Liam Heagney

Paolo Odogwu jokes at his own expense, admitting he signed new club contract 15 days before England call-up

People feel Paolo Odogwu is quids in at Wasps, signing a new deal after England call-up, but he has admitted he put pen to paper b…

Liam Heagney

27 Jan 2021, 3:36

How Kyle Sinckler is coping with F-bomb ban: 'Today we came off our team run and he was one of the most vocal'

Two weeks after Kyle Sinckler was banned for the start of the Six Nations, Bristol boss Pat Lam has outlined how his England prop …

Liam Heagney

27 Jan 2021, 13:14

'England will be a good barometer when it comes to it, how much we have improved'

With Ireland losing their last 4 games to England by an aggregate 131-54, Johnny Sexton accepts their next Six Nations clash will …

Liam Heagney

28 Jan 2021, 6:12

Bristol's player release rebuke: 'If the WRU or the Scottish want to make that happen, pay the clubs'

Wales boss Wayne Pivac had pleaded for England-based players such as Bristol's Callum Sheedy not to have to go back to their clubs…

Liam Heagney

28 Jan 2021, 5:06

'Fly-half is his No1 position': Ioan Lloyd to make first start as a Premiership ten

19-year-old Wales cap Ioan Lloyd has made his previous six Gallagher Premiership starts for Bristol at either wing or full-back.

Liam Heagney

28 Jan 2021, 8:14

England's verdict on the 62-day layoff between games for skipper Farrell and other Saracens players

Saracens players like England skipper Owen Farrell won't have played any game in nine weeks when they line up against Scotland on …

Liam Heagney

23 Jan 2021, 3:47

'Has it been disruptive? Not one iota': Eddie Jones' self-isolation boast

England boss Eddie Jones was four days down, six more to go in self-isolation when he unveiled his 28-strong Six Nations squad on …

Liam Heagney

22 Jan 2021, 13:48

'There was no hesitation about the fact that he wanted to play for England'

In a week Cameron Redpath was lost to Scotland, Eddie Jones has expressed delight Harry Randall and Paolo Odogwu have declared for…

Liam Heagney

22 Jan 2021, 13:15

'I was actually planning that night out with Alex Cuthbert with ten minutes left of the game'

England were tipped to win the 2013 Six Nations Grand Slam in Cardiff but it instead became one of greatest nights out for Jamie R…

Liam Heagney

22 Jan 2021, 5:54

'Sometimes within the England team we do have that problem of egos or cliques or groups, people put on pedestals'

RugbyPass Offload guest Mike Brown has revisted the fall-out regarding Sam Burgess quiting rugby union after the 2015 World Cup wi…

Liam Heagney

22 Jan 2021, 4:22

What happened to the 8 uncapped England players chosen last January for the start of the 2020 Six Nations

Unlike this Friday's 2021 Six Nations squad announcement, Eddie Jones had ample room for fresh faces when he unveiled England Clas…

Liam Heagney

21 Jan 2021, 13:44

'A fat black eye to go with the non-selection as well. Te'o is a handy one with his fists'

Mike Brown has had his say on RugbyPass Offload 17 months after an England team social in Italy didn't turn out as planned due to …

Liam Heagney

21 Jan 2021, 8:20

'He used to go off at players like Marland Yarde all the time, little nicknames, little comments to try and wind him up'

Last capped in 2018, Mike Brown has delivered a compelling look back on how mentally testing his time with England was under Eddie…

Liam Heagney

21 Jan 2021, 4:38

Kyle Sinckler's riveting citing hearing evidence: Claims tackle was potential leg-breaker, accuses Exeter players of laughing at him

The short form judgment wasn't published last week when Kyle Sinckler was banned but the RFU have now revealed what happened at th…

Liam Heagney

20 Jan 2021, 5:04

'It could be a 10-year international career': Scotland celebrate capture of ex-England age-grade player Redpath

Ex-England U20 Cameron Redpath turned down Scotland for the Autumn Nations Cup but he is now ready to follow in the footsteps of d…

Liam Heagney

20 Jan 2021, 9:37

Raisuque learns his fate for bizarre 'referee-lifting' Pro D2 celebration

Josaia Raisuque, the Fijian winger at Pro D2 Nevers, was red-carded on January 9 for lifting a referee into the air to celebrate w…

Liam Heagney

20 Jan 2021, 15:48

Why Scotland have 38 at training next week while round one rivals England will make do with 28

Gregor Townsend has selected a Scotland Six Nations squad of 35 and an additional three youngsters for training next week at Oriam…

Liam Heagney

20 Jan 2021, 14:15

Trading places

Former prop John Andress is using the personal touch to guide players through tough times

FEATURE

Liam Heagney

20 Jan 2021, 12:12

'I'll choose my words carefully': EPCR boss hits out at French government's Champions Cup call-off

Ex-England wing Simon Halliday is EPCR chairman and he has been left flabbergasted by French government interference in the Champi…

Liam Heagney

20 Jan 2021, 4:16

'He's sorry for leaving, he wants his house back': The Rugby Pod debates Chris Ashton's next move

The future of veteran winger Chris Ashton is unclear as he is leaving Harlequins, whom he joined last March after exiting Sale in …

Liam Heagney

19 Jan 2021, 13:59

'Rugby needs good news': EPCR boss delivers update on whether South African clubs like the Bulls can play Champions Cup

Powerhouse South African franchises such as the Bulls, who will soon play in PRO16, want to also qualify for the European Champion…

Liam Heagney

19 Jan 2021, 11:54

'When I was skinny as a rake, I wasn't very filled out so everyone would want a fight with you if you were in a nightclub'

It's 7 years since giant-like Dominic Bird was last capped by the All Blacks but he is now performing to the peak of his powers at…

Liam Heagney

17 Jan 2021, 4:32

'Conor Murray is quite a tricky guy': Referee JP Doyle names his most annoying players

Five months on from his redundancy as an RFU referee, JP Doyle has listed the most annoying verbal players he came across in his c…

Liam Heagney

16 Jan 2021, 7:11

'There's loads of them': Saracens reel off list of stars to watch out for in the Championship

Saracens will field an inexperienced squad in this year's Championship but Mark McCall believes there have many young stars in the…

Liam Heagney

16 Jan 2021, 5:55

The Sinckler F-bomb fallout: 'This is something you can't let go any further'

England prop Kyle Sinckler and Wales back Liam Williams didn't cover themselves in glory last weekend with the way they spoke to r…

Liam Heagney

16 Jan 2021, 5:00

Championship latest: 'There's definitely going to be a competition'

There has been speculation that Saracens could get promoted without playing a game, but Mark McCall has admitted that won't be the…

Liam Heagney

16 Jan 2021, 4:15

'Billy is a little different, always has been'

The Trailfinders Cup was a window for England players at Saracens to get some club game time but only Billy Vunipola will tog out …

Liam Heagney

15 Jan 2021, 13:43

Saracens confirm new head and defence coaches in wake of Sanderson's exit

Saracens have reacted quickly to the loss of assistant Alex Sanderson, promoting Joe Shaw to head coach and Adam Powell to defence…

Liam Heagney

15 Jan 2021, 8:52

Likely Champions Cup round of 16 draw will see Exeter visit Wasps, Radradra back at Bordeaux

6 Premiership, 6 Top 14 and four PRO14 teams are set to be involved in a knockout round of 16 to restart the stalled Champions Cup…

Liam Heagney

15 Jan 2021, 5:16

Exeter's verdict on how Jack Nowell is coping mentally 12 weeks into his latest long injury layoff

England's Jack Nowell is on the road to recovery after playing through the pain barrier to help Exeter win the Premiership/Europea…

Liam Heagney

15 Jan 2021, 4:17

'It's not a good look for those clubs because they are kind of endorsing his beliefs by saying come play with us'

Media speculation linking Israel Folau to a rugby union return with Toulon in the Top 14 has horrified Simon Zebo, Racing 92's Iri…

Liam Heagney

14 Jan 2021, 14:21

'Alex Sanderson is the biggest loss at Saracens bar an Owen Farrell or a Maro Itoje'

Ex-England back row Alex Sanderson has become a massively respected part of the furniture at Saracens since he retired from playin…

Liam Heagney

14 Jan 2021, 10:28

'It's f***in' bleak... Saracens will get a shock': Gary Graham on what life will be like for the relegated Londoners in the Championship

Gary Graham has a Championship warning for Saracens after emerging at Jersey and then experiencing the second-tier again with Newc…

Liam Heagney

14 Jan 2021, 9:23

Referee JP Doyle still in dark over exactly why he was singled out for RFU redundancy

It is now five months since it emerged that popular Premiership referee JP Doyle was made redundant by the Twickenham-based RFU in…

Liam Heagney

14 Jan 2021, 6:24

Exeter react to Tomas Francis exit, outline who they are looking at to replace him

Tomas Francis has been on the books at Exeter since 2014 but he has now been forced to leave by being 8 caps short of the WRU's 60…

Liam Heagney

14 Jan 2021, 4:52

Kyle Sinckler banned for F-bomb, will miss England's Six Nations opener

England prop Kyle Sinckler was cited following Bristol's win at Exeter, threatening his availability for the start of the 2021 Six…

Liam Heagney

13 Jan 2021, 5:54

Baxter does Premiership fixtures U-turn, issues update on Simmonds injury

Exeter boss Rob Baxter voiced a call last Saturday asking Premiership officials to bring forward fixtures to fill the void left by…

Liam Heagney

13 Jan 2021, 14:09

Six Nations to kick-off as scheduled, but women's and U20s tournaments shelved until later in 2021

Fears the 2021 men's Six Nations could be delayed have been allayed, meaning England will play Scotland at Twickenham on February …

Liam Heagney

13 Jan 2021, 9:55

'It ain't on': Yellow carding of 2 props at same time in Exeter versus Bristol game criticised by Ellis Genge

The top of the table Premiership meeting between Exeter and Bristol struggled for first-half momentum due to a malfunctioning scru…

Liam Heagney

09 Jan 2021, 12:57

Nemani Nadolo can't get his head around criticism of 11-try Bath vs Wasps thriller

The online reaction to the Friday night Gallagher Premiership try-fest featuring Bath and Wasps has bemused Leicester winger Neman…

Liam Heagney

09 Jan 2021, 7:51

'Bath is a massive club and rugby is in the fabric of the city... I love it here'

Girvan Dempsey is invigorated by his current challenge of igniting the Bath attack, but the former Leinster coach remains acutely …

Liam Heagney

27 Sep 2019, 13:10

'He's a tough bugger': Bristol's verdict on the progress of 79kg scrum-half Harry Randall

Bristol boss Pat Lam was smitten when he first saw scrum-half Harry Randall play for Hartpury against the Bears in the 2017/18 Cha…

Liam Heagney

09 Jan 2021, 5:05

'It would be a lie if I didn't say there were some markers we wanted to put down'

There were fears the 2020/21 Premiership could suffer without the Exeter versus Saracens rivalry but Chiefs versus Bristol can fil…

Liam Heagney

09 Jan 2021, 6:29

'Not enough games disrupted for that to be a reason to force a ring-fencing'

There have been calls for Premiership relegation to be scrapped but the message coming out of Bath is very different to that.

Liam Heagney

08 Jan 2021, 11:40

'Snowball fight to decide the winner, Gloucester?'

The pandemic has done much to affect the Premiership but bad weather is the latest headache ahead of the Gloucester visit to Newca…

Liam Heagney

08 Jan 2021, 6:15

'The main thing for me at Sale is I can't really slag anyone off, I probably wasn't all there myself'

Bath had to pay a fee in excess of £100,000 to Sale last February to recruit Cameron Redpath and they seem to now be reaping the …

Liam Heagney

08 Jan 2021, 5:34

'You could see some ridiculous celebrations'

London Irish have scored just three tries in the Premiership but Declan Kidney has predicted what may happen after a clampdown on …

Liam Heagney

08 Jan 2021, 4:00

The Bath verdict on Ben Spencer after 14 appearances since his switch from Saracens

Ben Spencer won a load of trophies with Saracens and the scrum-half is now bringing that experience into the mix at ambitious Bath…

Liam Heagney

07 Jan 2021, 13:45

'I don't think it's really appropriate when people are quite ill'

Irish got four points despite being to blame for two Premiership cancellations but Declan Kidney deems it inappropriate to talk ab…

Liam Heagney

07 Jan 2021, 8:49

'For me to sit here now and say it should shut up shop, I just couldn't do that and be honest with myself'

It was 2010 when Exeter first joined the Premiership and Rob Baxter has now shared his thoughts on the current ring-fencing debate…

Liam Heagney

07 Jan 2021, 7:51

An 'alignment group' and 'ABC' analysis - how Bristol have upped the dressing room ante during recent Premiership intervals

Bristol have looked a transformed team in recent Premiership second-halves and Pat Lam has explained what they get up to at half-t…

Liam Heagney

06 Jan 2021, 13:35

Light shed on Alex Cuthbert's latest injury absence which is now 14 weeks and counting

Ex-Wales winger Alex Cuthbert made an instant impact at Exeter when he joined in 2018 but he has since been struck by series of in…

Liam Heagney

06 Jan 2021, 11:21

Defending champions Exeter react to drastic call from France to cancel this season's Champions Cup

Exeter are hoping to welcome Toulouse to Sandy Park this month but there are calls elsewhere in France to scrap the 2020/21 Champi…

Liam Heagney

06 Jan 2021, 7:31

'Can you imagine Siya Kolisi living in Cov?' The Rugby Pod on the Wasps-in-for-Springboks-skipper rumour

The Rugby Pod have their say on a Christmas cracker, the rumour that Premiership finalists Wasps are in for South Africa skipper S…

Liam Heagney

05 Jan 2021, 13:43

'The Dan du Preez incident has been blown out of all proportion': Sale latest on citing and brawl-causing water carrier incidents

A citing involving Dan du Preez from Saturday versus Gloucester has generated headlines for Sale as has a brawl involving their wa…

Liam Heagney

05 Jan 2021, 9:00

'I said take a bit off the back and sides and then just make the top a bit fluffier'

An extraordinary head of hair accompanied Duncan Weir when he returned to the Scotland No10 shirt last November and he has now had…

Liam Heagney

05 Jan 2021, 7:16

'Everyone needs to be a little careful' - Double-winning Exeter's response to latest Esportif Premiership player salary report

Esportif's salary report claims No10 is best-paid Premiership position and openside the worst, but Exeter aren't reading much into…

Liam Heagney

02 Jan 2021, 5:31

Video: Rees-Zammit starts 2021 with electric try just days after Ian McGeechan name-checks him as Lions tour bolter

Louis Rees-Zammit was name-checked as a Lions tour bolter earlier this week and he started his 2021 with Gloucester with an exhila…

Liam Heagney

02 Jan 2021, 12:46

Video: How referee Nigel Owens reacted when he realised he had no yellow card to sin-bin a Dragons player

Referee Nigel Owens has a much-lauded reputation for his way with words and events in Llanelli on New Year's Day have added to his…

Liam Heagney

02 Jan 2021, 7:27

The grape-into-wine analogy that left Pat Lam smiling heading into 2021 with his Bristol Bears

2020 Premiership rugby will be remembered for the difficulties caused by the pandemic but Bristol boss Pat Lam isn't all doom and …

Liam Heagney

02 Jan 2021, 8:08

Wasps' verdict on winger Paolo Odogwu's rare four-game run as their starting No13

Paolo Odogwu is more recognised as a winger at Wasps but he recently enjoyed a four-game run as Lee Blackett's starting No13.

