He fired that back without hesitation Down on the Etihad Stadium pitch as blue and white streamers and balloons littered the place and Manchester City supporters were still booming and singing away, Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne and the City players were whooping it up. Roy Keane has been in better situations. The former Manchester […]

4 years ago

The Toulouse and France scrumhalf bowed out at the semi-finals, but had a fine tournament. James Lowe’s form in the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup has seen him rocket into contention for a big end-of-season accolade. He will be up against Antoine Dupont, Gregory Alldritt and a couple of familiar faces for the […]

4 years ago

What a great way to head off into the sunset, this would be. After 15 seasons at the top-end of the professional game, Sean O’Brien will hang up his boots this summer. The former Leinster and Ireland star is in his final season with London Irish and will retire when the season concludes. The Exiles, […]

4 years ago

Lots of fresh faces, and returns for familiar ones, too. Eddie Jones has included 10 uncapped players in a 36-man England squad, in preparation for this summer’s tour to Australia and a home tilt against the Barbarians. Owen Farrell, Jack Willis, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga are all back in the training squad […]

4 years ago

“One of the most incredible tries I’ve ever seen.” Henry Arundell took 12 seconds to run 98 metres and beat five Toulon defenders, on Sunday, and score one of the greatest tries club rugby has seen in years. The 19-year-old London Irish fullback picked up the ball deep inside his 22 and set off on […]

4 years ago

‘If I can change, and you can change, EVERYBODY can change!’ In the spirit of Rocky Balboa, back in 2020, Eric Cantona and Liam Gallagher put aside their club affiliations and came together to make art. The previous year had seen the former Manchester United captain raving about Gallagher’s song ‘Once’ on his Instagram account. […]

4 years ago

“I’ve probably watched every single speech, that’s online, of Paul O’Connell.” Paul O’Connell may not look back too fondly, these days, on his ‘Fear of God’ dressing room speech, but Kyle Sinckler cannot get enough. The Harlequins, England and Lions prop was a guest of Sean O’Brien and Alex Goode, on the latest House of Rugby, […]

4 years ago

“My bad.” Chris Ashton went to town on James Lowe, back in 2020, but then said on the same show, earlier this week, that he had just made a throwaway comment. Ashton was harsh in his critique of Lowe after he suffered a nightmare outing against England in the once-off Autumn Nations Cup. After a […]

4 years ago

“I love living here. We’re a really great community. Not very big, but we keep everything pretty tight.” Back at the 2011 World Cup, I remember interviewing Canadian flanker Jebb Sinclair, not long after they had defeated Tonga in a gripping encounter, in Whangerei, New Zealand. As a smaller rugby nation, the Canadians were left […]

4 years ago

“If anyone is going to say that to me, please don’t because it is going to wind me right up.” Ellis Genge did what good captains so often do, on Saturday, and defended his team to the hilt. Leicester Tigers may have been eliminated from the Champions Cup but they had certainly pushed Leinster hard. […]

4 years ago

Could very well end up with a Jordan Crane situation again. Maro Itoje was not the only rugby fan gripped to the action at the Aviva Stadium, on Saturday, as Munster were eliminated from the Champions Cup after a dramatic place-kicking competition. Johann van Graan’s side led the reigning European champions 24-14, heading into the […]

4 years ago

“As a partnership, we were the best.” Paul Ince and Roy Keane only played together for two seasons, but they were a dominant midfield duo. Reflecting on their short but successful partnership, last year, Ince declared, “We were invincible.” Alex Ferguson, their boss at Manchester United, took issue with Paul Ince signing for Liverpool, back […]

4 years ago

“It is quite an incredible team they have.” Steve Borthwick has done a commendable job after taking over a Leicester Tigers side that were relegation-haunted for a couple of recent seasons and turning them into title contenders and European headaches for top sides. It could be an incredible job, yet, but that remains to be […]

4 years ago

“We are not plucky losers, we are not that type of team.” Ellis Genge comes in, not long after a training session and catches a glimpse of his ruffled hair on the Zoom call that has been started up for him. Not 100% pleased with what he sees, he asks for a cap, fixes it […]

4 years ago

“Should we get it going sooner, rather than later? Yes, I think we should.” A Women’s URC, featuring top club sides from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy, South Africa, and possibly the USA and Canada, is very much up for discussion right now. The 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations has highlighted – not for the first […]

4 years ago

ENGLAND 69-0 IRELAND England ran in 59 second half points to secure their place atop the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations standings. Ireland held the Red Roses to just 10 points in the first half, at Welford Road, but they scored 10 tries after the break. Lydia Thompson, Lark Davies and Ellie Kildunne all scored […]

4 years ago

‘That’s how it’s going at the minute’ Scott McTominay will be staying on at Manchester United for next season. Whether he has a prominent role, or not, will be up to his own pre-season form and what incoming boss Erik Ten Hag wants to see in his United side. The midfielder had a decent outing […]

