Guy Thompson began September 3, the first day of the Championship season, sitting on the fence. With Jersey travelling to newly-promoted Richmond, two of his previous teams were in action. Via…
England
After an annus horribilis, what now for Chris Ashton?
Journalists all around the rugby-playing globe were hunched over their laptops waiting for news of Chris Ashton’s disciplinary hearing to drop into their inbox on Tuesday. Then, at 11.50pm, the…
Hotshot: Lichfield fly-half Holly Aitchison
How did you get into rugby? My dad Ian took me to Waterloo when I was five because he was DoR there. I played for Waterloo, with the boys, until…
How to make it as a sports journalist: Stephen Jones
By Graham Jenkins Welcome to The Forward Pass, a series of conversations with leading rugby union journalists, broadcasters, presenters and photographers who will offer the next generation of media professionals…
Player analysis: The rise and rise of Maro Itoje
By Alex Shaw Everyone in the rugby world knows the name Maro Itoje. The 21-year-old has been riding the crest of a wave that has grown, exponentially, over the last…
Lions bolters: Eight players who could make New Zealand in 2017
From Will Greenwood in 1997, to Keith Earls in 2009, the selection announcement for the Lions tour always springs its surprises. And with eight months to go until Warren Gatland’s…
Lions coach Warren Gatland faces the biggest challenge of his career
Congratulations Warren Gatland – and, er, commiserations. For while being named head coach of the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand is a great honour, one to…
England advance while the spectre of the All Blacks lurk in the background
Napoleon famously said he would rather have lucky generals in his ranks than good ones and Eddie Jones definitely both falls into both categories in a rugby sense. He is…
30 minutes with… England captain Dylan Hartley
England captain Dylan Hartley talks superpowers, sightseeing and superstitions
Analysis: Counting down the Leicester Tigers comeback
Every so often, usually in dry conditions on a hard pitch, a chaotic encounter causes witnesses to scratch their heads. On Friday night at Kingsholm, where Leicester Tigers secured an…