Liam Heagney

02 Jan 2021, 6:41

'I asked someone what do they mean by hairdryer. I'd never heard that expression'

Pat Lam was compared to Alex Ferguson following the Boxing Day win at Harlequins but the comparison was lost on the Bristol boss. …

Liam Heagney

31 Dec 2020, 13:50

The one Premiership Covid-19 protocol that Northampton boss Chris Boyd still can't fully get his head around

Chris Boyd is chuffed with how Northampton have risen to the challenge of Covid but one Premiership protocol continues to bemuse t…

Liam Heagney

31 Dec 2020, 6:43

Exeter deliver update on severity of Stuart Hogg's hamstring injury five and a half weeks before 2021 Six Nations start

The sight of Stuart Hogg limping away from the Exeter fray with a hamstring injury six weeks before Six Nations left Scotland fans…

Liam Heagney

30 Dec 2020, 6:11

Testing change ensures Bristol's New Year Day game goes ahead despite absence of all 6 front rowers from win at Quins

Bristol have lost 1 front row to Covid and 5 others to isolation protocols but their Premiership game against Newcastle will still…

Liam Heagney

30 Dec 2020, 11:18

'Missing them? I wouldn't think so' - League leaders Exeter on Premiership life without fierce rivals Saracens

Exeter have netted four bonus-point wins in four Premiership games but they insist the league isn't suffering from the absence of …

Liam Heagney

30 Dec 2020, 8:18

'We wouldn't even dare consider him for this week': Lee Blackett issues update on injured Wasps duo Kibirige and Barbeary

Sunday's Premiership win for Wasps at Sale came at a price and boss Lee Blackett has now given an update on Zach Kibirige and Alfi…

Liam Heagney

29 Dec 2020, 10:23

No10 now the best paid position in the Premiership and Top 14, but it remains tough love for those at hooker

The Esportif Intelligence comparison of rugby player salaries in England, France and PRO14 is a talking point at this time every y…

Liam Heagney

29 Dec 2020, 11:25

'I had to have a word with him and I used the word stupid'

Charlie Atkinson has bounced back from being recklessly hit by Owen Farrell, but his teenage exuburence isn't fully to the liking …

Liam Heagney

30 Dec 2020, 4:46

Chris Boyd's blunt verdict on Northampton's underwhelming 2020

Northampton were tipped to challenge for honours at the start of 2020 but the Chris Boyd set-up won just 6 of 24 matches this cale…

Liam Heagney

29 Dec 2020, 13:01

'The defence will probably carve some of the plaintiffs to pieces' - Ethienne Reynecke fears concussion lawsuit will turn ugly

Ethienne Reynecke predicted in 2016 that rugby faced the ticking concussion lawsuit timebomb: now it's here he assesses how it wil…

Liam Heagney

20 Dec 2020, 5:27

It's now 13 defeats in a row for Northampton, but Chris Boyd hasn't lost all hope yet

It's August 22 since Northampton last won a match, but Chris Boyd hasn't lost all hope yet in his Saints despite latest defeat at …

Liam Heagney

19 Dec 2020, 14:05

'I don't see Tom Wood as a dirty player necessarily': Leinster react to incident with van der Flier

The main talking point with Leo Cullen in Dublin after Leinster defeated Northampton was Tom Wood's breakdown tackle on Josh van d…

Liam Heagney

19 Dec 2020, 11:31

Northampton lose yet again but the margin wasn't the rout predicted for bonus-earning Leinster

It was always expected Northampton would give second best to Leinster in Dublin but they went down fighting after a very slow star…

Liam Heagney

19 Dec 2020, 10:13

'Neil Best picked up the goldfish out of bowl, put it in his pint and downed it. The fish was never seen again'

Christmas parties were a topic on this week's RugbyPass Offload and Dylan Hartley told an incredible story about high jinx at Nort…

Liam Heagney

19 Dec 2020, 4:54

European game at Scarlets is off as Toulon fail to turn up after travelling to Wales

A fourth round two match in the Champions Cup has been called off after Toulon refused to turn up at Scarlets on Friday night.

Liam Heagney

18 Dec 2020, 12:21

Andrew Brace brandishes red card just seven minutes into his latest Anglo-French fixture

Referee Andrew Brace was in the eye of an England-France Nations Cup final storm and he was quickly centre of attention again on F…

Liam Heagney

18 Dec 2020, 15:53

Bath, Glasgow and defending champions Exeter all handed 28-0 defeats after round two cancellations

Virus outbreaks have led to EPCR taking draconian action against Bath, Glasgow and Exeter following Champions Cup round two cancel…

Liam Heagney

18 Dec 2020, 13:25

'Cipriani was never that good anyway': Ex-England player launches withering attack

Danny Cipriani quit Gloucester on Tuesday and his sudden exit has drawn the ire of one ex-England international in his Telegraph c…

Liam Heagney

18 Dec 2020, 5:50

Cocoa butter, hair dryers, nail filing and John Barclay's bush: Some of rugby's extreme grooming habits

Bizarre grooming was a topic of discussion on RugbyPass Offload, with ex-Scotland back row John Barclay among the players mentione…

Liam Heagney

17 Dec 2020, 14:30

'There has been a lot of upheaval but none of those decisions were made to deliberately get them wrong'

European rugby for Ben Kay meant winning Champions Cup with Leicester, not competing in the second-tier Challenge Cup which the cl…

Liam Heagney

17 Dec 2020, 14:14

Premiership turns down BT Sport's £40million-a-year rights bid - reports

The buy-in by CVC into the Premiership was always likely to up the financial ante and BT Sport could be a casualty for the 2021/22…

Liam Heagney

16 Dec 2020, 5:00

Danny Cipriani has left Gloucester with immediate effect, Hastings signing made official

Less than a day after RugbyPass revealed Gloucester would sign Adam Hastings, Danny Cipriani has quit the Premiership club.

Liam Heagney

15 Dec 2020, 9:15

'Oh my Bastareaud, have you seen the size of him at No8?'

The Rugby Pod couldn't allow the Champions Cup impact of Mathieu Bastareaud for Lyon last Sunday to pass without discussion.

Liam Heagney

15 Dec 2020, 11:51

'It was a little bit scary' - Paul Deacon on filling the Sale shoes of the texting Steve Diamond

Life after Dimes at Sale wasn't something Paul Deacon thought he would ever have to experience but he has now done a week as caret…

Liam Heagney

16 Dec 2020, 14:02

Paul Gustard responds to Munster's inflammatory 'late hits' accusation

Munster were fuming on Sunday over alleged deliberate Harlequins tactics: Paul Gustard has now responded to the inflammatory accus…

Liam Heagney

16 Dec 2020, 14:54

'It was somewhat skill, somewhat fortuitous... Most of the boys were just perplexed with how I managed to make it come off'

Anyone who thinks Exeter are boring better revise that opinion following the worldie of a Premiership try scored by Tom O'Flaherty…

Liam Heagney

06 Dec 2020, 6:23

Ireland player ratings vs Scotland - Autumn Nations Cup

Ireland player ratings: They limped to victory 10 months ago when Scotland visited Dublin but there was no debate in Saturday's re…

Liam Heagney

05 Dec 2020, 12:13

'I've heard rumours of lads doing 20kms in the first two days of their week, that's like ruin-your-knees time'

George Kruis tells RugbyPass All Access how he is settling into life in Japanese club rugby, his leaving of England and his 2021 L…

Liam Heagney

05 Dec 2020, 7:10

The 'evidence' from win over Italy that has England convinced there isn't such a thing as a France B team

The France XV for Sunday's Nations Cup final contains 0 starters that defeated Ireland and just 1 starter from the team that beat …

Liam Heagney

05 Dec 2020, 14:37

'Gengey wasn't happy': The reason Joe Marler adopted an emergency position at England scrum training last week, and it wasn't at prop

Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola were in their element during an appearance on this week's England Rugby podcast hosted by Dylan Hartl…

Liam Heagney

05 Dec 2020, 4:50

'His leg drive, his ability to not accept a close contact and just go down is pretty special'

Concussed just 4 minutes into his debut last February, Caelan Doris has rebounded excellently for Ireland and was Saturday's man o…

Liam Heagney

05 Dec 2020, 13:03

Three tries in 12-minute spell either side of the break decisive for Ireland in third-place playoff

Ireland only beat Scotland ten months ago by a narrow margin but there was no debate about the comfort of this Autumn Nations Cup …

Liam Heagney

05 Dec 2020, 11:18

'You never put it to bed': Eddie Jones on the scar of England's 13-month-old World Cup final loss to the Springboks

It's 13 months since England lost the World Cup final to the Springboks and that painful scar won't ever fully heal for coach Eddi…

Liam Heagney

04 Dec 2020, 17:00

Jones confronts claim he hasn't evolved England after picking 13 of his World Cup final XV for Nations Cup decider

Eddie Jones was put on the spot on Friday following his latest England team selection but he had a statistic ready to rebuke the a…

Liam Heagney

04 Dec 2020, 7:32

The 2009 France ambush that England fans have been warned to remember going into Sunday's final

France are coming to London with a Nations Cup team that has already been written off, but Eddie Jones has a warning for England f…

Liam Heagney

04 Dec 2020, 8:13

'I know his mum is scared because he does look young'

Wasps' exciting young out-half Jacob Umaga has been involved in England training this autumn but it has left his mother worried. …

Liam Heagney

03 Dec 2020, 14:33

'I said Kyle would be a good rolling sub (in league). He can do ten minutes... but that would be him done'

The full-time arrival of Jason Ryles in the England set-up from NRL has resulted in plenty of rugby league chat amongst George For…

Liam Heagney

04 Dec 2020, 5:04

'It's brilliant': The British and Irish Lions tour idea that could financially help the Pacific Islands

The combined Pacific Islands team toured on three occasions in the 2000s and Mike Umaga believes the time is ripe for restarting t…

Liam Heagney

04 Dec 2020, 4:07

Andy Farrell has turned to the man who transformed Irish amateur boxing to get Ireland out of a mental rut

2020 hasn't been the best first year in charge of Ireland for Andy Farrell and he has now admitted to bringing in mental prep expe…

Liam Heagney

03 Dec 2020, 12:36

Billy Vunipola has his say on 62-day winter break in between England games if Saracens don't deliver 'something in the pipeline'

England No8 Billy Vunipola faces a nine-week break in between games after this Sunday unless limbo Saracens manage to get back on …

Liam Heagney

03 Dec 2020, 5:28

Eddie Jones cuts England squad to 27 for Nations Cup final

With the countdown on towards Sunday's Nations Cup final versus France, Eddie Jones has cut his England squad to 27.

Liam Heagney

02 Dec 2020, 13:32

'No-one gave South Africa stick for winning the World Cup but they played a pretty defensive set-piece, kicking based game'

European teams are being heavily criticised for dull rugby but Dylan Hartley says the trend began with the Springboks at the 2019 …

Liam Heagney

02 Dec 2020, 14:50

'I'm not sure whether we will get back to those days of exceptional or extraordinary scores, I don't think that's good for the game either'

Northern hemisphere Test rugby is under fire for lack of entertainment and England assistant John Mitchell says breakdown laws nee…

Liam Heagney

02 Dec 2020, 8:45

'He was just a brilliant dude, a brilliant dude that filled the cracks of a post-rugby career with s***'

The rugby world was in mourning last week following the death of Christophe Dominici, the France great warmly remembered on The Ru…

Liam Heagney

02 Dec 2020, 5:11

'Billy is his main No8': The Rugby Pod on why Vunipola is still the man for Eddie Jones' England

There have been recent claims that Billy Vunipola is on the way out with England but The Rugby Pod have jumped to the defence of t…

Liam Heagney

01 Dec 2020, 13:45

'He was shocking': The Rugby Pod's brutal verdict on Romain Poite's Wales vs England scrum decisions

Romain Poite was in the firing line in Llanelli and The Rugby Pod have now weighed in with a stinging verdict on his Wales vs Engl…

Liam Heagney

01 Dec 2020, 9:42

Ireland issue lengthy medical bulletin, Burns and Lowe ruled out of playoff versus Scotland

Andy Farrell's Ireland look to be limping towards the finishing line following a disappointing campaign in the Autumn Nations Cup.

Liam Heagney

01 Dec 2020, 6:13

Uncapped Barbeary chosen in 33-strong England squad but Joseph will miss Nations Cup final versus France

Eddie Jones has picked a 33-strong squad for Sunday's Nations Cup final versus France, two players less than the 35 that assembled…

Liam Heagney

01 Dec 2020, 4:56

How a sliding doors moment at 24 changed the rugby life of Agustin Creevy

Agustin Creevy was set to sign for current club London Irish in 2009 before a phone call ultimatum from Argentina changed his life…

Liam Heagney

29 Nov 2020, 5:53

'The longest NFL field goal is probably 60 yards and that is also very doable with a rugby union ball'

It's a decade since injury for Saracens wrecked Derick Hougaard but he is back chasing an improbable NFL dream just shy of his 38t…

Liam Heagney

29 Nov 2020, 4:15

'Nothing's frustrating': England captain's defensive retort to questions on latest low-frills display

England yet again didn't produce Nations Cup fireworks but what transpired against Wales didn't frustrate skipper Owen Farrell.

Liam Heagney

28 Nov 2020, 15:17

'At half-time, it could have been like watching a psycho horror movie'

The England display at Llanelli lacked attacking fluency but Eddie Jones was pleased as his team showed second-half composure unli…

Liam Heagney

28 Nov 2020, 14:29

'We're not a team humming along like a big V8 revving down the highway... we have always got problems'

Nations Cup favourites England have admitted to having problems but they claim they would be more worried if they hadn't any issue…

Liam Heagney

28 Nov 2020, 8:07

'Happy and good is unacceptable. What would Callum say?'

Callum Sheedy was a kid in the shadows when Pat Lam arrived at Bristol in 2017 but the coach feels Wales now have a jewel on their…

Liam Heagney

28 Nov 2020, 7:44

England boss Eddie Jones has ridiculed the term 'playmaker'

England boss Eddie Jones has been pushing back traditional rugby boundaries in recent weeks and he has now tackled the playmaker t…

Liam Heagney

28 Nov 2020, 7:29

'Name me another tighthead prop who has played the amount of league games John Afoa has?'

Tighthead John Afoa turned 37 last month but there is no sign at all that the ex-All Black front row is slowing down at Bristol.

Liam Heagney

28 Nov 2020, 4:10

Tremendous reaction to referee Nigel Owens being gifted special golden whistle ahead of 100th Test

Social media has been busy with rugby luminaries praising this Saturday's 100th Test milestone in the stellar career of referee Ni…

Liam Heagney

27 Nov 2020, 11:33

Stand by for more boring England rugby: 'You never want your attack to be in place too far ahead of the World Cup'

England have shipped criticism for not entertaining in recent outings but Eddie Jones isn't looking to finesse his attack any time…

Liam Heagney

27 Nov 2020, 6:54

Eddie Jones has a message for critics of under-pressure Wayne Pivac

Having known Wayne Pivac since 2007, England's Eddie Jones has a message for the many critics of the Wales boss who has had a diff…

Liam Heagney

27 Nov 2020, 3:45

'They didn't have Maradona but they had some great players and had a great team'

The All Blacks got a mention when Eddie Jones was put on the spot regarding whether rugby has any Diego Maradona-type figures.

Liam Heagney

27 Nov 2020, 2:49

'He just bumbles about doing his job': Ex-captain singles out England's current unsung hero

There has been huge praise for the likes of Curry and Underhill but former England captain Dylan Hartley has singled out his unsun…

Liam Heagney

26 Nov 2020, 10:21

The kicking tactic Beauden Barrett was encouraged to use by Dave Alred, who helped Wilkinson's England to RWC glory

Headlines were made in January when Dave Alred, famed for kick coaching with England, went to work with Beauden Barrett of the All…

Liam Heagney

26 Nov 2020, 15:24

'He's like a bit of wagyu beef: massaged every day, stretched, fired up - he's just so professional'

Jonny May jumped to joint-second in the all-time England record try-scoring list last Saturday, potency attributable to his profes…

Liam Heagney

26 Nov 2020, 13:57

'They're in a situation they probably relish... they have been written off'

Mindful that Wales are under heaps of pressure following their first year under Wayne Pivac, England boss Eddie Jones has sounded …

Liam Heagney

26 Nov 2020, 8:36

Eddie Jones salutes the late Dominici and Maradona, lauds Nigel Owens' weekend milestone

England boss Eddie Jones has reflected on this week's tragic loss of two sports heroes, but on a happier note recognised a rugby m…

Liam Heagney

26 Nov 2020, 9:40

England make 1 change to their XV to face Wales

Eddie Jones has made one change to the England XV for Wales following last Saturday's Nations Cup win over Ireland.

