Head coach Andy Robinson has selected six uncapped players in Scotland’s 36-man squad for the opening two matches of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship. They are Lee Jones, the…
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England move pre-season training to Leeds
England will move their pre-tournament training base ahead of the RBS 6 Nations to Leeds. They will use facilities around the North Leeds area, including West Park Leeds RUFC –…
Rebuilding the North – Stephen Jones
This is not to sound patronising or like a northern send-up à la Monty Python. But probably my happiest times in rugby reporting concern the consumption of mushy peas –…
Altered scoring system to be tested in South Africa
The usual post-RWC tinkering with the laws has begun, the IRB agreeing to experiment with the point-scoring system, writes Paul Morgan. The IRB have granted permission for South Africa’s Varsity…
James Haskell in Japan – Exclusive pictures
Remember when Sean Connery’s James Bond reinvents himself as a Japanese man in You Only Live Twice? That – and he’ll like this analogy – is what another James is…
Welsh wonder wing George North
Given what he’s already achieved on the world stage, it’s easy to forget just how young George North is, writes Features Editor – Sarah Mockford. One reporter fell into this…
New Look England – Stuart Barnes
The build-up to England’s bid to win the 2015 World Cup should have already begun. It should have started the day after France beat them in the quarter-final of the…
In the spotlight – Ryan Bevington
The most surprising thing about the Ryan Bevington story is that he didn’t start playing rugby until he was 12. Not that unusual you may think, but considering his grandfather,…
Sam has set the standard – Frank Keating
It’s a fair bet that a majority of Welsh supporters, bless ‘em, will still be splutteringly complaining about their captain’s World Cup red card not only past this Christmas but…
IRFU new player policy favours home grown talent
The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced some refinements to its professional player contract policy to further support the national succession strategy for the Ireland team to come into effect…