Hosting the world’s biggest stars like Dan Carter, Bryan Habana and Quade Cooper, the Top 14 is, arguably, Europe’s Premier rugby competition and with weeks to go, it’s edging towards…
Rugby World
Jonathan Joseph: Five of the world’s best steppers
In a collision sport, those players who can evade opposition defenders with guile, deception and footwork that would put John Travolta to shame are few and far between. RW spoke…
France: Rugby the most popular team sport… for now
A nationwide poll at the start of this month reported that rugby is now the most popular team sport in France. Some 39% of the population preferred rugby to football’s…
Hotshot: Ulster full-back Jacob Stockdale
Tell us about your rugby background… My dad and grandad played and I started when I was about six at Ballynahinch. Then I played schools rugby at Wallace High in…
Hotshot: Leicester Tigers flanker Will Evans
When did you first play rugby? When I was about five. My mum’s work colleague said I should go along to Wymondham RFC. I didn’t enjoy it too much to…
Hotshot: Glasgow Warriors flanker Matt Smith
How did you get into rugby? I started in primary school, gave it up for a year to play football, then started again at high school and have been with…
Hotshot: Saracens wing George Perkins
When did you start playing rugby? When I was about five or six, at Upminster rugby club. I didn’t play a lot of other sports when I was younger –…
Hotshot: Toulon fly-half Anthony Belleau
Where did rugby begin for you? I am from a village close to Agen in south-west France, so I played for my village from the age of six to 15,…
Analysis: The sights and sounds of the breakdown battle between England and Australia
When Eddie Jones announced his selection, the script was written. For all the ‘Bodyline’ bluster, Australia were going to tear apart England’s back-row. Despite Six Nations success, the trio of Chris…
Hotshots: Glasgow lock Callum Hunter-Hill
When did you first play rugby? At about eight, at my local club North Berwick. I loved it and was a front-row until I shot up in height in my…