Liam Heagney

26 Nov 2020, 6:04

'He said 20 per cent and I said, Wow' - Lam reacts to Sinckler's Bristol 'struggle' claim

England prop Kyle Sinckler has made some candid admissions following his move to Bristol, prompting a response on Wednesday from P…

Liam Heagney

25 Nov 2020, 9:26

'I reckon there was a red card and probably two yellow cards for them'

Ryan Wilson spoke recently about being a hate figure in the Munster dressing room and tensions boiled over at Scotstoun on Monday …

Liam Heagney

25 Nov 2020, 15:22

'A proper matriarch': Steve Diamond's poignant tribute to his late 85-year-old mother who moulded his tough love approach to rugby management

Four family deaths have affected the Sale squad in recent weeks, including the passing of the influential mother of boss Steve Dia…

Liam Heagney

25 Nov 2020, 5:58

'He's going through a legal process at the minute... I hope he gets everything he is owed'

Last Saturday was the first Leicester game in 23 years without Geordan Murphy and The Rugby Pod have had their say on the situatio…

Liam Heagney

25 Nov 2020, 8:07

How the rugby world reacted to the tragic death of Christophe Dominici

Tragic news emerged from Paris on Tuesday that ex-France star Christophe Dominici was dead at 48, uniting the rugby world in grief…

Liam Heagney

24 Nov 2020, 16:39

Sale's reason for cheer after one weekend statistic improved radically from 30 to 80 percent

Sale scratched a 7-year Premiership opening weekend itch last Friday and one aspect of play particularly pleased boss Steve Diamon…

Liam Heagney

24 Nov 2020, 14:42

'It just sucks watching it on TV': Nemani Nadolo on hotel quarantine life with Fiji in France

The Autumn Nations Cup hasn't turned out as Nemani Nadolo wanted, the Fiji squad in French hotel isolation following a mass virus …

Liam Heagney

24 Nov 2020, 14:56

Kicking up a storm

Dave Alred puts the boot in on critics who want to see more running rugby

FEATURE

Liam Heagney

24 Nov 2020, 12:37

France great Christophe Dominici dead at 48

Christophe Dominici shot to fame as a try-scorer when France knocked the All Blacks out of the 1999 World Cup semi-finals in Londo…

Liam Heagney

24 Nov 2020, 11:27

'How s*** is some of the ruggers?': The Rugby Pod's blunt weekend verdict

England easily beat Ireland in last weekend's headline Autumn Nations Cup game but Andy Goode of The Rugby Pod didn't jump out of …

Liam Heagney

24 Nov 2020, 9:16

Jones quickly starts England build-up to Wales with Stereophonics reference and Llanelli 'stadium' quip

It hasn't taken Eddie Jones long to start the pre-Nations Cup game verbals ahead of next Saturday's trip by England to play Wales.…

Liam Heagney

21 Nov 2020, 15:31

'I remember watching him in the 2015 World Cup and at one stage he was going to end up in Row K'

Jonny May lit up Twickenham against Ireland with a swashbuckling display that left Eddie Jones purring after the 18-7 England vict…

Liam Heagney

21 Nov 2020, 13:52

Ireland player ratings vs England - Autumn Nations Cup

Ireland ran into an Autumn Nations Cup white wall against England in London, losing 18-7 after a display where their attack was to…

Liam Heagney

21 Nov 2020, 12:35

Jones puts pressure on Saturday's referee Pascal Gauzere after England's stuttering Italian job with the Frenchman in charge

Three weeks after taking charge of England in Rome, ref Pascal Gauzere will officiate against Ireland with Eddie Jones playing min…

Liam Heagney

20 Nov 2020, 14:05

'We went to Harlequins and we thought we were Real Madrid': Sale's disastrous 7-year opening day run:

Opening weekend in the Premiership has long been a horror show for Steve Diamond's Sale, their last win coming in September 2013. …

Liam Heagney

20 Nov 2020, 12:32

The Bath squad update that should worry the 13 Barbarians players charged by the RFU

Rugby was a laughing stock last month when behaviour by a Barbarians squad that included Bath's Tom de Glanville led to a match ca…

Liam Heagney

20 Nov 2020, 6:09

England's bench is down 206 caps compared to RWC final, and the number gets worse if Ford is excluded

A year since England lost the World Cup final to South Africa, their squad evolution is evident in their Nations Cup bench inexper…

Liam Heagney

20 Nov 2020, 8:17

'To use the phrase, I've been head cook and bottle washer' - Steve Diamond's revised Sale job brief

The lockdown in England last March coincided with Steve Diamond taking on extra responsibilities at Sale, but that has now been re…

Liam Heagney

20 Nov 2020, 3:30

Four answers, no insight... how England skipper Owen Farrell kept mention of Ireland dad Andy under wraps ahead of Saturday's reunion

Saturday will see a Farrell family reunion at Twickenham but just don't as England captain Owen for insight into Ireland boss Andy…

Liam Heagney

20 Nov 2020, 4:19

'I heard someone call them the United Nations': England's verdict on 1/3 of Ireland XV qualifying under residency

England boss Eddie Jones couldn't resist a tongue-in-cheek comment on the Ireland XV containing three New Zealanders and two South…

Liam Heagney

19 Nov 2020, 17:00

The Welford Road signing that has reminded Tom Youngs of Leicester in their pomp

Leicester have suffered training ground closure and Geordan Murphy's exit in recent weeks but Tom Youngs insists is not all doom a…

Liam Heagney

19 Nov 2020, 14:28

'I was talking to one of our players who in their family three people lost their jobs'

England have continued to play matches during a lockdown where they ramifications have not gone unnoticed by Eddie Jones.

Liam Heagney

19 Nov 2020, 9:17

England explain why they have reverted to World Cup back row and kept Ford in reserve

Back row recalls for Tom Curry and Sam Underhill and keeping George Ford in reserve were prime talking points in the England selec…

Liam Heagney

19 Nov 2020, 7:22

England make 4 changes to their XV to face Ireland

Fresh from the win over Georgia, Eddie Jones has made four changes to his England XV to face Ireland in the Nations Cup on Saturda…

Liam Heagney

19 Nov 2020, 6:09

Borthwick breaks silence following snap exit of Leicester legend Murphy

Two assistant coaches and director of rugby Geordan Murphy have left Leicester in the 19 weeks since head coach Steve Borthwick st…

Liam Heagney

18 Nov 2020, 14:40

Why Andy Farrell is confident Ireland rookie Ross Byrne won't repeat his August 2019 England nightmare

His only previous Test start - an Ireland hammering at Twickenham - cost Ross Byrne an RWC squad place but he is backed for a happ…

Liam Heagney

18 Nov 2020, 9:19

England shed light on their exclusion of Jack Willis

There was great hype after the debut performance last weekend of Jack Willis but England have explained why he won't feature again…

Liam Heagney

18 Nov 2020, 9:51

Freddie Burns' hilarious training ground introduction to Japan

Freddie Burns has left Bath for a new adventure in Japan and the settling-in period for the ex-England out-half has had amusing mo…

Liam Heagney

18 Nov 2020, 6:31

Ireland make 4 changes to their XV for visit to Twickenham

Having defeated Wales 32-9 in their Autumn Nations Cup opener, Ireland have made four changes to their XV to play England away nex…

Liam Heagney

18 Nov 2020, 7:47

Steve Diamond breaks silence, criticises Lam, Monye and Solomons as RFU report 'exonerates' Sale

Sale boss Steve Diamond has come out swinging ahead of the RFU report into the Sharks which is said to 'exonerate' them of wrongdo…

Liam Heagney

17 Nov 2020, 8:05

Nations Cup thrown into chaos as 29 positive Fiji tests for Covid confirmed, game with Italy cancelled

The Nations Cup suffered a blow when last Sunday's Fiji vs France match was cancelled but it's now in chaos following a second can…

Liam Heagney

17 Nov 2020, 13:55

'It's a really bad game of musical chairs: twelve chairs, 13 clubs and somebody misses out - relegation doesn't serve any sort of purpose'

Promoted Newcastle open their Premiership campaign next weekend and Mick Hogan has a stark message about their lost year in the Ch…

Liam Heagney

15 Nov 2020, 6:41

England cut squad to 25, omit two starters from pack vs Georgia

England beat Georgia 40-0 but two of their Nations Cup starting pack are excluded from the squad of 25 for the round two clash wit…

Liam Heagney

17 Nov 2020, 12:25

Sale on cusp of 2 overseas signings, admit Tuilagi was hit by Covid

Steve Diamond is set to tackle the Sale injury list, with cover for Lood de Jager one of two Premiership signings to be unveiled n…

Liam Heagney

17 Nov 2020, 13:26

'We'd 18 scrums and 12 mauling contests, so that's 30 contests where you basically go 8-vs-8 which is unusual'

Mindful of their infamous scrummaging session last year with Georgia, Eddie Jones says England proved a point at Twickenham on Sat…

Liam Heagney

14 Nov 2020, 14:32

France go top of Group B after being awarded 28-0 win over Fiji

With France vs Fiji cancelled, Nations Cup organisers were left having to decide a result in the boardroom rather than on the fiel…

Liam Heagney

17 Nov 2020, 4:31

Has Eddie Jones handed hurting Wales their November 28 team talk with description of next weekend's England vs Ireland game?

Ireland are next up for England in the Nations Cup but the status Eddie Jones has given that match could be taken as a slight by W…

Liam Heagney

14 Nov 2020, 13:45

'It's a word every coach would like to keep on using'

Andy Farrell was pleased with the one word that summed up Ireland on Friday night but it might not be heard after visiting England…

Liam Heagney

14 Nov 2020, 8:32

'He thinks he's a fly-half already': The Murray-at-10 cameo had Farrell salivating

Benched versus Wales, veteran Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray came into the fray late but he impressed playing in a very different…

Liam Heagney

14 Nov 2020, 6:40

Wayne Pivac insists he hasn't lost the Wales dressing room, provides evidence supporting his claim

Wayne Pivac has had a horrible baptism of fire but he saw something in the Wales dressing room that said he hasn't lost the dressi…

Liam Heagney

14 Nov 2020, 4:20

Ireland player ratings vs Wales - Autumn Nations Cup

Having had their Six Nations title hopes ended by France on October 31, here is how the Ireland players rated in their Nations Cup…

Liam Heagney

13 Nov 2020, 17:05

Ireland eventually grab deserved 23-point winning margin as Wales' losing streak goes on

Struggling Wales arrived in Dublin lacking confidence and their resistance eventually caved in, leaving Ireland to win by 32-9. …

Liam Heagney

13 Nov 2020, 16:05

Ireland forced to make 2 late changes to their starting XV

Ireland picked their XV on Tuesday to play Wales in Friday's Autumn Nations Cup but two players, including Jacob Stockdale, have p…

Liam Heagney

13 Nov 2020, 12:48

England aren't starting nine forwards versus Georgia, but Eddie Jones has still 'invented' a new position for one player in his XV

England won't start with forwards as backs and vice-versa on Saturday but Eddie Jones has still coined a new position for one of h…

Liam Heagney

13 Nov 2020, 5:30

England's embarrassment of openside riches: From a pair of 6-and-a-halves to four out-and-out 7s

Eddie Jones used to quip he only had two six-and-a-halves at flanker but the England coach is now revelling in having four out-and…

Liam Heagney

13 Nov 2020, 8:10

Eddie Jones compares England newcomer Jack Willis to 63-cap ex-Wallabies forward

Eddie Jones is giving Jack Willis his first run at Test level, a selection that has the England boss remembering one ex-Wallabies …

Liam Heagney

12 Nov 2020, 17:00

'We hated ye': Simon Zebo lifts the lid on spicy Munster rivalry with Ryan Wilson's Glasgow

Munster vs Glasgow became a feisty rivalry some years ago, with Simon Zebo taking dressing room heat for following Ryan Wilson on …

Liam Heagney

12 Nov 2020, 14:48

Ex-Ireland player's frank assessment of Pivac's Wales: 'There's no fear playing them like in the past'

From World Cup semi-finalists to losing 5 games in a row: ex-Ireland player Simon Zebo outlines what is gone wrong with Wayne Piva…

Liam Heagney

12 Nov 2020, 13:17

'He's flippin' tough': Eddie Jones on what he likes about new England cap Jack Willis

The inclusion of Jack Willis for a first England cap was the main talking point after Eddie Jones named his XV to play Georgia on …

Liam Heagney

12 Nov 2020, 8:06

Ian McGeechan's verdict on injured Manu Tuilagi's Lions chances, picks his 2021 1st Test XV

Ian McGeechan has his say on injured Manu Tuilagi's race against time and sifts through his preferred 2021 Lions 1st Test XV.

Liam Heagney

07 Nov 2020, 8:45

How Ian McGeechan knew, years ago, that Warren Gatland was right for the Lions

There was no such thing as apps, avatars and instant communication when a 27-year-old Ian McGeechan toured South Africa with the 1…

Liam Heagney

08 Nov 2020, 5:24

The extraordinary rise of Semi Radradra: From working in a goldmine for $2 an hour to captaining Fiji

Handed the captaincy of Fiji, Semi Radradra has given a rare interview and has opened up about his extraordinary rise from humble …

Liam Heagney

11 Nov 2020, 5:08

Ryan Wilson revisits infamous 2018 Owen Farrell tunnel-gate row, which had consequences a year later at Twickenham

Winding England up is something Ryan Wilson of Scotland really enjoys and his memories of 2018 and 2019 were hilarious on RugbyPas…

Liam Heagney

11 Nov 2020, 14:15

Ireland outcast Simon Zebo has a message for James Lowe, the latest New Zealander to get an Irish cap

Although a born and bred Irishman, Simon Zebo is not eligible to currently play for Ireland who this Friday give a debut to Kiwi J…

Liam Heagney

11 Nov 2020, 11:21

Nigel Owens owns up to schoolboy error, also amusingly blames Wayne Barnes for why he won't referee at RWC 2023

Veteran referee Nigel Owens has always been an entertaining presence on social media but two messages this week lit up Twitter.

Liam Heagney

10 Nov 2020, 9:35

Incredible Super Rugby/Champions Cup sub stat puts Gibson-Park, Ireland's new No9, firmly under spotlight

Jamison Gibson-Park has made a career coming off the Super Rugby/Champions Cup bench but he will start as Ireland No9 on Friday in…

Liam Heagney

10 Nov 2020, 14:31

7 changes for Ireland against Wales, debut cap for Lowe

Andy Farrell has reacted to the Six Nations loss to France by making seven chances to the Ireland XV to face Wales on Friday.

