France dominate semi-final schedule as clubs add to festival of rugby May 9, 2022 It’s no secret that France has been grabbing the headlines in international rugby: Six Nations champions, hosts of the next World Cup and home to the world player of the year Antoine Dupont. But fans the continent over are currently enjoying a golden era of French club rugby, too, with 19 of the possible 40 [...]
Ollie Phillips: England rugby chiefs stuck between rock and hard place over Eddie Jones March 25, 2022 It has been a challenging week for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) following the conclusion of another disappointing Six Nations for England and Eddie Jones. The expectation, which the RFU have helped to foster, is that England should be the best team in the world. But the reality, as winning just two games at the [...]
Ed Warner: In defence of the Premier League’s laudable financial rules January 18, 2024 Our columnist reflects on some of the week's big sport business stories.
Six Nations: Where do Scotland play, when did they last win, what is their anthem and who is their coach? February 2, 2023 Scotland open their account against England in this year’s Six Nations. Here is what you need to know about the side ahead of the Calcutta Cup. Scotland History Scotland are the only side besides Italy to have never won the Six Nations championship, despite having success in its predecessor the Five Nations. They have not [...]
A culture secretary who has never been to a football match is a welcome relief September 18, 2023 Our obsession with football in politics has given it an outsized dominance in the Culture Secretary's brief, writes Eliot Wilson
Wembley turns 100: Iconic stadium reaches century of existence (in multiple forms) April 28, 2023 It has been home to England’s only World Cup final victory, hosted the likes of Live Aid and songstress Adele and was built on the site of a tower which was supposed to make the Eiffel Tower look like a garden ornament. Wembley Stadium as a site turns 100 today, and it’s fair to say [...]
Player welfare mustn’t be forgotten as rugby prepares to enter new era of commercialisation January 25, 2021 The summer of 2020 marked 25 years since the deal between News Corporation and Sanzar that changed rugby union forever, taking it into the unknown territory of professionalism. Today, there is more uncertainty than ever surrounding the future rules and scheduling of the game on a global level. Player welfare has become a hot topic, [...]
Ed Warner: Bullingham must own England manager decision if it comes December 15, 2022 “The FA should only look at English managers if Gareth Southgate steps down.” “No, the FA should be prepared to hire a foreign coach.” Discuss ad nauseam. Now imagine you are Mark Bullingham, the Football Association’s chief executive, possibly (but not certainly) about to have to make an appointment whose success or failure would stand [...]
Ed Warner: English cricket ought to wise up and encourage outside investment September 14, 2023 Middlesex's financial woes highlight wider problems in English cricket, which should be putting plans in place to embrace investment from India and elsewhere, writes Ed Warner.
Ollie Phillips: Improving France will dethrone Six Nations favourites England – and empty stadiums will help Les Bleus February 6, 2021 It’s easy to see why England have been installed as the favourites for the Six Nations, which starts this weekend. But they aren’t my tip. Yes, England are the holders, having prevailed in an interrupted 2020 championship that finally concluded in October. They then won the Autumn Nations Cup, beating France in the process – [...]