- Rugby Union RSS Feed

Cockerill signs three-year deal at Leicester

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Leicester have announced a new three-year contract for their director of rugby Richard Cockerill. He has led the club to four Premiership finals, winning titles in 2009 and 2010, in addition to reaching the 2009 Heineken Cup final and landing this season's LV= Cup.

Cockerill signs three-year deal

Thu, 31 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Catt warns England to expect 'very fierce' tour

Wed, 30 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

When the England squad boarded the flight for Johannesburg last night – two flights, to be precise, thanks to the difficulty of squeezing 40-odd players plus support staff into a single business-class compartment – they were both fully equipped on the personnel front and fully armed with advice on what to expect from the world's most belligerent union nation.

Exiles triumph – and now face the RFU

Wed, 30 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

London Welsh have done all they can on the field to win promotion to the Aviva Premiership, after beating Cornish Pirates over two legs to win the Championship.

Lancaster talks tackle technique to Tuilagi

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:40:48 GMT

Stuart Lancaster has warned Manu Tuilagi over his tackling technique after he faced the prospect of being banned from England's tour of South Africa.

Tuilagi cleared for South Africa tour

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The England coach, Stuart Lancaster, last night received a significant helping hand from the Rugby Football Union's disciplinary class when Manu Tuilagi, a clear first choice at outside centre, was cleared to play in the three-Test series against South Africa, which begins in Durban in 10 days' time.

Meyer backs his Boks to batter England

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Heyneke Meyer is very clear about his primary responsibility as coach of the South Africa rugby team – nothing but winning will suffice.

Matt Stevens ruled out of England tour to South Africa

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:31:59 GMT

Matt Stevens has been ruled out of England's three-Test summer tour to South Africa after suffering a shoulder injury.

Manu Tuilagi and Toby Flood major concerns for England head coach Stuart Lancaster

Tue, 29 May 2012 08:06:44 GMT

Stuart Lancaster is sweating on the availability of two key players for England's South Africa tour.

Uncapped Irish trio earn chance

Mon, 28 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The Ireland head coach, Declan Kidney, is set to finalise his 29-man squad for the New Zealand tour after tonight's game against the Barbarians at Kingsholm.

Manu Tuilagi cited for 'tip tackle' on Danny Care during Premiership final

Mon, 28 May 2012 16:46:00 GMT

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi could miss England's tour of South Africa after being cited following an incident during the Aviva Premiership final two days ago.

Chris Ashton ditches 'Ash splash' after discussion with England coach Stuart Lancaster

Mon, 28 May 2012 09:40:30 GMT

Chris Ashton revealed he shelved his trademark 'Ash splash' try-scoring celebration after a conversation with England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Dowson injury gives England a scare after Ashton leads rout

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Low-intensity matches are all fine and dandy at this late stage of a campaign, especially if 42,000 spectators are willing to shell out for the privilege of watching. The problem comes when the intensity level rises sufficiently to break into the "high impact" category and leaves some poor soul spreadeagled across a stretcher. This was the cruel fate suffered by the Northampton back-row forward Phil Dowson at Twickenham yesterday and as a result, he gave the England coaching team an unpleasant scare.

Monye takes pride after Quins stride to the title

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

There was nothing of the Corinthian spirit behind Harlequins' decision to walk to Twickenham on the afternoon of their first appearance in a Premiership grand final, although the pastel-shaded Londoners remain the most high-minded of England's leading clubs, give or take the odd flirtation with fake blood and the occasional botched cover-up. They did it because the journey from their home at The Stoop was no more than a quarter of a mile – barely enough distance for a funny thing to happen on the way to the stadium.

Williams bows out by sealing final win for Ospreys

Sun, 27 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Shane Williams signed off in fairy-tale fashion as his try double helped the Ospreys to edge out Leinster in an epic six-try RaboDirect PRO12 final.

