Bath celebrate heritage with unique player numbers
Bath Rugby have honoured each of the 2,952 players to have played a competitive fixture for the club since it was founded in 1865 …
Jon Newcombe
09 Apr 2024, 10:00
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!
Cadan Murley: “It is a massive chance to make Harlequins history”
Facing Scottish opposition in the Champions Cup is almost as rare as Harlequins' presence in the latter stages of Europe’s premi…
Jon Newcombe
04 Apr 2024, 13:30
Interview
Lowe wary of Leicester’s Grand Slam deniers
James Lowe expects the ghosts of Ireland’s Grand Slam failure to be re-awoken by Leicester’s triumphant England contingent in …
Jon Newcombe
02 Apr 2024, 3:16
Manu Samoa appoint Mahonri Schwalger as their new head coach
The 45-year-old replaces Seilala Mapusua who has paid the price for what the Samoan Rugby Union feel was a disappointing Rugby Wor…
Jon Newcombe
31 Mar 2024, 3:32
Bath add Regan Grace to European roster; Sale re-sign WillGriff John
Regan Grace appears to be even closer to making his competitive debut for Bath after the winger was added to the high-flying Premi…
Jon Newcombe
28 Mar 2024, 9:15
Fijian legend Niko Matawalu signs for Caerphilly
Welsh National League side Caerphilly have announced the signing of Fijian legend Niko Matawalu as backs/attack coach for the 2024…
Jon Newcombe
28 Mar 2024, 2:22
Dean Richards set for return to rugby management
National 2 North outfit Tynedale have announced that Dean Richards will be part of an impressive coaching team for the 2024/25 sea…
Jon Newcombe
26 Mar 2024, 10:11
Poland part company with head coach Christian Hitt
Christian Hitt has lost his job as head coach of Poland after a winless campaign in the recently completed Rugby Europe Championsh…
Jon Newcombe
22 Mar 2024, 12:28
Rugby Europe Championship: Hugos bossing it for Portugal
Young half-backs, Hugo Camacho and Hugo Aubry, have played starring roles for Portugal in the 2024 Rugby Europe Championship and a…
Jon Newcombe
15 Mar 2024, 14:13
Interview
Richard Cockerill on Akaki Tabutsadze: 'He reminds me of Jonny May'
The Georgia head coach approaches Sunday's Rugby Europe Championship 2024 final against Portugal knowing he has two of the best fi…
Jon Newcombe
14 Mar 2024, 9:56
Second major SVNS head coach change as Blitzboks turn to legend
South Africa, winners of the Sevens World Series as recently as 2021, have changed their head coach with their future at the elite…
Jon Newcombe
13 Mar 2024, 16:10
Waisale Serevi: 'Without Hong Kong Sevens there would be no Olympic Sevens. It’s everything.'
This year’s Hong Kong Sevens (5-7 April) will be celebrating its 30th year in the iconic Hong Kong Stadium and looking forward t…
Jon Newcombe
12 Mar 2024, 3:00
Fiji win Oceania Rugby U20 Challenger
Fiji U20s completed a clean sweep of wins at the Oceania Rugby U20 Challenger with a 31-17 victory over Samoa U20s in the competit…
Jon Newcombe
06 Mar 2024, 6:17
Exclusive
Leonardo Ghiraldini: 'The supporters in Italy are unbelievable'
The 39-year-old former hooker from Padova was firmly established in Italy’s front row when they downed Ireland 22-15 in March 20…
Jon Newcombe
05 Mar 2024, 7:31
Exclusive
Ian McGeechan: Why saying yes to Doncaster took 'about five seconds'
While still heavily involved in the game through his media work, the Lions legend has not been actively involved at club level sin…
Jon Newcombe
02 Mar 2024, 3:21
Exclusive
Explained: The Finn Russell kicking masterclass for Scotland
An Opta RugbyHub graphic below shows that 15 attempts have been made – from both sides of the pitch and down the middle – and …
Jon Newcombe
27 Feb 2024, 12:48
Mapusua faces uncertain future as Samoa start new coach search
The decision is believed to be based on results at Rugby World Cup 2023 and has been met with some surprise.
Jon Newcombe
20 Feb 2024, 2:05
Interview
The day England’s WAGS wound up the Scots
Scotland legend Iwan Tukalo recalls how the sight of England’s wives and girlfriends on the hallowed Murrayfield turf got the bl…
Jon Newcombe
18 Feb 2024, 4:45
Interview
Germany's all-time leading scorer retires and calls for franchise team
Raynor Parkinson, Germany’s all-time leading scorer, has retired from international rugby with a record that is unlikely to be b…
Jon Newcombe
13 Feb 2024, 1:37
Interview
Portugal's fallen heroes face very different reception
Within two weeks of Portugal’s superb Rugby World Cup campaign coming to a close, Appleton was back treating patients at his cli…
Jon Newcombe
04 Feb 2024, 5:30
