Rugby: Wales, Cory Hill and what if they lose to the Queensland Reds? July 18, 2024 Let’s make one thing clear: if Wales lose to the Queensland Reds this weekend it would be an incredible humiliation for Warren Gatland and the national team. The game is uncapped and the Welsh side is a mix of experience and inexperience – including captain Cory Hill, who was forced to apologise this week for [...]
Are the All Blacks feeling the pressure ahead of Eden Park showdown? July 12, 2024 There has been a lot of talk this week about the history of playing the All Blacks at Eden Park being a heavy burden for Steve Borthwick’s England team to shoulder. But I actually believe that the weight of being unbeaten at one ground for 30 years, as the All Blacks are at the Auckland [...]
LOOK: New Northampton Saints badge unveiled on trademark website July 11, 2024 Northampton Saints are today set to unveil their new logo with the government trademark website potentially giving the big surprise away early this morning. The Premiership champions announced earlier this year that they would be changing the branding of the club’s logo to remain in keeping with the developing times sport is currently going through. [...]
New Zealand make change for second Test with England after blunder almost cost them July 9, 2024 Damian McKenzie allowed the 60 seconds permitted to take a penalty to run down as he was lining up a kick.
French rugby star ‘sorry and ashamed’ after he is axed for racist comments July 8, 2024 A video emerged on social media of Jaminet saying he wanted to attack “the first Arab I see on the street”.
England showed promise against All Blacks ahead of Eden Park finale July 7, 2024 Weirdly for England, Saturday’s 16-15 loss to New Zealand in Dunedin was their first match in three against the All Blacks that ended in defeat. In their last trio of games against the three-time world champions – in Japan at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, at Twickenham in 2022 and down in New Zealand at [...]
Cunningham-South, Baxter and Freeman: England players to watch in New Zealand July 5, 2024 The next fortnight will be one which could end up defining Steve Borthwick’s tenure as England manager. For their two-Test series against New Zealand could be the difference between establishing a winning side to take through to the next World Cup – in Australia in 2027 – or the realisation that England are not up [...]
England vs New Zealand: When did we last beat the All Blacks and when is kick-off? July 5, 2024 This weekend marks the first of two Tests between England and the New Zealand All Blacks as part of the summer rugby union tours. Steve Borthwick’s men head down to Dunedin this weekend and then Auckland in seven day’s time to face one of world rugby’s most ferocious teams. So when is kick-off, where are [...]
Challenge Cup offers struggling clubs shot at Champions Cup hope July 2, 2024 Most clubs have been in a rut, unable to win in their domestic competition and with their season looking like a failure, at some point in their lifetime. But the Challenge Cup – for clubs who did not qualify for the Champions Cup, plus invitational teams – offers a chance to reach the top flight. [...]
Investec Champions Cup: Pool draw shows competition is best of the best July 2, 2024 It may only be July but the Investec Champions Cup season got underway on Tuesday with the pool draws in Cardiff. The 24 clubs taking part – who qualified through their league position or by winning the second tier EPCR Challenge Cup – will compete across four pools of six in December and January before [...]