During the Springboks training camp in May, head coach Heyneke Meyer said that picking the loose forwards for the Rugby World Cup was his biggest worry. Given the limitations of…
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30 minutes: Pete Horne, Glasgow Warriors
Do you have any phobias? I was petrified of sharks – I watched Jaws when I was really small. But last summer when I was in South Africa with Ruaridh…
Hotshots: Ospreys lock Rory Thornton
When were you bitten by the rugby bug? I started in the U8s at Bonymaen with my neighbour Oliver Treviso. He still plays for them now. I was hooked…
Hotshots: Harlequins centre Joe Marchant
Which was your first team? Winchester U7. I stayed with Winchester through the age groups. Did you play other sports? I’m a black belt in karate, I swam and did…
Rest in peace: Jerry Collins – a rugby icon
Following the tragic news of the death of Jerry Collins and his partner Alana Madill in a car crash in France, we are posting this Spotlight feature which was…
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…
RWC 2015: Scotland squad talking points
On Tuesday Vern Cotter rolled out his ‘long list’ of 46 players to deliver the undeliverable: the oft-mocked SRU aim of Scotland winning the Rugby World Cup. An extensive and…
France: Guy Noves will do things his way
To nobody’s great surprise Guy Noves was officially unveiled on Sunday as France’s next coach, with Yannick Bru as his forwards’ coach and Jeff Dubois in charge of the backs.…
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.…
Hotshots: Bristol prop Ellis Genge
Tell us about your rugby background… I started when I was about nine, at Old Redcliffians. I had played football until then. Once I was about 12 rugby became my…