Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
With just two more Gallagher Premiership rounds to be played before International Rugby begins, English rugby fans couldn’t be happier with such a full calendar. It happens in the Northern Hemisphere autumn though, last year was so badly interrupted that the pandemic interrupted so much of the calendar, 2021 is gratefully welcomed by stakeholders, players, […] READ MORE
Topping off their gold medal-winning effort, the New Zealand Black Ferns 7s team has been celebrated by Olympic/ANOC Awards in 2021. The postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was a raging success; even in a pandemic. The global event included rugby sevens for the second time, and the award for best female team of Tokyo 2020 […] READ MORE
With the return of missing New Zealand rugby players who were absent from The Rugby Championship-winning schedule, news that previous All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock had been ‘reappointed’ as tour leader came as little surprise. That is as he resumes his senior position as skipper – in name mostly – as Ardie Savea had performed […] READ MORE
The success of the 2022 HSBC Sevens Series is definitely more crucial this season. For many more reasons than can be recalled in a bullet point presentation, yet, for the upcoming dates of this ‘crammed’ calendar year, there is so much to gain and much to lose, with the success of the game is hinged […] READ MORE
As well as confirming the men’s calendar, the Women’s Autumn Test window is ‘ready to open’ in 2021. Many of the world’s leading nations are descending on Europe for a series of tests that are significant for their immediate outcomes, as well as the long-term goals for each country. Bringing teams north are New Zealand […] READ MORE
Final dates have been confirmed for the November Autumn Test schedule for 2021. This covers men’s International matches across five continents and begins in late October, before the traditional November window opens for all sides. As stated by World Rugby; ‘the confirmed program seeks to optimize competition for established and emerging unions and is a […] READ MORE
When World Rugby announced their rugby contact training load guidelines on September 22, it was recognized that the follow-up data from Imperial College London research has reinforced the message – less contact to the head is everyone’s goal. News this week came through via NZME that the Drake Foundation had a study conducted by the […] READ MORE
With all the best efforts to remove themselves from restrictions on sport and travel; caused by the Covid-19 pandemic domestically, three provinces within the Auckland region have seen their Bunnings NPC Level 3 bubbles burst. Not through their own making that is, and now Auckland, North Harbour, and Counties-Manukau have all unceremoniously be removed from […] READ MORE
Already a ‘groundbreaker’ in her chosen industry, Premiership referee Sara Cox now seals her place with the appointment as head referee for this weekend’s Harlequins v Worcester Warriors fixture. To be the very first female Premiership Rugby referee is an incredible achievement. yet for Sara Cox, it is not the first time this professional official […] READ MORE
If only the World Rugby ranking system had been on hold for one more week before a switch in number one status saw the All Blacks leapfrog the World Champion Springboks, it would have been perfect timing. The timing was somewhat inopportune yet, it did not happen by chance. Results are the barometer of movements […] READ MORE