Sam Jones’ England debut hopes in doubt as Wales skipper Sam Warburton requires surgery October 4, 2016 A potential England debut for Wasps forward Sam Jones during next month’s autumn internationals has been placed in doubt after the back row sustained an ankle injury in training yesterday. The 24-year-old was in contention to replace club-mate James Haskell, who himself is sidelined with a toe injury, but has been forced to return to [...]
Wolfpack Lager owners and rugby union players Alistair Hargreaves and Chris Wyles talk about the transition from pitch to entrepreneurship October 3, 2016 "You can feel yourself getting older, tireder and sorer. The question inevitably becomes, ‘what next?’, says Saracens player Alistair Hargreaves. “It’s a position most sportspeople find themselves in: you’ve been doing something you love your whole life, then you’re faced with the prospect of not doing it. Playing engulfs your life, so it’s actually pretty [...]
Groin injury set to sideline centre Manu Tuilagi for England’s autumn internationals September 25, 2016 Centre Manu Tuilagi is set to add to England head coach Eddie Jones’s mounting injury woes after Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill confirmed the Samoa-born powerhouse is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks. Tuilagi has not played since the opening day of the season after injuring his groin and despite initial hopes [...]
Bath back attacking rugby brand to win over Londoners at Twickenham for Leicester Tigers fixture September 22, 2016 Bath believe that their exciting brand of rugby will attract Londoners to Twickenham for a meeting with old rivals Leicester Tigers in April next year. The 151-year-old club are relocating to the capital’s iconic 82,000 stadium for the 8 April Premiership fixture against the Tigers in a bid to engage with rugby fans beyond the borders [...]
Saracens wing Chris Ashton handed 13-week ban for biting September 21, 2016 Saracens wing Chris Ashton has been handed a 13-week suspension after being found guilty of one charge of biting at a protracted Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing in London. The 29-year-old England hopeful was cited for allegedly biting Northampton Saints prop Alex Waller on two separate occasions during Sarries’ 27-12 victory over their rivals on [...]
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 [...]