Liam Heagney

10 Nov 2020, 7:57

Fixtures unveiled for 2021 Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa season, one delicious format twist added

After the excellence of the 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament, plans have been unveiled for 2021 with Sky now the official spon…

Liam Heagney

10 Nov 2020, 4:41

'Sorry, I'm getting a little bit emotional' - the grim reality of liquidating a professional rugby club

Ex-Springboks fly-half Braam van Straaten is fighting the fallout from the liquidation of Southern Kings which put 52 people out o…

Liam Heagney

08 Nov 2020, 11:16

'One thing certain is having been away, to get back into it has reignited that spark and love for the game'

Back in rugby consulting for minnows Georgia, David Humphreys talks Autumn Nations Cup and breaks silence on his June exit from Gl…

Liam Heagney

08 Nov 2020, 4:00

Jones hints he could start 9 England forwards against Georgia

England boss Eddie Jones has teased he could do to Georgia next weekend what he did to them with Japan in 2015 just before Brighto…

Liam Heagney

08 Nov 2020, 2:42

A 2013 remark about Brian O'Driscoll losing the Ireland captaincy should be foremost in Johnny Sexton's thoughts

Sexton and Farrell took it in turns Thursday to draw a line under last Saturday's controversy, but the Ireland duo have unfinished…

Liam Heagney

05 Nov 2020, 13:47

'If you were a betting man you'd be pretty excited about seeing him play for Ireland'

Having served his three-year residency, New Zealander James Lowe is now eligible to represent Ireland in this month's Autumn Natio…

Liam Heagney

05 Nov 2020, 10:42

Sexton and Farrell try to clear the air after messy fallout from Saturday night's infamous substitution

Ireland's title-losing Six Nations loss to France has been eclipsed by talk surrounding Johnny Sexton and his substitution by Andy…

Liam Heagney

05 Nov 2020, 7:43

What Jamie Roberts would do to fix Wayne Pivac's struggling Wales

The mood among Wales fans has been dark since Saturday's latest loss and Jamie Roberts has identified the areas Wayne Pivac must f…

Liam Heagney

05 Nov 2020, 6:28

The England training ground attitude that makes Maro Itoje stand out from the crowd

Maro Itoje is widely recognised as an England great but what makes him tick on the training ground? Dylan Hartley provides a telli…

Liam Heagney

04 Nov 2020, 14:14

'He's not in the best 4 second rows': The Rugby Pod's shock AWJ Lions selection call

The Rugby Pod has no room for romance in selecting the form second rows for the 2021 Lions, excluding veteran Wales skipper Alun W…

Liam Heagney

04 Nov 2020, 6:19

What AWJ pulled out of his luggage on the 2017 Lions left CJ Stander gobsmacked

CJ Stander shared a room with Alun Wyn Jones on the 2017 Lions and he was left gobsmacked by the Welsh skipper's level of professi…

Liam Heagney

04 Nov 2020, 9:27

Ex-England skipper Hartley weighs in on whether Saracens should be automatically allowed rejoin the Premiership

Dylan Hartley once played a season in the Championship with Northampton and he has now had his say on the Saracens promotion specu…

Liam Heagney

04 Nov 2020, 8:36

Gatland breaks silence on whether disgraced Rob Howley is being considered as a 2021 Lions assistant

Rob Howley assisted Warren Gatland on the 2013 and 2017 Lions but his star has fallen since his gambling ban from the sport.

Liam Heagney

01 Nov 2020, 3:10

Ireland player ratings vs France - Six Nations Super Saturday

Ireland went into the Six Nations finale in Paris knowing a win by seven points would net them the title... here's how their playe…

Liam Heagney

31 Oct 2020, 18:30

England player ratings vs Italy - Six Nations Super Saturday

Here are the England player ratings after their 29-point win versus Italy put pressure on Six Nations title rivals Ireland and Fra…

Liam Heagney

31 Oct 2020, 14:40

Gatland has his say on 14-week pre-Lions gap facing Itoje and fellow Saracens stars following 2021 Six Nations

Star Saracens players like Maro Itoje face a 14-week break after the end of the 2021 Six Nations and the start of the Lions tour. …

Liam Heagney

31 Oct 2020, 8:03

Gatland's message to Wales fans who claim Scotland is must-win for under-pressure Pivac

New Wales boss Wayne Pivac is taking criticism for a 4-match losing streak but Warren Gatland wants fans to cut his fellow Kiwi so…

Liam Heagney

30 Oct 2020, 12:40

England's Plan B minus Farrell: 'Every time he has stepped into the 10 he looks an absolute natural there'

Eddie Jones hasn't picked a specialist 10 on the England bench, so he will improvise in an emergency with George Furbank or Henry …

Liam Heagney

30 Oct 2020, 12:39

England boss Jones: Barbarians fiasco has made rugby 'a bit of a laughing stock'

Eddie Jones has flown out for England's Six Nations finale in Rome still furious with last week's match-cancelling Barbarians fias…

Liam Heagney

30 Oct 2020, 5:19

'There is no anti-Scottish sentiment from me - I definitely want them to do well'

Just five of the 78 original picks for the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours were Scotland players but Warren Gatland insists he isn't ant…

Liam Heagney

29 Oct 2020, 14:40

13 Barbarians players charged by the RFU following cancelled England match

There is no end yet in sight to last weekend's embarrassing England match cancellation as the RFU have now charged 13 Barbarians p…

Liam Heagney

29 Oct 2020, 12:16

'He hits hard, carries hard, sort of a no-nonsense player similar to the George Kruis mould'

With George Kruis heading to Japan, Eddie Jones recently scoured the Premiership for an England lock and he found one in Jonny Hil…

Liam Heagney

29 Oct 2020, 8:24

Lions squad could accommodate as few as 35 players, Ireland boss Farrell in frame for assistant's role

The 2021 Lions could travel with six players fewer than in 2017, but Andy Farrell is in the frame as repeat assistant coach to Gat…

Liam Heagney

29 Oct 2020, 5:09

England make 7 changes for Italian job, hand lock Jonny Hill a debut start

England have unveiled the team they hope can put up a big score on Italy on Saturday and leave them in the frame to win the Six Na…

Liam Heagney

29 Oct 2020, 7:14

Gatland muddies Lions captain speculation by naming a whopping 17 players as possible 2021 skipper

Just when you though the list of who might captain the 2021 Lions was narrowing, Warren Gatland comes along with a list as long as…

Liam Heagney

28 Oct 2020, 18:23

Boozing Barbarians have Dylan Hartley reminiscing about England's infamous dwarf tossing controversy

With the Barbarians cancellation the talk of rugby, Dylan Hartley has revisted the infamous England RWC 2011 carry-on in Queenstow…

Liam Heagney

28 Oct 2020, 13:39

Dad's Army: Gatland insists old age is no barrier to Sexton, Jones in Lions tour selection

Johnny Sexton will be 36 and Alun Wyn Jones nearly as old when next year's Lions Tests begin, but Warren Gatland insists age is no…

Liam Heagney

28 Oct 2020, 18:02

Covid risk forces Ireland to bring 31-man squad to Paris, but still no room for Cooney

Covid meant recent Republic of Ireland soccer away games were a calamity, something Andy Farrell and Ireland rugby are intent not …

Liam Heagney

28 Oct 2020, 11:07

'They haven't always been the easiest to deal with': Gatland fears Premiership threat could cost English-based players Lions places

Warren Gatland is worried preparations for the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa will be hurt by Premiership Rugby's player release …

Liam Heagney

28 Oct 2020, 8:33

'It's an incredible feat': Five years after nerve damage nearly ended his career, Cian Healy is about to become a Test centurion

Complications after neck surgery had prop Cian Healy on the verge of quitting in 2015 but he is now ready to win his 100th Ireland…

Liam Heagney

27 Oct 2020, 15:32

Ireland make one change for Six Nations title finale against France

Ireland head into the final match of their 2020 Six Nations campaign on the back of a 50-17 win last Saturday over Italy in Dublin…

Liam Heagney

28 Oct 2020, 8:55

'It beggars belief' - Steenson on Simmonds' England snub, retirement and Exeter's naked bus celebrations

Having seen at first-hand the emergence of Joe Simmonds as No10 with double-winning Exeter, Gareth Steenson is confused by England…

Liam Heagney

27 Oct 2020, 8:11

'Getting out of the hotel is pretty much a no-go' - inside the Barbarians camp prior to the 'Hungry 12' fiasco

Barbarians selection for the now-cancelled England game was a reward for the form Tim Swinson had enjoyed after recently joining S…

Liam Heagney

25 Oct 2020, 6:38

Garry Ringrose's Six Nations is over with broken jaw

Garry Ringrose missed two of the three Ireland Six Nations games last February and he was in the wars again on Saturday in Dublin.…

Liam Heagney

24 Oct 2020, 14:35

Ireland player ratings vs Italy

Ireland got the Six Nations back up and running with a win over Italy where debut-making Will Connors was the official man of the …

Liam Heagney

24 Oct 2020, 13:50

Rookies help Ireland to bonus-point win but soft Italian tries leaves title door open for England

Ireland began the Six Nations restart with a 50-17 win over Italy, but they will fear they have left title door open for England t…

Liam Heagney

24 Oct 2020, 12:48

'My dad was thinking of sneaking in; I'd to tell him not to do it'

It was feared Dan Leavy might not play again following a horrible knee injury but his 573-day lay-off ended on Friday with Leinste…

Liam Heagney

24 Oct 2020, 7:52

'I can't see the logic behind not supporting the Championship as much as you possibly could'

Rob Baxter isn't alone in criticising the RFU's poor attitude towards the Championship as Wasps feel exactly the same way.

Liam Heagney

24 Oct 2020, 6:20

'I could actually write a book about all these characters in the Exeter changing room - it would be a best-seller'

Thomas Waldrom is 12,000 miles from Exeter but that doesn't stop him cheering... and cracking open breakfast time beers when they …

Liam Heagney

24 Oct 2020, 4:18

Trouble brewing

Andy Farrell needs to deliver a Six Nations title if he wants to be the toast of Ireland

FEATURE

Liam Heagney

24 Oct 2020, 3:25

Leavy's return after 573 days out with horror injury nearly gets storybook finish

After 19 months out, Dan Leavy was back in the Leinster colours on Friday night and he nearly enjoyed a try-scoring return.

Liam Heagney

23 Oct 2020, 16:46

Referee Wayne Barnes tests positive for coronavirus and will miss Premiership final

There has been a further virus twist in the lead-up to the Premiership final, referee Wayne Barnes getting ruled out after a faile…

Liam Heagney

23 Oct 2020, 5:04

Wasps name Premiership final XV showing four changes from semi-final win over Bristol

After huge speculation as to what the make-up of the Wasps XV would be, Lee Blackett has now announced his team for the Premiershi…

Liam Heagney

23 Oct 2020, 7:25

Nations Cup blow for Fiji as Semi Radradra ruled out until the end of November

Semi Radradra has lit up Bristol since his summer switch from Bordeaux but he won't carry that form into the Nations Cup wth Fiji.…

Liam Heagney

22 Oct 2020, 16:36

Hotel bubble breach by Barbarians could see Sunday's England game cancelled

The Barbarians are scheduled to face England at Twickenham but the Twickenham fixture is now threatened with cancellation.

Liam Heagney

22 Oct 2020, 12:41

Blackett breaks silence, admits Wasps are 4 main men down for Saturday's final

Wasps have been given the go-ahead to play in Saturday's Premiership final but Lee Blackett says they will do so minus some famili…

Liam Heagney

22 Oct 2020, 9:20

'That high tackle on Juan Imhoff, he nearly takes his head off, that's a red card'

Exeter were crowned Champions Cup champions last Saturday Racing full-back Simon Zebo has taken issue with a Henry Slade tackle.

Liam Heagney

22 Oct 2020, 13:16

'It was a pretty long walk of shame': Dylan Hartley revisits his infamous 2013 Premiership final red card

Ahead of Saturday's latest Premiership final, Dylan Hartley has candidly reflected on his infamous 2013 red card with Northampton.…

Liam Heagney

21 Oct 2020, 12:48

Farrell explains why he has gone for Ireland flankers with just 2 Test caps

The starting Ireland back row at Twickenham had 131 caps - next Saturday's against Italy will have just 43 after Farrell changes i…

Liam Heagney

21 Oct 2020, 8:52

'I've every confidence everyone on the pitch in the final will be Covid-free and there won't be any danger to anybody'

It took until Wednesday before Wasps were cleared to play in the Premiership final and Exeter boss Rob Baxter welcomes their prese…

Liam Heagney

21 Oct 2020, 10:01

Ireland make six changes to XV after England loss, handing debuts to Keenan and Connors

Following their Six Nations defeat to England last February, Ireland have made six changes to their XV to take on Italy on Saturda…

Liam Heagney

21 Oct 2020, 7:47

'Jonny Gray was quite disappointed... he was sitting next to us and didn't get in the photo'

A picture of old Scottish pals Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell went viral in the way of Exeter's European final win over Racing last …

Liam Heagney

20 Oct 2020, 9:52

'It's crazy that it happens now after us being squeaky clean for so long'

A virus outbreak has hit Wasps but defence coach Ian Costello is optimistic the spread will be contained and shutting down Exeter …

Liam Heagney

18 Oct 2020, 4:45

Champions Cup final's bizarre end: Referee Owens has feisty exchange with his TMO

Exeter were crowned first-time Champions Cup winners on Saturday evening but it took a while for Nigel Owens to blow his final whi…

Liam Heagney

17 Oct 2020, 16:29

Exeter player ratings vs Racing

Here's how Rob Baxter's Exeter players rated in a spectacular, high-scoring Champions Cup final win against Racing in Bristol.

Liam Heagney

17 Oct 2020, 15:17

Video: 15 seconds was all it took for Bristol to score Radradra-inspired try on Friday night

Toulon were made to pay dearly after they kicked the ball to Semi Radradra at the start of Friday night's Challenge Cup final whic…

Liam Heagney

17 Oct 2020, 4:08

The clinical August moment which convinced Rob Baxter his Exeter would challenge for two trophies in October

Exeter are ready for European and Premiership finals on successive Saturdays, something Rob Baxter was convinced in August could h…

Liam Heagney

17 Oct 2020, 7:25

'This academy kid who couldn't speak French, couldn't speak English, dropped into training and carved everyone up... he made all look like idiots'

Jamie Roberts spent two seasons at Racing and he has vivid memories of players like Virimi Vakatawa ahead of Saturday's Champions …

Liam Heagney

17 Oct 2020, 6:04

Genge sends Bristol a Euro Cup final good luck message from England camp

Bristol native Ellis Genge came through the ranks at his local club and he now hopes they are successful in Friday's Challenge Cup…

Liam Heagney

16 Oct 2020, 13:59

Andy Farrell breaks his silence on the Ireland axing of John Cooney

The absence of John Cooney from the Ireland squad announced last week was a major talking point and Andy Farrell has now explained…

Liam Heagney

16 Oct 2020, 10:01

England talk up de Glanville and Lawrence, sidestep the omission of Spencer

England assistant Simon Amor has sidestepping talk of Ben Spencer's omission and instead focused on the call-up of Tom de Glanvill…

Liam Heagney

16 Oct 2020, 8:57

Baxter gives update on Nowell and other Exeter walking wounded

Jack Nowell hasn't played since a September 26 foot injury but Rob Baxter has confirmed he is back in the Exeter mix for Saturday'…

Liam Heagney

14 Oct 2020, 7:57

'The more we talk about Joe Simmonds the less chance he will get picked... it happened to Maro'

Momentum is growing in the 'Joe Simmonds for England' campaign but Dylan Hartley has recalled what Eddie Jones did before to Maro …

Liam Heagney

14 Oct 2020, 13:19

'I was sat in the toilet and had an emotional breakdown': Hartley's nightmare Champions Cup final concussion

It's nine years since Northampton lost an epic Champions Cup final to Leinster, a defeat that left a horrible memory for Dylan Har…

Liam Heagney

14 Oct 2020, 15:29

Jamie Roberts reckons an Exeter 'weakness' running off 9 can help Racing to Euro glory

This Saturday's Champions Cup final is full of tactical intrigue and Jamie Roberts claims to have spotted a potential Exeter 'weak…

Liam Heagney

15 Oct 2020, 14:18

Jones confirms 26-strong squad attending England's latest three-day camp

England have started their latest three-day training camp and Eddie Jones had confirmed exactly who is with him at the Lensbury.

