They say you cannot score tries from set-piece at the highest level any more. They are wrong. Over the past few years, New Zealand has steadily taken over from Australia…
Rugby World
Analysis: Guy Thompson embodies grit and graft of Wasps
Guy Thompson began September 3, the first day of the Championship season, sitting on the fence. With Jersey travelling to newly-promoted Richmond, two of his previous teams were in action. Via…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
One scored, one saved Dominic Waldouck scored a try at one end of the pitch and saved one at the other as Newcastle won away from home in the…
After an annus horribilis, what now for Chris Ashton?
Journalists all around the rugby-playing globe were hunched over their laptops waiting for news of Chris Ashton’s disciplinary hearing to drop into their inbox on Tuesday. Then, at 11.50pm, the…
Top 14 to promote French talent over foreign imports
Midi Olympique’s XV of the Weekend in Monday’s edition was a United Nations of rugby talent. England’s Nick Abendanon at full-back, a couple of Kiwis in Conrad Smith and Casey…
Hotshot: Lichfield fly-half Holly Aitchison
How did you get into rugby? My dad Ian took me to Waterloo when I was five because he was DoR there. I played for Waterloo, with the boys, until…
Hotshot: Connacht prop Conan O’Donnell
How did you get into rugby? My first sport was Gaelic football, which I started when I was three or four, with St Mary’s. I played until U18s and we…
Hotshot: Scarlets centre Ioan Nicholas
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…
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…