Rugby World Cup Barometer: Grondona has coming of age match for Pumas July 20, 2023 | Sponsored In the lead up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, City A.M. has put together a barometer in partnership with City Index to assess whose form is hot – and whose is not – in the race to be part of the tournament in France later this year. Player of the week Argentina flanker Santiago [...]
Harlequins and England No10 Marcus Smith signs contract extension July 19, 2023 Blockbuster England fly-half Marcus Smith has penned a contract extension with Harlequins, the club confirmed this morning. The talismanic No10 – who in 2021 became a British and Irish Lion – will stay with the London club beyond next season. It was understood that French giants and a number of Japanese clubs were interested in [...]
Sexton outcome marks official death of farce that is rugby values July 17, 2023 When European rugby chiefs released the verdict from the Johnny Sexton’s disciplinary hearing at 9:30pm on Sunday night, it marked the long, slow and painful death of the farce that is rugby values. Rugby values can be defined as the ideals some in the past have placed on the game, whereby everything is about respect [...]
Sexton let off with three-week ban and will be at Rugby World Cup July 16, 2023 Ireland No10 Johnny Sexton will feature at this year’s Rugby World Cup after an independent panel slapped the fly-half with a three-week ban for admitting to misconduct charges. Though Sexton admitted to misconduct and the disciplinary panel described his behaviour as aggressive, he will only miss Ireland’s three warm-up games. The misconduct occurred after the [...]
Rugby World Cup Barometer: Bok winger Arendse lights up Loftus July 14, 2023 | Sponsored In the lead up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, City A.M. has put together a barometer in partnership with City Index to assess whose form is hot – and whose is not – in the race to be part of the tournament in France later this year. Player of the week: Being a winger [...]
Steady Eddie and Australia have time before the World Cup. Others don’t July 14, 2023 Eddie Jones’s first match in charge of Australia was never going to be easy given the state the Wallabies were left in, but having to front up against South Africa last weekend looked brutal. Their 43-12 loss to the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld would have been crushing for the team given the positivity Jones has [...]
Sexton faces judgement day at disciplinary panel July 13, 2023 Johnny Sexton will today face a disciplinary panel over misconduct charges relating to the aftermath of the European Champions Cup final in May. In a story broken last month by City A.M., the talismanic Ireland No10 could miss some or all of this year’s Rugby World Cup in France after the fly-half was accused of [...]
‘Borthwick’s England squad prolongs status quo, but that’s no bad thing’ July 7, 2023 When I looked at Steve Borthwick’s 36-man England World Cup training squad, which will be finalised next month, my first feeling was that it represented the status quo. There’s no huge shock inclusion; no Sam Burgess or Willi Heinz to throw fans into a frenzy. And while there are some shocking omissions – Alex Mitchell [...]
Rugby World Cup Barometer: Farrell to lead England in France July 6, 2023 | Sponsored In the lead up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, City A.M. has put together a barometer in partnership with City Index to assess whose form is hot – and whose is not – in the race to be part of the tournament in France later this year. Player of the week Even though he [...]
‘England must back Mercer if Vunipola can’t make Rugby World Cup’ June 30, 2023 It’s going to be a huge blow for England if Billy Vunipola is unable to play a part in the Rugby World Cup this year. The Saracens No8 is explosive from the base and one of the few lads in Steve Borthwick’s set-up who can provide consistent gainline-breaking ball. The fact that he is rehabilitating [...]