There was certainly a gulf in experience between the starting teams of the England XV and the Barbarians on Sunday – 473 caps worth to be precise, with England’s grand total of five coming entirely from Teimana Harrison, last capped in 2016. Although the non-cap status and ‘England XV’ title came
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Three talking points from the Premiership final
One-sided playoffs show the gulf between the best and the rest
Saracens and Exeter Chiefs confirmed they are the best two sides in the Gallagher Premiership at the weekend. In other breaking news, it has been announced that the Pope is catholic and bears do indeed relieve themselves in the woods. While the top two’s dominant victories over Gloucester and Northampton Saints
An England squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
Saracens show why they are the best in the northern hemisphere
It was an astonishing week of European sport for fans. Unfortunately, the chaotic can-you-believe-it theatre came mostly from Liverpool and Tottenham’s Champions League semi-final comebacks – whatever you think of rugby’s round-ball cousin, it is difficult to deny both games were a fantastic spectacle. For rugby, which had its own European
Three talking points from the Gallagher Premiership
We are into the endgame of the Premiership season. At the weekend Bristol Bears and Worcester Warriors secured their top-flight futures for another season, while Newcastle Falcons look set for the drop (although Leicester Tigers are still not technically safe and are barely limping over the line). Meanwhile, thanks to
Three talking points from the Champions Cup semi-finals
Saracens and Leinster will face off in the Heineken Champions Cup final for the first time, having overcome Munster 32-16 and Toulouse 30-12 respectively in the semi-finals at the weekend. Combined winners of the past three competitions, the two heavyweights were among the favourites from the start and will now
Three talking points from the Gallagher Premiership
Another great round of Premiership rugby at the weekend: three of the relegation contenders earned much needed victories, the top two in the league both lost and the midtable became more congested than ever. Here are three talking points. Everyone still has something to play for Those arguing the Premiership should be
Why ringfencing could improve the Premiership as a spectacle
Talk of a ringfenced Premiership ceases to quieten down. The issue remains at the forefront of English rugby’s collective consciousness, countless pundits and supporters totting up the pros and cons of such an idea. There are many of both, with telling arguments making ringfencing appear simultaneously logical and senseless. If
