2019-06-03 07:51
A magnificent afternoon at Twickenham on Saturday, glorious weather, a hearty pub lunch, great seats in the South Stand and a quite superb game of rugby.Exeter were excellent for three quart… Read More
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2019-05-30 17:33
And so, hot on the heels of South Africa, the Aussies have now launched their spanking new World Cup kit.Hardly surprisingly it's yellow (or gold if you prefer) and very reminiscent of Norwi… Read More
2019-05-22 23:05
I'm really quite impressed by the new ‘Women in Rugby’ campaign launched by World Rugby this week.The campaign - ‘Try and Stop Us' - using the inspiring stories of 15 "unst… Read More
2019-05-21 23:16
All eyes turn to Dublin today where World Rugby’s proposed “Nations Championship” is back firmly on the agenda.The proposed format, which has evolved since its initial ince… Read More
2019-05-19 11:16
I was surprised to read that the RFU have signed off further substantial cuts in spending to its business plan for next season which are certain to result in further redundancies.This follow… Read More
2019-05-18 10:54
Following Mako Vunipola's serious hamstring injury which, despite reports, must put his participation at this year's Rugby World Cup at risk, many on social media are now calling for Eddie J… Read More
2019-05-16 23:07
I find myself in agreement with former Springbok coach Jake White who has this week questioned why teams are made to announce their match-day squads at least 48 hours before kick-off.Althoug… Read More
2019-05-15 07:54
Ok, so I promise not to bore you every week with details of my touch rugby season, but last night's victory 8-5 victory over those pesky BaaBaas from Watford was of particular note as it fea… Read More
2019-05-14 11:42
The latest name being bandied about as a potential successor to Eddie Jones as England Head Coach is, rather unsurprisingly, Mark McCall of Saracens.McCall's success at Saracens - which incl… Read More
2019-05-12 16:59
Many congrats to Saracens - deserved winners in a brutally intense European Champions Cup final against Leinster at Newcastle's St James' Park yesterday - and to Alex Goode, voted European P… Read More
2019-05-09 23:36
I was quite amused by reports earlier this week that the Rugby World Cup 2019 organising committee has warned bars and restaurants in host cities in Japan not to run out of beer during the t… Read More
2019-05-08 23:08
So, here we are again, beginning my fourteenth consecutive touch rugby season and my tenth with Dave's Dad's Dog's Dead in its various incarnations over the years.Yes, touch rugby is firmly… Read More
2019-05-07 23:11
The signing of Paddy Jackson by London Irish for the 2019-20 Premiership season is an interesting one.Jackson, you may recall, was involved in high profile rape allegations last year and, al… Read More
2019-05-07 12:32
I was sorry to hear that James Haskell is to retire at the end of the season.Never shy when it comes to self-promotion and perhaps not the most naturally gifted of players, Haskell is one of… Read More
2019-05-05 06:57
The art of box kicking - of kicking from the base of a ruck, hanging it high for your players to chase and (hopefully) regain possession, has in recent years become an integral part of any a… Read More
2019-05-02 23:03
It's started.South Africa have become the first team to launch their new kit for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.The new kit is described by manfacturers ASICS as "unstoppable."Which is ni… Read More
2019-05-02 16:42
So Shaun Edwards will not, after all, be staying on as Wales defence coach following the 2019 World Cup in Japan.Edwards had been expected to stay on with Wales, having turned down jobs with… Read More
2019-05-01 12:12
A few things on this first day of May:I know I've banged on about the likes of Israel Folau and Billy Vunipola in recent days/weeks, but there was simply no need for Samu Kerevi to apologise… Read More
2019-04-29 23:09
As I begin to wind up towards my annual foray into summer Touch Rugby, good luck to all those participating in the Touch World Cup in Malaysia.My best wishes extend in particular to the GB&n&hell…Read More
2019-04-29 12:07
Many congrats to Saracens Women who retained the Premier 15s title on Saturday, a dominant first half display leading to a 33-17 victory in the Final against perennial rivals Harlequins.The… Read More
2019-04-26 09:19
Sorry to keep going on about it, but I am so disappointed that there has been no apology from Billy Vunipola thus far for his support of Israel Folau's homophobic social media post, nor has… Read More
2019-04-23 11:39
It appears that Warren Gatland is to be asked to undertake another tour of duty as Head Coach of the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 2021. Makes perfect sense to me give… Read More
2019-04-16 10:01
Is a formal reprimand, issued to Billy Vunipola by both the RFU and Saracens for him expressing his support for Israel Folau's homophobic social media post, sufficient punishment?I think so… Read More
2019-04-13 23:04
So, French amateur clubs have voted in a referendum against the French national team appointing a foreign head coach.Perfectly understandable, of course. After all, having a French head coac… Read More
2019-04-12 23:30
