England head coach Eddie Jones pays tribute after former Australia and Northampton lock Dan Vickerman dies at the age of 37 February 19, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has paid tribute to Dan Vickerman after the former Northampton and Australia lock died, aged 37. No cause of death has been given for the unexpected passing of Vickerman, who represented Australia in three World Cups and retired in 2012 after persistent injury problems. Australian Jones, who coached Vickerman during [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England chief Ian Ritchie rules out “knee-jerk” sacking of under-fire coach Stuart Lancaster following Australia defeat October 4, 2015 England will take their time before deciding whether to end Stuart Lancaster’s reign as head coach five years earlier than planned, says Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Ian Ritchie. Ritchie, who appointed Lancaster in one of his first major decisions after moving from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the RFU’s response would [...]
Ollie Phillips: Saracens’ Wolf Pack culture the root of club’s success and driving force behind latest European Champions Cup bid May 11, 2017 Only the very best sides build the levels of consistency needed to claim back-to-back European Champions Cup titles and Saracens have the opportunity to seize their place in history against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday. Victory over the Top14 outfit would allow Sarries to rub shoulders with the great Leicester Tigers team, under the stewardship of [...]
Japan’s shock Rugby World Cup slaying of South Africa has blown Pool B wide open, says Scotland lock Grant Gilchrist September 21, 2015 Scotland lock Grant Gilchrist believes Japan’s surprise slaying of South Africa has changed the dynamic of Rugby World Cup Pool B and altered the mindset of teams vying to make the quarter-finals. Japan’s 34-32 success over the two-time tournament winners has been dubbed the biggest shock in World Cup history and ended the Brave Blossoms’ [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England, Australia and Japan give front-runners New Zealand a run for their money when it comes to house prices September 20, 2015 New Zealand may be the front-runners to triumph in the Rugby World Cup, but when it comes to property prices, it's neighbours Australia who are standing ahead at the touchline. Comparing the average house price of each of the 20 nations competing in the tournament, it's the second-placed team in the world rugby rankings who [...]
Eddie Jones urges England to scale new heights to avoid Ireland gatecrashing Grand Slam party March 16, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones insists his Six Nations champions will have to scale new heights in order to prevent Ireland gatecrashing their Grand Slam party on Saturday. Tournament victors England will become just the sixth side in history and first since the inception of the Six Nations in 2000 to claim back-to-back Grand Slams [...]
Securing success: How security company G4S plays its part in a thriving Rugby World Cup 2015 August 31, 2015 In less than three weeks the Rugby World Cup 2015 will launch at Twickenham. Fans have been salivating for months at the prospect of the planet’s biggest and best teams convening on English soil, ready to pummel each other into the turf and showcase their skills to the world. There are one or [...]
Why rugby sevens at the Rio Olympics represents a game-changing moment for the sport’s global growth August 7, 2016 The rugby world is excited. After a 92 year absence, the sport has returned to the Olympics in the sevens format and for many of the game’s stakeholders the next week marks one of the biggest moments for the sport since it entered the professional era in 1995. Along with golf, sevens is one of two [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: All Blacks earn £15,000 bonus each following semi-final win over South Africa and are promised £66,000 prize if they win final next week October 24, 2015 Members of the New Zealand rugby squad will each receive a bonus worth £66,000 if they win this year's World Cup. All Blacks players are signed to contracts with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) which guarantee them $NZ150,000 (£66,000) should they become the first country to lift the Web Ellis Cup for a third time. If [...]
EU referendum: Big bets for “In” backers as two gamblers put five-figure sums on Remain with one week to go June 16, 2016 Brexiteers Nigel Farage and John Longworth might like to think they're heavy betters after placing modest sums on Britain voting to leave the EU on 23 June, but high-rolling Remainers are putting them to shame. Bookies at Ladbrokes were stunned to see a first-time better stroll into the firm's Marble Arch branch and put £35,000 — in cash — on a vote [...]