Sale Sharks and Saracens can spring Premiership surprises May 31, 2024 As is the competitiveness of this year’s Premiership, I wouldn’t put it past Saracens and Sale Sharks becoming the first two teams in the history of four-team play-offs to produce two away wins. The Premiership has never seen two away wins in the play-offs in the same season but that could change this weekend. Northampton [...]
Uni BUCS 7s bonanza in London will be Team GB selector event May 30, 2024 Rugby player development in the United Kingdom is heavily skewed towards the academies of existing clubs; their resources are often the key factor in being able to nurture talent. But the likes of England international Alex Dombrandt, Tom Pearson, Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins and Luke Northmore all have something in common: BUCS rugby. It may [...]
British and Irish Lions agree Charles Tyrwhitt partnership May 28, 2024 The British and Irish Lions have announced a partnership deal with City staple Charles Tyrwhitt ahead of the 2025 tour to Australia. The touring group – made up of rugby players from England, Wales, Scotland and the island of Ireland – will head Down Under next summer for a series that will include three Test [...]
Investec Champions Cup: The final of a generation May 27, 2024 It was billed as the final we deserved, between two powerhouses of the Investec Champions Cup meeting in a showpiece for the first time ever. And what a match fans were served up. At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, seen by many as one of the world’s greatest arenas, Leinster and Toulouse went toe-to-toe; the Dublinners [...]
Slade named Premiership rugby player of the season at London award dinner May 22, 2024 Henry Slade was last night named Premiership Rugby’s player of the season at a glitzy Central London awards dinner. The Exeter Chiefs centre has been pivotal for a West Country team on a major rebuild having suffered an exodus of top players across the last 12 months. Premiership RUgby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor said: “Henry [...]
What lessons can business learn from the Investec Champions Cup? May 22, 2024 As Leinster and Toulouse get set for their Investec Champions Cup showdown this weekend, what lessons can business learn from rugby? Tim Burnell, Chief Marketing Officer of UK & International at Investec Bank takes a look. Success in business and sport is much more than a numbers game. Profit figures and points tallies are important, [...]
New Zealand All Blacks could MUTINY ahead of England Test series May 21, 2024 Rugby in New Zealand is on the verge of mutiny just a month before their two-Test series against England. Leading past and current All Blacks players including Richie McCaw, Sam Whitelock and Sam Cane are signatories on an ultimatum letter from the New Zealand Rugby Players Association to the directors of the NZ Maori Rugby [...]
Premiership gets shot in arm as league attendances grow for most May 21, 2024 Premiership Rugby has received a welcome shot in the arm after the average match attendance across the league grew by almost 300. Excluding one-off matches at the likes of Twickenham and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the average attendance for regular home games – according to crowd data published by Premiership Rugby – rose from 12,569 in [...]
Investec Champions Cup finalists Leinster and Toulouse have varied preparations May 19, 2024 The four clubs set to contest this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup had mixed fortunes in their domestic leagues at the weekend as each side prepares for the showpiece finale at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday and Saturday night. The English team Gloucester will face South African franchise the Sharks on Friday [...]
‘Premiership run-in is great. It is a shame about Gloucester and Newcastle’ May 17, 2024 It’s incredible – there are only 80 minutes left of the regular Premiership season and barely anything is decided. We know Northampton Saints are guaranteed a home semi-final, but they’re not yet confirmed as regular season champions. Saracens are definitely in the play-offs but aren’t sure of whether they’ll be home or away in the [...]