4 years ago

Very reminiscent of Martin Keown, back in 2003. Aaron Ramsdale was never too far from the action at the Emirates Stadium, this afternoon, as Arsenal and Manchester United both showed top sides how NOT to defend. There were chances galore in the Premier League encounter, with both Ramsdale and David De Gea flat out for […]

4 years ago

A summer of change awaits As soon as the words were uttered at Anfield, a Top 10 Man United transfer targets list began to take shape. Ralf Rangnick may have scared some Manchester United supporters on Tuesday when he suggested the club was “six years” behind Liverpool. The more optimistic of those fans, though, may […]

4 years ago

Sale Sharks will have a free-to-air television option. The EPCR has confirmed the dates and times for the Champions Cup quarter finals, with the venues now known to all rugby fans. The confirmation sets up a bumper day – on Saturday, May 7 – with Munster facing Toulouse at Aviva Stadium, from 3pm, then Leicester […]

4 years ago

Having shared six European Cups between them, Leicester vs. Leinster should be a fizzer. The venues and dates for the last eight of the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup have been confirmed. All matches will take place between May 6-8, with the times set to be confirmed in the next 24 hours. Leinster will travel to […]

4 years ago

Strong words from the Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken out strongly against football fans at Wembley Stadium, this afternoon, that booed during a moment of silence intended to pay tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster. Ahead of the FA Cup semi-final clash between both sides, players from City and Liverpool stood […]

4 years ago

The Exeter star hid the Munster crest when his image flashed up on the big screen. Jack Nowell was not able to help his Exeter teammates on the pitch today, but he was cheering them on from the stands… albeit in a Munster jersey. Nowell, who was out of the Champions Cup ‘Last 16’ encounter […]

4 years ago

“I feel sorry for the young man.” Marcus Smith and Harlequins will be asking themselves how they let this one get away. We are set for at least one French side in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup as Montpellier edged out Quins at the Twickenham Stoop to set up an all but likely quarter […]

4 years ago

“I’ve got done badly.” Sean O’Brien will never forget his time in New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup, for a number of reasons. The London Irish and Ireland back-row, who is hanging up his rugby boots at the end of this season, was part of a decent side, led by Declan Kidney, that beat […]

4 years ago

‘She is comfortable in hospital and will undergo surgery.’ Reigning champions England ran in 10 tries in a 58-5 TikTok Six Nations win over the previously unbeaten Wales, on Saturday. Their win came at a price, though. Wales held the game at 0-0 for 15 minutes but Lark Davies breached their defence to get the […]

4 years ago

“I’ve given all I can give.” Even as he said the words, the London Irish fixture sheet said different from what Sean O’Brien was stating. In the same week that Dan Leavy was forced to retire, at the age of just 27, O’Brien has announced he will hang up his boots at the end of […]

4 years ago

The Tullow Tank has set an end date to his brilliant rugby career Sean O’Brien has announced that he will be hanging up his rugby boots at the end of this season. The former Leinster, Ireland and Lions forward will finish out the season with London Irish, where he has been since the end of […]

4 years ago

“He looks cool as a cucumber!” We are just about done with digesting the 2022 Six Nations and, like a flash, the Champions Cup is back upon us. Brian O’Driscoll can’t wait for European club rivalries to resume. The former Leinster and Ireland captain is headed to The Sportsground, on Friday, to be part of […]

4 years ago

The former Munster and Ireland outhalf has spoken in glowing terms about the current crop of England stars. Just under a fortnight ago, Ronan O’Gara was singing the praises of current England head coach Eddie Jones. On BT Sport’s Rugby Tonight, O’Gara offered the English RFU a fresh option in their search to replace Jones […]

4 years ago

Reigning Six Nations champions England doled out an unmerciful thrashing to an Italy side that do not have long to recover until their next outing. Having started their TikTok Women’s Six Nations title defence with a 57-5 win against Scotland, Simon Middleton’s side ramped it up and came within a point of equalling their record […]

4 years ago

Neville claims Ralf Rangnick’s line-up was “staggering” After Manchester United took a similar tack against Manchester City, last month, Gary Neville was struggling to get his head around their latest XI. Rangnick was without Cristiano Ronaldo [illness] and Edinson Cavani [calf injury] for the visit of Leicester City to Old Trafford, this evening, but the […]

4 years ago

SCOTLAND 5-57 ENGLAND On her 80th appearance for England, the brilliant Marlie Packer helped herself to her 22nd, 23rd and 24th tries. Hosting the reigning champions at a home ground in the impressive shadow of Murrayfield, the Scots had the first chance to get the scoreboard moving, but Helen Nelson missed her penalty attempt. Just […]

4 years ago

“We’re different down here. It’s a different club; a different culture.” From Sandy Park to Teignmouth is not just over 20 minutes away, if you catch the lights the right way. Life flows more casually in England’s South West, but Joe Simmonds never knew it any other way. “That’s the thing,” he tells us. “We’ve […]

