The Times They Are-a-Changin’
Some 150 years since the RFU’s inception, professional rugby finds itself amid a sea of icebergs, any one of which might bring it down.
Latest News
The final journey
Why South Africa’s 2019 World Cup victory resonated more deeply than the 1995 and 2007 triumphs.
Unburdened and unbowed
Liam Squire sets the record straight on his publicised battle with mental health and stepping away from the All Blacks.
Fit to burst
Pre-season training can often be unpleasant, but it can also create lasting, and good, memories.
From lost boy to liberté
Kurtley Beale has charted a turbulent path from troubled wonderkid and rehab patient to joyous Racing 92 galactico.
Proving his worth
James Botham is stepping out of the shadows of his grandfather’s sporting legend
Culture clash
If the New Zealand Rugby strikes a private equity deal, it is going to force a radical culture shift in the All Blacks’ traditional values.
The odd couple
Mark Durden-Smith and David Flatman make a classic TV double act but what do they make of each other?
Mending a broken heart
No one in Australia rated Jake McIntyre in 2017. That might change in 2021 now he’s signed with the Western Force.
Trading places
Former prop John Andress is using the personal touch to guide players through tough times
Try your eyes
Bryan Habana’s incredible Test scoring record wasn’t just down to his speed
Loss leaders
Two major losses in the last 12 months could be the emotional fuel that rebuilds the All Blacks.
Dow stock on rise
England winger wants to engineer change in the women’s game
Breaking bad
Rugby Australia have navigated some tough seas in recent years – but it’s a period they may end up thankful for.
Taking the reins
In the wake of Danny Cipriani’s departure, Lloyd Evans has emerged from the shadows
Stand-off supreme
Ian Foster’s biggest challenge in 2021 may be getting the best out of Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga.
Escaping the straitjacket
With his bright dreadlocks and custom boots, Paolo Odogwu is a splash of colour in an often-grey sport.
Feeding an army
How do you fuel a squad of ravenous rugby players? And what about the science behind the scoff?
Generation next
The progeny of a 1930 British and Irish Lion, Jesse Kriel longs to face the tourists in 2021.
Short circuit
Why Premiership Rugby’s egregious circuit-break reeks of inflexibility, short-sightedness and politicking.
Fullback gambit
The All Blacks’ dual-playmaker strategy requires a demanding skillset from NZ fullbacks.
French withdrawal
France is no longer a haven for foreign players. Its shifting tides that could redefine world rugby.
Catch me if you can
Randall admiration, Six Nations fears, Falcons march on, flying ref sees red, Ospreys renaissance, Irish elite
Split loyalties
Half-Irish, half-Welsh, Mike Ruddock is back ‘home’ after getting an SOS call from the Ospreys.
Charmed life
All Blacks captains have seemingly been subject to different rules because of their reputation.
Loyalty and legacy
England’s new tyro talks LeBron James, Eddie Jones and making an indelible footprint.
Better late than never
Touring is key to the Lions’ survival, so do fans want a waiting game or no game?
World Cup wild card
By 2023, Fiji could be a team with the potential to cause a major surprise at the World Cup.
The French evolution
After a decade of turmoil, things are finally looking up for Les Bleus.
Sizing up
Bigger is better for Test coaches, but it isn’t for player welfare
The hard line
Talent only takes you so far, you need selflessness and a team-ethic to become a true great
Annus mirabilis
He started the year a hopeful sevens player but Caleb Clarke ended 2020 as a global superstar.
On a cliff edge
South Africa’s future could depend on the British & Irish Lions tour getting the go-ahead.
Set for lift-off
The XV has enlisted experts all over the world to select players they expect to make a big impression in 2021
Tough at the top
The pressure and expectation that comes with the All Blacks captaincy has been too hard for some players to handle.
Reasons to be cheerful?
As we enter 2021, there are no guarantees a new year will signal a new dawn.
Teenage kicks
Just 19, Ioan Lloyd has had a breakthrough year and 2021 promises to be even better
Collision course
Rugby’s tragic flaw is that the more players improve, the more dangerous they are to one another.
The boot-iful game
A reliable and accurate place-kicker can make all the difference at Test level
The lost art of winning
Rugby in Australia isn’t going to boom again until the Wallabies rediscover the art of winning consistently.
Heavy mettle
Duane Vermeulen says it would be a mistake to write off the Springboks next summer.
Time for change
Empty words aren’t enough, real action is needed on equality and diversity
Captain’s knock
A broken foot, a ripped testicle, whatever the injury, an All Blacks captain will find a way to play on.
Best in show
The best All Blacks captains are, more often than not, the All Blacks’ best players.
The PRO-blem child
The PRO14’s future will be defined by the arrival of South Africa’s ‘big four’ in 2021.
Bargain hunters
The Six Nations need to admit their obsession with New Zealand and now South Africa is hurting them.
