Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
Jono Gibbes is highly unlikely to change the nature of the team, but he is likely to see the sense in ensuring his side know what to do when the tide of a match starts to turn against him, and a strong defence is called for. It may involve him opening his contacts to bring in a snarling, Kiwi attack dog to whip the defence into shape. After all, keeping a tighter defence will make life easier for Clermont when they eventually go on the attack, READ MORE
La Rochelle leads the French Top 14 after eight rounds of league action, after beating top of the table Clermont Auvergne 19-10. Last Word on Rugby brings you a summary of this weekend’s action and senior editor James Barker looks at the disrupted season so far. #TOP14 – J8Il y en a eu pour tous […] READ MORE
Exeter Chiefs stand on the precipice of history for the South-West club. A win against La Rochelle and they will secure a home Champions Cup quarter-final for the first time in their history. David Challis has all in insight from the Chiefs camp as they prepare for the visit of La Rochelle. Interviews with club […] READ MORE
Sale Sharks need to achieve three out of three wins in their final games in the Pool Two if they are to have any hope of a quarter-final spot in the Champions Cup. They travel to Exeter Chiefs this weekend with the hope of upsetting England’s high-fliers in the competition. The State of the Pool […] READ MORE
The Champions Cup kicked off with a bang last weekend, continuing his focus on Pool 2, David Challis has all the lowdown on this weekend’s matches. Sale and La Rochelle face off in a match that could decide their destiny even though it is only round 2 after they both lost last weekend. Conversely, Exeter […] READ MORE
Just as the Rugby World Cup concludes rugby fans are treated to the start of the European Champions Cup. It promises to be an exciting ride with a number of exciting sub-plots rumbling on, including Saracens’ salary cap misdemeanors. Here Last Word on Rugby focuses in on Champions Cup Pool 2 which comprises Exeter Chiefs, […] READ MORE
This weekend the 2019 European Cup finals weekend made it’s way to Newcastle, England in the week the city mourned the loss of Premiership Rugby. But it was still a party atmosphere with England, Ireland and France all represented across the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals. Thankfully, the matches themselves did not disappoint. Clermont […] READ MORE
There have been some impressive performances so far in the Challenge Cup but who are the early contenders? Robert Rees has your Challenge Cup round one summary to help guide you through all the weekend’s action. Pool One Standings Dragons – 5 points Clermont – 5 points Northampton – 0 points Timisoara Sarcens – 0 […] READ MORE
It’s been a whole week since the end of the 6 Nations and it may feel like European rugby is over – but never fear! The best players from the continent face-off in the Quarter Finals of the Champions Cup, domestic rugby’s biggest competition. European Rugby Champions Cup Let’s take a look at the match-ups […] READ MORE
After a two week break, French rugby’s Top14 Round 17 kicked off with La Rochelle’s trip to Racing, being the tie of the round. Both sides went into the weekend equal on 50 points, in joint second place. But Racing’s form at home and La Rochelle’s form on the road dictated which team ended the […] READ MORE
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.