IT'S ALWAYS nice to be wanted. It must be a strange feeling for referees, though. In an age where the men in the middle are as professional as players and…
Rugby World
Contract extensions for Pro12, Premiership and Super Rugby stars
HERE’S TO the stayers. While we have all gotten hot and bothered about the prospect of George North playing for Northampton Saints or Matt Kvesic signing for Gloucester or even…
30 minutes with… Simon Zebo
RUGBY WORLD: What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen or heard on the pitch? SIMON ZEBO: Conor Murray’s reaction to me telling him to kick the ball out when time wasn’t…
Innovations in Aviva Premiership coverage
What's new in this season's English top flight?
The players missing openers in the Aviva Premiership and Pro12
THE WAITING is almost done. We are just over a week away from the opening days of the Aviva Premiership and the RaboDirect Pro12 and already we are condemning some…
Top 14: Hook ready to lead Perpignan to new heights
TIMES, THEY are a-changin’ at Perpignan. Who would have thought just a few years ago that arguably the most parochial of French clubs would have a Welshman for a captain?…
Minis: How to play Circle King
LAST MONTH we featured the sumo version of King of the Ring, where two players work to push the ball-carrier out of the ring, or steal the ball from him.…
Rugby Rant: ‘Forwards rugby’ a drab spectacle
THE SIGHT of two colossal packs throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at each other is becoming all too common in the northern hemisphere. This year’s Six Nations was far from…
Last ride for RaboDirect
THIS SEASON is the last the Pro12 will have the title sponsor, RaboDirect. The bank have opted not to renew its sponsorship contract with the league, meaning that just as…
Diary of a new academy recruit in NZ – Part Three
SINCE MY last blog on my stay at the Inside Running Academy, a huge amount of things have happened in a very short amount of time: finals, gym sessions, tough…