Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i Rugby World

“Super Sunday could be a blockbuster too” LES BLEUS haven’t been playing at their usual home for this Six Nations run because the Stade de France is being transformed for the Olympics later this year. This we know. But did you know there’s Test rugby in Paris this March? Celebrated as something of a coup, we’re into the second year of a Rugby Europe Championship cycle, and on Sunday 17 March – the day after the Six Nations Super Saturday – we will have a ‘Finals Day’ at Stade Français’ Stade Jean Bouin. From noon, there will be four matches to decide final rankings in the table, with a grand final being played out at 9pm local time. With the cost of attending international matches during the Six Nations always…

WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY Sevens Tournament IRFU University 7s, Uni of Galway FRIDAY 1 MARCH United Rugby Championship Edinburgh v Ospreys (7.35pm) TV Live on BBC Wales & Viaplay Munster v Zebre Parma (7.35pm) TV Live on Viaplay Super Rugby Pacific Highlanders v Blues (7am) Rebels v Force (9.10am) TV Both live on Sky Sports FRI 1-SUN 3 MARCH HSBC SVNS Los Angeles, USA SATURDAY 2 MARCH United Rugby Championship Lions v Sharks (1pm) Benetton v Glasgow (3pm) Bulls v Stormers (3.05pm) TV All live on Viaplay Connacht v Scarlets (5.05pm) Cardiff v Leinster (7.35pm) TV Both live on S4C & Viaplay Ulster v Dragons (7.35pm) TV Live on Viaplay Allianz Women’s Premiership Glos-Hartpury v Exeter (3.05pm) Trailfinders v Bristol (5pm) Top 14 Toulouse v Castres (2pm) Bayonne v Lyon (4pm)…

THE PARIS Olympics is having a major influence on this year’s Men’s Six Nations in taking Antoine Dupont out of the championship. But apart from the French captain’s sevens sabbatical, there is another significant side-effect on the team from the five-ringed fun to come this summer – no Stade de France. With their usual home stadium being readied to host the Games, France find themselves on a Six Nations-style Tour de France. Stage number one, to the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, ended in an almighty crash as les Bleus produced one of their worst performances under Fabien Galthié in being humbled by Ireland. Could the Mediterranean air have been a factor? Taking championship games on the road is a rarity for a reason. Unions and federations don’t care to endanger…

COWBOY TIME, quite famously, is ten to ten. But for a unit within the Red Roses ranks, during their run to an inaugural WXV title, assembling ‘cowboys’ was also a signal for a more maverick, playful element to emerge. Don the Stetson… Beginning to describe the Cowboy movement, if you can call it that, are England’s back-three stars Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach. “It just allowed people to be themselves,” starts Kildunne of the fun had on tour in New Zealand. “And basically, it’s ‘f*** the system’, do whatever you want and have fun…” “…But still go in line with the system, obviously,” interjects Breach, with Kildunne nodding sagely. “We have to be places on time!,” the latter adds. Of course. Even Cowboys get fines if they miss team meetings.…

WHEN PARC OL in Lyon brings the curtain down on the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations on 16 March, it will share in a very special rivalry. There have been 110 Tests between France and England, the first of them in 1906, and they are never less than full-blooded and full-throated affairs. England lead the series 60 wins to 43, with seven draws. In honour of this great and cherished rugby relationship, we’ve picked 12 of the best England-France championship matches from the more recent past. See if you agree with our selection… England 20-23 France 1997, Twickenham Two years before England let a Grand Slam slip from their grasp at Wembley, they suffered similar heartache in Jack Rowell’s last match at Twickenham. In 1997 England crushed the Celtic nations,…

PLAYING RUGBY is more likely to leave you needing hospital treatment than help you get your life back after being discharged, but that is the experience of Toni Robinson. Going to university is often heralded as the best time of a young adult’s life. A sense of freedom, independence and not too many responsibilities. Or at least that’s how it’s sold to today’s teenagers. But Robinson, now 25, spent the best part of two years searching for answers. At times her eyes were so badly swollen that they closed shut, her lips the same – she could barely eat. Doctors tried time and time again to identify the root cause but were left none the wiser. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterised by recurring…

