“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

“Still, to this day, that is one of my best Lions memories.” It is almost nine years on from the British & Irish Lions heading Down Under to get back on winning track. Justin Tipuric will never forget the words of Paul O’Connell, early on that journey. In 2013, Tipuric was selected for his first […]

4 years ago

“We’re so scripted to look at the men’s game… let’s get a level playing field first, and then look at it.” There was a positive stir, last week, when a Women’s Lions Tour went from warm sentiments and wishful thinking to bodies getting in a room to start planning and discussing how it would work. […]

4 years ago

“Rob won’t be happy with me. I’ll be getting a text about that.” Over the past six weeks, during the House of Rugby Lions Series, Alex Goode and Seán O’Brien have debated and, ultimately, selected their greatest Lions XV. We have already seen the pack decided upon – with four Irish players, two English and […]

5 years ago

At least the England star left Cape Town Stadium with a decent memento. In the end, after a fractious Test Series and two games that even the purists would not have enjoyed, the Springboks beat the British & Irish Lions 2-1. Owen Farrell got something decent out of the night. The Lions players are back […]

5 years ago

“I just know what he’s about. Good player to have on the field.” In selecting a combined XV from South Africa and British & Irish Lions players, you ruefully consider how the tourists’ backline failed to have any huge say on matters. The 2021 Lions Tour to South Africa is now in the history books. […]

5 years ago