Jake White's All Blacks-like prediction about Bulls' David Kriel
The 25-year-old, who has signed a contract extension through to 2027, was previously considered as only a full-back/utility, but h…
Liam Heagney
01 Aug 2024, 8:01
Contributors
Liam Heagney
@heagneyl
A seasoned rugby journalist, Liam hails from Limerick and has covered World Cups, Lions tours, Six Nations Championships and European Cup campaigns since 2000. He became a content editor at RugbyPass in 2019 after joining from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday in Ireland.
Billy Vunipola's first impression of his new life at Montpellier
The 31-year-old, who was at Saracens from 2013 to 2024, has quit the Gallagher Premiership for the Top 14 for the next few years a…
Liam Heagney
31 Jul 2024, 12:13
The Rassie Erasmus verdict on Joe Schmidt's Wallabies
Former Ireland head coach Schmidt is currently three wins from three as Australia head coach following their recent 2-0 series suc…
Liam Heagney
31 Jul 2024, 8:43
Ex-England skipper Phil de Glanville pens six-point RFU reflection
The 55-year-old, who was capped on 38 occasions between 1992 and 1999, was awarded a distinguished member badge following the end …
Liam Heagney
31 Jul 2024, 5:12
Analysis
Four World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 sign off talking points
We can’t sign off on Cape Town 2024, though, without properly reflecting on what the latest edition of the pinnacle internationa…
Liam Heagney
28 Jul 2024, 3:30
Analysis
World Rugby U20 Championship: The RugbyPass team of the tournament
England flew out of South Africa last Saturday evening to Heathrow as the rightful champions, the consistency of their potent scru…
Liam Heagney
28 Jul 2024, 3:26
Interview
Zachary Porthen: 'We clearly at times couldn’t handle the pressure'
The next step on Porthen’s pathway is the Western Province U21s and a shot at eventually making their Currie Cup mix. He’s hop…
Liam Heagney
21 Jul 2024, 3:03
Interview
Nathan Catt: 'I think that’s sexy... it's unbelievable the progress'
The scrum generally gets a bad rep, its critics vocal that it takes up too much time and whatnot. But when it works, as it has sum…
Liam Heagney
21 Jul 2024, 2:55
Interview
Yago Fernandez Vilar: 'Spanish rugby is growing and we’re proving it'
They certainly enjoyed their first-ever campaign at the tournament and the excellent news for them is that they will compete in ne…
Liam Heagney
20 Jul 2024, 5:48
Interview
The 2009 defeat that inspired Mark Mapletoft to 2024 England U20s glory
A green bottle of Castle Lite was suddenly the beverage of choice… and why not? England had just been crowned champions. “I've…
Liam Heagney
20 Jul 2024, 2:58
Interview
'He’s lying, it’s all Asher!': England U20s' Cape Town title party
Mark Mapletoft's side were immense in putting manners on a French side who needed a last-second converted consolation to massage t…
Liam Heagney
20 Jul 2024, 2:07
Glory for England U20s as second-half power show dethrones France
Ahead by a single point at the break after riding their luck at times during an edgy opening half, Mark Mapletoft’s dynamos took…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 15:03
Baby Blacks clinch best U20 Championship finish since 2017 title win
Both teams were soundly beaten in the semi-finals, New Zealand swatted aside 55-31 by French flair while Ireland were depowered 31…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 12:36
Junior Boks end poor Championship run with seven-try win over Wales
Bafana Nhleko’s injury-hit side had lost twice to Argentina and England in their recent outings at a variety of venues following…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 9:54
Sudden death try sees Spain relegate Fiji from World U20 Championship
The Fijians ultimately paid a heavy price for card trouble, suffering three yellows and one red over the course of an exhausting 9…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 8:55
Interview
'URC is the only proper competition where we can be involved'
The former national team boss, who stepped down after Rugby World Cup 2023 to become his union’s high-performance boss, claimed …
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 4:50
Analysis
4 England vs France World Rugby U20 Championship final talking points
A high-scoring shootout is the expectation, although the forecasted rain could temper attacking ambition. Here are the RugbyPass t…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 2:21
Interview
Getting to know: South Africa U20s back row Thabang Mphafi
He started all three of their pool matches, packing down at openside, blindside and then No8 in the final game against the English…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 2:05
Interview
England U20s Ollie Allan: 'It has worked out, I've got myself here'
Thirteen months ago, he was suddenly made redundant. London Irish collapsed, leaving the senior academy member at an awkward loose…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2024, 2:01
Interview
Willie Faloon: 'I wouldn’t have done an awful lot differently'
Defeat when a team hasn’t performed fully is the worst kind of loss. That was the ordeal Ireland were put through in Cape Town o…
Liam Heagney
15 Jul 2024, 8:17
