Mike Tindall becomes last of class of 2003 to hang up rugby boots July 16, 2014 World Cup winner Mike Tindall has revealed that he decided to retire from rugby after realising he could not face playing for anyone but Gloucester. Former England captain Tindall – the last of the triumphant 2003 squad to hang up his boots – spent nine years at Kingsholm, following eight seasons at Bath. “I could [...]
Sport Comment: For Milner and England, see Michalak and French rugby June 8, 2014 CONSUMED by optimism, most of you reading this will be in front of a television next Saturday evening, believing that a combination of Steven Gerrard’s drive, Gary Cahill’s determination and the odd flash of brilliance from Wayne Rooney and/or Daniel Sturridge will upset Italy and kick-start England’s World Cup challenge in style. However, if things [...]
Rugby Comment: Ending a great season with nothing is just unthinkable May 29, 2014 WE NEED to use the frustration of losing last week as motivation to win the Premiership final tomorrow. Defeat in the Heineken Cup final was very disappointing, there is no getting away from that. But you can’t sit around moping, because then we might come away with nothing from a very good year. To end [...]
Rugby Comment: We’re vastly improved and ready for Toulon May 22, 2014 NERVES are a positive thing. They bring the best out in everyone, add something to an occasion and there are few bigger than the Heineken Cup final. The overall emotion in the dressing room though is excitement. We’ve had tough games recently in the Premiership and Heineken Cup and that’s always brought the best out [...]
Monitise triumph in O2 Rugby challenge May 19, 2014 HAVING ex-rugby player Alastair Lukies as your founder and counting ex-pros such as Matt Perry as employees makes for a formidable corporate rugby team, as Monitise proved by winning the O2 Touch Rugby challenge at Twickenham last week. They beat the likes of City of London Police and Santander to take the title. The winning [...]
More ticket woe as Rugby World Cup early seat sale postponed May 15, 2014 TODAY’S planned sale of Rugby World Cup tickets has been postponed after Ticketmaster said it needed extra time to prepare its website, just days after their Commonwealth Games sale process was plunged into chaos. The first 500,000 seats for next autumn’s showpiece were due to be available to members of the Rugby Community Ticketing Programme [...]
Rugby Comment: Nausea and headaches gone, we’re ready for Clermont April 24, 2014 I HARDLY remember anything of the incident that knocked me out and left me concussed in the Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Ulster three weeks ago. I can recall the moment just before jumping, but not the leap, catching the ball, the impact from Jared Payne, the bumpy landing, being carried off in a neck [...]
European rugby future resolved April 10, 2014 RUGBY UNION: The European Rugby Champions Cup is to replace the Heineken Cup next season, it has been confirmed. A second competition, the European Rugby Challenge Cup, will offer a route into the top tournament, while Italian and minor sides will take part in a qualifying competition. BT and Sky are set to share rights.
Rugby Comment: Man in street right about England progress March 20, 2014 A MAN stopped me in the street this week and shared his thoughts on how England fared at the Six Nations. He said that while the second-place finish was ultimately the same as 12 months ago, the fact that we went so close to the title and won the last match made a huge difference. [...]
End to Euro rugby row in sight as clubs and unions close in on deal March 17, 2014 EUROPEAN club rugby looks all but certain to remain on the calendar next season amid growing optimism that a deal to establish a successor to the Heineken Cup will be signed this week. Officials representing clubs and the unions of the Six Nations met for further talks in Paris yesterday in an attempt to finalise [...]