Mapletoft: Pathways must be key in upcoming rugby recalibration February 14, 2024 England under-20 head coach Mark Mapletoft has issued a rallying call to rugby chiefs to recalibrate the game and prioritise pathways to improve the national team when stakeholders decide on the future of the sport. The Professional Game Agreement was last officially signed eight years ago and is due for renewal in July this year. [...]
Tuilagi returns to England Six Nations squad after injury recovery February 14, 2024 England have recalled centre Manu Tuilagi to their 36-man training squad ahead of their Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland next weekend. Tuilagi missed England’s wins over Italy and Wales with a groin injury but the 108kg centre is back as they seek to beat Scotland for the first time in three years. The Sale Shark [...]
Neil Barnes: Netflix, coaching Italy, Eddie Jones and Six Nations February 13, 2024 When you meet ex-Italy assistant coach Neil Barnes in Six Nations rugby’s Netflix drama Full Contact, his bluntness scares the bejesus out of you. “For F**k’s sake”, “hit that p***k” and “give the ball to Capu-whatever-his-name-is [Ange Capuozzo], he’s f*****g quick” were just some of the wholesome proverbs that the non-Italian speaking New Zealander utters. [...]
Investec Champions Cup Barometer: Exeter Chiefs riding momentum wave February 12, 2024 In the lead up to the 2023-24 Investec Champions Cup Round of 16, City A.M. has put together a barometer in partnership with Investec to assess which teams are hot – and which are not – ahead of April’s knockouts. Team of the week: Exeter Chiefs, England It was a good weekend to be a [...]
‘Rugby can’t be seen as boring to new fans. It will drive them away’ February 12, 2024 Deputy Sport Editor Matt Hardy talks England’s Six Nations atmosphere, boring rugby and glorious Ireland in this week’s column. “There was a lot of stopping and starting, nothing seemed to happen and the people around me kept saying how boring it was.” That was the one sentence review from a colleague after their first ever [...]
School of Hard Knocks lunch raises £100k on proud day for Square Mile February 12, 2024 A major success was hailed last Thursday as the great and good of the City of London and beyond descended on Threadneedle Street’s M Restaurant for the annual School of Hard Knocks Long Lunch. Rugby World Cup winners, international sports players, broadcasters and brokers all played their part in raising over £100,000 for the School [...]
Six Nations: Ireland Grand Slam mission alive after Italy thrashing February 11, 2024 A clinical Ireland side toppled Italy 36-0 yesterday in the final match of the second round of the Six Nations to stamp their authority as tournament favourites. Dan Sheehan crossed for a brace while Jack Crowley, Jack Conan, James Lowe and Calvin Nash contributed to the whitewashing of the Azzurri, in round one only lost [...]
Where can I watch the Six Nations in London this weekend? February 9, 2024 The Six Nations is up and running across Europe and London’s pubs and bars are loving it. England, Scotland and Ireland won in round one but round two sees a huge England vs Wales clash. Here are the top spots that City A.M. have tried for you to get stuck into. Flat Iron Square, London [...]
Ollie Phillips: England will solve defensive holes to beat Wales February 8, 2024 My prediction of an England Six Nations title is still on, just about. And I don’t see that being derailed this weekend against Wales. Wales didn’t actually play that badly against Scotland but I just don’t think they’ve got it in them to pull off an upset at Twickenham. When you look at their 23 [...]
‘France promised to be all I enjoy about rugby. They’ve let me down’ February 7, 2024 When Ben O’Keeffe blew his full-time whistle last Saturday afternoon it marked the conclusion of round one of the Six Nations. And amid the feelings of what could have been for Scotland after their Wales scare or for England with Italy breathing down their necks, it was France who left a longstanding and unsavoury aftertaste [...]