How did you get into rugby? My father, Adrian, was a wing at Pontyberem and when I wanted to start playing with my friends he coached our team all the…
Rugby World
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…
A Guinness Pro12 and Aviva Premiership All-Star XV
The Guinness Pro12 takes an inordinate amount of flak from fans and media alike and is generally regarded as the poorer cousin of the Aviva Premiership.The teams at the bottom…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Rare hooker’s hat-trick Exeter Chiefs No 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie became only the third hooker to bag a hat-trick in an English Premiership match when he crossed for three…
Eddie Jones: Do New Zealand run world rugby?
Eddie Jones rarely resists the chance to have a crack at opposition, or anybody else, and this week he was in typically combative mood in the gym at England’s base…
The greatest full-backs of all time: Israel Folau
Major teams: Broncos, Waratahs Country: Australia Test span: 2013 – Australia caps: 41 (41 starts) Test points: 100 (20T) – Figures correct as of 19/07/2016 – He arrived in rugby…
The greatest looseheads of all time: Gethin Jenkins
Major teams: Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors, Cardiff Blues, Toulon Country: Wales Test span: 2002-2016 Wales caps: 126 (90 starts) Lions caps: 5 (5 starts) Test points: 20 (4T) It seems that…
The greatest tightheads of all time: Carl Hayman
Major teams: Otago, Highlanders, Newcastle, Toulon Country: New Zealand Test span: 2001-07 Test caps: 45 (37 starts) Test points: 10 (2T) Carl Hayman made his Test debut from the bench…
Top 14: Could La Rochelle become French champions?
A gambler would have got enticing odds if he’d bet a few euros on La Rochelle to be leading the Top 14 a month into the new season. Four matches…
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…