Ugo Monye: I know how exhausting the 10 match Lions tour of New Zealand will be for players — but none will turn down the chance to go September 20, 2016 Former British and Irish Lions tourist Ugo Monye insists the pride will overwhelm the pain for players selected in Warren Gatland’s squad for next summer’s gruelling tour of New Zealand. Leading figures of the club game have warned that the month-long trip will take its toll on players’ bodies and lead to injuries in the [...]
Saracens wing Chris Ashton charged with two counts of biting by RFU September 19, 2016 Saracens wing Chris Ashton could be banned for the remainder of the year after being cited for two counts of biting during his side’s Premiership clash with Northampton Saints on Saturday. Ashton is alleged to have bitten Northampton prop Alex Waller on two separate occasions during the match; once in the 24th minute of a [...]
Rugby union v rugby league on the trading floor: Players swap studs for suits in hour-long trade-off September 15, 2016 The debate over which rugby code is superior — league or union — was settled on the trading room floor at foreign currency specialists AFEX on Wednesday when current and former union players converted £8.4m worth of trades in an hour while representatives from league offloaded £5.6m. Harlequins legend and former British and Irish Lions star Ugo Monye were amongst the [...]
Five-try Saracens continue perfect start to Premiership title defence against Exeter September 11, 2016 Saracens boss Mark McCall praised his improving side after they stormed to a bonus-point 34-13 victory over Exeter Chiefs in a repeat of last season’s Premiership final on Sunday. Two tries by wing Sean Maitland and further scores from young fly-half Alex Lozowski, flanker Jackson Wray and replacement Ben Spencer continued the champions’ flawless start to [...]
British Lions can make history and beat All Blacks next summer, says head coach Warren Gatland September 7, 2016 British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland insists he can lead the team to only their second ever series win over the All Blacks when they tour his native New Zealand next summer. Gatland, who led the Lions to a 2-1 triumph in Australia in 2013, was confirmed for a second stint in charge [...]
London Welsh confirm new American owners after avoiding winding-up order at the High Court September 5, 2016 London Welsh have confirmed that the club is set to be sold to a Californian investment group after avoiding a winding-up order in the High Court yesterday. During a brief hearing, officials from HM Revenue & Customs were advised that the club’s outstanding bill had been paid in full, while a statement confirmed that the [...]
Stuart Lancaster is a sponge of a rugby man and will thrive in new Leinster role, says former England centre Will Greenwood September 5, 2016 Former England centre Will Greenwood has backed Stuart Lancaster to prove a huge success in his new role after being appointed as a senior coach at Pro12 side Leinster for the remainder of the season. Lancaster left his role as England head coach in November 2015 after a dismal World Cup campaign which saw the [...]
Rugby is heading towards transfer fees like Manchester United’s £89m Paul Pogba purchase, claims Bristol owner Steve Lansdown September 2, 2016 Rugby could one day feature multi-million pound transfer fees akin to the record-breaking £89m Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba, according to Bristol's billionaire owner Steve Lansdown. The co-founder of financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown believes rugby will soon have its first £1m player as clubs increasingly chase "glamour signings". Lansdown, whose backing helped Bristol return to the Premiership following [...]
We enjoy being the Premiership’s prize scalp, insists Saracens back-row forward Jackson Wray September 1, 2016 The tag of domestic and European champions offers rivals a huge incentive, although back-row forward Jackson Wray is refusing to lose any sleep over Saracens’s status as the Premiership’s prize scalp. Sarries became the first English side for 12 years, since Wasps in 2004, to complete the double when they retained their Premiership crown with victory [...]
Tim Visser interview: Top-four Premiership spot and European Challenge Cup title the aim for Harlequins September 1, 2016 Harlequins wing Tim Visser is pulling no punches; securing a place in the Premiership play-offs and lifting the European Challenge Cup are the club’s goals this season. Quins begin their 150th campaign against top-flight newcomers Bristol in Saturday’s London Double Header at Twickenham, aiming to drastically improve upon the past two campaigns which failed to [...]