Stevens: Rethink rule for Armitage October 16, 2014 FORMER England prop Matt Stevens believes head coach Stuart Lancaster should consider waiving the rules on selecting only domestic-based players for international duty in the notable case of back-row forward Steffon Armitage. Bath this week held talks with Toulon over signing reigning European player of the year Armitage, although the deal is now dead and [...]
Record six-year Lancaster contract is entirely right, insist rugby chiefs October 1, 2014 ENGLAND rugby chiefs have defended the decision to hand head coach Stuart Lancaster and his staff bumper new contracts lasting for two World Cups and into the next decade. The deals until 2020 indicate that Lancaster and assistants Graham Rowntree, Mike Catt and Andy Farrell are likely to keep their jobs regardless of how England [...]
Stevens: Autumn results not essential for England October 19, 2014 FORMER British Lions prop Matt Stevens insists England’s World Cup destiny does not hinge on landing knockout blows and toppling the world’s best during the upcoming autumn internationals. Stuart Lancaster’s side begin their southern hemisphere examination with a clash against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday 8 November before showdowns with South Africa, Samoa and [...]
Wilkinson backs chiefs’ show of faith in Lancaster October 2, 2014 WORLD Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Leonard have dismissed accusations that the additional insurance afforded by head coach Stuart Lancaster’s bumper new contract will see a culture of complacency permeate the England camp. Lancaster and his assistants Graham Rowntree, Mike Catt and Andy Farrell have all signed six-year deals – the longest ever awarded [...]
Attwood happy for England to be called boring November 30, 2014 ENGLAND lock Dave Attwood has dismissed criticism of Saturday’s defeat of Australia, insisting they are happy to sacrifice entertaining, expansive rugby in favour of results. Two tries by No8 Ben Morgan and 16 points from the boot of fly-half George Ford helped the hosts to a pragmatic if unspectacular 26-17 victory over the Wallabies. They [...]
Lancaster backs Robshaw to end debate over his England future October 22, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has backed Chris Robshaw to cast aside constant speculation over his role in international rugby and prove his pedigree after re-naming the Harlequins flanker as skipper for the autumn internationals. Lancaster has included a trio of uncapped players – Bath winger Semesa Rokoduguni, Saracens second row George Kruis and Northampton [...]
End to Euro rugby row in sight as clubs and unions close in on deal March 17, 2014 EUROPEAN club rugby looks all but certain to remain on the calendar next season amid growing optimism that a deal to establish a successor to the Heineken Cup will be signed this week. Officials representing clubs and the unions of the Six Nations met for further talks in Paris yesterday in an attempt to finalise [...]
England setback as centre Tuilagi misses autumn October 21, 2014 ENGLAND’S injury problems ahead of the autumn internationals have continued to mount with Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi set to be ruled out after suffering a groin problem. Head coach Stuart Lancaster names his 33-man elite player squad for the QBE series today, with England’s first match against the All Blacks on Saturday 8 November, and [...]
Sky Sports wins rights to biggest events in cricket October 13, 2014 Sky Sports has beaten off competition from other broadcasting rivals after winning the rights to show some of international cricket’s biggest events over the next eight years. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday it has sold the rights to 18 cricket tournaments to Star Group, which is also part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire [...]
We must disrupt Wallabies flair, says Farrell November 26, 2014 ENGLAND coach Andy Farrell insists it is imperative his side combat Australia’s natural attacking flair with robust industry during their final autumn showdown at Twickenham on Saturday. Head coach Stuart Lancaster has named an unchanged squad for the clash with the Wallabies, which represents England’s final chance to defeat a southern hemisphere heavyweight ahead of [...]