The European rugby quarter-finals have finished for another year. Both the Heineken Challenge Cup and Champions Cup quarter-finals were settled last weekend, and they did not disappoint. There was plenty of drama across the two competitions. Knowing this, Last Word on Rugby has analyzed the main talking points. That penalty shoot-out! Breathtaking conclusion The biggest […]

The Welsh rugby regions are falling behind in regional competitions. New correspondent Iestyn Rhys Thomas tracks the changes through the years. Every time during international Test windows in Wales, all you hear about is rugby, rugby and the odd splash of rugby. Yet after the Six Nations has been decided or another autumn campaign comes to […]

More and more, mandating that only a fully vaccinated rugby player policy introduction will have an impact on both Northern and Southern hemisphere competitions. The internal reactions from rugby unions and administrators take into account the health and welfare of all stakeholders. Yet with personal choice highlighting some genuine fears and more social media scaremongering, […]

BREAKING: Fresh news out of South Africa may be a blessing in disguise, as a re-scheduled United Rugby Championship offers two South African derby matches as a resolution for the disrupted 2021/22 competition. As reported widely from Friday, November 26, the outbreak of a new variant of Covid-19 named OMICRON meant Round Six fixtures on […]

The United Rugby Championship Covid 19 scare this week underlined how fragile intercontinental competition remains. Games can be canceled at very short notice. Unfinished fixture lists also bring full competition results into question. Canceled fixtures South African rugby fans woke up to the unexpected news on Friday morning that the much-anticipated matches against Munster, Cardiff. […]

The  United Rugby Championship saw round four completed this weekend. The South African teams haven’t set the competition alight but, have started to settle into their new environment. The early weeks Many unrealistic South African fans thought that their teams would walk in and dominate the competition. Aside from the Lions win in the first […]

Domestic rugby has well and truly returned for the entire northern hemisphere. Away from the incredible display of entertainment across the Top 14 and Premiership, a new league has been formed: the United Rugby Championship. Brand new teams added, broadcasters, and branding. However, this ensured there was more scrutiny on the opening round than any […]

The United Rugby Championship kicks off on Friday 24 September. This season of the former PRO14 competition is a significant one, with the entry of the big four of South African Rugby. South African rugby starts migration to the North North Hemisphere versus Southern Hemisphere: The hard border The move to Northern Hemisphere competition might […]

With the United Rugby Championship countdown arriving closer and closer to the competition’s September 24 ‘kick off’ it’s become a reality for fans, teams, and stakeholders. The replacement of the Guinness PRO14 league has been touted as ‘bigger and better’ than before, the proof will be in the product. In the opening weekend’s match outcomes, […]

The Champions Cup 2021/22 draw was announced today as the build-up to the new season ramps up. As in last season, the 24 teams were drawn into two pools. Tier 1 sides will take on Tier 4 clubs, whilst Tier 2 and 3 teams will play each other home and away. After the success of […]

The United Rugby Championship has been revealed, replacing the PRO14 and including four former Super Rugby teams from South Africa. This new competition is the realization of long-brewing plans to include the South African teams in European rugby after their fallout with Super Rugby. It should be noted though that the competition has yet to […]

With a disappointing start to their Rugby World Cup qualification, could giving Jaguares a home be the boost Spanish rugby needs? A Home for Jaguares? There have been many victims to Covid and in the World of Rugby, one of them was the Jaguares. Despite only playing their first season in 2016, the Jaguares were […]

Warren Gatland has selected his Lions coaching group. So, next on their list is to decide on, and announce their SA2021 squad list. With all the attention that any British and Irish Lions squad gains – considering it only occurs once every four years – media outlets are rife with initial probable XVs. Last Word […]

The climax of the Pro14 season takes place on Saturday as Munster travel to the RDS to take on Leinster in a mouth-watering final. The two sides impressively topped their respected Conferences with 14/16 wins. League points however play no factor in a one-off final. Can Leinster make it four consecutive Pro14 titles? Or will […]

Wales are one special night in Paris away from a 5th Grand Slam. To put this into perspective in the last 15 years: Ireland has done it twice, with England and France only doing it once. Although actual titles are a lot more even in recent years, Wales are the kings of the Slam. Yet, […]

Leinster’s dominance in the PRO14 looks set to continue after picking up another bonus point win at Rodney Parade. In turn, Leinster have picked up 10 bonus point wins out of a possible 12 this season, putting them 5 points clear of Ulster in Conference A on 55 points. Munster remains in control of Conference […]

World Rugby gets plenty of stick yet deserves praise for its decisions over the last 12 months with the freshly appointed Rugby World Cup hosts being one of them. Other policies and decisions include; the change in eligibility laws will that allow Pacific Island teams to compete and encourage their qualified national representatives to continue […]

The 2021/22 Indigo Group Premiership and end of season rewards are revealed after another thrilling season of community rugby. Indigo Group Premiership Team of the Season After a season of both an Indigo Group Cup and Premiership, the Team of the Season has been selected by Robert Rees. Rowan Jenkins (Aberavon) Will Griffiths (Newport) Geraint […]

USA Rugby got a huge boost today as they will host the 2031 Rugby World Cup (men’s) and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup. They will be hoping to replicate the success Japan had in the 2019 Rugby World Cup (men’s). USA Rugby was given rights to host both Rugby World Cups Embed from Getty […]

TORONTO, ON – Rugby New York won the game, thanks largely to their strong start to the game. They scored the first 17 points of the game, as they found ways to get behind the Toronto Arrows’ defence on the road. Rugby New York really played well offensively in a 41-17 road win in Toronto […]

For several weeks now, the 2022 ACT Brumbies team has played to their peak. No stumbling, no missteps, and few errors that would give others a sense that they are anything less than Championship contenders. A single blemish on their record against the Queensland Reds in Round 7 has been repaired. The Dan McKellar coached […]

“Controlling your monkey mind” may seem like a bizarre goal. No doubt, it would seem strange to burly rugby players, sitting on a couch next to a cuddly stuffed monkey named Mike. And yet – when considering rugby’s mental health crisis – this is exactly what has helped dozens of international rugby players and Formula […]

It was a sad but wonderful day at Welford Road last weekend. The Welford Road faithful showed their appreciation with a full house for the retiring Tom Youngs. There is no question that Tom Youngs goes down as one of the great Leicester Tigers, no mean feat when you think of the legends that go […]

England’s women wrapped up their fourth consecutive Six Nations title and are looking like strong favourites for the upcoming Rugby World Cup later this year. While a winning run of 23 matches may sound bad for the health of the sport due to a lack of competition, it does serve to force other unions into […]