Billy Vunipola's support for Israel Folau is either naive or just plain wrong. According to Vunipola, Folau's Instagram post claiming that "hell awaits" homosexuals (amongst others) was mere… Read More
2019-04-11 23:13
While we're on the subject of youth rugby, I see that the currently voluntary "Half Game Rule" - whereby all age grade players (aged 6-18) in a match day squad get to play at least half a ga… Read More
2019-04-11 17:51
Last weekend saw my son's Under 16 team (of which I am one of the esteemed coaches) finish their league season with a tough 7-7 draw.It was a brutally physical match in which, unfortunately… Read More
2019-04-10 13:12
Israel Folau is at it again, posting on Instagram this week that hell awaits "drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters".Such comments are "unaccep… Read More
2019-04-05 14:02
I completely understand why the Crusaders are considering changing their name and branding following the recent terrible terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch which claimed 50 live… Read More
2019-04-03 11:26
The theatrical way in which Munster lock Tadhg "Neymar" Beirne hit the deck in Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final, to milk a penalty following minimal contact from Edinbur… Read More
2019-04-02 08:44
I have to admit that I had to check that the news that former England and Ireland coach Mike Ford was joining Leicester Tigers' coaching team was not an April Fools prank.It does appear, how… Read More
2019-04-01 06:36
Another interesting tit-bit to come out of the recent World Rugby player safety symposium in Paris is a proposal to introduce Golden Oldies type tackling laws into mainstream rugby.Although… Read More
2019-03-28 13:01
Another measure apparently being considered by World Rugby following last week’s player welfare symposium in Paris is to prevent any player arriving at the breakdown from playing the b… Read More
2019-03-24 23:51
A few interesting bits and pieces to come out of last week's three-day player welfare and law symposium in Paris, with World Rugby considering a handful of radical proposals for new laws to… Read More
2019-03-23 08:03
The Oxford English Dictionary defines Alickadoo as:"A person who is attached to or associated with a rugby game or club but does not play, especially an administrative official or… Read More
2019-03-21 13:20
BILL & BENSo, according to the media, Billy Vunipola and Ben Te'o have had to make a "grovelling apology" to team mates after returning to the team hotel late and the worse for wear for… Read More
2019-03-20 00:06
Ok, a few days has passed since the most ridiculous game of rugby I have ever witnessed, so time to reflect a little more calmly on England's performance during the 2019 Six Nations.Not that… Read More
2019-03-19 20:09
Many congrats to England's women on their Six Nations Grand Slam which was never really in doubt.With a points difference of 233 and an average score per match of 55-9 this really was as str… Read More
2019-03-19 00:09
Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for, the Champs and Chumps of the 2019 Six Nations...CHAMPS:15. Liam Williams - faultless.14. Josh Adams - outshone his more il… Read More
2019-03-18 11:04
So, here I am, feeling quite bereft after another Six Nations comes to an end. In many ways it was a championship full of surprises. In others it was all too predictable. One… Read More
2019-03-15 00:11
So, here we are, a preview of the final weekend of the Six Nations of 2019, a time of anticipation and excitement tinged with sadness and the realisation that it will all be over for another… Read More
2019-03-14 12:34
Sorry, I just don't get it.Following a much deserved Man of the Match performance against Italy, Joe Cokanasiga now finds himself out of the match day squad entirely for the final fixture ag… Read More
2019-03-13 12:42
News just in this morning that Manu Tuilagi has in fact rejected Racing 92's lucrative offer and has signed a new deal with Leicester Tigers.I therefore hereby take back my previous comments… Read More
2019-03-12 12:17
I can’t say I’m particularly impressed by comments from Eddie Jones ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham.Jones appears to be calling for ‘hostility&rs&hell…Read More
2019-03-11 13:14
Warren Gatland is a wily old bird. Prior to this year's Six Nations he claimed that a Welsh win in Paris on the opening weekend set his team on the way to a Grand Slam and so it has proved… Read More
2019-03-10 18:20
The verdict is in...Scotland 11-18 WalesHmmm. The Welsh Slam is still on after another relatively ordinary performance against an error-ridden and seriously injury-depleted Scotland. While I… Read More
2019-03-08 12:04
After what seems like an interminable gap, round 4 of the 2019 Six Nations is finally upon us and what follows is what almost definitely, probably, possibly is going to transp… Read More
2019-03-07 13:51
Whatever the merits of the changes Eddie Jones has made to the England team to face Italy this weekend, his most baffling call is the decision not to start Dan Robson - arguably the best num… Read More
2019-03-06 00:03
The timing of “Project Reset” – a plan to merge the Ospreys and the Scarlets into one West Wales entity – could not really have been worse.The plan itself – whi… Read More
