Ollie Phillips: I’d want to avoid Harlequins in the semi-finals at all costs April 22, 2022 No matter whether I were Leicester Tigers or Saracens, I would want to stay well clear of Harlequins in the Premiership playoffs. No disrespect to Gloucester, Northampton Saints or Exeter Chiefs, but Quins have proven that they’re a danger in the knockout stages of the domestic league – even if they went out of Europe [...]
Wales Women can shine in future rugby games after copying England April 22, 2022 Wales are a team on the up as they prepare to meet France in the penultimate round of the Women’s Six Nations. Having not won for three years prior to the tournament, they take two victories from their three matches at this championship into the clash with title challengers France. Such a turnaround would have [...]
Ed Warner: The higher the price for Chelsea, the sooner their new owners will feel the strain April 21, 2022 Unless the media have been blindsided by a canny investment bank, it seems that there are no sovereign wealth funds or squillionaires left in the running to buy Chelsea. No Musk, Bezos, Chinese tech magnate or gas-rich autocracy. The three remaining bidders, as reported, are all consortia. Let the game theory commence. The selling bank, [...]
Champions Cup two legged ties introduced new spark to European rugby April 18, 2022 Some said the past fortnight’s two legged ties would kick the life out of European rugby. Others said it would be one of the best changes the governing body, EPCR, could make to liven up the continental season. Well, after the weekend’s second leg matches, it’s clear that the latter opinion has won out. It [...]
Ben Cohen ready to admit defeat in battle to save anti-bullying foundation April 13, 2022 England Rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen has revealed that his anti-bullying foundation StandUp could be forced to close in the coming months. “I will say this and no one knows it,” Cohen told City A.M. “I am probably going to close it. We’ve had Covid-19, Brexit, Ukraine and we’re probably going to hit a [...]
Interview: Premiership Rugby chairman Phillips insists on high standards April 12, 2022 Ealing Trailfinders were last weekend confirmed as the winners of English rugby’s second tier, the RFU Championship. So why haven’t they been confirmed as the 14th Premiership side? Well, because they have been deemed to have failed to meet certain criteria relating to infrastructure, the London-based club have been denied their chance to join the [...]
Tigers roar on as Harlequins come unstuck in Champions Cup April 11, 2022 It was always going to be the biggest test of Steve Borthwick’s 20-month tenure as Leicester Tigers director of rugby to date, and his side performed. In Leicester’s 10-29 first leg win over Clermont in the Champions Cup round of 16, Borthwick’s side combined brilliant back play with the brute force of a dominant forward [...]
Ollie Phillips: Four English sides should make it to top European quarters April 8, 2022 As the first leg of the European Champions Cup round of 16 begins this evening, I am confident that all but one of the English sides will progress through to the quarter-finals. While some of the ties look mighty close, there’s enough grit and flair in the Premiership to make the difference. It also helps [...]
Brian O’Driscoll: Leinster European favourites but French could spoil party April 6, 2022 Three-time Champions Cup winner Brian O’Driscoll has backed his former club Leinster to go all the way in this year’s showpiece European competition. Leinster are favourites for this year’s Champions Cup title, as 16 teams embark on two-legged knock-out ties for the first time, ahead of French duo Racing 92 and Toulouse. The Irish province [...]
Premiership talking points: Stealthy Saints, flying Falcons and Euro race April 4, 2022 Harlequins earned London bragging rights while Newcastle managed to get their first win on the board since September. As the league heads into a two week hiatus while the next European fixtures are played, here are the talking points from round 22 of the Premiership. Premiership champs gonna champ Yesterday’s showpiece match saw third-placed Harlequins [...]