United Rugby Championship
Contributors
Jon Newcombe
@rugbytimes
Once editor of Rugby Times (2002-11), the UK's first weekly newspaper devoted to Rugby Union, and now owner of Heads Up Sports Media; Not the former Aussie tennis player of the same name, nor the son of well-known former rugby writer Barry Newcombe!
230 Articles
Rugby League convert Regan Grace set for competitive debut
Winger Regan Grace is set to make his official Bath Rugby debut this weekend in Round 3 of the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Jon Newcombe
22 Nov 2024, 7:01
Why Wales' and England's fortunes are intertwined this weekend
In dark times, normally an England defeat would provide some much-needed respite for Welsh rugby supporters.
Jon Newcombe
21 Nov 2024, 10:50
Italian international gets cap, aged 93!
After a 10-year search involving hours of painstaking research, Italy’s oldest surviving international Remo Zanatta has been fou…
Jon Newcombe
20 Nov 2024, 11:11
Exclusive
Bath's 'best trainer' set for seasonal debut
Max Ojomoh is in line to make his first appearance of the season for Bath after recovering from the foot injury he sustained in th…
Jon Newcombe
19 Nov 2024, 14:05
Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait
With their ability to win matches by scoring sensational tries through their mazy running, out-and-out pace or acrobatics, wingers…
Jon Newcombe
19 Nov 2024, 9:02
Opinion
Lions Watch: Underhill brilliant on both sides of the ball
With Wales conceding a record number of points at home to Australia and England coming off second-best to South Africa, it was ano…
Jon Newcombe
18 Nov 2024, 5:00
New Zealand miss out in player of the year awards
New Zealand have been snubbed in the World Rugby Player of the Year awards with not a single men's or women's player making it ont…
Jon Newcombe
18 Nov 2024, 4:44
World Rankings: All Blacks fall, Eagles soar
South Africa’s advantage at the top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings has been increased to two points after Saturday's 29-20 wi…
Jon Newcombe
17 Nov 2024, 16:20
5 capped players in England A squad v Australia A
Northampton's Fraser Dingwall will captain England A against Australia A at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday as one of four capped p…
Jon Newcombe
15 Nov 2024, 10:01
Will the north's hopes 'go south' in world rankings?
Having completed a clean sweep of wins in the first full set of fixtures in the Autumn Nations Series, the dominance of the leadin…
Jon Newcombe
15 Nov 2024, 2:58
'I've not got my head around it' – Geordan Murphy on his cross-code return
When rugby union and rugby league attempted to join forces at Headingley in the past, fans of the northern code once turned their …
Jon Newcombe
14 Nov 2024, 7:14
Interview
Wallabies' nemesis declares 'world rugby needs Australia'
England's most-capped men's player Ben Youngs has had some epic battles with Australia over a Test career spanning 127 caps, and r…
Jon Newcombe
14 Nov 2024, 5:01
Sir Bill Beaumont’s parting words: ‘the game has never been so good’
As Sir Bill Beaumont hands over the baton of leading international rugby, the outgoing World Rugby Chairman has described his time…
Jon Newcombe
13 Nov 2024, 13:59
Wasps move step closer to pro rugby return
Wasps' hopes of hosting professional rugby back in the south east of England have taken a positive turn with the news that land ha…
Jon Newcombe
13 Nov 2024, 4:29
'Vibrant promotion/relegation system' on new Tier 2 Chair's agenda
Hugely experienced administrator Simon Gillham has been appointed as Chair of the newly established Tier 2 Board, taking up his ro…
Jon Newcombe
11 Nov 2024, 8:17
Opinion
Lions watch: Chastening weekend for Home Nations
With England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales all losing, it was a very disappointing weekend for the Home Nations, from which the Bri…
Jon Newcombe
11 Nov 2024, 7:31
Springboks return to top of world rankings
South Africa have moved back to the top of the world rankings after extending their winning run against Scotland to nine matches w…
Jon Newcombe
10 Nov 2024, 13:18
New Lions documentary now available on RPTV
Following the British and Irish Lions jersey launch on Wednesday, excitement is starting to mount for next year's tour of Australi…
Jon Newcombe
08 Nov 2024, 11:20
No place for Hastings as Jordan starts for Scotland
Tom Jordan has been rewarded for his impressive debut off the bench in last week's record 57-17 win over Fiji with a place in Scot…
Jon Newcombe
08 Nov 2024, 9:29
It's a Bristol one-two in Gallagher Premiership monthly awards
Free-scoring Bristol Bears winger Gabriel Ibitoye has been named as Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month for October.
Jon Newcombe
06 Nov 2024, 7:21
