Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
With the 2023 Six Nations over, fans and pundits alike are discussing their teams of the tournament. But do the numbers tell the same story? Using Fantasy Rugby, we have comprised an XV of the best performers statistically. Of course, this isn’t perfect, but Fantasy Rugby does consider a wide range of factors from tries […] READ MORE
There is no doubt that Luke Pearce has become one of the most popular referees in the world. There is even a montage video on YouTube titled ‘5 minutes of Luke Pearce being Luke Pearce!’ with over 170,000 views (see below). He is cherished for giving clear and concise explanations and letting play continue. Pearce […] READ MORE
Whether it be the gritty grounds of the Championship or blockbuster encounters at Twickenham, there’s something special about watching live rugby. There are always little moments you won’t experience watching TV. With this in mind, we thought stadium reviews could be a useful addition moving forward. We start with Welford Road, the home of the […] READ MORE
The World Rugby rankings are a fascinating viewing. Gone are the days of the All Blacks scoffing at the enormous gap between themselves and the rest. After the Autumn Nations series, there are noteworthy shifts in rugby’s pecking order. It reveals that ideally, World Cup draws should be done much closer to the tournament start […] READ MORE
Are ‘rugby values’ truly superior to those of other sports? Not according to Rugby analyst Robbie Owen (or Squidge Rugby, as preferably known). According to Owen, rugby often pats itself on the back for actions that “other sports can do without needing a round of applause”. Some fans may not like it, but he is […] READ MORE
We all love slick and sophisticated plays, but there is nothing like the primal joy of seeing juggernauts thump into each other. It’s why rugby’s ‘beast mode’ montages do so well on YouTube. In terms of fantasy team sheets, the Beast XV is easily one of the most enjoyable to choose. Here, we explore the […] READ MORE
Warren Gatland recently named his British and Irish Lions XV after the Summer Internationals. Unsurprisingly, Ireland took 9 spots following their historic series win in New Zealand. LWOS Rugby’s Connor Dickins picked an alternative XV, containing 6 Irish players, and 6 English. This is a side designed to physically annihilate the opposition, with a scary […] READ MORE
England sealed the series after defeating Australia 21-17 last weekend. And yet, it seemed totally overshadowed by Ireland’s triumph over the All Blacks. This kind of epitomises England Rugby’s Summer tour: good, but not world-class. So what were the improvements, fall-backs, and new stars of the England rugby team? And how far are they from […] READ MORE
INTERVIEW – Hanging up your boots is a sad time for many rugby players. But how must it feel for professionals, who can no longer play their cherished sport for a living? We spoke with Theo Brophy-Clews, a former England U20 international who played over 60 games for London Irish. He was forced to retire […] READ MORE
At LWOS, we have previously covered which countries have the most registered players. This got us thinking about other aspects of rugby’s popularity. At the very least, it can indicate how and where rugby flourishes. Using social media statistics, this list ranks the world’s most popular rugby clubs.Of course, social media won’t tell the whole […] READ MORE
Connor Dickins has been writing for LWOS Rugby since September 2021, covering a wide variety of topics. His main focus has been on English domestic rugby, as well as interviews with players from across the world. Connor has also written articles for the World Rugby Museum blog 'From the Vaults'. He graduated with a History BA from Essex University in 2016.