Northern Hemisphere
The ongoing 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership preseason has heated up, and not just due to a long summer. The Barbarians FC became a ‘player’ last weekend when they pushed the Northampton Saints hard at Franklin’s Gardens. In a type of festival game atmosphere, spectators will have enjoyed the 12-48 win to the Baabaas, though Saints ‘dye […]
With another season starting to close, the rumour mill is in full flow and players start settling moves for next season. Robert Rees brings you the latest on the transfer front from the Indigo Group Premiership. Craig Hudd (Confirmed) Hudd will be joining Cardiff from long-term bitter rivals Newport ahead of next season where he’ll […]
FEATURE: The Top 14 is only three days away and is starting on Friday August 18. Here is a detailed 2023/24 Top14 analysis of the teams competing in the 2023/2024 league this year. This part two of a two-part French Top14 analysis series includes what each team did last year, what are the arrivals, departures, […]
FEATURE: Essential 2023/24 French Top14 analysis before the competition kicks off this week. Last Word on Rugby contributor Larissa Falls has done a ‘deep dive’ to bring you the most comprehensive guide for the 2023/24 season, analysing all 14 competing teams. 2023/24 French Top 14 analysis: Part 1 of 2 Part 1 of 2 is […]
“They are hard at work” is the answer for how Gallagher Premiership 2023/24 sides are preparing, all the while the ‘stars of the game’ are en route to France and the Rugby World Cup 2023. That’s no insult to the league, though, after just 72 days since the Grand Final where Saracens claimed another premiership, […]
It’s been exactly 16 years since France last hosted the Rugby World Cup tournament. Larissa Falls interviewed former 2007 competitor and hard-hitting USA International Back-Rower, Todd Clever, as he takes us down memory lane and looks toward the 2031 Rugby World Cup to be held in the United States. Todd Clever: RWC Anniversary 2007 Memories […]
To the delight of their enthusiastic fans, all the men’s (Rugby World Cup) RWC2023 World Cup squads are expected to be announced over the next month. Revealed to the world – and their opponents – as well as to establish that nation’s game plan. Every one of them is fully emersed currently in their individual […]
Confrontational, aggressive behaviour now sees a three-week Johnny Sexton suspension imposed by European Rugby powers, and is costing the 38-year-old an inglorious delay to his ambition to drive Ireland towards a first-ever Rugby World Cup goal. It comes after the [then] injured Leinster club player Sexton was investigated by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) at […]
Taine Plumtree was announced as a Scarlets signing last week and now, he’s been called to Wales’ men’s World Cup training squad by Warren Gatland. The former Under 20 New Zealand international has spent all of his rugby career in New Zealand; despite being born in Swansea, Taine is the son of former Swansea and […]
Ahead of the 2023/24 rugby season, Scotland’s Alex Craig has traded the red & white of Gloucester for the red of Llanelli’s Scarlets. Craig is one of eight new signings that Dwayne Peel has made this summer as they look to improve on what was a disappointing 14th-placed URC (United Rugby Championship) finish last season. […]
All of the major domestic rugby titles have been decided over the month of June, with the Crusaders seventh title in Super Rugby supporting their status as the Premier rugby franchise across the globe. The Currie Cup grand final was also played on Saturday, with the Free State Cheetahs claiming the reward in South Africa’s […]
The South African URC participants are the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers. Should there be changes to who gets a seat at the top table? We ran a poll on social media and the result was 68% in favour of a change, with the Lions having to face the Cheetahs in a playoff series. But […]
The Toronto Arrows could not maintain their lead and lost at the hands of the NOLA Gold. The Arrows, unlike most other games they played this year, started the game strong and looked like the better team. However, they did not take advantage of their opportunities, as they only led by three in the first […]
The Grant Khomo Week is a great platform for Zimbabwe Under 17 rugby to participate in. Zimbabwe Under 17 team gearing up for youth week The Zimbabwe under-17 rugby team is putting in the final preparations for the upcoming Grant Khomo Youth Week in South Africa. In previous years the Zimbabwe Under 18 squad used […]
The season is over and all competition and individual winners have been laid bare, so it’s time to grade the season for every Indigo Group Premiership team. Let us know if you agree or not with our choices and check out the end-of-season award winners. Aberavon – C Pretty much a pass, but they’ll be […]
French rugby’s showpiece event, the Top 14 final will take place at the Stade de France on Saturday, June 17 as Toulouse goes up against European champions La Rochelle. Ronan O’Gara’s side will be looking to avoid a repeat of the 2020/21 season where they lost the final in this fixture after losing the Champions […]
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The 2024 Six Nations is just around the corner and so starts the four-year cycle for all teams. For England and Steve Borthwick, the foundations have been laid by an encouraging semi-final performance at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Charlie Inglefield asks what might this team look like through the eyes of Borthwick? And whether […]
As Alex Sanderson, Sale’s coach said after his team’s ugly 11-9 win over Bath – they found a way to win. Sale are definitely in the mix to go one better this year and win the Gallagher Premiership. On Friday’s evidence, they need to be a lot better. They played a second-string Bath outfit who […]
Saracens were back to their brutal best on Saturday. They suffocated the life out of a high-flying Harlequins outfit with consummate ease. This despite losing Ben Earl, and Elliot Daly in the warm-up and Alex Lozowski a couple of minutes into the game. No problem, up stepped the likes of Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell […]
We’re crunched the numbers, looked through the stats and brought you 14 wacky and wonderful facts from Round Five of the premier French League. 14 Top14 Round Five Facts and Figures Perpignan recorded their first victory of the season- the last Top14 side to do so- and got their first points in the standings. La […]
The Rugby Canada women’s national team did something they were aiming all year to do, to beat a top three side in a competitive game. Canada was not able to do it against either New Zealand or England. However, they were able to do it against France in an unforgettable win. It was a fantastic […]
Any way you want to break it down, Steve Borthwick has got England rugby believing again. And it is with the potential England Rugby duo of Alex Mitchell and George Martin hinting a more time near to the top of the Test arena. A semi-final spot which could and should have been a final shoot-out […]
Jacques Nienaber will be leaving the Springboks after an extremely successful run as the Springbok coach. Winning one British & Irish Lions Tour victory and Two Rugby World Cups is some resume for Nienaber and he will undoubtedly bring a lot of value to Leinster, where he will be coaching under Leo Cullen. The move […]
It is not often that you can write your own ‘swansong’ yet for some RWC 2023 Cup final NZL/RSA stars, it might be a picture perfect ending. Difficult enough to reach one RWC (Rugby World Cup) final, for a few this is going to be their second men’s Cup final. And for one individual, he […]