RFU: Rugby injuries have become more dangerous than ever as reported concussions continue to rise March 24, 2016 Professional rugby is becoming more dangerous than ever, according to a new RFU audit which reveals that last season the severity of injuries in top level was the highest on record. An injury picked up in a match in Premiership Rugby, European and international competition resulted in an average lay-off of 29 days last season [...]
Six Nations 2016: England’s Joe Marler hauled before World Rugby over “gypsy boy” row with Wales prop Samson Lee March 23, 2016 England's Joe Marler is facing belated punishment for calling Wales prop Samson Lee “gypsy boy” after World Rugby last night summoned him to an independent disciplinary hearing. The governing body intervened because Six Nations chiefs opted not to sanction Marler despite him admitting to an offence that typically carries a minimum suspension of four weeks. Marler, [...]
Grand Slam or not, no England players are safe from the chop, insists head coach Eddie Jones March 22, 2016 Head coach Eddie Jones insists no member of his Grand Slam-winning side is guaranteed a seat on the plane when England travel Down Under for a three-Test tour against Australia in June. England’s 31-21 victory over France in Paris on Saturday handed the Red Rose their first Six Nations clean sweep since 2003 although Jones’s [...]
Six Nations 2016: Billy Vunipola on course to shatter England records in Grand Slam decider v France March 18, 2016 England’s task on Saturday is simple: beat France in Paris and crown a first Six Nations title in five years with a first Grand Slam since 2003. Should they do so, Eddie Jones’s men could be forgiven for paying little heed to the championship stats as they crack open beers in the Stade de France [...]
Six Nations 2016: England predicted to beat France and win grand slam according to complex mathematical formula from insurance group QBE March 18, 2016 England will win the grand slam by the finest of margins on Saturday – that's according to insurance firm QBE who have devised a complex formula to predict the outcome of Six Nations matches. QBE's rugby predictor has correctly forecast 9 of 12 results so far this tournament and came within two points of the [...]
Six Nations 2016 betting: Scoring in England Grand Slam win will be elementary for Anthony Watson March 17, 2016 Not many punters would have confidently backed England’s World Cup flops for a 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam at 6/1 after their dismal display in the tournament. Now they head to Paris for Saturday's final match no bigger than 2/7 to complete their first clean sweep since 2003. An away trip to France is never [...]
Modern rugby players are in a bulk and power arms race – but must be responsible over doping dangers March 11, 2016 Saturday’s England v Wales battle is being touted as the biggest game of the season and when you look at the sheer size of the players this is true in more ways than one. Today’s international players are bigger than ever and just when you think they have maxed out, someone comes along who resets [...]
Forget the Six Nations and switch on Super Rugby if you want real entertainment February 27, 2016 A number of rugby union’s elite performers, including former world players of the year, World Cup winners and European Cup winners, are in action this weekend for a competition rarely rivalled for its consistent quality. Elsewhere, the Six Nations resumes. But for fans of running rugby, tries and impressive hand skills, Super Rugby is the [...]
Premiership Rugby considering approach from French club Toulon about possibility of joining league January 21, 2016 England's top rugby clubs have confirmed to City A.M. that they are considering an extraordinary request from French side Toulon to switch leagues and join them in the Premiership. League representatives received a letter on Wednesday afternoon from Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal enquiring about the possibility of him moving his star-studded team out of the [...]
Eddie Jones’ first England rugby squad: Who will be dropped, which youngsters will be promoted and what time will it be announced? January 13, 2016 Eddie Jones announces his first England squad as head coach this afternoon – and he is expected to cull big names as he prepares for the Six Nations. A host of uncapped youngsters will be given the chance to show off their test rugby credentials in the 33-man elite player squad while some who regularly featured [...]