2019-03-05 12:01
France head coach Jacques Brunel has unprecedentedly named an unchanged side for this weekend's Six Nations encounter Ireland in Dublin.This is the first time the French have… Read More
2019-03-02 00:08
Thanks to Paul Howes who sent me the following email in response to my recent post about Manu Tuilagi's possible move to Racing 92 (as yet unconfirmed, I should mention):Dear Mr FlankerIn th… Read More
2019-03-01 10:24
I'm pleased that the likes of Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton have spoken out against World Rugby's plans for a World League, largely because it's a crap idea.Not only would the concept - a l… Read More
2019-02-27 07:54
This blog's best wishes go to Mathew Tait who sadly has been forced to quit the game through injury, aged 33, following 15 years in professional rugby.I always rated Tait who, after being pr… Read More
2019-02-26 00:11
In the same way that it would have been wrong to overreact to England's excellent opening two performances of the 2019 Six Nations, so it would be an error to overly criticise England's fail… Read More
2019-02-25 09:55
What the heck do I know - all three predictions for the weekend wrong!!!France 27-10 ScotlandA much improved France ended up winning reasonably comfortably against a largely inaccurate Scott… Read More
2019-02-22 00:07
So here I go again with my malfunctioning crystal ball ahead of Round 3 of the 2019 Six Nations:France v Scotland Given how amateurish France were last time out against England and the… Read More
2019-02-21 12:36
If the news that Manu Tuilagi has decided to leave Leicester to join Racing 92 next season is true, then I'm really quite disappointed in him.Although I'm sure he cares not one jot about wha… Read More
2019-02-20 00:05
According to the Telegraph, sources within the RFU have claimed that Wales coach Warren Gatland is now the front runner to replace Eddie Jones as England head coach.Despite never having been… Read More
2019-02-19 17:55
"Get yer trousers on, you're nicked" Read More
2019-02-19 13:41
So, it appears that France's abject defeat at Twickenham was all the fault of the half backs, as Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez have been ejected entirely from the French 23 to face Scotland… Read More
2019-02-14 18:55
With this year's Six Nations kicking off with a bang and with TV audiences looking more than healthy (I read somewhere that the Ireland v England match attracted north of 5.7m viewers on ITV… Read More
2019-02-13 12:04
2019-02-12 00:12
England gave France a damned good thrashing on Sunday but I'm still not getting carried away. No chickens are being counted here.Think back 12 months - an impressive opening performance away… Read More
2019-02-11 12:46
This year's Women's Six Nations now looks to be a forgone conclusion with England sitting at the top of the table having scored a grand total of 15 tries in their first two fixtures - agains… Read More
2019-02-10 20:50
The verdict is in for round 2 of the Six Nations:Scotland 13-22 Ireland Redemption of sorts for the Irish but this was one Scotland could and perhaps should have won. Too many errors at… Read More
2019-02-08 08:08
So last week (surprise, surprise) I wasn't quite on the money with my predictions. France should have beaten Wales but blew it, Scotland did manage a reasonably comfortable victory against I… Read More
2019-02-07 00:04
I’ve long thought Mathieu Bastareaud too slow to command a place in the French backline and now it appears that former France outside half Thomas Castaignede agrees with me.I don&rsquo&hell…Read More
2019-02-06 12:04
I’m not sure what to think of plans by World Rugby to introduce a new format of rugby – Rugby X – later this year.Apparently plans are afoot to debut the new format indoors… Read More
2019-02-05 08:29
Enough already.Yes, England were bloody good in Dublin at the weekend but any talk of a Grand Slam, or of England now being New Zealand's main challengers at the World Cup in 7 MONTHS time… Read More
2019-02-04 21:24
The extent of the muddled thinking amongst French ranks in the second half of Friday's match against Wales - which saw Les Bleus blow a 16-0 lead - has been highlighted further by the admiss… Read More
2019-02-03 14:02
France 19-24 WalesI mentioned in my Six Nations preview the old cliché that you never know which France will turn up, but Les Bleus took this to another level on Friday evening, such… Read More
2019-02-01 07:37
Here again with my utterly unreliable crystal ball ahead of the weekend's Six Nations fixtures.Anyone familiar with this blog will know that my track record isn't exactly flawless, but here… Read More
2019-01-31 14:16
Come on folks, it's that time of year again and what you really need now is a wise and insightful guide to the forthcoming seven weeks of Six Nations action.That may be what you need, but un… Read More
2019-01-28 12:03
I was disappointed to learn that the RFU has abruptly decided to end the trial of a new tackle height law in the Championship Cup whereby players were not allowed to tackle above the armpit… Read More
2019-01-24 12:47
Both Joe Schmidt and Eddie Jones agree, the Six Nations is going to be "brutal".Schmidt is warning his players to brace themselves for a “brutal” encounter with England on 2nd Fe… Read More
