Are France the Rugby World Cup hosts with the most to lose? September 5, 2023 Focus heading into this Rugby World Cup will be on the underwhelming hopes of England and Wales, and the dreams of success for Scotland and Ireland. But in hosts France there are a fascinating series of events that could help make or break their World Cup challenge. Being hosts in a Rugby World Cup isn’t always [...]
Exclusive: Women’s rugby set for invitational Champions Cup final September 4, 2023 This year’s Champions Cup rugby finals weekend is set to include an invitational women’s fixture for the first time as European chiefs look to take advantage of the growth in the game, City A.M. can reveal. Gloucester-Hartpury, champions of England, and Stade Bordelais, champions of France, could play each other under plans proposed by European [...]
Exclusive: Middle East and United States bid to host Champions Cup final September 3, 2023 European rugby chiefs are considering bids which would see the Champions Cup final staged in the Middle East or the United States, City A.M. can reveal. The finals weekend of the world’s premier club rugby competition, the Champions Cup, and its sister competition the Challenge Cup have traditionally housed themselves in core rugby regions. But [...]
England need to channel spirit of 2007 at Rugby World Cup September 1, 2023 England could, realistically, be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup in France by 10pm on 17 September. The car crash that is the national team head across the Channel in the coming days to play Argentina and Japan in their opening two matches. After that they take on Chile and Samoa, but by then [...]
Exclusive: European rugby chiefs in Challenge Cup sponsor talks August 31, 2023 European rugby chiefs are in exploratory discussions with companies over a potential title sponsor for the Challenge Cup, City A.M. can reveal. The relative of the Champions Cup, which on Thursday announced bank Investec as its title sponsor on a five-year deal, the Challenge Cup has not had a sponsor since insurer Amlin partnered the [...]
Investec hand rugby vote of confidence with Champions Cup sponsorship August 31, 2023 Investec has handed rugby a much-needed vote of confidence by striking a five-year deal to replace Heineken as sponsor of the Champions Cup. Europe and South Africa’s premier club competition has been without a sponsor since the Dutch beer brand, involved since 1995, stepped away from the title association in June. It represents a huge [...]
Exclusive: Greenpeace to target Rugby World Cup fan zones August 30, 2023 Greenpeace is planning to target next month’s Rugby World Cup as the campaigning group ramps up protests against “greenwashing” by oil companies. The organisation told City A.M. it would make its presence felt at the tournament’s official fan zones and outside stadia in France, where the action begins next week. It follows a summer of [...]
Spotlight falls on Steve Borthwick coaching after Fiji set off more England alarm bells August 28, 2023 Steve Borthwick declared himself “deeply honoured” and “excited” upon being named the successor to old mentor Eddie Jones as England rugby coach in December. “The English game is full of talent and I want to build a winning team which makes the most of our huge potential and inspires young people to fall in love [...]
World Rugby streaming service to make all World Cup games available everywhere August 25, 2023 World Rugby has announced the launch of RugbyPass TV, a new streaming platform that will ensure live coverage of every game at the Rugby World Cup is available everywhere. British-based rugby fans will be able to follow the tournament in full on ITV’s channels, but in territories without blanket broadcast coverage the games will be [...]
Courtney Lawes to captain England on 100th cap as Jonny May gets surprise call August 24, 2023 Courtney Lawes will win his 100th cap when he captains England in their final warm-up match before the Rugby World Cup against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday. With Owen Farrell serving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle, Lawes is retained as skipper to become the fifth England player to amass a century of Test [...]