Indigo Group Premiership
The season may be only half way through, but with another year down, let’s have a look at the best XV players across the last twelve months. *Players from the ‘Supporters’ Team of the Year’ considered upon other performances and accolades and both the end of last season and beginning of the 2022/23 calendar weigh […]
The Indigo Group Premiership is back after an 18-month absence, with Aberavon and Swansea getting us underway on Thursday evening, live on S4C. Robert Rees looks ahead at the upcoming season. Shortened season With the season kicking off in December there is a one-off format to aid the season surrounding Covid. There is no relegation […]
The Indigo Group Premiership may be months behind its usual starting point, but with plenty of time to look at off the field matters, Robert Rees has investigated into the playing budgets of each team. Indigo Group Premiership playing budgets The Welsh Premiership is a turbulent environment financially, with changes to the format and funding […]
Nigel Davies, the former Llanelli and Wales international has applied his trade across both Wales and England in numerous coaching roles since retiring. However, his latest challenge is arguably the toughest job of the lot, a National Council election campaign. With over 30 years of experience within the game, he’s now applying his off-field business […]
EXCLUSIVE: John Manders is a name that not too many people will be familiar with within Welsh rugby, but he’s been a stalwart member of Old Illtydians RFC for over 30 years following a successful playing career with the likes of Newport, Pontypridd, and South Wales Police. The former sergeant of SWP now runs businesses […]
The Northern Hemisphere has a few cities that have both rugby union and league. These cities have one rugby code in the first-tier and a second-tier in another code. Furthermore, all three of these cities could very easily have a tier-one team in both codes of rugby. Two of them had first-tier teams in both […]
There are a total of only two Northern Hemisphere rugby cities with a first-tier rugby league and union team in the northern hemisphere. One city, Salford, in the Greater Manchester area of the UK, has rugby league and union teams that date back to the 19th century. This is while Toronto, Canada, a city where rugby […]
Despite the cancellation and postponements of the rugby union season there is still plenty of activity behind the scenes and Last Word brings you all the latest contract news from the past week. Sam Parry The versatile hooker has announced an extra year extension to his tenure at the Ospreys, which will take him to […]
Despite the early end to the Indigo Group Welsh Premiership over the Coronavirus pandemic, contracts are still busy being signed off. Last Word has already reported on 11 of those, but here are two more players on the move. Ironmen making moves It’s Merthyr this time who are making the moves, rather than losing players. […]
Ebbw Vale have confirmed their squad of front rowers that’ll compete in the 2020/21 season at Eugene Cross Park. Steelmen retain entire front row The news that hooker Rhys Francis would be leaving the club to help him resolve his shoulder injury issues have already been published. However, the news gets better in the front […]
Ebbw Vale Chairman Jon Jones has confirmed the club’s coaching team ahead of next season, with two new additions to the group. Robert Rees brings you the latest from Eugene Cross Park. Trio re-sign The club can confirm that Head Coach Greg Woods has been retained by the Steelmen and he’ll be backed up by […]
Despite the early end to the Welsh Premiership 2019-20 season, business has resumed to sort squads out ahead of next season. Last Word on Rugby brings you 11 exclusive transfers. Ben Flower The rugby league star has made a surprising switch, not only in codes, but a shock move to National Championship side Pontypool. The […]
With the Indigo Group Premiership season cut short, it’s time to look back over the rugby we had and amalgamate the best 23 players that played in the league this season. Robert Rees gives you the Last Word Team of the Season. 1. Rowan Jenkins (Aberavon) This season’s loosehead position has been pretty much nailed […]
WRU Chairman Gareth Davies has urged Welsh clubs below the semi-professional Indigo Group Premiership to cut player payments amid the financial difficulties brought during the Coronavirus pandemic. Chairman’s message In a message to the club community Gareth Davies stated; “As we often state, the community game is the lifeblood of our sport, club players are […]
For the majority of fans, they sustain a rugby life balance. One where participating, following and enjoying watching the game is Nirvana. But now, under the rugby lockdown, there is less and less to enjoy. So to fans who have very little to digest, we present RUGBY LIFE – news and views across the Rugby […]
Tributes have flooded in for former Dragons, Gloucester and Scarlets player Matthew J Watkins, who passed away earlier this month after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 41. Matthew J Watkins laid to rest The funeral was held on Tuesday March 31 with only a small gathering of close family due to Coronavirus quarantine […]
(More Articles are available below this video.)
We are closing in on the halfway point of the Super Rugby Pacific season with Super Rugby Round 6 and a season that promised so much has failed to live up to expectations. It’s been a case of deja vu as the New Zealand sides continue to dominate the competition, with the Chiefs sitting undefeated […]
The rugby world has yet again been shocked, when Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg this week after he announced he would be retiring from the game altogether after this year’s Rugby World Cup in France. With 100 caps for his country, almost 200 club appearances and three British & Irish Lions Tours to his name, Hogg […]
Toronto Arrows’ Mike Sheppard is the current vice-captain who plays both the lock and flanker position for the Arrows. He has been with the team even before the Arrows made the jump to MLR. The Brampton native, born on December 20, 1988, has been a mainstay with the Canadian professional rugby union team. He has […]
Talent from around the world descended on Hong Kong today for the official opening of the 35th edition of the Tradition HKFC 10s rugby tournament which kicks off at Hong Kong Football Club this Wednesday. Billed the World’s Best tens, the tournament will once again blend emerging talent with international experience in a two-day festival of fast-running, hard-hitting rugby. The […]
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 […]
South African provincial rugby has been a case of princes and paupers for decades. SA Rugby has tried to keep all its stakeholders and voting members happy with promises of a future in professional competitions. These promises have become unattainable in the modern professional game as the South African economy simply cannot afford to sustain […]
With a beaming smile, Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson has done enough to secure the All Blacks head coach role from 2024 on. Secure in his four-year upcoming role, he has impressed the majority of decision-makers. Impressed the New Zealand Rugby (NZR) board, the selection panel and a large number of All Blacks supporters. Many are buoyant […]
Ireland’s Grand Slam winning victory in Dublin showed they know ‘how to win ugly’. Secured with tenacity and by taking advantage of the situation provided, to win by 29-16 on home soil. This triumph will put them in a great position to enter the Rugby World Cup this Autumn, ranked as red-hot favourites. GRAND SLAM […]
About Author
Aaron Tillyer
Rugby writer focusing predominantly on Aviva Premiership and Top14. Big fan of Super Rugby and all things international.
Covered World Rugby U20 Championships in Georgia (2017) for LWOR, ESPN and Rugby World.
Planning for RWC in Japan 2019.