Betting: Sarries to win it again – but Wasps can provide a sting in the tail September 1, 2016 The rough and tumble of the Aviva Premiership returns on Friday and, on the face of it, Saracens will once again be the team to beat this season. With a forward group hardly shy of confrontation, their famed ‘Wolf Pack’ has flipped Burgers at flanker, swapping cult hero Jacques for his namesake, legendary South African Schalk. [...]
Cillian Willis: Former scrum-half to sue Sale Sharks over concussion treatment August 24, 2016 Former Sale Sharks rugby player Cillian Willis is suing his old club over the alleged mishandling of a concussion that led to his retirement. It is believed to be the first time a Premiership Rugby club has faced legal action over a concussion injury. Willis, cousin of former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, was forced to call [...]
Pro 12 plans American expansion by bringing USA teams into cross-border league August 24, 2016 American rugby clubs could soon compete alongside teams from Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Wales in an expanded Guinness Pro 12 tournament. The cross-border European rugby tournament could expand to East Coast US where the league believes a sizeable diaspora of European rugby fans could support the tournament. Read more: Harlequins chasing the American dream – Why the Premiership rugby [...]
Skipper Dylan Hartley focused on first hurdle as England bid for a record-equalling autumn August 8, 2016 England skipper Dylan Hartley is refusing to focus on anything other than the opening international of the season against South Africa as his side bid for a record-equalling autumn. Successive victories against the Proteas, Fiji, Argentina and Australia at Twickenham would match England’s all-time winning streak of 14 Tests, which was set by Sir Clive [...]
Why rugby sevens at the Rio Olympics represents a game-changing moment for the sport’s global growth August 7, 2016 The rugby world is excited. After a 92 year absence, the sport has returned to the Olympics in the sevens format and for many of the game’s stakeholders the next week marks one of the biggest moments for the sport since it entered the professional era in 1995. Along with golf, sevens is one of two [...]
Chris Ashton, Danny Cipriani and Luther Burrell miss cut as Eddie Jones names 45-man pre-season training squad August 1, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones has dealt a blow to the international futures of Chris Ashton, Danny Cipriani and Luther Burrell after omitting the high-profile trio from his 45-man pre-season training squad. Burrell was hauled off after only 29 minutes of England’s opening clash of their historic 3-0 series win in Australia and failed to [...]
England flanker James Haskell could miss autumn internationals after being sidelined for up to six months July 12, 2016 England boss Eddie Jones will be without flanker James Haskell for this year's autumn internationals after the Wasps captain was ruled out for up to six months. The 31-year-old requires reconstructive surgery on his toe due to an injury sustained in England's second test in Australia last month. Read more: Wasps make Kurtley Beale the highest paid player in Premiership Rugby [...]
Whitewashing Australia would prove World Cup-winning credentials, insists head coach Eddie Jones June 23, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones insists his side’s relentless desire to whitewash Australia is ideal preparation for their long-term aspiration of winning the 2019 World Cup. The Red Rose have already secured their first ever series win Down Under and hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with Saturday's clash in Sydney the final [...]
Blow for Australia as David Pocock ruled out of Wallabies’ recovery mission against rampant England June 12, 2016 Australia's hopes of wrestling the initiative from England in their three-Test series suffered a sizeable blow after forward David Pocock was ruled out of the remaining matches with a fractured eye socket. No8 Pocock suffered the injury during England’s 39-28 victory in the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday and is expected to be sidelined [...]
Eddie Jones opts for Owen Farrell instead of George Ford at fly-half in bid to make history Down Under June 9, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones is convinced he has picked a side capable of making history after axing George Ford in favour of Owen Farrell at fly-half for Saturday opening Test against Australia in Brisbane. Farrell played every match of England’s grand slam-winning Six Nations campaign at inside centre but will now operate as the [...]