Champions Cup: Leinster vs Toulouse is the final we deserve, and want May 6, 2024 So there we have it; seven weekends of Investec Champions Cup action has delivered the final many wanted, and expected. When the final concludes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 May, it’ll either see French giants Toulouse extend their record of European trophies from five to six, or see Irish stalwarts Leinster move level [...]
Rugby League World Cup in doubt after Australia and New Zealand pull out and brand England ‘simply too unsafe’ due to Covid-19 July 22, 2021 The Rugby League World Cup, due to take place in England later this year, has been plunged into serious doubt after Australia and New Zealand pulled out. The two southern hemisphere giants said they would not send their men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams due to the Covid-19 situation in the UK. World Cup organisers noted [...]
Touchlines given zebra stripe makeover for Investec Champions Cup matches April 1, 2024 RUGBY FANS watching the world’s most iconic cross-border club competition will witness a world first this weekend - with sponsors Investec bringing new life to the touchline and in-goal areas.
Exclusive: Middle East and United States bid to host Champions Cup final September 3, 2023 European rugby chiefs are considering bids which would see the Champions Cup final staged in the Middle East or the United States, City A.M. can reveal. The finals weekend of the world’s premier club rugby competition, the Champions Cup, and its sister competition the Challenge Cup have traditionally housed themselves in core rugby regions. But [...]
England v South Africa: What previous meetings can tell us about this weekend’s Rugby World Cup final October 30, 2019 When pondering England’s Rugby World Cup final against South Africa on Saturday there is one obvious point of reference to consider. The two teams met in the 2007 tournament showpiece in Paris, where the Springboks kicked five penalties to England’s two in a 15-6 win remembered for Mark Cueto’s disallowed try. But whether Cueto’s foot [...]
Ollie Phillips: Harlequins play rugby fans deserve to watch April 19, 2024 When I watched Harlequins just about get past Bordeaux last weekend in the Investec Champions Cup, I understood why the south London club get such good crowds week in, week out at both the Stoop and Twickenham. They play a style of game that is just so addictive and attractive, and it is something other [...]
England Six Nations blow as Lawrence leaves squad with injury January 23, 2024 England were dealt a major Six Nations blow on Tuesday with news that Ollie Lawrence would be leaving their training camp through injury. The Bath centre has been one of the form players in this year’s Premiership and was expected to play a key role in Steve Borthwick’s plans in the first Six Nations since [...]
Black Lion Challenge Cup inclusion opens door to Champions Cup dreams January 11, 2024 Stepping out of the concourse and into the bowl of the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia felt like a big moment. The fatigue from travelling more than 2,000 miles for 80 minutes of rugby, equating to over seven hours on two overnight flights, instantly vanished. There, on the pitch, were historic English club Gloucester [...]
Challenge Cup in ‘advanced’ talks over sponsor, but not for this season November 22, 2023 This year’s European Challenge Cup will mark a decade of the competition without a sponsor despite rugby chiefs insisting they are in advanced talks with potential suitors. Europe’s second tier club competition has been without a sponsor since insurer Amlin had the title partnership in the 2013-14 season. Some have said a title sponsor would [...]
Six Nations: England must learn from card despite spirited performance March 14, 2022 Eddie Jones cited England’s spirit and others will cite their determination to succeed against the odds. But in Ireland’s record 15-32 away Six Nations win yesterday, the hosts can only point to themselves to understand where it all went wrong. In what was effectively a knockout match to keep pace with France, the anticipation was [...]