The first season of the new European format has seen big crowds, stunning tries and thrilling rugby but with Toulon basking in a third consecutive title, it’s worth considering how…
Ireland
Champions Cup draw 2015/16
Rugby’s administrators, journalists and TV crews assembled in Neuchâtel for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup draw, where it was left to Wales and Lions wing Ieuan Evans and 98-cap…
Rugby World End-of-Season Awards 2015
So, the Northern Hemisphere season has come to a thrilling conclusion leaving rugby fans counting down the days to the World Cup (okay, The Rugby Championship starts in six odd…
Hotshots: Leinster and UCD scrum-half Nick McCarthy
When did you start playing rugby? When I was about six, at Old Belvedere and St Michael’s College. Have you played different positions? I was a scrum-half from the start.…
Super Saturday predictions for the Premiership and Pro12
We’re finally here, Super Saturday looms large for teams have just one more chance to qualify for the Play-Offs and Europe next season. Just one point separates Leicester Tigers, Exeter…
European Champions Cup semi-finals: A statistical preview
Ahead of this weekend's Champions Cup semi-finals, Jack D'Arcy takes a look at the key statistics from the tournament to date
Rugby statistics: Is the Aviva Premiership the most competitive league in Europe?
After the European Champions Cup quarter-finals, Wasps’ director of rugby Dai Young suggested all stats point towards the Aviva Premiership as being the most competitive league in Europe. Is that…
Rugby Rant: Keep the Six Nations free-to-air
Granted, he was being mischievous, as is his right as financial custodian of the RBS 6 Nations, but CEO John Feehan blasted open a hornet’s nest with a double-barrel shotgun…
Saints and Sinners: the weekend’s talking points
It was a dramatic weekend of rugby – we take a look at who and what stood out for the right, and wrong, reasons
European Champions Cup – Head to heads
If you take the law of averages, only one away side a year prevails at the Champions Cup quarter-final stage – a statistic that this year’s four English teams will…