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…
Rugby World
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…
Saints and Sinners: The weekend’s talking points
The Saints Four more from Seymour Scoring two tries against champions Connacht last week seemed like a good start to the season for Tommy Seymour, but the Glasgow Warriors wing…
Lions bolters: Eight players who could make New Zealand in 2017
From Will Greenwood in 1997, to Keith Earls in 2009, the selection announcement for the Lions tour always springs its surprises. And with eight months to go until Warren Gatland’s…