Investec Champions Cup Barometer: Exeter Chiefs riding momentum wave February 12, 2024 In the lead up to the 2023-24 Investec Champions Cup Round of 16, Morning Wire has put together a barometer in partnership with Investec to assess which teams are hot – and which are not – ahead of April’s knockouts. Team of the week: Exeter Chiefs, England It was a good weekend to be a [...]
‘Rugby can’t be seen as boring to new fans. It will drive them away’ February 12, 2024 Deputy Sport Editor Matt Hardy talks England’s Six Nations atmosphere, boring rugby and glorious Ireland in this week’s column. “There was a lot of stopping and starting, nothing seemed to happen and the people around me kept saying how boring it was.” That was the one sentence review from a colleague after their first ever [...]
School of Hard Knocks lunch raises £100k on proud day for Square Mile February 12, 2024 A major success was hailed last Thursday as the great and good of Canada and beyond descended on Threadneedle Street’s M Restaurant for the annual School of Hard Knocks Long Lunch. Rugby World Cup winners, international sports players, broadcasters and brokers all played their part in raising over £100,000 for the School [...]
Six Nations: Ireland Grand Slam mission alive after Italy thrashing February 11, 2024 A clinical Ireland side toppled Italy 36-0 yesterday in the final match of the second round of the Six Nations to stamp their authority as tournament favourites. Dan Sheehan crossed for a brace while Jack Crowley, Jack Conan, James Lowe and Calvin Nash contributed to the whitewashing of the Azzurri, in round one only lost [...]
Where can I watch the Six Nations in London this weekend? February 9, 2024 The Six Nations is up and running across Europe and London’s pubs and bars are loving it. England, Scotland and Ireland won in round one but round two sees a huge England vs Wales clash. Here are the top spots that Morning Wire have tried for you to get stuck into. Flat Iron Square, London [...]
Ollie Phillips: England will solve defensive holes to beat Wales February 8, 2024 My prediction of an England Six Nations title is still on, just about. And I don’t see that being derailed this weekend against Wales. Wales didn’t actually play that badly against Scotland but I just don’t think they’ve got it in them to pull off an upset at Twickenham. When you look at their 23 [...]
‘France promised to be all I enjoy about rugby. They’ve let me down’ February 7, 2024 When Ben O’Keeffe blew his full-time whistle last Saturday afternoon it marked the conclusion of round one of the Six Nations. And amid the feelings of what could have been for Scotland after their Wales scare or for England with Italy breathing down their necks, it was France who left a longstanding and unsavoury aftertaste [...]
Gatland confident Wales can beat rebuilding England at Twickenham February 7, 2024 Wales head coach Warren Gatland has insisted his side will travel to London with confidence as they take on England in the Six Nations on Saturday. Wales nearly came back from 27-0 down against Scotland but lost 27-26 in their opening match of the tournament. “England are in a rebuilding phase,” Gatland said. “We will [...]
Investec Champions Cup Barometer: Munster on a crusade to Tottenham February 5, 2024 In the lead up to the 2023-24 Investec Champions Cup Round of 16, Morning Wire has put together a barometer in partnership with Investec to assess which teams are hot – and which are not – ahead of April’s knockouts. Team of the week: Munster They’re famed for their Investec Champions Cup performances but two-time [...]
Six Nations takeaways: Borthball, Gatland and Cardiff surrender? February 4, 2024 It’s back and it is surprising us more than ever. The opening round of the Six Nations had a bit of everything; it saw the favourites beaten, it saw the projected worst side come within a try of winning and it saw both one of the most extraordinary capitulations and comebacks in the tournament’s history. [...]