Jamie George: England players split with RPA for independence January 8, 2024 England hooker Jamie George insists that the internationals team’s split from the Rugby Players Association (RPA) in favour of negotiating their own contracts with Twickenham chiefs was simply about independence. Saracens No2 George is one of five player-directors of Team England Rugby Ltd, alongside fellow internationals Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler and Anthony Watson, [...]
2023 rugby review: Jones, Sexton, England, London Irish and Hunter December 22, 2023 It’s been quite the 2023 in rugby. This year South Africa won the Rugby World Cup, La Rochelle lifted the Champions Cup after Leinster No10 Johnny Sexton abused the referee, the women’s game has grown further and Australia had 12 months of Eddie Jones. Well, almost. It has had it all. English rugby lost two [...]
Number of Brits buying sports tickets for overseas events skyrockets December 18, 2023 The number of Brits buying tickets for sporting events outside of the United Kingdom rose by 41 per cent in 2023 as the post-pandemic urge to attend live action continues to increase. It comes as the trend for overseas sport has risen by 50 per cent globally, according to Viagogo. This overseas demand was driven [...]
Tom Foley: English TMO abused after World Cup final quits international rugby December 4, 2023 Foley says he has received a "torrent of criticism and abuse".
Vile abuse that drove Farrell away from Test rugby a sad reflection of society December 1, 2023 Rugby columnist Ollie Phillips writes this week on the news that England Test captain Owen Farrell is walking away from international rugby for the Six Nations to manage his and his family’s well-being. How serious does abuse to our sporting stars need to get before real, severe and meaningful action is taken against mostly anonymous [...]
Gaucho’s Martin Williams interviews England rugby star Simon Shaw November 27, 2023 Martin Williams, founder of M Restaurant and owner of Gaucho, invites former England rugby player Simon Shaw for lunch at his newly refurbished Gaucho City
Rugby must capitalise on Dupont playing sevens at the Olympic Games November 24, 2023 Antoine Dupont playing rugby sevens – it sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? News this week of the France scrum-half, one of the sport’s few global stars, turning his attention to sevens in order to play at the Paris 2024 Olympics is superb for rugby. And it is now on the sport to make sure that they [...]
Two lasting legacies from England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph? Marginal gains and brain injuries November 22, 2023 At around 10:30 am UK time, 20 years ago today in 2003, England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson caught a pass from his No9 Matt Dawson, dropped it on his foot and dissected the uprights of Stadium Australia in Sydney to win his side the Rugby World Cup. It was the first, and remains the only, victory [...]
Why sponsorship at the 2023 Rugby World Cup offered hope for a troubled sport November 10, 2023 For once, it wasn't more of the same brands doing the same things.
‘Men don’t cry’: Wallabies legend Campese blasts Australia Rugby World Cup tears November 8, 2023 Australia rugby legend David Campese has lambasted Wallaby World Cup stars as cry babies in an uncensored, explosive interview. Speaking to City A.M. this week the 1991 World Cup-winner insisted that he’d never cried and blasted Australia’s worst performance at the tournament, in France last month. “The thing that really surprised me was that after [...]