English clubs had a field day in the European Champions Cup last weekend and, though they look destined to dip out on the quarter-finals, Bath were responsible for round three’s…
Countries
Challenge Cup: Top 14’s unwelcome distraction
I was at a loose end on Thursday evening. I did think about a trip to the cinema to see Paddington, but in the end I settled down with a…
European Champions Cup player analysis: Marcos Ayerza, Leicester Tigers
Despite the result, it was a Toulon player that hogged the Monday morning headlines following his team’s 25-21 loss in the first instalment of their electric European Champions Cup double-header at Welford Road…
A letter from South Africa: Things go from bad to worse for Springboks
The Springboks’ autumn tour to Britain, Ireland and Italy went from bad to worse, bookended by two unexpected losses to Ireland and Wales, with the latter compounded by a potentially…
Nathan Sharpe: Rugby’s best locks
At the Dubai Sevens we caught up with Wallaby great Nathan Sharpe. In a stellar 14-year career former Queensland Red and Western Force lock Sharpe won 116 caps, played in three World Cups…
Who should be England’s centres?
Who should play in the centre for England at RWC 2015? We solve the midfield minefield
The Top 14 and the death of l’esprit de clocher
There’s a revolution underway in French rugby, one that is having ramifications for the home nations. We’ve already seen evidence of it in October when Toulon, Toulouse and Racing Metro…
30 Minutes with… Joe Marler
The England front-rower on pastries, panic attacks and parenting
Autumn Tests 2014: End of series awards
The ‘In the black’ Award – New Zealand The marketeers at Adidas have their work cut out rebranding a black shirt, and this year they came up ‘the Blackest Shirt…
Autumn International player analysis: Chris Robshaw, England
A trivia question to start, so no cheating if you do not know the answer. Here you go: who said this about whom last week? “He’s an absolute pest. Last year…