Worcester Warriors name change plan could be scrapped after backlash February 13, 2023 The new owners of former Premiership club Worcester Warriors have said their plans to abandon the club’s name could be reversed. Having announced plans last week to disband the brand and drop into the lower divisions of English rugby to avoid agreeing to Rugby Football Union demands, the Atlas consortium have now said they may [...]
Ed Warner: Rugby union could learn from the NFL model on Super Bowl LVII weekend February 9, 2023 For all the relentless commercial growth of the Premier League, IPL and F1, the NFL remains the sporting brand to beat. Super Bowl LVII will be watched by more than 200m people worldwide on Sunday. The matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles has its stories, but in truth the identity of [...]
Exclusive: Worcester Warriors sale in spotlight over administrator’s email to witness February 5, 2023 The impartiality of Worcester Warriors’ sale process has been called into question after the administrators were accused of pressuring a witness ahead of a parliamentary select committee. A partner at DCMS–appointed administrators Begbies Traynor warned the witness that they could be sued for defamation if they repeated allegations about preferred bidder Jim O’Toole’s Atlas consortium [...]
Six Nations: Where do Ireland play, when did they last win, what is their anthem and who is their coach? January 31, 2023 Ireland are world No1 heading into the Six Nations and have two mighty games – against France and England – at home this season. Ireland History They are seen as one of the fiercest competitors in the Six Nations with passionate fans and a strong domestic system feeding quality players. The Republic of Ireland and [...]
Six Nations: Where do France play, when did they last win, what is their anthem and who is their coach? January 30, 2023 France are the defending Six Nations champions heading into this weekend’s tournament but what do you need to know about Les Bleus? France History They haven’t always been part of the rugby party in Europe having joined the competition in 1910. They have won the last two Championships with their 2022 success being completed with [...]
EXCLUSIVE: Six Nations unions and Netflix producers yet to agree level of access for documentary January 29, 2023 Six Nations teams and producers of a new Netflix documentary about the Championship are yet to agree how much access will be granted just days before the opening matches, City A.M. understands. With the tournament kicking off in Cardiff and London on Saturday, questions still remain over how much intrusion will be allowed, with some [...]
Rugby MUST get off its moral high horse if it’s ever going to become global January 29, 2023 It’s about time rugby got off its high horse about its so-called values. For too long the oval balled sport has claimed moral superiority over every challenger because fans are silent for opposition kicks and can drink in stands (really?!). But the truth is, rugby is as rotten as the rest and only a rebuild [...]
Six Nations: Where do England play, when did they last win, what is their anthem and who is their coach? January 29, 2023 With the 2023 Guinness Six Nations on the horizon, here is a look at England ahead of their tournament opener against Scotland. England History England have won 13 Grand Slams in the history of the Six Nations and the tournaments that have preceded it, dating back to their first title in 1883. The side have [...]
Exodus of players to France is bad for the Premiership but the boys will thrive January 27, 2023 The amount of brilliant rugby players fleeing England for France and South Africa should be of extreme concern to those in charge of the domestic game here. But the reality is those players heading for pastures new – as I did when I joined Stade Français from Newcastle in 2009 – will have an incredible [...]
World Rugby should be taking the lead on tackle heights, not following January 26, 2023 It is the work of just a minute or two to create a petition on the Change.org website, to be one of the ‘people taking action’ whose signatures the public-benefit corporation claims to be turning into ‘victories every day’. Takes only a few seconds to add a signature to a petition. By contrast, seven years [...]