Ollie Phillips: Don’t expect a shock – Saracens and Exeter are streets ahead of their Premiership play-off rivals May 23, 2019 The Premiership semi-finals are upon us this weekend and it is very much a case of challengers taking on heavy favourites. Saracens and Exeter have been dominant over the past few seasons and it will take a mammoth effort from Gloucester or Northampton to reach the final. Saracens have won three of the last four [...]
Exeter’s chief Tony Rowe has overseen the club’s rise to the top of English rugby – now he’s dreaming of a second Premiership title May 22, 2019 When Tony Rowe sat down with Exeter chairman John Baxter in 1993 to discuss a £4,000 sponsorship deal, neither could have envisaged the success that was to follow. Exeter were in English rugby’s fourth tier and struggling, but local businessman Rowe, owner of South West Communications, was sold by Baxter’s passion. So began a 26-year [...]
Ollie Phillips: Premiership play-off place in Harlequins’ grasp ahead of trip to under-performing Wasps May 16, 2019 The final weekend of the Premiership season is upon us and there’s plenty to play for, with the last play-off spot still up for grabs. As it stands Northampton Saints are in pole position, occupying fourth, one point ahead of fifth-placed Harlequins. But despite their points advantage I’d rather be in Quins’ position – and [...]
Ollie Phillips: Johnny Sexton’s battle with Owen Farrell will decide heavyweight Champions Cup final May 9, 2019 The Champions Cup final is all set to be a momentous clash, with Europe’s two outstanding sides going head to head in an almost impossible-to-call showdown ob Saturday. It’s a most fitting decider. Defending champions Leinster are going for an unprecedented fifth title, while Saracens are aiming for a third in four years. Read more: [...]
Maro means business: Itoje on Saracens’ European Cup final, England captaincy, his new clothing range and his NBA role models May 9, 2019 There will only be one thing on Maro Itoje’s mind when Saracens take on Leinster this Saturday: claiming a third Champions Cup title and regaining the club’s status as the best in Europe. It is an encounter that will see the England forward line up opposite James Ryan in what is sure to be a [...]
Ollie Phillips: Champions Cup qualification would be fitting end to groundbreaking campaign for Bristol May 2, 2019 The Premiership’s top two sides, Exeter and Saracens, may be meeting this weekend but with just two games to go the drama lies elsewhere. The two outstanding teams are streets ahead and I think will meet in the final on 1 June but the other 10 sides still have lots to play for. Read more: [...]
Ollie Phillips: Newcastle face do or die fixture against Northampton in bid to beat the Premiership drop April 25, 2019 What a difference a year makes. Last season Newcastle were toasting a Premiership semi-final place; this time they are staring down the barrel of relegation. It has reached do or die time for the Falcons, who are bottom of the table, seven points behind 11th-placed Worcester with just three matches remaining. Newcastle still have their [...]
London Irish will return from exile with move back to the capital as they bid to secure their Premiership status April 25, 2019 After 20 years in exile, London Irish are returning to their roots. The club bounced back into the Premiership at the first time of asking at the weekend with a 46-7 Good Friday win against Richmond, and after a difficult few years they are looking to their past for inspiration as they build for the [...]
Legal Q&A: Why Rugby Australia can terminate Israel Folau’s contract – and what he can do about it April 17, 2019 Lawyer JJ Shaw explains the regulatory workings behind Rugby Australia's decision to terminate Israel Folau's contract over anti-gay social media posts, and how the player can contest the sanction. What grounds do Australian rugby chiefs have for terminating Folau’s contract? Rugby Australia’s code of conduct obliges players to “treat everyone equally, fairly and with dignity regardless of gender [...]
Munster looking to break their semi-final curse against Saracens in the European Cup April 17, 2019 Steeped in history, with a rich European pedigree and where passion for the game cannot be bested – giants of club rugby don’t come much bigger than Ireland’s Munster. But when they face Saracens on Saturday in the Champions Cup semi-final they will not only be burdened with their fans’ expectations but also the knowledge [...]