Ireland duel in Dublin vs France could be the Six Nations decider February 10, 2023 I wouldn’t usually reveal my hand so early on in a Six Nations tournament, but I do think the winner of this match between Ireland and France will go on to claim the Championship this year. Many have had the same view prior to the tournament and I back it, though Scotland could be the [...]
DCMS and RFU in talks to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to Atlas February 9, 2023 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in talks with the Rugby Football Union to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to the Atlas consortium. City A.M. understands that the two bodies are meeting today with the governmental department expected to lobby against Worcester’s administrators Begbies Traynor selling the club to a bid that [...]
Ed Warner: Rugby union could learn from the NFL model on Super Bowl LVII weekend February 9, 2023 For all the relentless commercial growth of the Premier League, IPL and F1, the NFL remains the sporting brand to beat. Super Bowl LVII will be watched by more than 200m people worldwide on Sunday. The matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles has its stories, but in truth the identity of [...]
Ben Loader: London Irish winger wants to bag trophies like his brother February 8, 2023 As London Irish winger Ben Loader trains this week for his side’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final, his brother, Danny, will be going through a similar process 800 miles away in the Portuguese city of Porto. For the siblings, two years apart in age, are both playing at the top level in their respective sports. Danny [...]
England drop Ben Youngs ahead of Italy Six Nations Test February 8, 2023 England Rugby’s most capped man Ben Youngs has been dropped from the national side’s squad ahead of this week’s round two Six Nations clash against Italy at Twickenham Stadium. The Leicester Tigers scrum-half made his 122nd appearance when he came off the bench in England’s Calcutta Cup loss to Scotland at the weekend. Youngs, 33, [...]
Six Nations: Forza Italy – Azzurri on the up but need another huge scalp February 6, 2023 “Forza Italia” was the phrase ringing around the Stadio Olimpico in Rome after Italy’s 29-24 loss to defending Six Nations champions France on Sunday. Why such jubilation after a defeat? Because 41,000 spectators saw an Italian side pumped with passion running the Grand Slam holders close in the greatest annual international rugby tournament in the [...]
Exclusive: Worcester Warriors sale in spotlight over administrator’s email to witness February 5, 2023 The impartiality of Worcester Warriors’ sale process has been called into question after the administrators were accused of pressuring a witness ahead of a parliamentary select committee. A partner at DCMS–appointed administrators Begbies Traynor warned the witness that they could be sued for defamation if they repeated allegations about preferred bidder Jim O’Toole’s Atlas consortium [...]
Defending Six Nations champions France sneak past Italy in Rome thriller February 5, 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam holders France began their Championship defence with a nervy win over Italy in Rome on Sunday afternoon. Les Bleus picked up a try bonus point win in their 29-24 victory in the Italian capital but Italy had led 24-22 in the final quarter. France crossed the try line on three occasions [...]
England may have lost Calcutta Cup vs Scotland but Six Nations hope remains February 5, 2023 Steve Borthwick’s first game as head coach of England offered an intriguing comparison with the last match of predecessor Eddie Jones in the autumn. They both started Marcus Smith at fly-half and Owen Farrell at No12, they both picked a pack that, in the end, was outmuscled and they ultimately both lost. Here are four [...]
Six Nations: Resurgent Italy on a mission to earn respect from relegation backers February 5, 2023 They’re the traditional whipping boys of the Six Nations, with their highest finish coming 10 years ago when they concluded the Championship in fourth, but Italy have a new-found confidence and are going back to basics in 2023. Last year they beat Wales in Cardiff to end a 36-match Six Nations winless run before backing [...]