4 years ago

We are going with the pundits over the fans, on this one. The 2022 Six Nations is in the history books and France are champions, in Grand Slam style, after a 12-year wait between titles. There is only one thing left to do after the championship has wrapped, and before the women’s tournament begins, this […]

4 years ago

‘Swing low, sweet chariot!’ One wonders if former Ireland outhalf Ronan O’Gara would have got involved in such a dressing room sing-song, even if it was all in jest. The video that emerged of the Ireland players playfully singing what has become an English rugby anthem, on Saturday, was all good fun. The players, who […]

4 years ago

FRANCE 25-13 ENGLAND The Grand Slam and the 2022 Six Nations title has gone to a France side that look like they are only going to get better. Some tough tallies in our England ratings. Just as they did against Wales, last weekend, France started fast and were 8-0 up after 15 minutes through a […]

4 years ago

“I know exactly what you’re after here, and you’re not going to get it.” Stuart Hogg was still coming to terms with his side’s 26-5 defeat to Ireland at Aviva Stadium, this evening. The last thing he needed was a reminder of a chance he blew, or of that drinking session in Edinburgh, last Sunday. […]

4 years ago

Absolute class from Josh Adams. Wales may have lost 22-21 to an ecstatic Italy at the Principality Stadium, today, but Josh Adams can hold his head up high. For more reasons than one. The Wales winger saved an all-but-certain Italy try as he tackled Monty Ioane out of play, only to score a stunner of […]

4 years ago

“He’d infuriate you, that way.” Johnny Sexton and Sean O’Brien are two lads that want the very, very best. They are two lads that will not hesitate in demanding it either. If that leads to a couple of slaps being thrown, some harsh words being said or Andy Farrell having to tell them to “cool […]

4 years ago

“I feel like Conlan isn’t as efficient as he makes out.” Many of us as still getting our heads around what was an all-time classic, on Saturday night, between Leigh Woods and Michael Conlan. The Belfast boxer headed to Wood’s home town of Nottingham and put on one hell of a show. Had he been […]

4 years ago

‘It wasn’t funny the first time’ Daniel Jarvis (a.k.a ‘Jarvo 69’) may think twice about invading a rugby pitch again. Brian O’Driscoll certainly hopes so, and he is not the only one. After making multiple pitch invasions during England cricket games, last summer, Jarvis switched to rugby in time for the Autumn Nations Cup. He […]

4 years ago

“No questions about the red.” Even when the question included reference to Charlie Ewels being ‘a gentleman’, Eddie Jones did little to argue the point of the England lock’s red card. Jones was in decent post-match form, despite his England side dropping their second Six Nations loss of the campaign. England were reduced to 14 […]

4 years ago

“Something stood to me from my time in France!” This was just a bump on the rugby road for Marcus Smith, against a player that is coming to the end of his. Johnny Sexton was taking his seat at the post-match press conference, at Twickenham, when Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his third goal against Tottenham in […]

4 years ago

ENGLAND 15-32 IRELAND After 82 seconds, it was looking like Ireland would coast, but it was anything but. England fought their asses off and came close to winning a pulsating match. Whatever plans both sides had for the contest were upturned after 82 seconds when England lock Charlie Ewels clattered into James Ryan. It was […]

4 years ago

“It has to be the quickest red card in Test match history.” So declared Nick Mullins on ITV as Bath and England lock Charlie Ewels was sent off against Ireland. After only 82 seconds of action in England’s Six Nations clash against Ireland, play was stopped as James Ryan was clearly in a bad way. […]

4 years ago

“We showed the footage to everyone working here, earlier, and there was a cheer!” In his rugby career, Dylan Hartley was suspended on seven different occasions, for a total of 60 weeks. 2007 saw him banned for 26 weeks for ‘making contact with the eyes’ of Wasps forwards Jonny O’Connor and James Haskell. He had […]

4 years ago

“I’d say it’s the best rig Rory’s ever had!” Dylan Hartley can still remember his first press conference after being named England captain by new head coach Eddie Jones, back in 2016. England were not far removed from a disastrous World Cup campaign, when they, as hosts, failed to make it past the group stages. […]

4 years ago

“We came from a tee-total culture.” On Saturday, at Twickenham, Eddie Jones will once again face off against a man that he first showed the coaching ropes to, over a decade ago. Andy Farrell played under Eddie Jones when he and Steve Borthwick were co-captains at Saracens. When Farrell retired, he became assistant coach under […]

4 years ago

“Gengey punched me four times. He put my nose that way and then that way.” Whenever you see Joe Marler is coming up in the media rotation, you sit back and enjoy the show. If Frank Lampard is the master of the quick-gag-then-serious-answer, the Harlequins and England prop is long-gag-rambling-tangent-funny-sidebar-serious answer. If you get a […]

4 years ago