Time for the Top 14 sides to make their mark in the Champions Cup January 12, 2024 If you’d have told me that the Investec Champions Cup holders La Rochelle would be without a win after two of their pool games I’d have probably laughed at you. Leinster and Stormers are difficult opponents but they’re the calibre of side Ronan O’Gara’s French men have toppled on many occasions over the last two [...]
Black Lion Challenge Cup inclusion opens door to Champions Cup dreams January 11, 2024 Stepping out of the concourse and into the bowl of the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia felt like a big moment. The fatigue from travelling more than 2,000 miles for 80 minutes of rugby, equating to over seven hours on two overnight flights, instantly vanished. There, on the pitch, were historic English club Gloucester [...]
Economy expected to return to growth in November – but risk of recession remains January 8, 2024 Experts pointed to a range of factors behind the likely rebound, including the drop in temperature after an unusually mild October.
‘Premiership top six battle makes up for stragglers at foot of table’ January 5, 2024 At last there’s some good news in English rugby with record attendances and millions watching from home across two Premiership rounds over the holidays. Of course it must be taken with a pinch of salt, the figures always tend to be skewed slightly at Christmas, but it is at least a sign of retained interest [...]
Vunipola’s England chances suffer blow after four-week ban for dangerous tackle January 3, 2024 Mako Vunipola’s hopes of being included in Steve Borthwick’s England squad have suffered a blow after the prop was banned for four weeks following a dangerous tackle. The Saracens loosehead received a red card in his side’s victory over Newcastle Falcons last week and has been slapped with a four-week ban by the disciplinary committee. [...]
The top sports events to watch in London in 2024 January 3, 2024 The coming 12 months will see London at the heart of a number of iconic sports events. From sport which returns annually to European finals that the city has bid for, here are 15 of the top events to put in your calendar for 2024. Men’s and Women’s Guinness Six Nations 10 February, 9, March, [...]
Harlequins’ Sarah Bonar on Big Game 15: ‘Women’s rugby actually marketable now’ December 28, 2023 Club rugby at the home of the sport, Twickenham Stadium, is nothing new to the men’s Premiership with regular fixtures and finals played at the iconic arena every season. But this weekend’s clash between Harlequins’ women and reigning Premiership Women’s Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury is the third in what is hoped to be an annual fixture [...]
‘2024 will be the year rugby finally finds stability… I hope’ December 27, 2023 When it comes to rugby it is difficult to know what exactly is in store for us across 2024. There’s no World Cup or Lions Tour to steal the headlines so the sport will need to work especially hard to remain relevant. But there are opportunities, and that’s something the sport must exploit. Here’s my [...]
Leicester Tigers hang on to beat Stade Francais in Champions Cup in Paris December 17, 2023 Leicester Tigers survived a late onslaught to beat Stade Francais 27-24 in Paris and remain unbeaten in the Investec Champions Cup this season. A weakened Leicester side held on as their hosts pounded away at their try line but a crucial turnover in the 86th minute handed the visitors a stunning victory against the odds [...]
Harlequins humbled by Toulouse as French giants chase sixth title December 17, 2023 Harlequins couldn’t cope with the class of five-time Investec Champions Cup winners Toulouse on Sunday as the Londoners fell to a 19-47 defeat at the Stoop. The French outfit crossed the whitewash seven times despite Harlequins fighting hard to stay in the game at the break. Two tries for South African Irne Herbst and one [...]