Lack of Welsh Lions shows stark reality of systemic failures July 11, 2025 Ahead of Wednesday’s British and Irish Lions midweek game against the Brumbies in the Australian capital of Canberra I came across a shocking statistic. The match was the first since 1899 not to include a Welshman from the matchday 23. I am not surprised that it has happened on this tour given only two Welshmen [...]
British and Irish Lions should tour France and Argentina July 4, 2025 While watching the British and Irish Lions take on the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, I started thinking about what other sides across the world would make good opponents for the touring team. The Lions of late have always ventured to the same three nations – South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – and they will [...]
British and Irish Lions player row doesn’t short-change fans June 27, 2025 Seeing the war of words erupt between the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia this week has given me a bit of a buzz for the tour. This is what the quadrennial series is all about, the niggle of pre-Test series angst. But when push comes to shove it is all bravado and showmanship, [...]
British and Irish Lions ticket prices teeter on verge of greed June 20, 2025 I love the British and Irish Lions but quite frankly the touring side is teetering on becoming a black hole of greed, pulling fans’ precious pennies and pounds into a vortex of commercial excess. Take Friday’s exhibition match against Argentina at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. There were a number of single tickets still available just yesterday [...]
Bath favourites for Premiership title but you cannot write off Cheika June 13, 2025 Saturday’s sell-out Premiership final between Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers feels like something from the 90s, when these two – alongside Wasps – were the powerhouses of English ovalball. But looking at the two squads set to clash at the 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium in Twickenham this weekend, they couldn’t be any further from those teams [...]
Premiership play-offs: Bath and Leicester to set up old school final June 6, 2025 The final day of the Premiership was a brilliant advert for English top-flight rugby, but this weekend’s play-offs will turn that up another notch. On Friday night runaway league leaders Bath take on local rivals Bristol Bears while, on Saturday, Leicester face Sale Sharks in the East Midlands. The Premiership semi-finals are always a series [...]
France real winners out of Bordeaux Champions Cup success May 26, 2025 Sometimes it takes a Bordeaux to come along and remind you why the Investec Champions Cup is the most prestigious competition in club rugby. A couple of years ago you wouldn’t have even put Bordeaux in the mix to reach the knockout stages of the competition, then they started to build a ruthless machine that [...]
Bordeaux to edge Northampton in Cardiff Champions Cup thriller May 23, 2025 It’s that time of year again when rival fans pack into one of Europe’s great stadiums to watch the Investec Champions Cup final. This year it is Northampton Saints and Bordeaux Begles in the superb Principality Stadium in Cardiff. And what a final we’re in for. It’s an Anglo-French battle, a classic match-up from days [...]
Danny Care: Harlequins No9 a brilliant player May 17, 2025 Harlequins No9 Danny Care has been a brilliant servant to the Premiership and he will be missed from the English top flight, writes Ollie Phillips. “It’s been a really tough decision, but I think it’s the right time for me, and it’s the right time for the club. I’ve been so lucky to wear this [...]
Premiership run-in: Saints and Bath will impact top four May 9, 2025 Look at the Premiership table and you’ll see that the top team and Challenge Cup finalists Bath are 15 points clear of second-placed Leicester Tigers, and Champions Cup finalists Northampton Saints are 17 points safe from dropping out of the top eight. And with just three games remaining for each team, and a maximum of [...]
