The 20-year-old rejection that Steve Borthwick hasn't forgotten
A rejection from 20 years ago weighed on the mind of Steve Borthwick when he held individual talks on Sunday morning with the 10 p…
Liam Heagney
08 Aug 2023, 4:25
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.
Farrell's warning to World Cup first-timers Earl, Lawrence and JVP
Skipper Owen Farrell was quite the contrast experience-wise to World Cup newcomers Ben Earl, Jack van Poortvliet and Ollie Lawrenc…
Liam Heagney
07 Aug 2023, 14:37
The England reason why No8 Billy Vunipola is suddenly back in favour
Billy Vunipola, someone whose 2022/23 club season was cut short in April through a knee injury that needed an operation after he h…
Liam Heagney
07 Aug 2023, 10:52
The Borthwick explanation for surprise England axing of Henry Slade
Henry Slade was the headline-grabbing omission from the England squad of 33 named on Monday by Steve Borthwick for the upcoming Ru…
Liam Heagney
07 Aug 2023, 10:17
Analysis
Position-by-position guide to the 10 England cuts made by Borthwick
Steve Borthwick had the task on Saturday night of sitting down with his assistants in Cardiff to reduce the England squad of 43 pl…
Liam Heagney
07 Aug 2023, 5:04
Slade, Dombrandt are casualties as England confirm World Cup squad
Steve Borthwick has named his 33-strong England squad for the Rugby World Cup, excluding Jonny May and Henry Slade along with Alex…
Liam Heagney
07 Aug 2023, 4:59
Exclusive
'A big name will miss out; I hope it’s not Ben Earl' – Austin Healey
Monday is D-day for Steve Borthwick’s wannabe England players. Having auditioned 61 options over the course of the summer and wh…
Liam Heagney
06 Aug 2023, 5:00
Analysis
Four England talking points after their latest defeat to Wales
Losing Rugby World Cup warm-up matches isn’t the be-all and end-all. Four years ago, England stank in Cardiff, were held try-les…
Liam Heagney
06 Aug 2023, 4:02
The Borthwick reaction to latest worrying loss for struggling England
Wounded England boss Steve Borthwick looked to put a positive spin on his team’s second-half capitulation to Wales on Saturday e…
Liam Heagney
05 Aug 2023, 16:47
Opinion
England player ratings vs Wales | 2023 Summer Nations Series
Steve Borthwick was in Cardiff on Saturday seeking out the final evidence to be considered ahead of this Monday’s confirmation o…
Liam Heagney
05 Aug 2023, 14:55
Bulls boss Jake White names four new assistant coaches for 2023/24
Bulls director of rugby Jake White has shaken up his club’s coaching ticket, recruiting four new assistants for the 2023/24 seas…
Liam Heagney
04 Aug 2023, 9:05
Ireland make 12 changes and also name three new caps on bench
Andy Farrell has revealed an Ireland team to take on Italy that has 12 changes from the starting XV in their Grand Slam-clinching …
Liam Heagney
03 Aug 2023, 9:05
Analysis
Three major talking points about the England team to play Wales
Twenty weeks on from the last time he selected an England match day 23, Steve Borthwick has shaken things up with his choices to f…
Liam Heagney
03 Aug 2023, 8:36
One new cap named to start in England team showing 10 changes
Steve Borthwick has confirmed his England team to face Wales this Saturday, a Summer Nations Series selection that shows 10 change…
Liam Heagney
03 Aug 2023, 7:07
Three new caps included by France who change 14 from last outing
Fabien Galthie has named a France team to play Scotland this Saturday that contains 14 changes from their last outing in March.
Liam Heagney
03 Aug 2023, 6:23
Galthie’s France suffer another injury setback in the forwards
Less than a week after it emerged that Francois Cros has been sidelined from training at Marcoussis, it has been confirmed that Fr…
Liam Heagney
02 Aug 2023, 10:47
Scotland change 13 and name Finn Russell as skipper versus France
Gregor Townsend has shaken up his Scotland team, making 13 changes for this Saturday’s Summer Nations Series clash with France f…
Liam Heagney
02 Aug 2023, 6:31
Wales name three new caps versus England, with two more on bench
Warren Gatland has named a Wales team to take on England this Saturday that includes three uncapped players in the starting XV and…
Liam Heagney
02 Aug 2023, 5:40
Springboks make 13 changes for Saturday's rematch with Argentina
Jacques Nienaber has named a Springboks side to face Argentina this Saturday in Buenos Aires that shows 13 changes from the XV tha…
Liam Heagney
01 Aug 2023, 11:04
Analysis
From 61 to 33… Last chance saloon in England RWC selection process
The wait is nearly all over, England fans. Whereas the likes of reigning Grand Slam champions Ireland simply announced a squad of …
Liam Heagney
01 Aug 2023, 4:25