ONE OF the great joys of the Six Nations is that it supports – well, maybe more accurately is held up by – tensions between rival factions. The joy of the wind-up, the expectations that if your team loses you’ll hear from friends and colleagues… We live for all this. We’re drawn to it. And it’s for that reason that the big moments have such impact. It’s also why we can have many different views on an incident. It’s healthy to hear out opinions that differ from ours, too. Keep it respectful and it’s awfy fun to debate. It’s why we get the fired-up views of those wanting change, and those who see behind the curtain. But one thing Joël Jutge says on P29 sticks with me: we have a…

WHAT’S THE funniest thing you’ve seen on the pitch? A prop kicking the ball. This happened when I was still playing in Belgium as a youth-grade player for Kituro, and a team-mate thought it was a good idea to kick the ball mid-game… it wasn’t. At the time everyone was mad but I could see most of my team-mates actually laughing. Do you have any phobias? No… well, actually one. Fear of losing! What really annoys you? People talking about me behind my back. If you have something to say, you can say it directly to me. I like honesty and I think it is better to talk upfront, avoiding drama. If your house was on fire, what one item would you save? That’s a tough one… I’d say my…

THE SEMI-FINALS of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup will see Bromsgrove and Kirkham Grammar U18s do battle on 2 March, with Blundell’s facing Harrow the same day. The final is at Twickenham on Thursday 14 March. Monday 18 March will see the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final held at Kingspan Stadium. Two out of RBAI, Wallace High School, Ballymena Academy and Sullivan Upper will make the showcase final in Belfast – with tickets available for purchase for the final right now. Scottish Rugby’s Saltire Energy Rugby Schools Week heads into its fourth year from 18 March, and state schools can now register interest to take part. Director of rugby development Gavin Scott says: “We strongly believe that our week-long celebration of the game goes a long way to help…

NICK PUREWAL “KEYBOARD WARRIORS cannot help themselves and it’s people in the public eye who wind up bearing the brunt. What starts with a faceless moron spouting off on social media about Owen Farrell’s playing style ends with a 112-cap star relinquishing the England captaincy. “Yes, let us shrug off the thickos, but social media companies have been monetising bile and hatred to the tune of billions for years. Let us also be honest and admit we all know that one person who reacts to every spit and cough online. Up in arms performatively – but only, in fact, up for the extra engagement. “The atmosphere building up to the games can be so constraining around former players that some of them no longer enjoy attending matches as punters. “Imagine…

SOUTH AFRICAN superstar Cheslin Kolbe came under fire for skipping his side’s inaugural Cross Border Rugby game against Super Rugby Pacific powerhouse the Blues in order to travel home to South Africa. Double World Cup winner Kolbe, who has a modest return of two tries from six games in League One’s top flight, was a shock omission from his side’s team for the marquee fixture, which aired live on Sky Sport New Zealand and in Japan. The new Cross Border series between Japanese and New Zealand clubs is part of the Memorandum of Understanding that the countries signed last year. All eyes were on the first game, which offered an unprecedented showcase for the star-laden League One, which is now in its third season. But the occasion was lost on…

BARRY JOHN was The King, rugby’s Elvis. The sport’s first megastar, he was the Welsh icon who went global after guiding the Lions to what remains to this day their only series win in New Zealand, in 1971. He scored 180 points on that tour, including a pivotal try in the third Test, setting a record for a British & Irish Lions tour which will never be broken. His death at the age of 79 struck a chord with many too young to have ever seen him play. For those who shared the same stage, it triggered an avalanche of memories. “We shared a room together quite a lot on that ‘71 Lions tour and became good friends,” says England centre John Spencer. “He was a member of the Sunday…

YOU OFTEN hear that being a referee is the toughest job in sport. For sure, it’s difficult but it’s also a great privilege that gives those in the middle and across the team a unique insight into how the game is played. Often thought of as solitary, match officials are a team. Not just on the field and in the TMO booth or Bunker but a team of 26 or 30 of the world’s best, all working regularly together to fine-tune decision-making, to ensure that what you see on the field in the men’s or women’s Six Nations is clear and consistent for players, coaches and, just as importantly, those watching. My role is to ensure the environment is right for these exceptional men and women to perform at their…

ORY DARGE became co-captain of his country at 23, a decision that came as a bolt from the blue for some but not to others. To those who know him best, there was a sense of destiny about it. He only had 15 caps to his name when that appointment was made and had started only three Six Nations games, including his first Test start against France in 2022 when he was by a million miles the best Scot on the park. He scored a try that day and turned over French ball on four occasions. An ankle injury cost him five months’ rugby in 2022 and 2023. Yet despite Darge’s inexperience and young age, Gregor Townsend couldn’t wait to have him back in the fold for the France game…

