Explainer: Welsh Rugby’s toxicity and can players strike? February 15, 2023 Toxicity in professional Welsh rugby started 20 years ago when clubs became regions, and since then there’s always been points of friction to keep the discourse over the Severn Bridge ticking over. But in the last couple of years the debate and disagreements over minor administrative issues have given way to a dire set of [...]
Worcester FAIL to meet conditions and miss out on place in Championship February 15, 2023 Worcester Warriors have failed to meet the conditions of entry for the Championship and will therefore not take their place in England’s second tier next season. The former Premiership rugby club’s new owners – the Atlas Consortium – failed the RFU fit and proper test over their refusal to pay rugby creditors in December but [...]
Castore co-founder Tom Beahon on shelving IPO plans, bucking the Brexit trend by expanding in Europe, and the Andy Murray-backed sports brand’s first shoe launch February 15, 2023 At a time when Brexit has caused some British businesses to retreat from Europe, fast-growing premium sportswear brand Castore is eager to buck the trend. The company, founded by former City boys Tom and Phil Beahon and which counts Andy Murray among its investors, has opened a distribution centre in the Netherlands and is increasingly [...]
Six Nations: England must be more clinical against Wales February 14, 2023 England may have won their first Six Nations match in this year’s Championship but they’ll have to step it up a notch if they’re going to breach the bastion of Welsh rugby and storm Cardiff. England’s record in the 2023 tournament of one win and one loss has come at home, and they’re yet to [...]
Worcester Warriors name change plan could be scrapped after backlash February 13, 2023 The new owners of former Premiership club Worcester Warriors have said their plans to abandon the club’s name could be reversed. Having announced plans last week to disband the brand and drop into the lower divisions of English rugby to avoid agreeing to Rugby Football Union demands, the Atlas consortium have now said they may [...]
Six Nations: Ireland vs France lived up to the Goliath vs Goliath hype February 13, 2023 It was billed as a clash of titans, Goliath versus Goliath, world No1 against world No2, and Saturday’s Six Nations showdown between Ireland and France lived up to every single ounce of hype thrown its way. A 32-19 win for the home side ended France’s hopes of repeating the Grand Slam but, perhaps more importantly, [...]
Six Nations: England beat Italy but improvements must keep coming February 12, 2023 England earned their first win under Steve Borthwick yesterday with a 31-14 victory against Italy in the Six Nations, but the head coach insisted his side have a lot of improvements to make if they’re going to return to the top of the sport. Two years after suffering a significant knee injury in the same [...]
U20 Six Nations: One to watch from each of the competing nations February 10, 2023 While many are keeping their eyes out for the world class talent in the Six Nations, the Under-20 version is running adjacently. With the same teams involved, this is seen as a quality pathway for the sport’s next stars to shine on the semi-international stage. Here’s one player to watch from each of tonight’s matches, [...]
Marcus Smith DROPPED to bench for England’s Six Nations match vs Italy February 10, 2023 Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith has been dropped to the bench ahead of England’s Six Nations fixture against Italy on Sunday. Smith had started at No10 in last week’s Calcutta Cup loss to Scotland inside Owen Farrell but the Saracens No10 will take Smith’s spot in Sunday’s clash at Twickenham. It’s a new centre partnership for [...]
Sport on television: Cricket World Cup, Super Bowl and Six Nations February 10, 2023 It’s a huge weekend in sport with another Cricket World Cup on top of the Premier League, Club World Cup, Six Nations and the Super Bowl. Here are five events you need to put into your sports calendar. Golf: Phoenix Open, Thursday – Sunday Rory McIlroy leads the field for this week’s Phoenix Open – [...]