Liam Heagney

15 Oct 2020, 13:45

Time to re-Joyce

Second row's strong roots can help Bristol branch out in Challenge Cup final

FEATURE

Liam Heagney

15 Oct 2020, 12:59

Exeter issue Covid testing all-clear after 5am Wednesday start

Staff at Exeter were up as early as 5am on Wednesday morning as the results of the latest round of Covid testing arrived ahead of …

Liam Heagney

14 Oct 2020, 8:24

Match referee Nigel Owens has had his say on Saturday's Exeter vs Racing final

Saturday will be the seventh Champions Cup final Nigel Owens will take charge of and he set the scene on Tuesday on Irish breakfas…

Liam Heagney

13 Oct 2020, 14:29

Jamie Roberts breaks silence on his positive Covid test, discusses major outbreak at Sale

Appearing on RugbyPass Offload, Dragons centre Jamie Roberts opens up about his mid-August encounter with Covid-19 and what happen…

Liam Heagney

08 Oct 2020, 9:36

He's 33 and a qualified doctor but Jamie Roberts fears retiring from rugby

Respected Wales midfielder Jamie Roberts made sure during his 20s he got his college qualifications but the thought of retiring fr…

Liam Heagney

09 Oct 2020, 14:26

Ryan Wilson on the annoying trait Maro Itoje and Bundee Aki have in common

Ryan Wilson checked in for his debut this week on the new RugbyPass Offload show and the Scotland back row made his mark when pres…

Liam Heagney

09 Oct 2020, 13:30

Simon Zebo on why he left Ireland and his situation with current boss Andy Farrell

Not since July 2017 has Simon Zebo featured for Ireland and another squad announcement on Thursday arrived minus his name.

Liam Heagney

08 Oct 2020, 14:22

Winners and losers from Andy Farrell's Ireland squad announcement

The delayed Six Nations resumes on October 24 in Dublin and Andy Farrell has unveiled his 35-man squad as Ireland go in search of …

Liam Heagney

08 Oct 2020, 6:41

From back-to-back Top 14 relegations to coaching a Racing attack that is the envy of Europe: the remarkable fall and rise of Mike Prendergast

It's quite the transformation for Mike Prendergast, the ex-Munster player going from coaching successive Top 14 relegations to a g…

Liam Heagney

11 Oct 2020, 7:14

Video: Malakai Fekitoa's cracking early try was his painful last act in Premiership semi-final win

There was huge interest in now Malakai Fekitoa would fare for Wasps in their Premiership semi-final but he lasted just nine minute…

Liam Heagney

10 Oct 2020, 9:15

SA Rugby issues statement casting doubt over Springboks' Rugby Championship participation

The Rugby Championship is supposed to start for the Springboks in four weeks in Brisbane but South Africa has still to confirm the…

Liam Heagney

10 Oct 2020, 4:39

Jonny May's lockdown silver lining

A fractured cheekbone wrecked the Six Nations for Jonny May last March but the England winger hasn't missed any matches in the sev…

Liam Heagney

09 Oct 2020, 5:14

'The waiting around on Monday and Tuesday was unique and challenging'

Bath endured a difficult few days after their draw at Saracens, but Stuart Hopper now believes they can go and win at Exeter.

Liam Heagney

08 Oct 2020, 8:56

'Everyone assumes the challenge is not to go out for a beer - that isn't the challenge'

With instances of Covid-19 on the rise in England, Rob Baxter believes rugby clubs like Exeter have never been as vulnerable to th…

Liam Heagney

08 Oct 2020, 4:02

'England were stupid... that has killed the Lions tour': Willie John McBride's lament for modern-day rugby

Professional rugby's myriad of problems are addressed in a compelling new book that contains a hard-hitting foreword by Lions lege…

Liam Heagney

06 Oct 2020, 14:14

'I just don't feel we are in a position to moan or whinge about not going out for a coffee'

Life this week in England camp is very different from what it was last March, but Jonny May isn't unsettled by the Covid-19 preven…

Liam Heagney

07 Oct 2020, 14:56

Baxter revisits his pre-Sale outbreak claim that the Premiership should stop Covid testing

A claim early last week by Exeter boss Rob Baxter that Coid testing in the Premiership should stop hasn't aged well in light of th…

Liam Heagney

07 Oct 2020, 14:15

'You can't blame Sale for saying we can fulfil a fixture'

Rob Baxter feels it's ridiculous Exeter only found out their Premiership semi-final opponents on Wednesday, but he isn't blaming S…

Liam Heagney

07 Oct 2020, 11:28

State of the art games room to keep England occupied at the Lensbury

Coronavirus restrictions will see Eddie Jones confine his England players to their new Lensbury team hotel where downtime activiti…

Liam Heagney

07 Oct 2020, 4:33

'Joe is an intriguing character... and I hope his book sells well'

Joe Marler has received kudos for his recent mental health revelations and England coach Eddie Jones has now had his say on the pr…

Liam Heagney

07 Oct 2020, 4:08

'When you're in your twenties and thirties, sometimes you make mistakes'

After England footballers ignited negative headlines last month, Eddie Jones wants to lay down the law to his rugby squad regardin…

Liam Heagney

06 Oct 2020, 17:00

Virus-hit Sale finally name their XV to face Worcester

There has been huge interest in the goings-on at Sale and the Steve Diamond has now announced the Premiership XV that will face Wo…

Liam Heagney

06 Oct 2020, 7:13

Virus fears impact first day of England camp as Jones potentially 3 players short

Eddie Jones named a 28-strong England squad on Monday only to turn up for work on Tuesday in London three players short due to con…

Liam Heagney

06 Oct 2020, 5:44

The Super Rugby Aotearoa trend that has Eddie Jones worked up about life without Manu Tuilagi

Eddie Jones has England - minus the injured Manu Tuilagi - in for a camp and he will be telling them about a Super Rugby Aotearoa …

Liam Heagney

06 Oct 2020, 9:03

Same as ever in Dublin - a pre-Six Nations Sexton injury scare and a Dragons thrashing by Leinster

RugbyPass was at the RDS to witness two habitual things, a Johnny Sexton injury scare with Ireland in Six Nations looming and Lein…

Liam Heagney

02 Oct 2020, 17:10

The USA rugby player who isn't allowed to enter America || Rugby Pass documentary

In the latest RugbyPass Insiders documentary, we visit 28-year-old USA prop Paul Mullen who is stranded off the coast of Ireland d…

Liam Heagney

04 Oct 2020, 8:00

James Hook gives his verdict on which Wales players can make the Lions... and he also has special mention for one Scottish import

With a new book out and a new job at Ospreys, James Hook is well-positioned to judge the Lions selection chances next year of play…

Liam Heagney

03 Oct 2020, 6:32

'On a one-to-one basis he has warned me to up my physicality to make me be the best Premiership player I can be'

Steve Borthwick has a no-nonsense reputation but his abrasive style is inspiring Tommy Reffell, the Leicester Welshman getting env…

Liam Heagney

04 Oct 2020, 4:52

'It will be one of those years where for the next 20, 30 years we will be talking about - do you remember the Covid? - for all the wrong reasons'

Steve Diamond was in his element on a media Zoom call Thursday... then Covid struck, resulting in a crazy 48 hours for Sale, his P…

Liam Heagney

03 Oct 2020, 12:14

Premiership Rugby confirms 21 positive tests for Covid-19 across three clubs

It's been quite an unsettling week for Premiership Rugby with the Sale versus Worcester game rescheduled and Northampton's match a…

Liam Heagney

03 Oct 2020, 13:15

Laporte wins France rugby election less than a fortnight after his police arrest

The outlook wasn't great for Bernard Laporte when taken into police custody less than a fortnight ago but he has won the election …

Liam Heagney

03 Oct 2020, 7:02

Worcester issue response questioning Sale's claim that Sunday's match is definitely going ahead

Covid-19 affected Sale claimed on Friday night their Premiership game was still going ahead this Sunday but Worcester have now que…

Liam Heagney

02 Oct 2020, 19:01

Sale issue statement confirming Covid-19 outbreak but insist it's business as usual this Sunday

Rumours were swirling around Sale regarding the health of their Premiership squad and they have now issued a statement confirming …

Liam Heagney

02 Oct 2020, 15:45

Great World Cup escape for Wales as World Rugby scrubs current 2023 draw rankings

Ireland had jumped to 4th and Scotland to 8th but the current rankings have been scrapped, leaving Wales celebrating for the Decem…

Liam Heagney

02 Oct 2020, 11:42

Critical Sale match faces cancellation as 16 players reportedly test positive for Covid-19

Steve Diamond told RugbyPass on Thursday how fortunate he was no-one close was poorly with Covid-19, but there is now reportedly a…

Liam Heagney

02 Oct 2020, 12:22

Covid outbreak at top-four club to impact on Premiership's Super Sunday finale

The Premiership is hyping a Super Sunday finale but it has emerged the final round of fixtures will be impacted by a Covid-19 outb…

Liam Heagney

02 Oct 2020, 8:38

'It's a whirlwind romance at the minute': Steve Diamond on whether Manu Tuilagi will extend his one-year Sale deal

Injury has sidelined Sale signing Manu Tuilagi for six months and he will be near the end of his one-year deal when he returns to …

Liam Heagney

02 Oct 2020, 5:11

European finalists Racing plunged into Covid crisis - reports

With 9 cases of Covid-19 reported following midweek testing at Champions Cup finalists Racing, their league game at La Rochelle is…

Liam Heagney

01 Oct 2020, 6:09

UPDATED: Huge blow for England as Manu Tuilagi ruled out for 6 months

Manu Tuilagi was injured for Sale at Northampton on Tuesday and the title-chasing Premiership club have now reported the England m…

Liam Heagney

01 Oct 2020, 7:33

Jim Hamilton laughs off cheerleading Finn Russell for Lions selection while seated alongside Dan Biggar

Jim Hamilton heaped weekend praise on Finn Russell, touting him for Lions selection without twigging why Dan Biggar didn't agree w…

Liam Heagney

30 Sep 2020, 11:07

'Sunday morning, I was a bit of a mess': How Tony Rowe celebrated Exeter's breathtaking European success

Last Saturday was a day Tony Rowe had long dreamed of achieving at Exeter but he felt lonely without any fans and took matters int…

Liam Heagney

30 Sep 2020, 7:12

Ex-Ireland full-back Rob Kearney signs one-year Super Rugby deal

Rob Kearney announced last Thursday that his time with Leinster and Ireland was over and he had now joined up with the Force for a…

Liam Heagney

29 Sep 2020, 5:21

Ex-Springbok quotes Ronald Reagan as crisis fund-raiser launched for unpaid Kings

Southern Kings were plunged into voluntary liquidation last weekend and a campaign has been launch to help their out-of-pocket PRO…

Liam Heagney

27 Sep 2020, 5:17

'That's the uglier side of the sport in some ways... but there is no animosity'

The inspired Ian McKinley story - how he became an Italy player despite blindness in one eye - hasn't had a happy ending with his …

Liam Heagney

27 Sep 2020, 4:18

Video: Racing's 'absolutely stunning score' created by the genius of Finn Russell

Racing were heading for a Champions Cup semi-final defeat in Paris when Finn Russell opened up his box of tricks to catch out Sara…

Liam Heagney

26 Sep 2020, 11:47

'I don't know if you can find a more heroic captain, leader and figure in the European game'

Semi-final defeat to Racing ended the stellar Champions Cup career of Brad Barritt and Brian O'Driscoll paid the Saracens stalwart…

Liam Heagney

26 Sep 2020, 10:55

Mako Vunipola has paid Vincent Koch the ultimate compliment

Mako Vunipola and Vincent Koch will look to repeat their set-piece heroics of Dublin in Paris on Saturday when Saracens play Racin…

Liam Heagney

26 Sep 2020, 3:55

'I love visiting restaurants with Cheslin because you're more than likely to get a couple of drinks or a meal free with it'

Jerome Kaino is an All Blacks World Cup winner but the popularity of clubmate Cheslin Kolbe, the Springboks World Cup winner, know…

Liam Heagney

25 Sep 2020, 13:35

Racing owner Lorenzetti lets slip the astronomical salary Maro Itoje wanted

Racing 92 had negotiations earlier this year with Maro Itoje and Parisian club president Jacky Lorenzetti has now revealed why tal…

Liam Heagney

24 Sep 2020, 13:18

Cheslin Kolbe's startling revelation about the origin of his mesmerising sidestep

Having made a career from leaving opponents grasping at thin air, Cheslin Kolbe has revealed the origin of his trademark South Afr…

Liam Heagney

24 Sep 2020, 17:00

'It came as a bit of a shock': Michael Rhodes' reaction after he learned he was cited this week

It was Monday, two days after the Saracens glory in Dublin, that Michael Rhodes learned he was being cited and could miss next Sat…

Liam Heagney

24 Sep 2020, 5:57

'I guess I was born with it': Chris Ashton's overwhelming desperation to score tries

Chris Ashton is one of rugby's most prolific try-scorers and the England winger, in a new column on The XV, claims it's a talent h…

Liam Heagney

23 Sep 2020, 14:12

Kini Murimurivalu's secret to success

Culture shock and lengthy injury nearly derailed Kini Murimurivalu in France but his faith helped him thrive and he now has big ho…

Liam Heagney

22 Sep 2020, 12:44

Leinster's shattered invincibility was bruising wake-up call after PRO14 cakewalk

How Leinster came up second best to Saracens was a bruising reminder that the PRO14 doesn't deliver the intensity necessary for Ch…

Liam Heagney

20 Sep 2020, 6:11

'A lot of people have been scared to say what Dylan said in his book - people needed to hear that'

The crippling toll rugby took on Dylan Hartley has left its mark on Teimana Harrison, the Northampton skipper plucked from Rotorua…

Liam Heagney

20 Sep 2020, 5:19

Saracens cause an upset, smashing Leinster's 25-game, 16-month unbeaten run

RugbyPass was at Aviva Stadium to see Saracens shrug off their doubters and shatter the 25-match winning streak Leinster had going…

Liam Heagney

19 Sep 2020, 12:02

'You can't keep a trophy if you're proven to have broken the rules'

Saracens' financial doping caused ructions in England and the furore has crossed the Irish Sea, leaving Leinster gunning to avenge…

Liam Heagney

19 Sep 2020, 4:20

'I just have a feeling things are coming together at the right time for us'

Much has changed since Saracens beat Leinster in the 2019 European final but it's still business as usual for the Londoners, warns…

Liam Heagney

19 Sep 2020, 4:00

Wayne Barnes has launched a new video series, using his kids' superhero figures to explain uncontested scrums

With three recent Premiership games having gone to uncontested scrums, referee Wayne Barnes has launched a video series to explain…

Liam Heagney

18 Sep 2020, 15:04

Itoje wants year away from Saracens before career ends

Maro Itoje has been the subject of much speculation about a short-term move elsewhere during the season Saracens will soon spend i…

Liam Heagney

18 Sep 2020, 17:00

It was a pity Leinster's invincible league campaign finished so anonymously, but they have entered the pantheon as the PRO14's greatest ever side

You were hard-pressed in Dublin on Saturday to twig a game of magnitude was taking place but there is no denying Leinster are the …

Liam Heagney

13 Sep 2020, 6:31

'I've proven I can cope at this level... at Leicester, I let one or two people's opinions have a huge impact on my mental state'

Negative comments about his size affected Harry Thacker at Leicester but the hooker's whirling dervish style has found a home at t…

Liam Heagney

13 Sep 2020, 4:11

Three-try Leinster seal PRO14 title hat-trick

RugbyPass was at the Aviva Stadium as Leo Cullen's Leinster stretched their winning streak to 25 games and collected a third succe…

