The RugbyPass Round Table writers answer the big questions at the mid-point of the Super Rugby Pacific 2025 season. Finn Morton (FM), Henry Lee (HL), Ben Smith (BS), Ned Lester (NL) weigh in on who the favourites to take the title are.
World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Carol Isherwood has been appointed as the first chair of the British and Irish Lions Women's Committee.
In the opening round of Super Rugby Aupiki Matatu rallied from behind in Hamilton to score a dramatic victory against Chiefs Manawa. In Wellington, the Hurricanes were no match for the Blues, the reigning champions.
Between early 2023 and early 2024 the front-rower, who can play prop and hooker and is currently playing the latter for her club, was out of action with an ACL knee injury.
A phenomenal mark of 48 tries, achieved against the odds, is still a distant prospect for today's top English wingers.
Former Ireland captain believes greater focus on All Ireland League could give more players from different backgrounds a route to the top.
In isolation, I’ve got no problem with the Dricus sideshow. They were in Perth, they are friends and as proud South Africans, showing their loyalty, but it’s probably not the recipe for success if done on a regular basis. Put it this way, they wouldn’t have done that before they’d won two World Cups, because they weren’t deemed serial winners. Once players start to forget rugby is No 1, then things can quickly go South.
16 rounds of the Premier 15s played. Two remain. It’s almost closing time. Gloucester-Hartpury, Exeter Chiefs, Saracens, and – in all likelihood – Bristol Bears have nabbed themselves invites to the after-party: a helter-skelter double header of do-or-die, foot-to-the-floor rugby.
Simon Middleton is spoiled for choice. There are so many brilliant Red Roses available to him, and despite this looking set to be the most professionalised edition of the Six Nations yet -their title defence feels inevitable.