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Philip Bendon

Philip is a rugby journalist with a background in covering the sport at all levels. Having started out covering National One fixtures in the UK. He has gone on to write for several publications such as Planet Rugby, Rugby365 and RugbyDump. Due to his background of being an Irish/Saffa mix he has a particular focus on the sport in the two countries. His biggest passion however is reminding everyone of the glory days of Munster Rugby.

47 Articles
Interview

Talon McMullen: 'Each game is a different and valuable memory and I'll make the most of it'

Garnering several headlines in the 2024 Asahi Pacific Nations Cup, highly touted Canadian centre Talon McMullen is enjoying a brea…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
13 Sep 2024, 16:36
Interview

Scott Lawrence: 'It's important to keep an eye on your depth and succession planning'

Scott Lawrence's USA Eagles are just twenty-four hours out from arguably their biggest test to date under his tutelage. Tackling a…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
13 Sep 2024, 6:49
Interview

Lucas Rumball: 'We're unified in what we need to do going forward'

Canadian captain Lucas Rumball has seen it all when it comes to rugby in his homeland. Cutting his teeth in the now-defunct Canadi…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
12 Sep 2024, 13:59
Opinion

Argentina player ratings vs Australia | The Rugby Championship

Argentina handed Australia a record defeat 67 - 27 in Santa Fe for one of the very best performances ever from a Pumas side.

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
07 Sep 2024, 17:59
Opinion

USA player ratings vs Japan | Asahi Pacific Nations Cup

Scott Lawrence's USA Eagles saw their potent second half comeback fall short as Eddie Jones's Japan secured a 41 - 24 at the Kumag…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
07 Sep 2024, 10:25

Japan extinguish impressive USA comeback to clinch top spot in Pool B

Eddie Jones’s Japan completed an unbeaten pool stages run in the Asahi Pacific Nations Cup with a 41 – 24 win over the USA in …

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
07 Sep 2024, 8:55
Opinion

Fiji player ratings vs Tonga | Asahi Pacific Nations Cup

Fiji overcame an early red card to centre Adrea Cocagi to secure a second victory in the 2024 Asahi Pacific Nations Cup with a com…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
06 Sep 2024, 2:54
Interview

'Discipline, physicality and bravery' - USA head coach Scott Lawrence previews Japan clash

Sport's great East meets West sporting rivalry is set to for renewal at the 24,000 seat Kumagaya Rugby Stadium when the Brave Blos…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
05 Sep 2024, 12:34
Opinion

Nate Brakeley: Both camps will have this match circled as one due for a big performance

Familiar rivals since the formation of the modern USA Rugby governing body, Japan and USA have faced off since a first meeting in …

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
05 Sep 2024, 5:12
Opinion

Canada player ratings vs The United States | Asahi Pacific Nations Cup

Canada's search for a first win in the 2024 Asahi Pacific Nations Cup goes on as they succumbed to a first half blitz from the USA…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
01 Sep 2024, 8:29
Opinion

Argentina player ratings vs Australia | The Rugby Championship

Argentina's bright start to The Rugby Championship is now firmly in the rearview mirror as they let slip a late lead to fall to th…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
31 Aug 2024, 20:25
Opinion

Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship

South Africa kept their unbeaten start to The Rugby Championship rolling as they closed out a remarkable comeback to down the All …

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
31 Aug 2024, 13:55
Interview

‘I always felt welcome in the Canadian system, more so than the American’ Ethan Fryer

One of the bright lights amongst an exciting new generation of Canadian Rugby players, Ethan Fryer is one of many players who is l…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
31 Aug 2024, 8:47
Opinion

Tonga player ratings vs Samoa | Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup

Tonga's wait for a first victory in Samoa since 1980 continues as the Ikale Tahi fell 43 - 17 in Apia. Struggling to match the acc…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
30 Aug 2024, 3:13

Snubbed Louis Rees-Zammit to make shock switch to new NFL franchise - reports

Less than twenty-four hours after being informed that he had not made it onto the Kansas City Chiefs 53-man roster, Louis Rees-Zam…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
28 Aug 2024, 18:31

'I don't like the comparison' Israel Folau discusses similarities to Joseph Sua'ali'i

Former Wallaby Israel Folau has been doing the podcast rounds in recent weeks, most recently appearing on the Ebbs and Flows podca…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
26 Aug 2024, 6:53
Opinion

Canada player ratings vs Japan | Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup

Japan got their 2024 Pacific Nations Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 55 - 28 win over Canada in Vancouver.

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
25 Aug 2024, 19:41

Scottish Rugby pull off major coup with signing of David Nucifora

Scottish Rugby have secured the signature of former Irish Rugby High Performance Director David Nucifora on a two year deal.

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
25 Aug 2024, 14:09
Interview

'We're going to fight for every win and every inch out there': Jason Higgins

Sunday afternoon at BC Place will for a short period become the epicentre of Canadian Rugby as Les Rouges tackle former Rugby Worl…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
24 Aug 2024, 12:10
Opinion

Argentina player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship

New Zealand got their Rugby Championship campaign back on track with a first half blitzing of Argentina to secure a 42 - 10 win in…

Philip Bendon
Philip Bendon
17 Aug 2024, 6:25
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