Eddie Jones dangles tour carrot in front of eight England training camp newcomers May 8, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones insists there is still time to gatecrash his squad for the summer tour to Australia after summoning eight uncapped players to a 26-man training camp this month. They include New Zealand-born Northampton back-row Teimana Harrison, Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler, Bath lock Charlie Ewels and London Irish wing Alex Lewington. Sale [...]
Malt from the Blue: Scotland and Sale scrum-half Chris Cusiter to start Scotch whisky business after announcing retirement from rugby May 4, 2016 Sale Sharks scrum-half Chris Cusiter is set to start a Scotch whisky business in Los Angeles after announcing his retirement. Cusiter joined Sale two years ago following spells with Glasgow Warriors, Border Reivers and Perpignan and has made 12 appearances for Steve Diamond’s side this term. The 33-year-old now intends move into the specialist market [...]
Leicester Tigers bid for the play-offs, James DeGale defends his title and other big scores to be settled in sport this weekend April 28, 2016 Premiership Rugby The play-off picture in Premiership Rugby could be completed this weekend should Leicester recover from their European Champions Cup semi-final disappointment to beat Worcester at home on Saturday. It would mark a 12th straight year of play-off qualification for the Tigers, who have beaten Worcester in their last 11 meetings. However, even if [...]
England duo Owen Farrell and Joe Marler avoid lengthy bans and free to play in European finals and Australia tour April 27, 2016 Grand Slam-winning duo Owen Farrell and Joe Marler will be available for their respective clubs’ European finals and England’s summer tour of Australia after escaping lengthy bans for foul play. Saracens fly-half Farrell and Harlequins prop Marler were handed two-week bans after being cited during European semi-finals at the weekend, which means both will be free [...]
Owen Farrell and Joe Marler could miss European finals and England tour of Australia after semi-final citings April 25, 2016 Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell and Harlequins prop Joe Marler could miss their clubs’ European finals – and possibly England’s summer tour of Australia – after being cited for foul play. Farrell has been accused of committing a dangerous tackle on Wasps scrum-half Dan Robson during Saracens’ 24-17 win in Saturday’s European Champions Cup semi-final. He [...]
Ex-New Zealand No10 Dan Carter inspires Racing 92 to beat Leicester and set up Saracens final April 25, 2016 Former All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter kicked Racing 92 into a European Champions Cup final against Saracens with 11 points in yesterday’s 19-16 defeat of Leicester. France scrum-half Maxime Machenaud’s early try put Racing in front at Nottingham’s City Ground and Carter’s four successful kicks kept Leicester at bay until a 79th-minute try from Telusa [...]
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 [...]