Ticking time bomb
Neil Spence’s legal case against the game’s authorities is leading to more players coming forward
Soldiering on
The second weekend of Champions Cup action brought Covid chaos, comebacks and Christmas cheer
From boy to man
James O’Connor was once the enfant terrible of Australian rugby. Now he’s the Wallabies’ saviour.
Brave new world
World Rugby’s Mark Egan talks about a year of upheaval and the future of the game
Money worries
Covid-19 has hit all Premiership clubs in the pocket but some are worse off than others
Redemption man
Once a hot-headed youngster with a short fuse Scott Baldwin has matured into a better player and person.
Fresh start
After four years at the Chiefs, fullback Solomon Alaimalo hopes a move to the Highlanders will reignite his career.
Ireland’s Cull
Why is it so hard for Irish coaches to be prophets in their own land?
Prime target
Aaron Smith is off contract next year and the All Blacks know the importance of locking him in until 2023.
The after life
Dark thoughts can envelop former pros but Tom Stephenson says there is light at the end of the tunnel
The hardest Yarde
Campaigner, crusader, winger, Marland Yarde is a voice for change in rugby.
French resistance
The All Blacks and France have been drawn in the same pool for the 2023 tournament. Drama is guaranteed.
The YouTube generation
Robbie Owen and his fellow content creators are revolutionising the way fans watch the game
Mother Hibbard
The Dragons hooker opens up about the major influence in his life and career
Opportunity knocks
Harrowing real-life stories from former professionals should force rugby into swift action
Boom and bust
New Zealand has known great riches at No 10 but is currently experiencing a genuine dearth of talent in a key position.
Rise of the machines
Has the game become too driven by data or is information power?
No country for soft men
Grizz Wyllie toured South Africa when the Springboks were the toughest men on the planet.
Flying machine
Jess Breach has had a scintillating start to her Test career but doesn’t want that to define her
Unfinished business
To some, he will always be known as the coach who lost to Japan. But there is much more to Heyneke Meyer.
Power play
Young Folau Fakatava could be the man to finally challenge Aaron Smith’s All Black supremacy.
Autumn daze
England scraped home to win the Nations Cup, but there’s still no clear favourite for the Six Nations
Second wind
Liam Squire is back with the Highlanders and has rediscovered a desire to play test football.
Moral courage
Dan Leo’s tireless campaign has shone a light on the need for leadership within the English game
Fun and games
Bernard Le Roux has been given a new lease of life by France’s youngsters
The scrum professor
Adam Jones is thriving at Harlequins but he has a watchful eye trained on his beloved Wales
Mana on mana
The Maori All Blacks holds a special place for those who put on the famous jersey.
Don’t stop believin’
Erik Lund’s journey shows you don’t have to tread the usual path to the top
Rebuilding great
Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are poised to re-establish themselves as the world’s premier locking combination.
Careful what you wish for
Rather than implement change for the sake of it, rugby’s lawmakers must remain true to the game’s soul.
Home comforts
Bryn Gatland has finally landed his dream contract at the Chiefs.
Adieu, Domi
Christophe Dominici’s tragic death should not overshadow the celebration of his life
Benefits in kind
Nice guys never win? The research says differently…
Finding a way through
Jeff Wilson was part of an All Blacks team that struggled and he sees similarities with the current side.
Miracle man
The All Blacks’ search for a game-changing impact player may be over.
Tipping point
The system cited as the chief cause of Ireland’s success is in danger of becoming unviable
Lose the habit
Wales face a test of strength – both physical and mental – against England
Breaking the stranglehold
Unless there’s a dramatic shift in the way the game is played, fans won’t return to stadiums any time soon.
Old dog for the hard road
Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor has endured wildly fluctuating emotions in a tumultuous year
Game changers
The All Blacks once had the most devastating bench in world rugby.
Green-eyed monster
Tri-Nations success has left Springbok fans with a sense of what might have been
Hope springs
With a new broadcast deal and coaching set-up, there’s reason for optimism in Australia right now.
Kicking up a storm
Dave Alred puts the boot in on critics who want to see more running rugby
Hard sell
The Nations Cup rolled into its second week but highlights were scarce as caution ruled
Real cost of criticism
Rugby players never go out on the park to lose – but it’s not the players who criticism hurts the most.
White line fever
Scotland are rock solid defensively but need to more clinical in converting pressure into points
The hurt locker
Thibault Giroud has applied sports science to make France one of the world’s most durable teams
Ferocious Pumas
Right from the third minute of Argentina’s win over New Zealand, the Pumas’ intent was clear.
Survival of the fittest
Ex-England flanker Tom Wood says Eddie Jones’ back-row quandary is a good problem to have
The Sexton conundrum
The way Andy Farrell handles his captain will define his tenure as Ireland head coach.
Divorce papers
Marriage between media and clubs is in trouble but it’s not too late to save relationship
Rethinking the Argentina approach
Argentina’s victory over New Zealand showed that more matches don’t always lead to better results.
Miracle men
Argentina shocked the All Blacks – now they need to show it wasn’t a one-off