Liam Heagney

12 Sep 2020, 15:40

Canny McFarland has cleaned up inherited Ulster mess, but few will begrudge Leinster their PRO14 title hat-trick

Ulster will ask PRO14 questions that anaemic Munster couldn't, but that won't be enough to halt the 24-game Leinster winning strea…

Liam Heagney

12 Sep 2020, 4:58

Written judgment reveals what Owen Farrell said in his defence at his hearing

It was Tuesday when Owen Farrell received his five-game ban and the short-form written judgment on the England captain's hearing h…

Liam Heagney

11 Sep 2020, 11:37

'A wise man, Richard Cockerill, once said to me an opinion without consequence is a terrible thing'

The run of poor post-lockdown results has heaped criticism on Leicester, but Geordan Murphy has explained how he handles the outsp…

Liam Heagney

11 Sep 2020, 13:29

Sexton and Cooney benched as Leinster and Ulster name their PRO14 final teams

Saturday night's PRO14 final between Leinster and Ulster will start with two of the 2019/20 season's best players - Sexton and Coo…

Liam Heagney

11 Sep 2020, 7:27

Leicester have given their verdict on whether first time captain Ellis Genge will skipper them again

Ellis Genge became the fifth Leicester captain in their six post-lockdown games when he skippered them in the record defeat on Wed…

Liam Heagney

11 Sep 2020, 3:34

Fixtures finally confirmed for November's one-off eight-team Nations Cup

Six Nations officials have finally released the fixtures for the one-off Autumn Nations Cup which will see England play three of f…

Liam Heagney

10 Sep 2020, 9:16

First-time skipper Ellis Genge issues blunt assessment of unacceptable record Leicester loss

Ellis Genge was a first-time captain of Leicester on Wednesday night and he didn't sugarcoat their damaging record defeat when tal…

Liam Heagney

10 Sep 2020, 6:26

Worcester fire back after Pat Lam's live TV attack on Andrew Kitchener

Bristol have appealed the three-match ban given to Siale Piutau but Worcester boss Alan Solomons has labelled the Tongan last Frid…

Liam Heagney

10 Sep 2020, 7:31

Video: 19-year-old Alfie Barbeary scores Wasps hat-trick his first Premiership start

36 tries were scored in the five Wednesday night Premiership games and the scoring potency of Wasps youngster Alfie Barbeary caugh…

Liam Heagney

10 Sep 2020, 4:57

Pat Lam didn't pull his verbal punches on live TV when raging over the Siale Piutau ban

Pat Lam has difficulty accepting why Siale Piutau received a three-match ban, the same as the Worcester player who attacked the Br…

Liam Heagney

09 Sep 2020, 7:14

Owen Farrell given 5-match ban

Such was the gravity of the tackle by Owen Farrell for Saracens that 10 games was the initially suggested ban before it was halved…

Liam Heagney

08 Sep 2020, 18:30

Anglo-French feel to Champions Cup quarter-finals as veteran Owens given weekend off

Veteran referee Nigel Owens hasn't made the roster for this month's quarter-final weekend in the Heineken Champions Cup and Challe…

Liam Heagney

08 Sep 2020, 6:34

'One of the worst tackles I've ever seen': Even ex-Saracens lock Hamilton can't defend Owen Farrell

Jim Hamilton won a Premiership title and two European Cups with Owen Farrell but even he can't defend his former Saracens teammate…

Liam Heagney

08 Sep 2020, 7:06

Exeter highlight change to Premiership refereeing since Wayne Barnes came out of quarantine

High penalty counts affected the Premiership restart but Exeter boss Rob Baxter says the now reduced figures were helped by the re…

Liam Heagney

04 Sep 2020, 7:34

Video: Owen Farrell red-carded for shocking tackle, faces missing Saracens' Champions Cup quarter-final

Saracens were beaten 28-18 by Wasps at Allianz Park after Owen Farrell was red-carded on the hour mark by referee Christophe Ridle…

Liam Heagney

05 Sep 2020, 10:02

Manu Tuilagi scores just 25 minutes into Welford Road return

England midfielder Manu Tuilagi has scored for Sale on his return to Welford Road just two months after he dramatically quit Leice…

Liam Heagney

05 Sep 2020, 10:53

Munster need the last laugh Friday... their sad record at Leinster has gone beyond a joke

Friday's PRO14 semi-final is must-win for Munster boss Johann van Graan, but they have just one victory at Leinster in the last 15…

Liam Heagney

03 Sep 2020, 13:50

Unbeaten Leinster stay on course for PRO14 title hat-trick

RugbyPass were at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin where Leinster deservedly booked their spot in another Guinness PRO14 final with a w…

Liam Heagney

04 Sep 2020, 16:35

The fear stalking Northampton: 'Did we get selection strategy wrong? Time will tell'

The post-lockdown Premiership form of Northampton is joint-ninth worst, but Chris Boyd defends selection of even-strength XVs rath…

Liam Heagney

04 Sep 2020, 3:56

Baxter fears England will become next season's sick man of Europe

Exeter boss Rob Baxter claims English clubs won't be at full strength for 2020/21 Champions Cup pool games due to relentless Test …

Liam Heagney

03 Sep 2020, 3:45

Axed Premiership referee JP Doyle breaks his silence following RFU redundancy

One of many in English rugby recently made redundant by the cash-strapped RFU, JP Doyle, the now-former Premiership referee, has b…

Liam Heagney

28 Aug 2020, 13:09

Jones and his England staff shake off 6-month Test cobwebs... by coaching a Championship club

England boss Eddie Jones and his assistants haven't coached since the March win over Wales so they have been busy at Championship …

Liam Heagney

03 Sep 2020, 5:50

The mind trick Jack Willis is playing on himself to ensure his jackalling is ready for England

The career of Jack Willis suffered a severe blow in 2018 but the back row had developed a mind trick that has put him on course fo…

Liam Heagney

02 Sep 2020, 13:07

'We need to win whether we're playing here or in Timbuktu'

With just one win in four restart games and without a Premiership win at Franklin's in 2020, Chris Boyd knows Northampton must bea…

Liam Heagney

02 Sep 2020, 8:55

Dylan Hartley and the Test rugby statistic that looks unfavourably on player welfare in England

Former England skipper Dylan Hartley has given awareness to a Test level statistic that doesn't reflect well on the Premiership an…

Liam Heagney

01 Sep 2020, 14:42

Video: The conversation that highlighted how Wayne Barnes remains one of the best refs around

Monday's Bank Holiday Premiership fixture saw veteran referee Wayne Barnes demonstrate his years of experience by calmly reaching …

Liam Heagney

01 Sep 2020, 6:42

'Drunks were trolling me... I was getting emails in the middle of the night'

28 months after the Harlequins sack, John Kingston opens up on online trolls, Richmond's bankruptcy and why he would take medals o…

Liam Heagney

30 Aug 2020, 3:57

Video: Ruthless Sale need just 32 minutes to secure four-try bonus point against Bristol

Having chosen an understrength XV, Bristol Bears were taken apart in the opening half-hour of their Gallagher Premiership match at…

Liam Heagney

29 Aug 2020, 11:07

Dylan Hartley sheds light on the painful daily legacy rugby is having on his body

It's 20 months since former England skipper Dylan Hartley last played a game, 9 since he retired, but his body is a painful daily …

Liam Heagney

29 Aug 2020, 9:04

The inspiring Ian McKinley is back in rugby, taking up a coaching position in his native Ireland

The career of Ian McKinley looked over in 2011 after the loss of sight in an eye, but the Irishman remarkably became an Italy inte…

Liam Heagney

28 Aug 2020, 4:40

Nathan Earle surprises Kyle Sinckler's grassroots club Battersea, telling them they have made the Gallagher Club of the Season shortlist

Six clubs are contesting the Gallagher Club of the Season live vote, with Nathan Earle of Harlequins telling Battersea Ironsides t…

Liam Heagney

27 Aug 2020, 9:00

Video: The try-creating offload that has Leicester salivating over Nemani Nadolo

It was 2011 when Nemani Nadolo last featured in a Premiership match, but he needed just 24 minutes of his Leicester debut to remin…

Liam Heagney

27 Aug 2020, 10:36

Watch: Saracens hooker Woolstencroft joins Premiership elite with second-half try hat-trick

Tom Woolstencroft had only previously scored two top-flight tries but the soon-to-be 26-year-old bagged a second-half hat-trick fo…

Liam Heagney

27 Aug 2020, 6:19

Video: The brave finish from Tom de Glanville that has left him sweating with a neck injury

A son of former England captain Phil, Tom de Glanville stepped up from the Bath academy in June to sign his first senior contract.…

Liam Heagney

27 Aug 2020, 4:43

Adam Hastings' love-hate Twitter relationship: 'It's not the nine good comments you remember, it's the one bad one'

Having suffered online criticism earlier in his career, Adam Hastings deleted his Twitter account when the Scotland Townsend-Russe…

Liam Heagney

26 Aug 2020, 14:19

Video: Veteran Exeter midfielder Phil Dollman gives Semi Radradra a taste of his own explosive medicine

Fans salivated last Friday after Semi Radradra tore Gloucester asunder but the Bristol midfielder was among those fooled Tuesday b…

Liam Heagney

26 Aug 2020, 5:35

Munster's worst fears confirmed over Snyman; has knock-on effects for the Springboks

As soon as RG Snyman landed awkwardly after an Aviva Stadium lineout there were fears the Munster and Springboks lock had suffered…

Liam Heagney

25 Aug 2020, 5:10

RG Snyman's debut for Munster lasted just seven minutes in Dublin

Lock RG Snyman, who arrived in Ireland after spending the early part of 2020 in Japan, had been chosen for his first appearance wi…

Liam Heagney

22 Aug 2020, 16:00

Video: Bath replacement Matavesi catches out Leicester with outrageous try-creating dummy

With the score 31-6 in favour of Bath, Josh Matavesi caught the ball in his own half from a Harry Potter clearance and then embark…

Liam Heagney

22 Aug 2020, 13:47

Bristol tweet containing 'disturbing' Radradra video goes viral

Bristol have celebrated how box-office centre Semi Radradra scored a try and made two others during a first-half onslaught at Glou…

Liam Heagney

22 Aug 2020, 8:54

The mystery of Borthwick's Leicester: 'We don't want to have to tell you how we are going to play'

Leicester are one game into the Borthwick era but rather than tell people what playing style they want, Geordan Murphy wants trait…

Liam Heagney

21 Aug 2020, 5:57

22 tries in 4 straight bonus-point wins... but rookie Wasps boss Blackett isn't milking the credit

Wasps looked destined for Premiership mediocrity when Dai Young left in February but Lee Blackett has transformed them despite his…

Liam Heagney

21 Aug 2020, 4:41

'I don't see him being overly dirty, he just got that one slightly wrong'

Wasps midfielder Malakai Fekitoa attended a virtual disciplinary hearing on Tuesday after a third foul play yellow card of the 201…

Liam Heagney

19 Aug 2020, 12:39

'There is a sub-section of fan sites and people who have never played who revel in calling people s***'

Despite lockdown putting his MMA on ice, James Haskell tells RugbyPass he has crammed so much into life in the 15 months since ret…

Liam Heagney

16 Aug 2020, 4:18

'Our books are open to the salary cap manager... we have no secret deals or anything like that'

High profile signings have led to speculation about Sale and the Premiership salary cap, a hot topic that has now been addressed b…

Liam Heagney

13 Aug 2020, 11:43

'When I was at Sarries I always felt on edge with the coaches, I never felt like I fully had their trust'

It's 16 months since ACL victim Nathan Earle last played a Harlequins match, a purgatory that ends with the Premiership's long-awa…

Liam Heagney

02 Aug 2020, 4:00

'It was the scariest phone call ever in my life. I was thinking, that's it, I'm going to die'

The lockdown abruptly ended his 17-year Harlequins career, but Mark Lambert tells RugbyPass how a 2005 brain injury nearly more de…

Liam Heagney

26 Jul 2020, 3:32

8 months on, Clive Woodward is still seething about some 'embarrassing' England World Cup final preparations

England were blown away by South Africa in the 2019 World Cup final, a defeat that still rankles with Clive Woodward eight months …

Liam Heagney

22 Jul 2020, 9:37

'You look at that 2003 picture and I'm the only black player... it's so nice now to see things are moving on'

The England squad chasing World Cup glory in Japan looks very different from the title-winning squad of 2003 where Jason Robinson …

Liam Heagney

12 Oct 2019, 4:32

'I'm going to need a knee replacement, probably in my late 30s': The shattering toll rugby has taken on Alex Rieder

Alex Rieder didn't play much for Wasps but his story of a career cut short at the age of 28 due to serious injury is a stark remin…

Liam Heagney

19 Jul 2020, 3:50

'We had some players who probably weren't capable... we had to get rid of an awful lot'

Bears CEO Mark Tainton delves into the rollicking Bristol adventure, from the bleak outlook of 2017 relegation to signing world st…

Liam Heagney

12 Jul 2020, 4:59

'Yeah, I made a few errors but it was still an unbelievable experience... to say I'm a capped player is special'

Injury to Anthony Watson saw Eddie Jones place trust last February in 23-year-old rookie full-back George Furbank for the opening …

Liam Heagney

17 Jul 2020, 6:24

'Everyone has their own pathway in life': Manu Tuilagi issues farewell message to Leicester Tigers

Set to conduct his first media session as a Sale player on Tuesday, Manu Tuilagi has issued a statement reflecting on his departur…

Liam Heagney

14 Jul 2020, 5:31

Meet Crusaders' Irish prop who now wants to play for the All Blacks after growing up dreaming of facing the haka

Oliver Jager never thought of making the All Blacks when on a flying 2013 visit to Christchurch from Ireland, but the Crusaders pr…

Liam Heagney

10 Jul 2020, 14:34

5 ex-All Blacks behind the new Hawaiian MLR franchise

With MLR revealing the success of an expansion bid from Kanaloa Hawaii, it has emerged that the 2021 newcomers are back-up by a pl…

Liam Heagney

10 Jul 2020, 4:49

Leicester confirm no Tuilagi U-turn, issue Taufua update

Speculation that there could be a change of heart in the Manu Tuilagi situation has been quashed after Leicester insisted the matt…

Liam Heagney

10 Jul 2020, 5:19

Premiership restart set for Friday night live TV blockbuster with Chris Ashton firmly in the limelight

Premiership Rugby will reveal its fixtures reschedule this Friday and RugbyPass believes the August 14 live TV restart features As…

Liam Heagney

09 Jul 2020, 14:44

Premiership Rugby confirms 6 players tested positive this week for Covid-19

The countdown to the August 15 Gallagher Premiership resumption has been affected by confirmation that 6 players tested positive t…

Liam Heagney

08 Jul 2020, 11:07

Maro Itoje tries his hand as a selector, picking a powerful Nigerian British XV

Maro Itoje, who recently said English rugby must do more in BAME communities to become an inclusive sport, has chosen his Nigerian…

Liam Heagney

08 Jul 2020, 14:11

'We were finding out about stuff in the bloody Daily Mail'

With the Premiership in financial turmoil since coronavirus struck, Wasps' Lima Sopoaga has criticised the way players learned abo…

Liam Heagney

08 Jul 2020, 13:26

Where are they now? The South Africa team 25 years after their 1995 World Cup triumph

It's 25 years since Nelson Mandela handed Francois Pienaar the Rugby World Cup trophy - RugbyPass finds out what has happened to t…

Liam Heagney

24 Jun 2020, 7:10

Where are they now? The last England team of the amateur era 25 years after their 1995 World Cup exit

England had high hopes their last match of the old amateur era would be the 1995 World Cup final but it was instead a third-place …

Liam Heagney

23 Jun 2020, 4:40

Latest Doddie Weir Dodcast podcast: 'There is a glimmer of hope'

