Six Nations: England beat Italy but improvements must keep coming February 12, 2023 England earned their first win under Steve Borthwick yesterday with a 31-14 victory against Italy in the Six Nations, but the head coach insisted his side have a lot of improvements to make if they’re going to return to the top of the sport. Two years after suffering a significant knee injury in the same [...]
U20 Six Nations: One to watch from each of the competing nations February 10, 2023 While many are keeping their eyes out for the world class talent in the Six Nations, the Under-20 version is running adjacently. With the same teams involved, this is seen as a quality pathway for the sport’s next stars to shine on the semi-international stage. Here’s one player to watch from each of tonight’s matches, [...]
Marcus Smith DROPPED to bench for England’s Six Nations match vs Italy February 10, 2023 Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith has been dropped to the bench ahead of England’s Six Nations fixture against Italy on Sunday. Smith had started at No10 in last week’s Calcutta Cup loss to Scotland inside Owen Farrell but the Saracens No10 will take Smith’s spot in Sunday’s clash at Twickenham. It’s a new centre partnership for [...]
Sport on television: Cricket World Cup, Super Bowl and Six Nations February 10, 2023 It’s a huge weekend in sport with another Cricket World Cup on top of the Premier League, Club World Cup, Six Nations and the Super Bowl. Here are five events you need to put into your sports calendar. Golf: Phoenix Open, Thursday – Sunday Rory McIlroy leads the field for this week’s Phoenix Open – [...]
Ireland duel in Dublin vs France could be the Six Nations decider February 10, 2023 I wouldn’t usually reveal my hand so early on in a Six Nations tournament, but I do think the winner of this match between Ireland and France will go on to claim the Championship this year. Many have had the same view prior to the tournament and I back it, though Scotland could be the [...]
DCMS and RFU in talks to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to Atlas February 9, 2023 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in talks with the Rugby Football Union to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to the Atlas consortium. City A.M. understands that the two bodies are meeting today with the governmental department expected to lobby against Worcester’s administrators Begbies Traynor selling the club to a bid that [...]
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 [...]
Ben Loader: London Irish winger wants to bag trophies like his brother February 8, 2023 As London Irish winger Ben Loader trains this week for his side’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final, his brother, Danny, will be going through a similar process 800 miles away in the Portuguese city of Porto. For the siblings, two years apart in age, are both playing at the top level in their respective sports. Danny [...]
England drop Ben Youngs ahead of Italy Six Nations Test February 8, 2023 England Rugby’s most capped man Ben Youngs has been dropped from the national side’s squad ahead of this week’s round two Six Nations clash against Italy at Twickenham Stadium. The Leicester Tigers scrum-half made his 122nd appearance when he came off the bench in England’s Calcutta Cup loss to Scotland at the weekend. Youngs, 33, [...]
Six Nations: Forza Italy – Azzurri on the up but need another huge scalp February 6, 2023 “Forza Italia” was the phrase ringing around the Stadio Olimpico in Rome after Italy’s 29-24 loss to defending Six Nations champions France on Sunday. Why such jubilation after a defeat? Because 41,000 spectators saw an Italian side pumped with passion running the Grand Slam holders close in the greatest annual international rugby tournament in the [...]