'Brad Shields was moving house and couldn't take a spa pool': The tricks of the trade that have Jimmy Gopperth still going strong at nearly 38
Veteran Jimmy Gopperth never made the All Blacks but it hasn't stopped him from enjoying an enviable career that shows no signs of…
Liam Heagney 25 Apr 2021, 4:16
Leinster and Munster player ratings - Rainbow Cup round one
Here are the Leinster and Munster player ratings from the Rainbow Cup opener where the result from the recent PRO14 final was reve…
Liam Heagney 24 Apr 2021, 16:59
Paolo Odogwu has broken his silence on his uncapped Six Nations with England and how he would react if Italy called again
Huge excitement accompanied the England call-up of Paolo Odogwu and he has now broken his silence after an uncapped Six Nations ca…
Liam Heagney 23 Apr 2021, 12:50
Saracens make one change as their XV remains stacked with household names for top-table Championship clash with Ealing
The biggest game of the Championship so far this season will be played on Sunday when a stacked Saracens XV hosts leaders Ealing. …
Liam Heagney 23 Apr 2021, 8:31
'I have this debate with our props all the time': The tighthead mindset champions Exeter are trying hard to change
Exeter have numerous obvious first-choice players but the rotation by Rob Baxter at tighthead has been in full swing again in rece…
Liam Heagney 23 Apr 2021, 7:26
'Right now it's probably the one position the coaches haven't inked in': Why there is no clarity yet over who will be Lions No10
Many positions on the Lions have standout candidates but out-half doesn't and Sam Warburton is wondering if 2021 will be Dan Bigga…
Liam Heagney 23 Apr 2021, 7:10
Exeter highlight major flaw in debate that Premiership rugby should become a summer sport
Premiership scorelines have grown in recent weeks amid the improved weather but Exeter are not in favour of a switch to summer rug…
Liam Heagney 22 Apr 2021, 12:51
'It's almost like shamelessly going wherever the money is': Ex-Wales captain's withering put-down of disastrous PRO14/Rainbow Cup
Credibility of the Rainbow Cup was damaged before this weekend's start and a prominent ex-Wales player has now joined a chorus of …
Liam Heagney 22 Apr 2021, 12:43
'There's nothing worse than seeing that Stuart Hogg try. How he kicks it and gets on the end of it, it's a disgrace'
Wasps folded in an embarrassing fashion last Saturday at Premiership champions Exeter, a fade-out Lee Blackett never wants to witn…
Liam Heagney 22 Apr 2021, 12:26
'Hamish Watson is never too small': Ex-Lions skipper's ringing endorsement for the Scottish back row whose size has divided opinion
A post-Six Nations debate has been raging about the stature of Scotland's Hamish Watson and an-ex Lions skipper has now had his sa…
Liam Heagney 22 Apr 2021, 8:07
Bristol change seven for Friday's top-table Premiership clash while Exeter hand Jack Nowell first start in six months
The teams are in for Friday night's top-table Premiership clash at Ashton Gate between leaders Bristol and defending champions Exe…
Liam Heagney 22 Apr 2021, 7:31
Gibbes gets Clermont job while O'Gara earns promotion at La Rochelle
Kiwi Jono Gibbes and Irishman Ronan O'Gara will end their successful coaching partnership at double chasing La Rochelle this summe…
Liam Heagney 22 Apr 2021, 5:18
The three Saracens players ex-Lions skipper Warburton believes will '100 per cent go on tour'
The Test-playing contingent at Saracens have had a hard time in 2021 and Sam Warburton has now given his verdict on their Lions to…
Liam Heagney 22 Apr 2021, 4:21
Warburton names his Lions captain and identifies the six players he feels are bankers to start first Test versus the Springboks
Skipper in 2013 and 2017, Sam Warburton has identified his successor and named six players who will definitely start in the first …
Liam Heagney 21 Apr 2021, 17:00
Etzebeth picks the Lions locks he expects to face in July with the Springboks
With just over 13 weeks to go before the first Test, Springboks talisman Eben Etzebeth has named the Lions locks he expects to be …
Liam Heagney 21 Apr 2021, 14:31
'That is just agents looking for more money': Wasps outline their next move at No10 after losing Lima Sopoaga to Lyon
With ex-All Blacks back Lima Sopoaga snapped up by Lyon for next season, Wasps have reflected on the gap his exit leaves in their …
Liam Heagney 21 Apr 2021, 14:27
The frightening reason why Wasps have booked Matteo Minozzi in for unexpected surgery
A doctor recently made a frightening discovery when he routinely checked out the eyesight of Wasps full-back Matteo Minozzi.
Liam Heagney 21 Apr 2021, 11:30
'He threatened the surgeon he better do a good job, the best job he has ever done'
According to Alex Sanderson, Lood de Jager has returned to the Sale set-up on a relentless mission to get fit for the Springboks i…
Liam Heagney 21 Apr 2021, 8:28
'I bailed out of the tackle...': Sale's Rob du Preez cops ban for last weekend's red card
Sale out-half Rob du Preez was sent off by referee Adam Leal last weekend and appeared before an online disciplinary panel on Tue…
Liam Heagney 21 Apr 2021, 5:58
Sam Warburton unveils the Canterbury jersey the Lions will wear versus the Springboks
The countdown to the Lions tour in South Africa accelerated on Wednesday with the unveiling of the Canterbury jersey that will be …
Liam Heagney 21 Apr 2021, 4:47