Quarter-final: Leinster 17-25 SaracensEuropean Champions Cup holders through after thrillerSaracens are not so much raging against the dying of the light as doing everything in their power to keep it aglow. Having lost 10 players during the lockdown, t…
Lock ready to face Leinster in Champions Cup quarter-final‘I’d love to spend at least a season somewhere’Maro Itoje has revealed he intends to spend at least a year of his career abroad in a move that would make him unavailable for England – but not be…
Lock ready to face Leinster in Champions Cup quarter-final‘I’d love to spend at least a season somewhere’Maro Itoje has revealed he intends to spend at least a year of his career abroad in a move that would make him unavailable for England – but not be…
Whether or not Leinster beat them on Saturday, a defining period in English and European rugby is about to concludeThis is the endHold your breath and count to 10Feel the earth move and thenHear my heart burst againAdele – SkyfallNo great sporting dyna…
In recent years replacements have been given different names to give their role a more positive, inclusive flavourIf Saracens win the European Champions Cup next month, they will not stand accused of breaching the Premiership’s salary cap regulations. …
Champions Cup may be Barritt’s and Wigglesworth’s last hurrah Goode warns Saracens have harnessed anger over relegationSaracens are looking to pour all the frustrations of the past year into one definitive 80-minute statement in their European quarter-…
A fired-up Saracens will present a formidable test in Dublin but they may be the least of the Irish province’s problemsSuccess in rugby is generally mined from the painful depths of failure. Look at the most recent European champions and a glint of sil…
Suspended Farrell running opposition plays in trainingAlex Goode or Manu Vunipola will come in at fly-halfOwen Farrell is steeling his Saracens teammates for their Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster by adopting Johnny Sexton’s role in trainin…
The former England head coach will not be underestimating the task facing the Irish side in their Champions Cup quarter-final, saying of relegated Saracens: ‘This is their last dance’ When asked if he would consider becoming an international head coach…
John Robbie made his name playing for Ireland, the Lions and in South Africa, yet his life after rugby has been more dramaticBy Jonathan Drennan for the Guardian Sport NetworkJohn Robbie has lived in South Africa for nearly 40 years but he has not lost…
• Saints win 36-24 in France• Bath’s Ross Batty sees red in UlsterThe Northampton players were castigated by their director of rugby Chris Boyd for their lacklustre display against Benetton Treviso last weekend but the Saints recovered to keep their f…
Danny Cipriani’s injury has hurt Gloucester with a crunch match to come while Saracens and Racing 92 meet in a game to savourA sure sign of a good team is one that keeps winning convincingly even when not entirely striking its best form. Leinster curre…
Danny Cipriani’s injury has hurt Gloucester with a crunch match to come while Saracens and Racing 92 meet in a game to savourA sure sign of a good team is one that keeps winning convincingly even when not entirely striking its best form. Leinster curre…
Racing 92 and Toulouse are a threat in the European Champions Cup while Leinster are a dominant force this seasonAt first glance this year’s European Champions Cup is not noticeably awash with suspense, with four of the five pool winners plus Clermont …
Racing 92 and Toulouse are a threat in the European Champions Cup while Leinster are a dominant force this seasonAt first glance this year’s European Champions Cup is not noticeably awash with suspense, with four of the five pool winners plus Clermont …
• Munster seek to deny Racing 92 top spot in Pool Four• Leinster host Lyon, Toulouse travel to face ConnachtLeinster are already guaranteed to finish top of the pool and their focus is on securing a home draw in the quarter-finals with two points separ…
• Leinster 50-21 Northampton• Saints can still qualify for last eightLeinster became the first team to qualify for the knock-out stage with two rounds to go after overwhelming Northampton for the second time in a week, again scoring seven tries. Despit…
In 2000 Warren Gatland used World Cup players and Ireland lost so he tore up the teamsheet and turned things aroundIt has been a curious European Champions Cup season so far, with very few sides performing above pre-tournament expectations. Gloucester …
It was a difficult weekend for English clubs, with Irish provinces picking up a triple crown of victories over Premiership sidesIreland look like going into the Six Nations Larmour-plated. Joe Schmidt, who stood down as the national side’s head coach a…
It was a difficult weekend for English clubs, with Irish provinces picking up a triple crown of victories over Premiership sidesIreland look like going into the Six Nations Larmour-plated. Joe Schmidt, who stood down as the national side’s head coach a…
