Tag Archives: rugby

Wednesday, 13 September 2017 :  Top rugby union referees are aerobically fitter than players, says former Harlequins scrum-half turned official Karl Dickson. Dickson retired in May to become a full-time professional referee, and is now part of the Rugby Football Union’s 10-person elite panel. “The referees’ fitness is phenomenal.” Dickson …

Friday, 18 August 2017 :  Champions England will play France in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals after a seven-try win over the USA. Emily Scarratt scored the first try and a penalty try and further scores from Marlie Packer, with a brace, and Katy Mclean saw them lead 33-7 at …

Friday, 4 August 2017 :  Leigh Halfpenny has signed a three-year contract with Scarlets in a deal partly funded by the Welsh Rugby Union. The Wales and British and Irish Lions full-back, who has 75 international caps, was out of contract after spending three seasons with Toulon.   Halfpenny’s deal …

Saturday, 20 May 2017 :  A women’s version of the British and Irish Lions could be launched some time after 2019, according to the team’s chief operating officer Charlie McEwan. Planning for a women’s team could start after the men’s team’s place in World Rugby’s post-2019 global calendar is fixed. …

Saturday, 13 May 2017 :  Top 14 side Stade Francais came from 10-0 down to beat Gloucester and win the European Challenge Cup. England wing Jonny May’s try put Gloucester, who needed to win to keep their Champions Cup qualification hopes alive, ahead at a rainy Murrayfield. Italy captain Sergio …

Friday, 12 May 2017 :  This weekend will be my first outing at the Stade Jean-Bouin as I didn’t take part last year. Those that did play recall tricolours aplenty and a rousing French crowd who were enjoying sevens rugby in Paris for the first time since 2006. With South …

Thursday, 11 May 2017 :  The 33-year-old Kiwi Gopperth finished the 22-game league season as the top scorer with 266 points, playing a key role in the Wasps’ quest to win their first Premiership title since 2007-08. He fended off competition from team mates Elliot Daly and Christian Wade, Northampton …

Tuesday, 25 April 2017 :  Justin Carney, 28, was sent off by referee Jack Smith in the 26th minute of the Super League club’s Challenge Cup fifth-round win on Sunday. The Rugby Football League have charged Carney with a Grade F offence, for verbal abuse based on race or colour. …

Thursday, 20 April 2017 :  Wales flanker Sam Warburton was confirmed as captain of the British and Irish Lions for the second time on Wednesday but, as widely predicted, there was no place in the squad to tour New Zealand for England captain Dylan Hartley. Warburton, 28, joins England’s Martin …

Wednesday, 19 April 2017 :  Former All Blacks and Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans has announced that he will retire from rugby at the end of the season. Evans, who began his career at Otago as a full-back, made his test debut for New Zealand against England in 2004 and won …