2019-01-22 18:41
England and Saracens flanker Marlie Packer is one lucky woman.It emerged this week that Packer was convicted of drink driving in November – fined £461 and banned from driving for… Read More
2019-01-18 11:21
The suggestion by Eddie Jones that he is considering playing Exeter wing Jack Nowell at openside flanker has to be mischief-making of the highest degree.And yet the England coach's comments… Read More
2019-01-17 12:30
England's Six Nations squad, announced today, hardly sets the pulse racing.There will be the usual debates surrounding the perennial exclusion of Danny Cipriani, of course, and I guess it is… Read More
2019-01-16 07:58
What the hell is going on at Wasps?Of the starting XV that began the Premiership final against Exeter less than two years ago, there are six players - Christian Wade, Danny Cipriani, James H… Read More
2019-01-15 12:00
Although not too upset about its effect on Wales, I was still sorry to hear that one of my favourite players, Bath and Wales number 8 Taulupe Faletau, is more than likely to miss this… Read More
2019-01-10 08:24
I'm really pleased to see that the French Rugby Federation is making an effort regarding player safety by announcing a global forum in March alongside World Rugby to discuss player heal… Read More
2019-01-09 17:49
Transfer speculation - a fact of life in association football for many a year - is now becoming increasingly common in rugby.In England for instance, from January in each year a player whose… Read More
2019-01-07 11:21
It's official.Premiership Rugby and the RFU are not "at war" over the question of ring-fencing the Premiership.Who says?Gamekeeper turned poacher, Ian Ritchie - former RFU CEO and current Pr… Read More
2019-01-05 11:49
Happy New Year one and all, a year that is likely to be hugely significant for this game of ours.2019 is of course a World Cup Year, and is therefore a huge opportunity for rugby to showcase… Read More
2018-12-30 21:00
My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, a warm welcome to you all as we once again recognise and celebrate the successes, failures, accomplishments, misfortunes, achievements and… Read More
2018-12-29 11:49
Huge congratulations to Bill Beaumont, awarded a knighthood in the New Year's honours list for services to rugby.Antiquated as the UK honours system might be, the knighting of Beaumont does… Read More
2018-12-22 00:00
2018-12-18 18:11
As part of England's search for a successor to Eddie Jones next year, Nigel Melville, acting CEO at the RFU, apparently wants to speak to (among others) Warren Gatland, who leaves his role w… Read More
2018-12-14 13:21
The tragic death of 19 year old Stade Francias academy player Nicolas Chauvin, who died of "cervical trauma that resulted in cardiac arrest and cerebral anoxia" following a heavy tackle in t… Read More
2018-12-12 11:34
The only surprise at the news that HM Revenue and Customs is launching an investigation into the tax affairs of the grassroots game in England is that it has taken this long.HMRC has apparen… Read More
2018-12-11 18:05
I’m beginning to like Nigel Melville as acting CEO at the RFU.Ok, so potentially he has a £4.7 million lawsuit hanging over him in the US following his stint as Chief Executive o… Read More
2018-12-07 09:43
There’s a report in today’s Telegraph that new figures, compiled by the Rugby Players’ Association, show that 62% of retired professional rugby players have suffered mental… Read More
2018-12-05 12:38
With only 4 points currently separating the bottom seven teams in the Premiership and a realistic prospect of one of the league's traditional big hitters being relegated at the end of the se… Read More
2018-12-03 14:07
I must admit to remaining ambivalent about the Barbarians' place in today's rugby calendar.Don't get me wrong, I love the concept of top players from different countries coming together to s… Read More
2018-11-29 12:23
SPEAK NO EVIL!Ah, you’ve just got to love the RFU.No, you really do – as former CEO Francis Baron and former chairman Graeme Cattermole have just found out, having been stripped… Read More
2018-11-28 12:27
There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth amongst English rugby pundits at the news that Andy Farrell is to replace Joe Schmidt as Ireland's head coach after the World Cup in Japan n… Read More
2018-11-27 13:29
My utterly subjective and not-at-all one-eyed assessment of where each of the nations of the British Isles stand following the Autumn internationals...1st - IrelandTo use a well worn clich&e&hell…Read More
2018-11-19 10:27
If the World Cup was being played this month Ireland would win it, of that I have no doubt.They may not be officially the world's number one team, but I think we all know the score.I suppose… Read More
2018-11-19 10:26
Steve Brown's resignation as Chief Executive of the RFU is a strange one.Was it, as is claimed, simply a case of him growing weary of rugby politics and the constant criticism and sniping fr… Read More
2018-11-14 18:14
I was surprised to learn that Saturday's fixture between England and Japan is only the second time the countries will have met at test level, the first being at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, som… Read More
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