FOR SOME people, the perception of English rugby and English rugby players from the outside is one of arrogance, entitlement and a union squandering what they have. But you get to know some of the players and they’re really good eggs. However, with the news that the England players are parting with the Rugby Players Association in order to negotiate with the RFU themselves, I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people in the pro rugby community saying “What the f***?!” Why are they doing this? The questions begin with wondering what the players leading the charge actually know about negotiating contracts. Outwardly, none of the characters suggested as leaders for this – Joe Marler, Ellis Genge, Anthony Watson, Maro Itoje and Jamie George – are people I would pick…

1 USA Major League Rugby and USA Rugby will collaborate on a development pathway for domestic referees ahead of the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups. Former IRFU referee manager David Wilkinson has been appointed as director of match officials for MLR as part of the deal. “I’m thrilled to be joining the league at such an exciting time for rugby in North America,” said Wilkinson (below). 2 Uruguay The pools have been announced for the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2024 second round in Montevideo, Uruguay. Kenya’s men (above) and China’s women lead the standings heading into the tournament, which will be held on 8-10 March. The top four of this 12-team competition will secure spots in the new promotion and relegation play-off competition for the SVNS series, with the Grand…

COMING TO the end of my career now, I’m more regularly having conversations with people about what could be next for me. And I know that with some 20 years of experience in top-end rugby that I have plenty to give back to the game. Not only that but with the way the game is being received today, we could all do with a bit more constructive input from modern-day players as we plan for the future. We’re trying so hard to sanitise rugby now and get every little thing ‘right’ that I wonder where it’s going. I know you need strategies in place, and guidelines, but not knowing everything, having more grey in a world of black and white, is actually why we love rugby. We want to be…

AS SCOTLAND hooker George Turner left the field of play against France in round two of this year’s Six Nations, he made history. He was the first top men’s player to be sent for a head injury assessment after a ‘smart’ mouthguard alerted independent medics. Already trialled in women’s Tests, this was the first time that elite male players have worn ‘instrumented’ mouthguards. The gumshields send notifications to an app if an athlete experiences a “head acceleration event with G-force that exceeds 70G and 4,000 radians per second squared” (operating lag depending). In this instance, after a few minutes, Turner was sent for an HIA, later returning to play. It’s believed that the reading was picked up for a tackle Turner made on France back-rower Charles Ollivon. After the dust…

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A MONG MANY silver linings for Wales this year is the continued promise of their No 11 Rio Dyer. His ledger showed four tries in 14 Tests coming into the tournament and try number five followed against Scotland, when the 24-year-old Dragon kept his width and dived over to cap a stirring team move. Louis Rees-Zammit’s switch to NFL has freed up a winger’s spot for the 2025 British & Irish Lions and you wonder where Dyer might lie in the pecking order. We can do the wondering for him because the player himself keeps such thoughts at arm’s length. “I’m laid-back, doing what I can for this Six Nations and for the team. I’ve got a lot to learn. I’m doing everything I can to become the best player…

IT WAS the match away to Exeter that alerted us to Elisa Riffonneau. Coming on at half-time, the Trailfinders and France hooker took the game by the scruff of its neck. She made three line breaks by getting on the shoulder of a team-mate; she appeared at first receiver, once putting Carys Cox through from a double-pump pass. When she made a mistake, she was involved again in a trice, atoning for the error; in fact, she seemed to be everywhere. “I played against her at U20s. She was crazy good then and she ripped us apart at Exeter,” says Chiefs and England flanker Maisy Allen. “She’s amazing. Her acceleration is absolutely crazy.” Giselle Mather, Trailfinders’ director of women’s rugby, will tell you Riffonneau was equally impressive in a cup…

ACROSS 1 Stephen Ferris’s father has spent most of his working life doing night - - - for the Royal Mail (6)5 Ex-Worcester back Duncan initially really organised, kicked excellently (4)8 This Benetton prop made his Italy debut in the 2024 Six Nations opener against England (5,8)9 Pet at play confounds Bedford Blues’ longest-serving current player (3,6)10 Andrew - - -, former Kelso fly-half who played for Scotland in 1988 (3)11 Former Wasps back-row David - - - led England B in the amateur era (6)13 Esteban - - -, Toulon back-row named in France’s squad at the start of the Six Nations (6)16 USA centre - - - Haungatau copped a five-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Wales’ Robyn Wilkins (3)17 Late and legendary fly-half hailing from the…