When did you start playing rugby? My dad, John, is a coach at Galwegians and I used to go to training with him every Saturday. He convinced me to join…
Rugby World
Hotshots: Northampton prop Paul Hill
We gather you were born in Germany? Yes, my mum is German and my dad is English. We lived there until I was about one. When did you take up…
Saints and Sinners: the weekend’s talking points
The Saints Full stop George Smith was named Man of the Match in Wasps’ 24-18 win over Bath in the Aviva Premiership and he was prominent with the ball in…
How Saracens have impacted England under Eddie Jones
After the first two rounds of the 2016 Six Nations, the essential character of England under Eddie Jones is beginning to emerge. While some areas of performance have remained at a…
Six Nations: England’s half-term report
Eddie Jones retained the 23-man squad who beat Italy 40-9 in the second round of the Six Nations as he prepares his team to play, what Sir Clive Woodward was…
From Narbonne to Perpignan: An alternative Six Nations weekend
By Kate Rowan It only takes two words: Six Nations. As well as conjuring images of red, white, green and three shades of blue, those two words also have the…
Why Eddie Jones is unconcerned about picking a ‘natural’ No 7
By Alex Shaw Every team in the world wants their very own David Pocock. A dominant operator at the breakdown who can turn momentum by forcing turnovers at pivotal moments…
The Rugby World Podcast: Six Nations 2016 round two review
we are heading for the fallow week of the 2016 Six Nations, but there’s plenty to talk about from round two. So that’s just what we are doing in the…
Study in France reveals findings on frequency of rugby injuries by position
So now it’s official, at least in France. The most dangerous position on a rugby field is hooker. The results were released last week of a three-year medical study commissioned…
Ireland: Five things we learnt v France
By Whiff of Cordite Ireland’s Six Nations three-peat hopes are all but over after a dispiriting one point defeat in Paris. The game was eye-bleedingly poor and was undoubtedly the…