Why Warren Gatland’s decision to hire Rob Howley could come back to haunt the British and Irish Lions on next summer’s tour to New Zealand December 12, 2016 The British and Irish Lions coaching set-up was finalised last week with the trio of Rob Howley, Steve Borthwick and Andy Farrell appointed to assist Warren Gatland on next summer’s tour to New Zealand and there must have been an interesting conversation between Gatland and Howley, given that the latter was only recruited as “option [...]
England head coach Eddie Jones is like Brian Clough, says Wales defence chief Shaun Edwards February 8, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has been likened to colourful former football manager Brian Clough by Wales defence chief Shaun Edwards ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations showdown in Cardiff. Edwards shrugged off Jones’s references to England’s “horrendous” record in Wales as mind games designed to spur on his players, but praised the Australian’s approach and [...]
Supporting a Pacific Islands Super Rugby franchise – not simply handouts – is a better way of thanking Fiji November 21, 2016 Much has been made of the disparity in earnings between the England players’ £22,000 match fee and the £400 with which the Fijians were remunerated following their meeting at Twickenham on Saturday, which the hosts won 58-15. The Rugby Football Union will be making a £75,000 token payment to the Islanders and should not feel [...]
Chris Robshaw to miss Six Nations after England flanker undergoes shoulder surgery January 9, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has suffered another major injury blow less than two weeks before he names the squad tasked with retaining the Six Nations after Chris Robshaw was ruled out of the tournament. Harlequins flanker Robshaw, a mainstay of England’s flawless resurgence under Jones last year, was due to have surgery on a [...]
Anthony Watson interview: Bath and England star on why he’s not letting himself think about the British Lions tour to New Zealand just yet December 13, 2016 Bath star Anthony Watson insists he has put thoughts of travelling to New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions next year to the back of his mind following three months out injured. The winger has been consigned to the opposite side of the touchline he is so used to hugging for England and Bath, [...]
Sam Burgess interview: I just didn’t love rugby union as much as I love league November 3, 2016 If absence makes the heart grow fonder then code-switching powerhouse and newly-anointed England rugby league skipper Sam Burgess has reason to be more love-struck then ever. Burgess was back on the international stage on Saturday spearheading England’s Four Nations charge, little more than a year after his and his country’s ill-fated showing at the rugby [...]
I knew from our first team meeting that Eddie Jones would turn England into a force, says scrum-half Ben Youngs December 4, 2016 England scrum-half Ben Youngs has paid tribute to head coach Eddie Jones for the unstinting belief he has engendered within the squad which has translated into a perfect record of 13 victories during 2016. The 27-year-old has flourished under Jones, who has said that Youngs could become as inspirational for England as Fourie du Preez [...]
Jason Robinson interview: ‘England remind me of World Cup-winning class of 2003’ November 29, 2016 World Cup winner Jason Robinson is convinced that Eddie Jones’s victory-craving England are showcasing similar hallmarks to the record-setting trailblazers of his own era who went on to conquer the globe. Victory against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday would not only ensure England navigate 2016 with an unblemished record but also equal the milestone of [...]
South Africa hold no fear for my England team, insists head coach Eddie Jones November 10, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones insists his side have the weapons to disarm South Africa’s much-vaunted physicality and outwit the Springboks in other facets of the game during their autumn showdown on Saturday. Jones showed his hand on Thursday and, as expected, centre Elliot Daly is set to make his first England start in place of Jonathan [...]
Bath back attacking rugby brand to win over Londoners at Twickenham for Leicester Tigers fixture September 22, 2016 Bath believe that their exciting brand of rugby will attract Londoners to Twickenham for a meeting with old rivals Leicester Tigers in April next year. The 151-year-old club are relocating to the capital’s iconic 82,000 stadium for the 8 April Premiership fixture against the Tigers in a bid to engage with rugby fans beyond the borders [...]