Ferry leap lands Tuilagi in dock October 9, 2011 ENGLAND centre Manu Tuilagi last night added to the litany of offences committed by members of Martin Johnson’s World Cup squad after the Samoan-born star was formally warned by police and fined £3,000 for disorderly behaviour having jumped from a ferry in Auckland. The 20-year-old swam to a nearby pier at the Auckland Ferry Terminal [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 25, 2011 SAMOA STILL IN THE HUNT TUSI PISI helped Samoa keep alive their quarter-final hopes as they overcame Fiji 27-7 at Eden Park. Samoa must beat South Africa in their final pool match – or hope Fiji can do them a favourite against Wales – if they are to reach the last eight. Pisi landed four [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 25, 2011 SAMOA STILL IN THE HUNT TUSI PISI helped Samoa keep alive their quarter-final hopes as they overcame Fiji 27-7 at Eden Park. Samoa must beat South Africa in their final pool match – or hope Fiji can do them a favourite against Wales – if they are to reach the last eight. Pisi landed four [...]
Lancaster must wait to discover England fate March 12, 2012 ENGLAND’S rousing Six Nations victory over France on Sunday was not enough to guarantee interim head coach Stuart Lancaster the job on a permanent basis but it did go a long way to strengthening his case, according to the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive Ian Ritchie. Lancaster received the unequivocal backing of his players following [...]
Hook seeks Wales redemption February 2, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Wales star James Hook says his World Cup troubles are behind him as he prepares for the Six Nations opener in Ireland. The 26-year-old concedes he had a poor tournament although Wales earned plaudits for their fourth place. “The World Cup semi-final was the lowest I have been,” he said. “But I have [...]
Easter eager to lock horns with Powell and guarantee top spot May 3, 2012 Q What happened the last time you played Sale in the Aviva Premiership? A I was at the World Cup last time but I know we won 48-41. I won money off Mark Cueto as we had a bet on the outcome but he still hasn’t paid up so I’ll ask him to show me [...]
Thrills and spills home and away September 16, 2011 IT’S an exciting time at London Scottish. We’re two games into our RFU Championship season, and having won one and lost one, we are under no illusions this will be a very competitive league. Whereas over the last few years, London Scottish have risen up the leagues relatively steadily (even though it did take a [...]
JOSH LEWSEY’S POST MATCH VIEW March 18, 2012 RFU MUST GET HOUSE IN ORDER A resounding victory over Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday went a long way to strengthening Stuart Lancaster’s case to be handed the head coach’s reins on a permanent basis. Under the former Saxons coach this England team are as united as I’ve seen them for a long while and [...]
Lancaster ready tinker as key trio return from injury February 20, 2012 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster admits he will shuffle his pack to accommodate the returns from injury of Manu Tuilagi, Toby Flood and Courtney Lawes ahead of Saturday’s crunch Six Nations showdown against Wales. Tuilagi (inset), who has not represented his country since leaping from a ferry in New Zealand following England’s World Cup exit [...]
French fightback denies Ireland rare triumph March 4, 2012 FRANCE (17) vs IRELAND (17) IRELAND captain Paul O’Connell rued a second-half slip-up as the visitors allowed France to fight back and deny them a race Six Nations victory in Paris. Two tries from winger Tommy Bowe put the Irish 17-6 up at the interval and within touching distance of their first win on French [...]