Worcester Warriors owners dealt blow as foundation severs ties, citing effort to “dispel unambiguously any connection whatsoever” with Atlas consortium June 14, 2023 The Worcester Warriors Foundation is to move away from Sixways Stadium in an effort to “dispel unambiguously any connection whatsoever” with the club’s new owners Atlas. Atlas consortium, led by former chief executive Jim O’Toole and ex-professional player James Sandford, purchased former Premiership club Worcester Warriors after it fell into administration in the early part [...]
Ollie Phillips: Tackle-bag carriers must not poison England squad June 14, 2023 It must be a weird feeling being one of the fringe players in England head coach Steve Borthwick’s first World Cup training squad, because the odds are that you’ll be dropped. Next Monday sees the addition of players from Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers – I estimate that to be more than 10 and closer [...]
Exclusive: Sexton could be forced into early retirement with 24-week ban June 12, 2023 Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton could be forced into an early retirement by a 24-week ban, City A.M. has learned. That is the mid-range sanction Sexton is facing if found guilty of threatening match officials at the end of Leinster’s European Champions Cup final defeat by La Rochelle last month. Sexton has been accused of three [...]
Care and Marler handed World Cup life lines by England June 12, 2023 Harlequins duo Danny Care and Joe Marler have been handed World Cup lifelines by England head coach Steve Borthwick. The duo were included in the England manager’s 28-man training squad for the first phase of the team’s World Cup preparation. The squad was named without players from the four sides that made the Premiership semi-finals [...]
Exclusive: Sexton World Cup swansong in doubt over conduct letter June 11, 2023 Johnny Sexton and Leinster have been slapped with a misconduct letter by European rugby chiefs in a move which could scupper the talismanic Ireland No10’s World Cup swansong, City A.M. can reveal. Sexton stands accused of three counts of misconduct following his side’s loss to La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final last month, where [...]
Let down, neglected and deflated: The thoughts of London Irish fans June 10, 2023 This week Premiership Rugby lost its third club inside one season when London Irish failed to prove they’d last for another financial year. And with a mixture of sadness, pain, anger and desire for change, fans have spoken to City A.M. about the experience of losing their club. “Right now I feel numb. I doubt [...]
Ollie Phillips: England should let the shackles off at front row and midfield June 9, 2023 On Monday morning, England head coach Steve Borthwick will name his initial training squad for this year’s Rugby World Cup. Though players from the four sides who made the Premiership semi-finals will not be included in the first squad of the summer, it’s hard to get excited given some of England’s selection woes. Today I [...]
Rugby World Cup Barometer: London calling for adopted Frenchman Willis? June 8, 2023 In the lead up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, City A.M. has put together a barometer in partnership with City Index to assess whose form is hot – and whose is not – in the race to be part of the tournament in France later this year. Player of the week Amid the fallout [...]
London Irish owner hits out at rugby as club file for administration June 7, 2023 London Irish have filed for administration having been kicked out of English rugby on Tuesday. The club were unable to show proof of funds to operate next season – either by a new American consortium or by current owner Mick Crossan – and were therefore expelled from “any league” next season. Crossan said in a [...]
London Irish KICKED OUT of Premiership, not in ‘any league’ next year June 6, 2023 London Irish have been kicked out of English rugby after failing to meet funding deadlines set by its governing body the RFU. The club were given until 4pm today to either finalise a takeover of the Premiership outfit – who share a ground with Premier League football club Brentford – by an American consortium or [...]