Scotland and 1997 Lion Doddie Weir is raising awareness of motor neurone disease through his My Name5 Doddie Foundation podcast, T…

Liam Heagney

23 Jun 2020, 8:36

'From being addicted to drugs and overdosing and having nothing in the bank, I've been able to turn my life around'

Mark Jennings, 27, bottled everything up for most of his life, taking refuge in alcohol and drugs and spiralling into a career-end…

Liam Heagney

21 Jun 2020, 4:00

Warren Gatland is enjoying having last laugh in Eddie O'Sullivan rivalry

Warren Gatland has delivered a withering putdown of Eddie O’Sullivan, the coach who succeeded him after he was sacked as Ireland…

Liam Heagney

19 Jun 2020, 13:26

The wager at stake in the latest Warren Gatland vs Eddie Jones rivalry

The Anglo-Welsh Gatland versus Jones rivalry is over following the Kiwi’s return to New Zealand but there is a wager regarding a…

Liam Heagney

19 Jun 2020, 12:04

Gatland has just offered Scotland players an olive branch ahead of 2021 Lions

Having chosen just three Scotland players on each of the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours, Warren Gatland wants that figure to rise in 20…

Liam Heagney

17 Jun 2020, 15:24

England fans face Swing Low singing ban - reports

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot has been a regular with England fans since the late 1980s but the RFU now says it is under review due to …

Liam Heagney

18 Jun 2020, 11:58

Confirmed: Ex-England skipper Robshaw is moving to MLR on two-year deal

There have been plenty rumours linking Chris Robshaw to MLR, speculation that has proven true as the former England captain has se…

Liam Heagney

17 Jun 2020, 12:35

'It is definitely not a burning desire': Warren Gatland on his ambitions to become future All Blacks coach

Warren Gatland seems perfectly positioned to become future All Blacks coach now he has returned to work in New Zealand, but he isn…

Liam Heagney

17 Jun 2020, 13:45

The extraordinary extra distances now being run by Premiership referees compared to 10 years ago

Having started out running on an average of 4kms a match 10 years ago, JP Doyle reveals some staggering figures now recorded as a …

Liam Heagney

16 Jun 2020, 13:25

Sale issue statement on permanent salary cuts at the Premiership club

Premiership clubs voted last week to reduce the salary cap by £1.4 million for the 2021/22 season and Sale players have now agree…

Liam Heagney

17 Jun 2020, 4:44

Jersey unveil 7 more signings, including an Aussie rules convert, an ex-Super Rugby No9 and a recent RWC player

After unveiling 8 forwards earlier this week, Jersey director of rugby Harvey Biljon has announced 7 backs are also coming to the …

Liam Heagney

13 Jun 2020, 9:09

5 All Blacks join the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare union board, including double RWC winner Jerome Kaino

The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare union have added a potent line-up of 11 players to their now 49-strong board, including Jerome K…

Liam Heagney

13 Jun 2020, 7:13

Ealing sign 4 more players with Premiership experience, including ex-Harlequins winger Charlie Walker

With Premiership champions Saracens automatically relegated to the 2020/21 Championship, Ben Ward's Ealing have recruited vastly e…

Liam Heagney

13 Jun 2020, 5:42

'It was sink or swim': The fearsome dressing room culture which existed at Dean Richards' Leicester

Current Northampton assistant coach Sam Vesty spent eight years as a Leicester player during an era where boozing and training gro…

Liam Heagney

12 Jun 2020, 13:50

RPA statement: 'It's a sad day in the history of rugby'

Relations took a turn for the worse in England on Friday, Premiership club attacking the RPA before the players’ union hit back …

Liam Heagney

12 Jun 2020, 12:55

'Nothing short of spectacular': Cobus Reinach posts Northampton farewell message

Cobus Reinach announced in January he would be leaving for Montpellier and he has now posted a farewell message to Northampton aft…

Liam Heagney

03 Jun 2020, 10:07

The Rugby Pod's astonishing claim about the Gloucester signing of Jonny May

The signing of Jonny May from Leicester was trumpeted as a Gloucester coup but Andy Goode says different following the exit of Ack…

Liam Heagney

10 Jun 2020, 14:43

The extraordinary day Martin Johnson missed the bus to a Twickenham cup final

The legendary Martin Johnson was hailed for impeccable high standards during his playing career but there was one Leicester day it…

Liam Heagney

06 Jun 2020, 7:44

Ellis Genge: Eddie Jones and ethnic England players suffered racist abuse on 2018 tour to South Africa

Ellis Genge has added his voice to stamping out racism, claiming Eddie Jones and England suffered racist abuse during their 2018 t…

Liam Heagney

09 Jun 2020, 9:57

'I've heard stories of players literally having contracts taken off the table overnight… I really feel for those guys'

Topsy Ojo was only 33 when he retired, but the pandemic has left the London Irish legend relieved he wasn’t tempted by one final…

Liam Heagney

07 Jun 2020, 3:55

Bath confirm 16 players leaving - including Matt Garvey - but Ben Spencer is one of 3 new arrivals

Bath have announced a massive squad turnover, Stuart Hooper saying goodbye to 16 players and confirming three more signings for 20…

Liam Heagney

05 Jun 2020, 5:42

The brave decision that won 1995 World Cup: 'We cancelled back row move and overruled Pienaar, which not many people do'

The 1995 World Cup final went down to the wire, Joel Stransky kicking the drop goal to clinch glory for the Springboks in extra-ti…

Liam Heagney

05 Jun 2020, 13:38

Bristol confirm 20 players are leaving and announce 2020/21 squad

Bears boss Pat Lam has confirmed a huge turnover of players at Bristol, with 4 of the 20 who are leaving retiring from playing.

Liam Heagney

03 Jun 2020, 12:44

Premiership Rugby announces match restart date for suspended 2019/20 season

The Gallagher Premiership has been on ice in England since March 8 but clubs now have 10 weeks to prepare for a targeted mid-Augus…

Liam Heagney

05 Jun 2020, 2:58

Lawrence Dallaglio picks the rugby moment of his life, and it's not England's 2003 World Cup win

Lawrence Dallaglio won the World Cup with England but he rates his 1997 Lions adventure in South Africa as the best rugby experien…

Liam Heagney

04 Jun 2020, 13:47

From 3 near-death experiences to South African MMA champion in 26 months: The fall and rise of Ethienne Reynecke

Ethienne Reynecke knew his old career as a pro rugby hooker guaranteed him nothing in life, but the adversity he has had to overco…

Liam Heagney

31 May 2020, 4:00

The Gloucester vacancies: 'Cockers will sort that place out for sure'

With David Humphreys following Johan Ackermann out the Gloucester door, The Rugby Pod believe the unsettled club is readymade for …

Liam Heagney

03 Jun 2020, 5:12

'Your prime as a rugby player is now 25, 26': The Rugby Pod picks its 2021 Lions captain

With 13 months left before the 2021 tour to South Africa, the debate has started over who should captain the Lions and The Rugby P…

Liam Heagney

02 Jun 2020, 14:11

Dan Biggar reflects on the Rob Howley betting affair and Wayne Pivac's teething Wales troubles

With Rob Howley’s betting ban set to expire and Wayne Pivac now in charge of Wales, Dan Biggar had plenty to discuss during his …

Liam Heagney

02 Jun 2020, 13:52

'I feel sorry for Maro Itoje. He's been spotted in Wigston last week and Kibworth this week'

Geordan Murphy couldn’t resist a tongue-in-cheek reference to Maro Itoje when providing his latest weekly update on Leicester Ti…

Liam Heagney

30 May 2020, 10:14

The Rugby Pod's burning question: 'What does it do to Maro's brand by playing in the Championship?'

Convinced Maro Itoje has the potential to become a megastar beyond rugby, Jim Hamilton sizes up how much damage the Championship w…

Liam Heagney

27 May 2020, 10:28

The moment Shaun Edwards says will haunt him until his dying day, and who he wants to coach after France

France assistant Shaun Edwards has spoken to The Rugby Pod about the most disappointing moment in his coaching career and where to…

Liam Heagney

27 May 2020, 9:00

Ex-World Rugby advisor's grim warning: 'Rugby can only come back to what it was if we have a vaccine'

Barry O’Driscoll was a long-serving World Rugby medical advisor who now fears scrums, mauls and rucks are all under threat due t…

Liam Heagney

24 May 2020, 4:03

The uncomfortable truth about the Springboks 1995 RWC win, told by the man who ushered in racial quotas

25 years on from the start of the inspired 1995 World Cup win, Ed Griffiths spins through a multitude of Springboks anecdotes and …

Liam Heagney

24 May 2020, 6:25

Pat Howard lets rip: 'I'd some very hard, direct words with everybody up and down the chain'

It was a year ago when Pat Howard stepped in at Leicester to conduct a no-nonsense top to bottom review… he now sheds light on t…

Liam Heagney

26 May 2020, 10:57

'What would we do if this was a brand new club and we start again, what is the ideal scenario?'

Joint Worcester owners Jason Whittingham and Colin Goldring are using rugby's stoppage to finesse plans to turn Warriors into a Pr…

Liam Heagney

23 May 2020, 11:30

Still no pity for poisoned All Blacks 25 years on: 'No one forced them to eat seafood days before final'

This Monday - May 25 - marks the 25th anniversary of the opening match of the 1995 World Cup... South Africa went on to beat the A…

Liam Heagney

23 May 2020, 6:41

Six Nations and SANZAAR issue joint global calendar statement detailing 7 key principles

Six Nations and SANZAAR have been working closely over the lockdown period to try and develop proposals for an aligned global cale…

Liam Heagney

22 May 2020, 4:25

'Nothing is being done to get kids who grow up on the street, kids who don't own TVs involved in the game'

Jacques Burger took great joy when deprived Nairobi kids took to rugby when visiting Kenya... he feels Namibia children would do l…

Liam Heagney

21 May 2020, 14:55

'If we go over the salary cap, come and point the gun at myself... not anyone else'

In the wake of the Saracens salary cap controversy, there is an increased focus on spending by Gallagher Premiership clubs, includ…

Liam Heagney

21 May 2020, 11:03

'It's bizarre, really bad management from a CEO perspective': Rugby Pod points finger of blame after Ackermann exit

Andy Goode and The Rugby Pod lift the lid on why Johan Ackermann allegedly reversed out of Gloucester last week for a job in Japan…

Liam Heagney

19 May 2020, 11:05

Carl Fearns is staying in France after agreeing Pro D2 deal with ex-England scrum-half

With his five-year stint over at Top 14 Lyon, ex-Bath back row Carl Fearns will hook up with former England scrum-half Richard Hil…

Liam Heagney

19 May 2020, 8:46

Allen Clarke makes very low-key return 140 days after his axing at Ospreys

Irishman Clarke was pushed out of his job at Ospreys on November 26 but it took until late December for the warring factions to ag…

Liam Heagney

19 May 2020, 8:02

Three successive promotions, a 94% win rate and a bizarre 0-0 draw: How liquidated London Welsh fought back from oblivion

Liquidated London Welsh were shattered by 2017's Championship expulsion, but Cai Griffiths is masterminding a phoenix-from-flames …

Liam Heagney

17 May 2020, 5:00

'That's not true': Murphy sacks Maro Itoje rumour but confirms that Leicester are signing a second row

Steve Borthwick’s impending arrival at Welford Road made the Maro Itoje signing rumours sound plausible, but Leicester have insi…

Liam Heagney

16 May 2020, 6:22

Premiership clubs lost a staggering £88.7million in the two years before CVC buy-in

The extensive salary cap report by Lord Myners accessed Companies House records to learn that a combined total of nearly £89milli…

Liam Heagney

15 May 2020, 9:55

Premiership's 24 best-paid players cost £14million in 2019/20... and not all were 'marquee'

The extensive 55-page Myners report has revealed the staggering collective remuneration of the 24 best-paid players for 2019/20 Ga…

Liam Heagney

14 May 2020, 6:43

One question still unanswered after 5-month investigation - which unnamed club breached Premiership salary cap in 2015

Full disclosure regarding what occurred in 2015 eluded Lord Myners in his 55-page report due to how cases against Saracens and a s…

Liam Heagney

14 May 2020, 8:18

Maro Itoje linked with huge Premiership move... and Alex Goode is off as well - The Rugby Pod

One of Warren Gatland’s potential 2021 Lions captains, Maro Itoje has been touted for a temporary move away from relegated Sarac…

Liam Heagney

12 May 2020, 9:00

Agustin Pichot quits World Rugby: 'I cannot conceive of occupying a place just for the sake of it'

Defeated Agustin Pichot secured 23 of the available 51 chairman election votes and he has now officially given up his World Rugby …

Liam Heagney

13 May 2020, 4:55

Umbro land Premiership club kit deal a week after snapping up England

The football-associated Umbro brand came in for much scrutiny last week when they secured a four-year deal replace Canterbury as t…

Liam Heagney

12 May 2020, 6:56

'I genuinely didn't give a f***. That's the attitude players are going to have'

Closed doors matches are ready to become rugby’s new norm, but they are not unprecedented as Tim Visser made history in 2010 whe…

Liam Heagney

10 May 2020, 3:24

The ex-Saracens scrum-half that left a 15-year-old Maro Itoje in awe

Maro Itoje has reacted to a tweet from Saracens reflecting on a May 2010 victory at Leicester which qualified them for what was th…

Liam Heagney

09 May 2020, 6:50

'I want to go to Japan and really showcase my attacking talent... it has been stifled at Bath'

Freddie Burns tells RugbyPass how anonymity at Bath and the coronavirus stoppage threatened to leave him without a job next season…

Liam Heagney

06 May 2020, 14:02

'What does a rugby player deserve? It's the wrong question… the whole cost base is out of whack'

Global Rapid Rugby boss Mark Evans takes no pleasure reiterating long-held concerns that pro rugby doesn’t financially add up, b…

Liam Heagney

03 May 2020, 5:28

The rugby nobody whose book is outselling Jones, Gatland and McCaw

Ben Mercer is shaking up the Amazon book charts with revelations about a nomadic career in the Championship shadows before a switc…

Liam Heagney

03 May 2020, 4:00

Scotland outcast Alex Dunbar among 10 players released from Top 14 Brive

The 2019/20 Top 14 season was terminated on Thursday, French officials finally admitting defeat in their quest to eventually resta…

Liam Heagney

02 May 2020, 13:33

'The media played out the club was in massive dispute or at civil war... it wasn't'

There were recent allegations that the across the board pay cuts at Leicester had sparked a revolt by a number of players, but Dan…

Liam Heagney

02 May 2020, 9:32

German officials cry foul on same day it's revealed World Rugby election result is being brought forward

The minnow European rugby nation have slammed a lack of consultation regarding an election where the announcement of the May 12 re…

Liam Heagney

01 May 2020, 15:16

'People mocked us about the Care Bears and stuff like that... but Bears is now part of our fabric'

On the verge of becoming Championship champions in April 2018, owner Steve Lansdown controversially ramped up the razzmatazz ahead…

Liam Heagney

30 Apr 2020, 10:35

Wayne Pivac is actively helping Jonah Holmes leave Leicester Tigers

The 27-year-old winger, who earned the last of his three caps last August, is teasing out whether it is possible to leave his Gall…

Liam Heagney

29 Apr 2020, 11:39

The measures taken to safeguard the mental health of Wayne Pivac's locked down Wales players

Welsh rugby has been in cold storage since the 11th-hour postponement of a March 14 Six Nations match and no one is any wiser as t…

Liam Heagney

29 Apr 2020, 12:32

'The back of my brain smashed into the back of my skull and that caused the main artery to my frontal lobe to burst'

Will Hurrell suffered a career-ending stroke as a result of playing for Bristol in the Premiership last January… his story is de…

Liam Heagney

26 Apr 2020, 4:49

The Gavin Henson moment that left Will Hurrell realising he had made it in big-time rugby

The 30-year-old centre sadly called it quits on April 10, three months after suffering a stroke following a whiplash head injury w…

Liam Heagney

25 Apr 2020, 6:12

'We never engaged a lawyer... no lawyer was in any Zoom call'

Captain Tom Youngs and coach Geordan Murphy appeared on the latest episode of Leicester Tigers TV Weekly to tease out recent media…

Liam Heagney

25 Apr 2020, 5:08

Microphone picks up Sale owner calling Gloucester witness a 'liar' in RFU hearing

At the heart of the fall-out was how Springbok midfielder Rohan Janse van Rensburg wound up signing contracts with two Premiership…

Liam Heagney

24 Apr 2020, 9:26

The John Mitchell encounter that convinced David Campese England wouldn't win 2019 World Cup

The legendary Wallaby has a long history of bashing the English and there is no sign of that stopping following his latest barb ab…

Liam Heagney

24 Apr 2020, 4:52

The fatal IRFU systems flaw exposed by James Cronin's doping breach

In the old way of life, James Cronin’s bizarre doping violation would have caused a media storm, not died a very quick shrug-of-…

Liam Heagney

23 Apr 2020, 14:14

How fleeting Leicester return lifted Tom Varndell during difficult time

The ex-England winger left the club where he made his name in 2009, but he will be forever grateful for the rejuvenating way they …

Liam Heagney

21 Apr 2020, 15:00

Major League Rugby club looking to sign Dan Carter?

