Ollie Phillips: Hard to look past pedigree of Leinster and Saracens for Champions Cup glory October 11, 2018 Exeter have been consistently challenging Saracens for top honours in the Premiership over the last few years, but they have yet to really translate their domestic form into European competition. The Chiefs’ game-plan has been undermined in the Champions Cup and coach Rob Baxter will need to add new strings to their bow this season. [...]
Ollie Phillips: Alex Goode’s omission from England’s squad proves Eddie Jones is contradicting his own statements October 4, 2018 I find some of the messages coming from England coach Eddie Jones confusing. He says he picks players on form and his side will be comprised of the best performing players from the Premiership. But if you look at the squad that simply isn’t the case. Alex Goode has been brilliant for Saracens over a [...]
Rob Horne: Former Northampton Saints centre on life after his career-ending injury and “bittersweet” testimonial against Leicester Tigers October 3, 2018 Five and a half months ago Rob Horne was leading his side, Northampton Saints, out to face rivals Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. With three games left of a poor season for Saints, Horne had been newly-elected captain. The trip to Leicester, it was hoped, would mark a fresh start. The side, in Horne’s words, [...]
Ollie Phillips: Joe Marler’s international retirement is a huge loss and raises questions about the England set-up September 27, 2018 Nobody should discredit Joe Marler for his decision to retire from international rugby at a relatively young age so that he can spend more time with his family. Marler doesn’t want to be a dad who never sees his children and you have to respect that. Joe’s upfront and will say if he doesn’t [...]
Ollie Phillips: Will Spencer red card highlights complicated nature of rugby’s high tackle laws September 20, 2018 Will Spencer’s red card and subsequent four-week ban for a high tackle during Leicester’s 41-35 defeat by Wasps last weekend has sparked a perennial debate in rugby. High tackles are a complicated subject. The focus of rugby’s administrators is to reduce concussions and they’re understandably hot on the issue at the moment. The law change [...]
Ollie Phillips: Will Spencer red card highlights complicated nature of rugby’s high tackle laws September 20, 2018 Will Spencer’s red card and subsequent four-week ban for a high tackle during Leicester’s 41-35 defeat by Wasps last weekend has sparked a perennial debate in rugby. High tackles are a complicated subject. The focus of rugby’s administrators is to reduce concussions and they’re understandably hot on the issue at the moment. The law change [...]
Ollie Phillips: Cipriani not the only Gloucester stand-out, Bath struggling for identity and Wasps’ hole at fly-half September 13, 2018 The Premiership season moves so quickly and we’re already approaching the third round of fixtures – and the third west country derby. Before you know it the The Champions Cup will roll around and November’s internationals will be upon us. England have not been playing well of late, so this period is a chance for [...]
Ollie Phillips: Cipriani not the only Gloucester stand-out, Bath struggling for identity and Wasps’ hole at fly-half September 13, 2018 The Premiership season moves so quickly and we’re already approaching the third round of fixtures – and the third west country derby. Before you know it the The Champions Cup will roll around and November’s internationals will be upon us. England have not been playing well of late, so this period is a chance for [...]
Premiership takeover: A sports lawyer explains the questions rugby union clubs are pondering September 12, 2018 The shareholders of Premiership Rugby Ltd agreed on Tuesday that the sale of a majority stake to global private equity firm and former Formula One owners, CVC Capital Partners, is not their “preferred option”. The deal would have seen CVC purchase a 51 per cent stake in the Premiership for a reported £275m. The result [...]
Premiership takeover: A sports lawyer explains the questions rugby union clubs are pondering September 12, 2018 The shareholders of Premiership Rugby Ltd agreed on Tuesday that the sale of a majority stake to global private equity firm and former Formula One owners, CVC Capital Partners, is not their “preferred option”. The deal would have seen CVC purchase a 51 per cent stake in the Premiership for a reported £275m. The result [...]