will remain available to terrestrial TV viewers after the league extended its deal with ITV to show seven live matches per season. The two-year agreement ensures the Premiership Final will be shown live on ITV, which will also continue to broadcast a weekly highlights programme. “Premiership Rugby is thrilled to extend our relationship [...]
Premiership Rugby 5 things: Bonus points more vital than ever September 30, 2024 Each Premiership side has now played a match at home and one on the road, so what have we learned from the early rounds of domestic rugby? Well Gloucester’s new attacking style started to reward them with results while Saracens and Bath remained the only unbeaten sides. Here are five talking points from round two. [...]
Premiership rugby: Saints stunned, Cheika heist and TV deal September 22, 2024 England’s domestic rugby league got under way at the weekend and already there have been shocks, surprises and a couple of predictable outcomes. There’s a new coach at Leicester Tigers in former Australia boss Michael Cheika, and a host of new stars across the 10-team Premiership to look forward to across the season, but what [...]
Bath to win Premiership rugby title, Falcons to finish bottom September 20, 2024 It feels as though Northampton Saints only just lifted the Premiership trophy but we’ve already reached the eve of this year’s campaign. We’ve got a new coach in Leicester Tigers boss Michael Cheika, who I worked with at Stade Francais, and renewed ambitions. And we’ve also got the chance of seeing a sixth different winner [...]