The New Zealander, who turned 38 in March, announced last week that he is finished with Kobe Steelers, his Japanese club for the p…

Liam Heagney

18 Apr 2020, 22:38

Witnessing the collapse of Yorkshire Carnegie changed Tom Varndell

Ex-England international Tom Vardell admits he is likely finished as a full-time player but his challenging year at relegated York…

Liam Heagney

19 Apr 2020, 4:40

Mako Vunipola now has a new claim to No1 fame

The Saracens and England star has been crowned champion in the inaugural RugbyPass FIFA charity tournament featuring a stellar cas…

Liam Heagney

18 Apr 2020, 3:54

It's now official... Bastareaud is back in the Top 14 at Lyon

It was April 1 when it RugbyPass reported that instead of staying on in America, the ex-France midfielder would be heading back to…

Liam Heagney

18 Apr 2020, 8:28

RugbyPass Exceptional Stories - Matt Hampson

In the latest documentary in our Exceptional Stories series, we learn about the 35-year-old prop’s incredible journey since his …

Liam Heagney

13 Apr 2020, 11:00

Beaumont forging ahead as another Six Nations country backs his re-election

The 1980 England Grand Slam skipper is contesting the most powerful position in global rugby against current vice-president Agusti…

Liam Heagney

17 Apr 2020, 10:49

Drew Mitchell: 'There has been mismanagement for the last decade at least'

Speaking to Jim Hamilton on The Lockdown, the RugbyPass pandemic interview series, the ex-Wallaby tackles the cash crisis envelopi…

Liam Heagney

15 Apr 2020, 13:00

Phil Davies describes the daunting rebuild needed at Leeds as like going back to his 1980s playing days

The Welshman's five years in charge at minnows Namibia will come in handy as he tries to challenge the conventional way of thinkin…

Liam Heagney

14 Apr 2020, 14:35

How the tragic loss of two teammates has given Henry Thomas perspective on the 'dark side' of mental health issues

Having encountered tragedies during his playing career, Bath's Henry Thomas is very aware of how best to cope with the trauma of h…

Liam Heagney

16 Feb 2020, 3:22

Doddie Weir talks tractors, lambing, MND status and much more in latest Dodcast podcast

The ex-Scotland lock has released the fourth episode of his Jill Douglas-hosted podcast where he talks about living with motor neu…

Liam Heagney

14 Apr 2020, 13:55

Ex-copper Dean Richards is back on the beat

The Newcastle coach has turned back the clock during virus outbreak that prematurely terminated the Championship season and left h…

Liam Heagney

14 Apr 2020, 4:41

'I currently have no income and I'm stuck here… that's not an ideal scenario'

Pay cuts suffered by the likes of Itoje and other household names are nothing compared to players in the lower reaches such as Dan…

Liam Heagney

12 Apr 2020, 4:21

'People are terrified' - New York rugby boss on life in the red zone and where now for the MLR

Rugby is currently off the menu for James Kennedy, the majority owner of Rugby United New York, but he believes it will be all the…

Liam Heagney

05 Apr 2020, 5:36

Ex-Springbok revisits Kamp Staaldraad nightmare: 'It was crazy... the soldiers even fired two bullets on the ground'

Nightmare preparations for the disastrous 2003 World Cup have never left the mind of one ex-Springbok who now lives in the wilds o…

Liam Heagney

10 Apr 2020, 11:40

Warren Gatland reveals the strangest request he has ever got from a player

The 2021 British and Irish Lions coach is currently working at the Super Rugby Chiefs after twelve years at the helm in Wales.

Liam Heagney

09 Apr 2020, 12:09

Jungle-living ex-Springbok van Niekerk outlines extraordinary view on recreational drugs in rugby

The 39-year-old, who earned the last of his 52 South African caps in 2010, finished his club career at Toulon in 2014 and has sinc…

Liam Heagney

09 Apr 2020, 9:36

RPA sets the record straight about alleged Premiership player strike

Union boss Damian Hopley admits that some players were distressed about pay cuts but he takes issue with some of the more dramatic…

Liam Heagney

08 Apr 2020, 10:49

Chabal and another ex-French international reveal respective battles with coronavirus

Two heroes from the 2010 French Grand Slam-winning squad have spoken about how they contracted the virus last month and have since…

Liam Heagney

07 Apr 2020, 9:04

Bastareaud is heading back to the Top 14 on a two-year deal

The French veteran's recruitment by Rugby United New York made headlines around the rugby world when he agreed to move to America …

Liam Heagney

01 Apr 2020, 7:56

'It's no secret that USA Rugby have been financially f***** for years'

Last Monday's Chapter 11 bankruptcy declaration sent shockwaves around the rugby world, but one Major League Rugby board member is…

Liam Heagney

04 Apr 2020, 10:57

Less than a fortnight after threatening legal action, Ealing issue response to Newcastle's confirmed promotion

Rugby in England at all levels below the Premiership for the 2019/20 season was terminated on March 20, resulting in Trailfinders …

Liam Heagney

03 Apr 2020, 8:29

Sean O'Brien's gesture to Irish nurses working on the coronavirus front line

Ex-Wales midfielder Jamie Roberts earned kudos a few weeks ago by giving his flat in Cardiff up to the health service... now ex-I…

Liam Heagney

03 Apr 2020, 5:32

It's official: RFU won't bail out Premiership clubs

The 2019/20 top-flight season ground to halt last month and with no sign of a resumption happening any time soon, the clubs have i…

Liam Heagney

02 Apr 2020, 17:00

RFU boss reveals the breathtaking cuts made behind closed doors

The RFU's high ranking officials - including Eddie Jones - have taken pay cuts but the damage for English rugby's rank and file ha…

Liam Heagney

02 Apr 2020, 17:00

The emotional family price paid by Eddie Jones during the coronavirus pandemic

The England coach had a special trip planned for after the Six Nations but he had to revise his plans and instead hunker down in J…

Liam Heagney

02 Apr 2020, 17:00

The one rugby upside to the current coronavirus pandemic... leading Test unions are no longer at loggerheads

Less than a year since arguments scuppered World Rugby's Nations Championship plan, relations between leading Test unions both sid…

Liam Heagney

02 Apr 2020, 6:37

Jones: The world domination reasons why he decided to stick with England

The Australian has the highest win ratio - 78 per cent - in the history of England coaches, winning 42 of his 54 outings in charge…

Liam Heagney

02 Apr 2020, 5:34

RFU unveil formula that will decide who gets promoted from the Championship

Ealing Trailfinders director of rugby Ben Ward floated the possibility last month of a legal challenge if Newcastle were promoted …

Liam Heagney

02 Apr 2020, 4:26

Eddie Jones agrees England contract extension

After stating at the start of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations that the players would tell him whether he should continue or not, th…

Liam Heagney

02 Apr 2020, 3:59

'You have players asking, what is my salary going to be next season? You can't give a definitive answer'

Life as a rugby agent in the pandemic... Niall Woods has one client waiting for a Covid-19 test, a couple of others previously sic…

Liam Heagney

31 Mar 2020, 13:34

How did Premiership Rugby's 12 nominated 'players to watch' fare in the 2019/20 season

At the new-season launch at Twickenham in early September, players such as Thorley, Naholo, Hughes and Taufua were chosen as some …

Liam Heagney

31 Mar 2020, 9:00

'If I'm to put a timeline on where this takes us back to, it's years... we face severe challenges'

Revitalised Coventry are an ambitious Championship club on the up, but the coronavirus termination of the 2019/20 season has left …

Liam Heagney

29 Mar 2020, 4:37

'I was stopped by police. They asked, Do you have a permit? Saying you were going to hospital for a birth was good enough reason to get past'

New father George Biagi still can’t get his head around the ‘new normal’ where the killer coronavirus is laying waste to so …

Liam Heagney

28 Mar 2020, 6:14

Where are they now: The 2007 Ireland U20 Six Nations Grand Slam champions

Thirteen years have passed since Ireland struck age-grade Six Nations gold, clinching the 2007 U20s Grand Slam in Italy with a tea…

Liam Heagney

26 Mar 2020, 10:00

6 Premiership clubs - including Saracens - confirm lockdown pay cuts

Premiership officials have confirmed a minimum five-week fixtures suspension and it has led to a half dozen clubs confirming drast…

Liam Heagney

21 Mar 2020, 6:16

RFU's season-ending decision sparks confusion over Newcastle's fate

Falcons were expected to go on and soon clinch the title but that is no longer possible on the field of play following the RFU’s…

Liam Heagney

20 Mar 2020, 7:28

Gallagher Premiership club-by-club: how are they dealing with coronavirus

RugbyPass checks in on all twelve top-flight English clubs to see what they are up to now their calendars are suddenly empty for t…

Liam Heagney

18 Mar 2020, 13:36

'When I first came from amateur rugby I was just gym junkie strong... I never did cardio'

London Irish tighthead Lovejoy Chawatama is living the dream, arriving from Zimbabwe as a 15-year-old and grafting his way through…

Liam Heagney

15 Mar 2020, 4:05

Nigel Owens brilliantly simplifies the debate surrounding the Manu Tuilagi red card

The England midfielder was sent off in the closing minutes last weekend for a tackle on Wales’ George North and was subsequently…

Liam Heagney

14 Mar 2020, 5:43

Wales vs Scotland postponed four hours after WRU statement insisted it was going ahead as planned

An updated statement read: "We have decided to fall in line with recent measures taken across the UK and global sports industries.…

Liam Heagney

13 Mar 2020, 10:17

Ex-All Blacks prop calls on Alun Wyn Jones to 'grab his own balls' and support Joe Marler at disciplinary hearing

The England loosehead has been cited for grabbing the genitals of Wales skipper Jones during last Saturday’s Guinness Six Nation…

Liam Heagney

11 Mar 2020, 5:59

Halloween 'Super Saturday' finale the solution to coronavirus-affected Six Nations

For the first time since 2001, when the foot-and-mouth outbreak also postponed three matches and led to a delayed autumnal climax,…

Liam Heagney

10 Mar 2020, 6:07

'The financial model in place doesn't work and is actually borderline exploitative of us as a people'

Fiji, Tonga and Samoa played their part in making World Cup 2019 a wonderful festival, but Pacific Rugby Player Welfare boss Dan L…

Liam Heagney

08 Mar 2020, 4:49

'A lot of people were bullied... he was a real Jekyll and Hyde of coaching'

Ex-Scotland international Johnnie Beattie was signed by Fabien Galthie in 2012 and what unfolded under the current France coach at…

Liam Heagney

07 Mar 2020, 5:43

Pontypool CEO Ben Jeffreys takes leave of absence to battle depression

The grassroots club chief executive had spoken last year about how an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) drove him to the brink o…

Liam Heagney

07 Mar 2020, 8:26

'It's a tough one when you're friends with someone who plays the same position, because only one of you can play on the weekend'

Less than three years ago Pat Lam told Callum Sheedy his skills and worth ethic were pretty average... now he is Bristol's star ou…

Liam Heagney

01 Mar 2020, 4:26

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare organisation cry foul over Tonga's fixture with England

The Tongans won't receive a penny of the profits from next November's Twickenham game, renewing calls from Dan Leo for a revised p…

Liam Heagney

29 Feb 2020, 7:51

'Geordie has sort of been picking up the scraps and blocking the hole in the boat at the moment'

But for Saracens' automatic relegation, Leicester versus Worcester would be a massive relegation battle... Telusa Veainu, one of T…

Liam Heagney

29 Feb 2020, 3:25

'That is what I love about our game - all the stakeholders actually have an input'

Along with new All Blacks coach Ian Foster, English referee Wayne Barnes is among the list of rugby experts aiming to make a diffe…

Liam Heagney

27 Feb 2020, 10:16

'Personal attacks on teams and individuals are divisive and unhelpful... it shouldn't be accepted'

Lewis Moody has no problem at all with constructive criticism, but he feels for his old club Leicester Tigers whose on-field strug…

Liam Heagney

27 Feb 2020, 5:03

'The Saracens debacle and fallout, you can see it in the performances that it has clearly impacted'

Lewis Moody was knocking around south-west London on Saturday just like old times. There in the shadows of Twickenham, the great T…

Liam Heagney

23 Feb 2020, 3:34

'I don't chase headlines... I definitely don't type Wayne Barnes into Google'

An assistant referee for Saturday's Wales versus France game, the veteran match official opens a treasure chest of anecdotes... fr…

Liam Heagney

22 Feb 2020, 3:47

Callum Sheedy has had his say on speculation that he will be called up by Wayne Pivac's Wales

Dan Biggar is recovering from his third concussion this season following the defeat to Ireland and Jarrod Evans is currently the o…

Liam Heagney

17 Feb 2020, 5:17

Ireland player ratings vs Wales

Andy Farrell’s Irish now stand two from two against the Celts, just like Joe Schmidt's class of 2014 when he first got his teeth…

Liam Heagney

08 Feb 2020, 12:37

IRELAND MID-TERM REPORT: Captain Sexton, Stander and Ryan lead the way but room for improvement at Twickenham

With Scotland and Wales both beaten in Dublin to set up a Triple Crown visit to England, RugbyPass grades all 25 players used so f…

Liam Heagney

11 Feb 2020, 6:44

Farrell's winning Ireland have scripted Triple Crown plot that not even Hollywood would think of

The new Irish boss must now plot the downfall of an opposition skippered by his own son Owen after a liberating Sexton-led show of…

Liam Heagney

09 Feb 2020, 6:49

'Kick Italy out and bring in Georgia, that is just rubbish chat... very short-sighted'

Jake Polledri was 19 years old when there was last a W placed alongside the Italians on the championship table... five years and 2…

Liam Heagney

09 Feb 2020, 4:02

Two from two under Farrell, Sexton tackles 'culture of fear' allegations about life under Schmidt

There was some damning ‘culture of fear’ commentary in the build-up to round two, allegations that suggested life under the Ki…

Liam Heagney

08 Feb 2020, 14:10

Preview: End of the Schmidt, Gatland rivalry has made for a very different Ireland-Wales build-up

The lead-in to Saturday’s showdown has contrastingly been all sweetness and light after too many years of tetchiness and rancour…

Liam Heagney

08 Feb 2020, 4:39

The players left on Irish Rugby's 'central contract' hit list after deal struck for James Ryan

With just two of the dozen players currently on central contracts having deals that expire at the end of the season, the focus is …

Liam Heagney

05 Feb 2020, 14:31