Rugby Union News
Prem Rugby: Bath 40-34 Exeter
Hosts made to fight all the way in 11-try thriller
Bath went to the top of the Prem after beating Exeter Chiefs in a pulsating West Country derby at the Rec but they were made to fight all the way in an 11-try thriller.
Exeter trailed 26-10 at the interval but rallied to lead 33-31 midway through the second half before a yellow card for scrum-half Stephen Varney eventually proved decisive.
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Continue reading...Northampton star on his tenacious rise to the international ranks – and eating ‘massive cakes’ with Springbok colossus Ox Nché
Some people are destined from day one to play international rugby for England. Others owe their selection to an injury crisis or simply get lucky. And then, in a totally different category, there is Steve Borthwick’s latest new cap, a player whose unlikely journey to the top has required inspirational levels of resilience and fortitude.
To describe the persevering Emmanuel Iyogun’s debut off the bench in Argentina in July as hard earned is to put it mildly. At times the Spain-born son of Nigerian immigrants has had to show immense levels of determination, just as his parents had predicted. “There was always a sense growing up of, ‘You’ll have to work harder than everyone else. You might not get the privileges that some people get initially. So when you get told no or something doesn’t go your way, you just have to keep working. There isn’t any argument about it.’”
Continue reading...England’s identity under Steve Borthwick is not as clear as it should be this close to the tournament
It was not so long ago that the Rugby Football Union would host an annual Christmas bash. Executives, head coaches, assistants, members of staff and an invitation to the press pack. Mince pies and mulled wine, even a touch of merriment if we were lucky. Eddie Jones would sometimes make an appearance, but the mind goes back to one year when he did not.
To give him his due Steve Borthwick, his assistant at the time, did. He would probably rather have been anywhere else, but one of the more clear-eyed RFU employees, who had long-since figured out that the then forwards coach was destined for the top job, did their utmost to involve him. Alas, Borthwick soon had a long-distance train to catch and hours of in-depth analysis on a laptop ahead of him.
Continue reading...Charles played professional sport with cystic fibrosis
Diagnosis ‘just at times quite cruel’
Former Wallaby Nathan Charles, who became the first cystic fibrosis sufferer in the world to play a contact sport professionally, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
The 37-year-old, who played four Test matches for Australia, revealed he has been diagnosed with the same disease as retired South Sydney NRL star Jai Arrow.
Continue reading...There’s no ignoring the holders but what of the hosts, the All Blacks, France and even England? Here’s a rundown of all 24 teams taking part in Australia in 2027
Beaten by Australia last weekend but the manner in which they came back after Rassie Erasmus emptied his bench was emphatic. The series victory over New Zealand was the one they really wanted this year and achieving that, romping from 1-0 down to 3-1 victors, underscores that they are the team to beat in Australia next year.
Continue reading...Former Wallaby Nathan Charles has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The former Ireland captain talks about allowing his own feelings, why every coach except Andy Farrell has been ‘a bit mad’, and pain over a ruthless exit from Munster
“It’s a natural human instinct, especially as an athlete, that you don’t want to lose,” Peter O’Mahony says on a quiet evening in Dublin as a new rugby season looms over us. “But at times it got in my way and caused despair. I honestly don’t know where that deep-down hatred came from but it used to derail me at times.”
The former captain of Munster, Ireland and the Lions is settling into his second year of retirement and the taciturn grit and uncompromising commitment which defined his career have been replaced by more complex reflections. O’Mahony is a fascinating character and I ask whether he would have carried the same competitive zeal if he had been a wizard at, for example, chess or mathematics.
Continue reading...Former captain says losses can benefit team next year
Johnson refuses to comment on Henry Pollock hype
Martin Johnson believes England’s most painful defeats under Steve Borthwick can benefit them at the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year.
England endured some disastrous moments during the Six Nations this year, most notably the 42-21 defeat by Ireland at Twickenham, and finished the tournament with a solitary win against Wales. Summer Nations Championship fixtures began with an away defeat by the world champions, South Africa, before victories against Fiji and Argentina.
Continue reading...The Wallabies hold on to beat Springboks after four yellow cards in final 15 minutes in Perth as Les Kiss extends unbeaten streak
“The focus for us is physicality,” puffs Rob Valetini as he makes his way down the tunnel after the warm-up. He also suggested new winger Suaalii would be used as an aerial target.
The individual under the most scrutiny today will be Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. The 23 year old rugby league recruit has been Australia’s poster boy since his high profile code switch in 2024, performing solidly in the centres in 22 internationals without setting the world alight. He lines up on the wing today, with Hunter Paisami partnering John Eales Medal winner Len Ikitau in the midfield.
Continue reading...The Wallabies have survived to win the most chaotic Test match in history.
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Continue reading...Four years in France have refreshed scrum-half’s outlook and he thinks his club can make their mark this season
Most players returning home from the French Top 14 have had a life-enhancing experience and Dan Robson is the latest example. The former England scrum-half spent four seasons in the shadow of the Pyrenees with Pau, mixing it with the likes of Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu, before rejoining his first Prem employers, Gloucester, this summer. “No more croissants for breakfast,” he sighs, slightly wistfully. “But it’s good to be back. My waistline is thanking me.”
Ask him how much he would recommend a spell abroad to others, though, and the word “amazing” swiftly follows. Not only were his two young sons, Laker and Roux, born in Pau – “It’s always going to have a special place in our hearts as a family” – but he also much enjoyed his regular meetups with Jack Willis, a close mate at Wasps before the club’s financial collapse forced both to start afresh across the Channel.
Continue reading...Former rugby league star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start on the wing for the first time in his Wallabies career when Australia hosts world champions South Africa in Perth on Sunday.
Boosted by retaining Henry Pollock, champions are eager to keep improving but a revitalised Saracens and Exeter should push them all the way
It used to be simple. Win the Prem once and people would assume it was just the beginning. At various times no one could dethrone Bath, Leicester or Saracens, serial winners by fair means or foul. And now? It is so long since any club defended their English domestic title that “doubling up” feels almost as quaint as reading a physical newspaper or chatting up a complete stranger in the pub.
Which explains why Northampton’s Phil Dowson, whose side are chasing a third title in four years, is keen to draw a distinct line under what happened last season. Yes, the Saints were unplayably good on occasions and deservedly claimed the trophy in June. But that was then. The last team to win two in a row were Saracens in 2019, shortly before the salary cap small print intervened.
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