Prem Rugby Cup
The Premiership Rugby Cup has gone through several forms in recent years. It has contained teams from Wales and England and known as the Anglo-Welsh Cup and we have seen the tournament under the sponsored name, the LV Cup. Currently, with the addition of a thirteenth team to the Gallagher Premiership, we have the most […]
In the first of a new series, Last Word on Rugby will be refocusing attention on the Gallagher Premiership ahead of the 2021/22 season. Under the spotlight to start is Bath Rugby, who will be hoping for a much better campaign 2020/21, where they finished seventh. Biggest departure Several dependable squad members have departed, including […]
Six months late, but the first silverware of the 2019/20 English season has been claimed. Sale Sharks won the Premiership Rugby Cup final, beating Harlequins 27-19. Sale Sharks win Premiership Rugby Cup Final The game ignited after a yellow card for Harlequins’ Stephan Lewies, with Sale scoring ten points during the sin-bin period. Hooker Curtis […]
A young Gloucester Rugby coaching team has been assembled and confirmed with today’s announcement that Dom Waldouck will take up the position of defence coach. Even ignoring the Coronavirus pandemic, it has been a whirlwind three months at Kingsholm. First the departure of Johan Ackermann, followed by David Humphreys and Rory Teague, left a huge […]
With the rugby season up in the air it could do with looking at cricket’s Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in order to decide future fixtures – if they can’t be played due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In order to finalize the tables, and ensure fair and proper qualification for the subsequent European competitions a year later, this […]
Having only signed a senior contract at the start of the season, a string of exciting performances have earned young Wasps starlet Jacob Umaga a new upgraded contract. The new deal comes after a man of the match performance in last weekends 32-14 Challenge Cup victory over Agen. Umaga scored 12 points and produced a […]
Premiership Rugby has confirmed charges have been brought against Saracens Rugby Club for alleged breaches of the Premiership Rugby Salary Cap. They have been docked 35 points for the 2019/20 season. Charges for past three seasons The charges, which relate to the seasons 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19, were brought in June 2019 following a nine-month […]
Last season would have been regarded as a disappointing season by Wasps’s standards in recent years. They finished eighth in the Premiership, just missing Heineken Champions Cup Rugby playoffs. This was a disappointment but Director of Rugby Dai Young believes they have a better foundation this season. Wasps had to compete with a number of […]
Exeter Chiefs face Bristol Bears in their final Premiership Rugby Cup group game and their Derby-Day match. They do so in the knowledge that a win is their only chance to progress to the semi-finals. However, this Premiership Rugby Cup Derby-Day is about more than just the result. With most teams using these weeks as […]
The Gallagher Premiership transfers keep coming thick and fast, with the season drawing ever closer. Last time out it was the incoming players that were the focus. However, this time Last Word on Rugby are looking at the 10 biggest Gallagher Premiership exits. Many players have moved onto new and greener pastures this season. Contract […]
The fixtures for the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership have been announced. It will start just as it did in 2018/19 with a West Country Derby between Bristol Bears and Bath. The announcement was made at an event at the BT Tower in London with the big reveal happening at 11am. 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership Fixtures The start […]
James Haskell retires at the end of the season and brings and an end a stellar career. No player has bled more and given more to the English game. Farewell James Haskell We should forget about the limelight headlines because ‘Hask’ has had one hell of a career. 17 years at the top of the […]
The sale of a minority interest to former Formula 1 owners CVC Capital Partners (CVC) for a reported £200m, and the first multiple club relegation battle in recent years, means the divisive issue of ring-fencing English rugby’s Gallagher Premiership is back in vogue. New contributor to Last Word on Rugby Steve Dunham, adds his voice […]
The action never stops for Gallagher Premiership sides, as Worcester Warriors, Saracens, Northampton Saints and Newcastle Falcons battled for a place in the Premiership Rugby Cup final. After two entertaining clashes Saracens and Northampton Saints came away as winners and will contest the final in March. Worcester Warriors 22 vs 38 Saracens The Warriors were […]
Gloucester’s injury-riddled season has seen their academy players step up to the mark. Players like Henry Walker, Lloyd Evans and Aaron Hinkley have all proved they’ve got what it takes. Walker and Evans spoke to the media on how they’ve developed as Gloucester Rugby academy players growing as senior squad share experience. Lloyd Evans relishing […]
With the senior team on a fixture break Tim Taylor has temporarily taken over the reins at Gloucester ahead of their final Premiership Rugby Cup pool game against Bath. As Gloucester seek knockout stage qualification Taylor will look to implement some first team players as they run back into the Gallagher Premiership. Gloucester seek knockout […]
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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 […]
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 […]
Steve Borthwick has made four changes to his line-up as he takes his battered and bruised team to face the Ireland Grand Slam assault. Injuries to Ollie Chessum and Ollie Lawrence mean recalls for Dave Ribbans and Manu Tuilagi. As well, Henry Arundell is finally given his chance on the wing in place of Max […]
The 2022/23 calendar continues for the World Series, with nations in preparations ahead of the next two rounds of the 2023 Sevens Series destined for Hong Kong on March 31 to April 2. That includes all the leading nations from the women’s and men’s competitions that in 2023 are chasing both the HSBC trophies, as […]
Sam Malcolm has been a mainstay for the Toronto Arrows. This includes being part of the inaugural 2019 MLR team for the Arrows. He has played professionally in Canada, as well as with Japan for the Kamaishi Seawaves, after graduating through the New Zealand rugby system before taking his talents offshore. Good night, Arrows fans […]
France was brilliant. It was an awesome France masterclass exhibition from Fabien Galthie’s men and as for England…. they are truly at rock bottom. Or maybe not, as the old adage goes, ‘we did not realize that rock bottom had a basement’ – as they head to Dublin next week. England were awful in all […]
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.