Opinion
'Rugby World Cup lends credibility to a sport battling grave issues'
As clubs go bust and player welfare concerns heighten, the Rugby World Cup remains a vital beacon of light.
Mick Cleary
08 Jun 2023, 7:33
Contributors
Mick Cleary
Mick Cleary was sports feature writer for The Observer from 1988-1997 covering Wimbledon, Tour de France, F1, cricket, golf, athletics and horse racing. In 1997 he became Chief Rugby Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. He has covered eight Rugby World Cups as well as seven Lions tours. Cleary has also written several books on the sport.
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'Sport, as we know, is one of life’s great escape mechanisms. Not in Premiership rugby it isn’t.'
It has been a chastening season in English rugby with yet another side on the brink and the hope is no more clubs perish
Mick Cleary
30 May 2023, 11:31
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'Leicester don’t mess about when it comes to the scoreboard. You're either in front or a loser'
Tigers have battled their way from mid-table to be within a game of a Premiership final and they have a puncher's chance against S…
Mick Cleary
12 May 2023, 4:17
Opinion
Exeter ready themselves for one last hurrah before break-up
The Chiefs have had an inglorious season but one last heroic effort could extend the most emotional of goodbyes
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27 Apr 2023, 13:11
Opinion
Is Luther Burrell the best thing to have happened to English rugby?
The damning report published by the RFU backed the former England centre to the hilt reinforcing that the game has to kick on and …
Mick Cleary
20 Apr 2023, 3:10
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'There has been a lot of negativity over the exodus of English players to France. It is time to find a solution.'
The parlous finances in Premiership rugby has forced players to head to France to earn a living but should that stunt their Englan…
Mick Cleary
04 Apr 2023, 10:23
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'England have managed to re-kindle that most precious of things, a modicum of hope'
Steve Borthwick has had an uncomfortable first Six Nations campaign, but there were tentative signs of progress against Ireland
Mick Cleary
20 Mar 2023, 7:24
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'There was nothing to warm English hearts, nothing whatsoever.'
Steve Borthwick's men had a painful reality check in how far they had fallen behind the world's best side as France humiliated the…
Mick Cleary
13 Mar 2023, 7:06
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'England may not gladden our souls but they are playing to type, just as Borthwick said they would'
Three games in and while not perfect, there are tentative signs of progress within the England camp after a forgettable afternoon …
Mick Cleary
27 Feb 2023, 4:53
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'Even Tom Curry will have to go some to reclaim that starting shirt. Willis is back in the frame'
England put some pride back into the shirt with a much-improved effort against an ambitious Italy side, but there is still work to…
Mick Cleary
13 Feb 2023, 3:39
Opinion
Mick Cleary: 'It is time to install Farrell as England's starting fly-half'
Steve Borthwick has been dealt a poor hand but now is not the time for bemoaning ill-fortune, there is a Six Nations to win
Mick Cleary
06 Feb 2023, 8:51
