Jones impressed with England’s character following autumn internationals November 23, 2021 The international season is done for another year, the roars of Twickenham have ceased and the party is over. But how has England coach Eddie Jones assessed the autumn? Three wins from three for Jones’ England this Autumn. A rout of Tonga was expected, as was the edging-out of Australia, but the scalp of the [...]
Record £3.2bn in private equity deals for sports teams as funds target football, rugby and F1 November 22, 2021 The last twelve months saw a record £3.2bn of sports team acquisitions by private equity funds, almost treble last year’s total, as they targeted football, rugby and Formula 1 teams, according to new data shared with City A.M. this afternoon. Last year saw an all-time high of 11 PE purchases of stakes in sports teams [...]
Georgia on my mind: The business of rugby November 22, 2021 Fans back packing stands, pints flowing, and roofs being raised. International rugby’s back and, as the inaugural Autumn Nations Series draws to a close, the on-pitch balance of power between the hemispheres seems delicately poised. Away from the pitch though, tensions exist as to the direction the sport should take post-pandemic. A tough 2020 for [...]
Ollie Phillips: The Boks play simple, boring rugby, but winning is winning November 19, 2021 In tomorrow’s match with South Africa, England have their hardest test. Why? Because they know exactly what they’ll be coming up against. The Springboks don’t often play exciting rugby – it’s simple, boring rugby. They try to bully you, outmuscle you and, when in doubt, send the ball skyward and harass the catcher. It’s not [...]
The Red Roses have shown domestic investment can shift the tectonic plates November 15, 2021 The mighty Black Ferns? Routed twice. The North American might of Canada? Toppled. The Red Roses have had an autumn international window of dreams thus far. A total of 99 points were shipped by New Zealand at the hands of England – that wasn’t supposed to happen – and further 51 points were put on [...]
Ollie Phillips: Marcus Smith ready to start against Australia November 12, 2021 He is a mercurial talent who was destined to be in an England jersey and tomorrow against Australia Marcus Smith will get his first taste of top-level international rugby. Smith’s previous two England starts have come in under-strength sides who played the USA and Canada during the summer. This weekend he will wear No10 against [...]
Rob Simmons: Australia can beat England if they go through the front door November 12, 2021 International rivalries make sport tick. The anticipation ahead of the match, the key moments, the celebration, the comedown. Fixtures often rooted in factors long reaching from sport. When England and Australia meet each other in a sporting arena, winning feels just that little bit more meaningful. Rob Simmons, member of the rugby institution that is [...]
Joe Marler out of Australia match following positive Covid-19 test November 9, 2021 Joe Marler will miss England’s next autumn international against Australia on Saturday after testing positive for Covid-19. The prop, who plays for defending premiership champions Harlequins, tested positive in both his lateral flow and PCR tests. In a statement, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said: “Joe Marler has tested positive for Covid and will be [...]
England’s fly-half options offer glimpse into an exciting future November 7, 2021 In England’s dominant win over Tonga on Saturday, the scoreline was never really going to be the point of discussion. For the first time since the 2020 Six Nations more than 80,000 spectators packed into Twickenham, and at the weekend they were offered a glimpse of what a future England side could look like. Amid [...]
Aleki Lutui: Tonga need to express themselves against England November 5, 2021 It hasn’t been the easiest of periods for the paradise island nation of Tonga, somewhat isolated from the rest of the world during the pandemic with many unable to return home for nearly two years. In difficult times people look to sport for hope and in the ‘Ikale Tahi, the national rugby side, the people [...]