European Champions Cup semi-finals set for lowest attendance in 15 years with thousands of tickets still on sale for Saracens v Wasps and Leicester v Racing 92 April 22, 2016 The European Champions Cup is braced for the worst attended set of semi-finals in Europe's premier rugby competition for 15 years this weekend. Thousands of general sale tickets are expected to go unsold for both Saturday's Saracens v Wasps match and the Sunday's meeting of Leicester and Racing 92. European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) expect 18,000 fans [...]
European Champions Cup semi-final preview: Can Saracens stop Wasps’ Christian Wade? Will Dan Carter roll back the years at Leicester? April 21, 2016 English rugby's rapid renaissance following last year's World Cup humiliation continues this weekend with three Premiership Rugby teams in the European Champions Cup semi-finals. Saracens host Wasps at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on Saturday before Leicester play Racing 92 of France a day later in Nottingham. Here's what to look out for: Read more: [...]
Harlequins launch £7.5m bond to fund global growth ambitions April 18, 2016 Harlequins are today launching their first bond in an attempt to raise £7.5m to fund their ambition of becoming the best rugby team in Europe. Ahead of their 150th anniversary next season, the West London club is offering investors a 5.5 per cent annual return, paid semi-annually, over an initial five-year fixed term. The bond, which could be raised to [...]
London Irish staring first relegation for 20 years in the face after defeat in relegation showdown with Newcastle Falcons April 17, 2016 London Irish must win their last two Premiership games to have any chance of extending their 20-year stay in the top flight after losing 13-6 at relegation rivals Newcastle Falcons. Two penalties from fly-half Greig Tonks gave the Exiles a slender lead at Kingston Park, but his wayward pass allowed Falcons wing Marcus Watson to [...]
PRO Rugby: As America’s first professional rugby league kicks-off, chief executive Doug Schoninger discusses the game’s prospects in the USA April 15, 2016 After over 150 years since rucks and mauls first formed on its shores, a professional rugby league is finally coming to America this weekend. Before even the American Civil War was waged primitive forms of the game were being contested in Ivy League universities. Amateur rugby clubs existed before the First World War and the USA still [...]
QBE to sponsor British Lions on 2017 tour of New Zealand April 15, 2016 The British Lions will be sponsored by business insurer QBE on their tour of New Zealand in 2017. QBE has inked a deal with the team to become a principal partner on the Lions' daunting trip to face the All Blacks, winners of last year's Rugby World Cup. Read more: QBE’s David Hall on how insurers [...]
Saracens v Harlequins: Sarries in Kruis control as they look to cement successful legacy April 15, 2016 Second row George Kruis was at the forefront of England’s Grand Slam success but, with domestic issues now back at top of the agenda, attention has refocused on building the Saracens dynasty. Defending champions and Premiership leaders Sarries are primed for a showdown with top-four chasing London rivals Harlequins in front of an 80,000-strong crowd [...]
Stuart Lancaster looks to Super Rugby to heal enduring torment of Rugby World Cup failure April 10, 2016 Former England head coach Stuart Lancaster admits he is still haunted by last year’s Rugby World Cup failure but is hoping to rebuild his career in the southern hemisphere. Lancaster’s four-year tenure ended in ignominy in November after his England team became the first hosts of the tournament to suffer elimination at the group stage. [...]
England lock Kruis in danger of missing tour of Australia after biting charge April 4, 2016 Second row George Kruis could miss England’s tour of Australia in June after being cited for an alleged bite during Saracens’ Premiership victory at Bath on Friday evening. Kruis stands accused of biting Bath’s David Wilson in a second-half incident which has also seen the 30-year-old prop charged with making contact with the eye area [...]
Will Greenwood: Joe Marler “gypsy boy” affair should have been dealt with in a weekend by World Rugby and Six Nations March 31, 2016 World Cup winner Will Greenwood has called for rugby’s governing bodies to reassess their disciplinary procedures to avoid a repeat of England prop Joe Marler’s “gypsy boy” saga. Former England centre Greenwood believes World Rugby and Six Nations organisers should have delivered a coherent message over Marler’s contentious comment towards Wales prop Samson Lee earlier [...]