Ruck and Maul: Tindall gets goodbye to Gloucester but Fuimaono-Sapolu has gone

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Mike Tindall will follow his debut for the Barbarians at Twickenham today with an appearance against an Ireland XV on Tuesday night at Gloucester, in what will be his farewell to Kingsholm after eight years with the host club.

Hartley has bit back between teeth

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

England are playing an unusually strong hand against the Barbarians in today's end of season runaround at Twickenham. With three Tests against the Springboks in South Africa starting in Durban on Saturday week, this is a crucial loosener.

David Flatman: Summer's here, so it's time to start worrying about relaxation

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

There are many adjustments for the retiring rugby player to make. He must quickly get used to working full days, being unavailable for midweek breakfast with friends and wearing clothes that aren't budget, branded items, made of polyester. But not every adjustment is so difficult. At last he can stay up late watching B-movies, choose the garlic bread with cheese and book a holiday without ensuring there is a gym close by.

Kearney's fitness boosts Leinster

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Sean O'Brien, the 2011 European player of the year who was man of the match in last week's Heineken Cup final, will be absent when Leinster take on the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12 final in Dublin this afternoon. The flanker has a knee injury. Unfortunately for the Ospreys, the 2012 European player of the year, Rob Kearney has been passed fit and will be at full-back for a Leinster team showing some changes but no glaring weakness. Brian O'Driscoll has also passed a fitness test and starts in the centre; Joe Schmidt, the head coach, is able to drop an All Black World Cup winning lock, Brad Thorn, to the bench.

Robshaw leads way and Quins roar past Tigers in title thriller

Sat, 26 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

No one can outdo Leicester for consistency but this cracking final went deservedly to Harlequins, who took the Premiership trophy across the road to a cock-a-hoop Stoop. Inspired by Chris Robshaw and Nick Evans, winners of the player of the season titles awarded by the Premiership and the players in the past fortnight, Quins claimed their reward for perseverance through bad times and good.

Robshaw lifts trophy as Quins take Premiership title

Sat, 26 May 2012 16:00:30 GMT

Harlequins were crowned champions of England for the first time - three years after their reputation looked battered beyond repair - by defeating Leicester in a thrilling Twickenham final.

Foden talks a good game ahead of bash with the Baa-Baas

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Ben Foden was keen to make himself clear. "When you play the Barbarians, you find yourselves being pulled into their style of rugby," the England full-back said this week. "It's hard not to get swept up in it and that's when mistakes happen. We need to control the tempo of the game, to play in the right areas." It was a thoughtful appraisal of the prospects for tomorrow's contest at Twickenham. Anyone would think it was a Test match.

Brian Ashton: Sensible refereeing will allow us all to revel in a vibrant Premiership final

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Follow that, then. After the spectacle of the Heineken Cup's all-Irish showpiece last weekend, we can now look forward to the most significant club match of the English season as Harlequins and Leicester go toe-to-toe at Twickenham this afternoon in the fight for the Premiership title.

Meet Steve Mafi: The Tigers’ Tongan hitman

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

How's this for an accolade? "He was arguably the best No 8 in the world. The Welsh No 8 Mervyn Davies was of course much better known, and when Ireland's Ken Goodall sadly went to rugby league, Davies earned his top ranking among the major countries. But as Mafi showed in Britain, he was good enough to jump anywhere in the line-out... and he was quick enough to hold off the fastest of the Welsh backs in a 30-yard sprint. He was strong enough to scrummage well as a lock and he was a devastating tackler. He was almost a one-man team, and although that inevitably placed unfair pressures upon him, he was good enough to withstand them."

Ford displaces Flood as Tigers eye final feat

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The two best teams in the Premiership, both close to full strength and performing at the peak of their powers in front of a capacity Twickenham audience of 82,000, with the most sought-after title in English club rugby at stake? What could possibly go wrong? Politics, that's what. When Harlequins and Leicester square up this afternoon, proceedings will be overshadowed by the growing ruckus over London Welsh and their promotion trauma – an issue that has already been given an airing in the House of Commons and will presumably attract the attention of Christine Lagarde and Barack Obama before the month is out.