The Champions Cup is the big show, the pinnacle of European club rugby. Most professional coaches will concede that it is the closest comparison to test rugby due to its intensity and unparalleled atmosphere. The tribal nature of the traveling fans elevates the top matches to almost mythical proportions. Friday’s …
Read More »Challenge Cup – Round 1 Preview
The European Challenge Cup begins on Friday. Teams from the English Premiership, the Guinness Pro 14, and the French Top 14 will all be involved. How each club approaches the competition will vary as some place greater value on their domestic league, while others will press for direct entry to …
Read More »RFU Championship – Week 7 Preview
With no British & Irish Cup this season it’s business as usual in the RFU Championship. This week there is a surprise name Doncaster in their match at Bedford on Saturday. Paul Mullen is named on the bench, the prop joining the team on dual-registration from Newcastle Falcons. His Eagles …
Read More »Arrows set to add four Atlantic players for Halifax game
Four players with Atlantic Canadian roots will be added to the Ontario Arrows squad for their historic match against the New England Free Jacks next Saturday. Canadian Rugby Championship standouts Alex Forrest, Moe Abdelmonem, Grant Crowell, and Cooper Coats will get their chance to impress the Arrows brass at Wanderers …
Read More »Pro D2 – Week 8 Preview
The contenders are starting to slip away from the pack as the French Pro D2 enters its 8th week of the regular season. Already played on Thursday evening was a match between the two top teams. It was Nevers who got the 24-17 win at home over Mont-de-Marsan. Carlos Muzzio …
Read More »39 Americas players registered for European Cups
An impressive 39 Americas players have been registered for the premier European club competitions kicking off this weekend – the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Clubs from the French Top 14, the English Premiership, and the Guinness Pro 14 battle it out for European supremacy across two tiers of competition …
Read More »Parisse back to lead Italy in November tests
Sergio Parisse will return to captain Italy in the upcoming November test series. The 35-year-old skipped the summer tour to Japan to recover ahead of the long World Cup year. He is one of only four players based outside of Italy named in Conor O’Shea’s 37-man squad, the remainder come …
Read More »Mitre 10 Cup – Week 9 Preview
It’s the final week of the Mitre 10 Cup season and it’s all over bar the shouting as far as the playoffs and relegation are concerned. All that is left to decide are the final playoff seedings and, of course, the Ranfurly Shield. That will be on on the line …
Read More »SaberCats add Germany international Ayron Schramm
The Houston SaberCats have filled a gap in their loose forward stables with the signing of Germany international Ayron Schramm. The powerful ball-carrying No8 is an ideal replacement for Kyle Sumsion who has left the SaberCats to take on a coaching role at West Point Military Academy. He joins the SaberCats …
Read More »APC Highlights – Uruguay vs USA
Uruguay ‘A’ set down a challenge for the USA Select XV in the second match on Day Two of the Americas Pacific Challenge. Wednesday’s contest featured some exciting attacking play from both sides and also reiterated the value of a strong scrum. The hosts entered on the back of a …
Read More »