Player welfare is a clarion call of long standing for rugby’s constituents – the governing body World Rugby, unions, federations, clubs and tournament organisers. The IRFU’s model had long been the envy of its global peers, and sport’s hierarchy in several countries have followed suit to varying degrees in adopting a version of a central … Read more
The French call it une fourchette, a fork. It is an extremely visual word to describe eye gouging, which landed France’s Oscar Jegou in hot water following their dramatic Six Nations defeat to Scotland. Regrettably, Jegou was not dealt with on the day by the match officials as referee Angus Gardner and TMO Brett Cronan … Read more
In 2009, when I was coaching Ulster, World Rugby proposed a few sensible law changes that would allow players to execute quick lineout throws. Hardly a radical change. At that time, the coaches of the leading professional teams were invited to vote on whether the new laws should be adopted. To my great bewilderment, I … Read more
15 Thomas Ramos (France) France’s Thomas Ramos lines up the winning kick during the Six Nations match against England at Stade de France. Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images One of the main reasons France are champions, and ultimately the key man. Yet again, the most points (74) and the best kicking ratio (87.5 per … Read more
Andy Farrell has confirmed that he will sit down imminently with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to explore the possibility of extending his tenure as the Ireland head coach beyond the conclusion of next year’s World Cup in Australia. Although he is highly regarded elsewhere, not least by influential people in England’s Rugby Football … Read more
The Vikings, Cromwell, landlords, Eurovision Song Contest voters, and so on, to this list we now add the right boot of Thomas Ramos – inflictors of unimaginable pain on our nation. “C’est la vie,” Stephen Ferris sighed come the conclusion of that somewhat epic battle in Paris. Ireland, then, had to settle for the Triple … Read more
Six Nations: France 48 England 46 A wild, whacky, madcap and ridiculously fluctuating 2026 Six Nations had a Super Saturday that was just that. Alas for Ireland, despite a pulsating 43-21 win over Scotland which had ensured they retained the Triple Crown, Thomas Ramos’ 45 metre-penalty with the last kick of the game in Paris … Read more
France 38-39 England 63 mins: France win a breakdown penalty inside their own 22 and it’s all kicking off. SUrprise surprise, Henry Pollock is in the middle of it all. 60 mins: Attisogbé’s athleticism to keep that ball in play from an England kick is worth the price of admission alone. The game that keeps … Read more
Ahead of the final round of games in the 2026 Six Nations, France lead the title charge, but only just. Scoring difference is all that separates Les Bleus from second-place Scotland, both on 16 points, while Ireland remain in contention in third on 14 points. France are the only one of the sides who can … Read more
Archyde The 2026 Six Nations Championship will proceed down to the wire after a stunning victory for Scotland over France on Saturday, ending Les Bleus’ Grand Slam aspirations and throwing the title race wide open. A 50-40 win for the Scots at Murrayfield has created a three-way battle for the championship heading into the final … Read more