CATEGORIES

Let Lions play Australia instead of Springboks

THERE has been a lot said over the last week about the prospects of the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa going ahead after the sharp increase in Covid infections in the UK and South Africa, and the identification of new strains.

Leap Year put curse on Wasps as we won

MARK WOODROW THE FORMER PERTEMPS BEES, BRISTOL, DONCASTER, VIADANA AND DINGS CRUSADERS FLY-HALF

Eddie's so right, power's only part of the answer

I heard about a video clip from Eddie Jones doing the rounds last week in which he talked about the balance between skill and physicality. Now I’m not one who often finds myself agreeing with the England head coach, but ‘mate’ you are spot on!

Dai ticks all the boxes, just like all the others!

At the risk of putting every snout in every trough out of joint, it has to be said that Cardiff Blues don’t half make a pig’s ear of hiring and firing coaches.

Attwood's choice: His kids or rugby

BRISTOL lock Dave Attwood says some professional players are facing stark choices about putting their careers or their family first as the problems inflicted by the pandemic continue to mount.

‘Tinners' always made me man of the match

JON SKURR - THE FORMER WAKEFIELD, SEDGLEY PARK AND ROTHERHAM No.8 AND IRELAND SEVENS HEAD COACH

Turbo Teddy takes try of the year prize

SO 2020 is finally in the rear-view mirror and it’s all eyes on 2021 and what that can bring but, strangely, I am convinced rugby’s annus horribilis still contained much action that we will recall fondly in roaring pubs and clubhouses in years to come.

‘We trust in luck a bit to beat the Covid curse'

RORY Hutchinson has spoken of how not being able to see his grandmother for over a year has brought perspective to a rough season for club and country.

Simple ways to make the game better for all

New Year is a time for resolutions, so let me suggest a few for the Premiership. None of them need approval from World Rugby, so let’s just make them happen.

I see echoes of my great Bath side in Baxter's Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs have strong similarities in key areas with the Bath side under Jack Rowell during my time as a player. Above all, you need a smart coach who has the ability to communicate brilliantly with all his players. On top of that he needs to get his message across through a talented group of assistant coaches and leading players.

Jalibert in box seat to replace Ntamack

The news broke on Monday, the day after his jaw. France fly-half and World Rugby’s Breakthrough Men’s Player of the Year for 2019 Romain Ntamack needed an operation on a double fracture sustained during Toulouse’s Christmas weekend win over Bordeaux.

Ball joins Alun Wyn as doubt for Pivac

JAKE Ball will find out this week whether his final Six Nations fling with Wales can go ahead.

Hopefully by spring all levels of game will return

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME

Alfie could become The Boss – but not yet

The Alfie Barbeary bandwagon was rolling at ever-increasing speed along the road to Twickenham until he picked up an injury last weekend and it will take plenty of stopping the moment he returns, being a Barbeary-sized vehicle.

Ban Rush Defences To Reduce Brain Harm

Am I alone in thinking that if the professional players want to take anyone to court for a lack of duty of care, they are currently aiming at the wrong target?

Mavericks like Danny must choose their battlegrounds

DANNY Cipriani is not the first maverick player to not get capped as many times as the talent they possess suggests they should, and his recent departure from Gloucester again raises the question of how to get the best from players with exceptional gifts.

Roberts: New Bok challenge is step up

JAMIE Roberts has warned his Dragons side and the rest of the Guinness PRO14 they must be ready for a significant step up in quality when the division officially expands further into South Africa.

Monye and Obano put World Rugby to shame

As a year that has been like no other draws to an end, it’s timely to reflect on what needs to be done to ensure that rugby can continue to thrive.

Tragedy on the Andes became story of heroism

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Turnbull try completes Blues' late comeback

CARDIFF Blues captain Josh Turnbull praised the resilience of his side after they ground out a narrow victory over archrivals the Dragons in horrible conditions at Rodney Parade.

Try these hidden joys of the Championship

THERE has been plenty of flack flying about recently for rugby administrators as they struggle to find a way through the Covid maze but a hat tip to all concerned for keeping the faith and coming up with an attractive looking format for an abbreviated Championship which, touch wood, will get underway early in March, a year after the action ground to a halt.

Exciting to see how far George can go in a year

Kyran Bracken unveils his big challenge for 2021 – to turn Wanstead scrum-half George Hardy, 28, into a professional in 12 months

Furious Lam spurs his Bears into the mood

PAT LAM’S half-time dressing room tirade worked as Bristol picked up a bonus-point win and finished the year second in the table behind Exeter.

Festive fun as Henson overcomes Fearns KO

An escalating class-action lawsuit over concussion, a European Champions Cup bent out of shape by the pandemic, a low-rent bunch of administrators who disappeared up their own contradictions long before arriving at their current state of paralysis: truly, the Ghost of Christmas Rubbish is having its malevolent way with us.

Waller working to steady Saints ship

NORTHAMPTON stalwart Alex Waller denies Saints have “been found out” despite a record run of 13 consecutive defeats.

Falcons respond in style but miss bonus

THREE tries in an improved second-half performance at Stade Pierre-Fabre put Newcastle into the qualifying spots for the knock-out stages.

Wales miss out on the great SA invasion

When it comes to wrapping South Africans up in their national colours, Wales stand apart from the rest of the Six Nations. They have not picked one in seven years.

Gloucester white flag disrepects a great Cup

Gloucester are in the process of forgetting all about Danny Cipriani, that exquisitely gifted memory-maker of a No.10 who, when the gods were smiling upon him, persuaded even the most unreconstructed thud-and-blunderer in the darkest corner of the Kingsholm Shed that rugby could be a game of artistry and wonderment.

Player welfare is more than concussion alone

During the week Sir Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby, issued an open letter in response to the ongoing debate about the affect of repeated concussions, and in it he outlined the various steps made by his organisation to try to make the game safer.

French mean machine generate masterpiece

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful