Ollie Phillips: Connacht an underrated threat in this European weekend January 14, 2022 Though quarantine restrictions on foreign travellers have been lifted in France, we’re never quite sure – until players actually take to the field – that European games will go ahead. It’s a sign of the times we’re living in and events of Round 2 – where postponed games were awarded 0-0 results – will no [...]
Gloucester Rugby: One of the Premiership’s great enigmas January 11, 2022 Until Saturday, it had been an awfully long time since Gloucester had won away to Saracens; more than 4,800 days, to be exact. And while the Cherry and Whites may one day look back at their 25-24 win as the peak of their season, they’ve already established themselves as a club with a culture few [...]
Premiership Rugby: Cap changes hint at continued silly signing season January 11, 2022 Not often will you find a top quality rugby player moving from one club to another mid-season, even less frequently will you find them doing it at any point for anywhere near the value of a football transfer. That said, every few years there’s a seemingly silly season of signings where some of the best [...]
Premiership rugby: Snappy team-by-team report card at half-way point January 9, 2022 The weekend’s Premiership action marked the halfway point of the season. While some teams have found themselves in familiar positions, this year has also seen some surprising performances. Here is our half-term report. Leicester Tigers – A* It was going perfectly for the Tigers, who had gone the entire season without losing – until Sunday. [...]
Ollie Phillips: Habits die hard as the Premiership reaches half way January 7, 2022 After this week’s Premiership action, each of the 13 teams will be halfway through their seasons. Some have outperformed my expectations, like Gloucester, and others have – thankfully – lived up to my predictions, like Leicester. The Premiership, though, despite its lack of relegation and jeopardy, has proven that habits are hard to break in [...]
British & Irish Lion Williams joins rugby outfit Cardiff January 6, 2022 Cardiff Rugby have announced the signing of British and Irish Lion Liam Williams. The Wales full-back will join the United Rugby Championship club next season. Williams, 30, started his career at Scarlets before joining Saracens in the English Premiership. The back-three player, who has 72 caps for his country, then returned to Scarlets, where he’s [...]
Six Nations: Tournament preparing to play games behind closed doors January 4, 2022 Organisers of rugby’s Six Nations are preparing plans which could see games played behind closed doors if restrictions remain unchanged. With current Covid-19 restrictions banning fans completely in Wales, setting a 500-person cap in Scotland and a 5,000 limit in Ireland and France, there could be implications for the tournament. England have not yet put [...]
Premiership Rugby five things: Subdued Saints and bamboozling Bristol January 3, 2022 England’s Premiership Rugby competition is one week shy of the halfway point. The league contains one winless side, one unbeaten side, and a competitive 11 teams in between. Here are five things we’ve learned from round 12 of action: Bamboozling Bristol Bristol’s game against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday was billed as game of the weekend, [...]
Best of 2021:‘Let’s get a Premiership Rugby game in Singapore’ January 2, 2022 Premiership Rugby is nearing the half-way point this season and in December Matt Hardy spoke to title sponsor Gallagher’s CMO. Originally published 16 December. Premiership Rugby’s main sponsor, the US-headquartered insurer Gallagher, has called for the league to stage matches overseas in locations such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. English club rugby’s top competition has [...]
Sport sponsorship: Forecasting the impact of the big events in 2022 January 2, 2022 Six months on from wading through the smashed bottles and broken dreams that littered Wembley Way after the calamitous Euro 2020 final, sports fans and sponsors can look forward to an abundance of major global events in 2022. As it happens, this year has been designated the United Nations International Year of Glass, so it’s [...]