Various tournaments threatened by Covid-related crowd caps‘Anything that can raise revenue is preferable’ says BaxterRugby officials are still locked in crunch talks which will dictate whether the Six Nations and European club competitions can withstan…
Exeter Chiefs to ditch Native American branding after consulting fans
Majority of supporters back rebranding, Guardian understandsClub recently retired its Big Chief mascot for sensitivity reasonsExeter Chiefs are preparing to ditch their Native American branding after calls from a majority of their supporters to make a …
Itoje and Farrell excited by new-look England line-up for Australia clash
Wallabies arrive at Twickenham determined to buck recent history but rejigged hosts may be building something specialAs every Australian outback resident knows, you can never be entirely sure what is lurking beneath the seat of the outdoor dunny. Eddie…
Covid concerns hand Eddie Jones a fraught start to autumn examination
Owen Farrell’s positive test means England’s head coach has big worries ahead of Tonga’s arrival to Twickenham on SaturdayNot since that distant autumn week in 2000 when England’s players went on strike has there been a more fraught home buildup to a N…
Pat Lam brushes off Bristol’s poor start and insists ‘there’s a long way to go’
‘We’ve had tough times before and come out of it’Bristol host Bath, who are also winless, in derby on FridayAll is very quiet on the western front in the early-season Premiership table. Bath, Gloucester, Exeter and Bristol, in descending order, fill th…
Farrell, Vunipolas and George still have England futures insists Saracens’ McCall
‘I think Eddie Jones knows the quality of those players’Marcus Smith’s rise no threat to Owen Farrell says Mark McCallOwen Farrell’s England place is not under threat from the fast-emerging Marcus Smith, and the international careers of the Vunipola br…
Martin Gleeson vows to add creativity to England attack before Rugby World Cup
England’s new attack coach praises influence of Shaun Edwards‘I’d like England to play with skill, pace and power,’ says GleesonEngland’s new attack coach Martin Gleeson believes he can emulate his friend Shaun Edwards and make a significant difference…
The Breakdown | ‘My nature was to overstep’: Willie Anderson’s memoir holds back little
Former Ulster and Ireland captain’s lively new book spans sectarianism, survivor’s guilt and the sterility of modern rugbyA few years ago the former Ulster and Ireland captain Willie Anderson had a chart above his coaching desk at the Ulster academy de…
The Breakdown | Refereeing rows have polluted the Lions narrative – enough is enough
Changes need to be made immediately if we ever want to see a tour where the players live in less fear of officiating confusionIt is Saturday evening in Cape Town Stadium and up goes the final restart. There is no audible roar around the empty arena, ju…