Latest news with #EnglishRugby
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inspired Perese try edges Leicester past Sale and into Premiership final
And so it is the two grand old clubs of English rugby. Leicester will face off against Bath at Twickenham next Saturday – and the rest of us will have to check which century we are in. Leicester, admittedly, have featured far more among the honours this millennium, which is to say at all, than their arch rivals from the West Country, who so dominated the 1980s and 1990s. But neither team, if you asked their hoariest old warriors, could pick a foe they would rather lock horns with on a no-doubt sunny afternoon at HQ. Advertisement This was a darker and more swirling affair at Welford Road. The Tigers seemed to have Sale in their pockets for half the match, but the visitors rallied midway through the second to level the scores with only 15 to play. Their tails seemed up. Then came a flash of brilliance – not the first of the afternoon by any means – and all that darkness was pierced by a try fit to win a semi-final. The final minutes played out to Leicester's beefiest squeezing out Manchester's, as English rugby's largest support bellowed them on. So familiar. Neither of these two are known for their lightness of touch. Nor did they flourish any of it for much of the match, but let it be noted that the decisive breakthroughs owed everything to brilliance. Welford Road bade farewell to some of Leicester's greatest servants, Dan Cole, Ben Youngs and captain Julián Montoya playing their last matches at the old place, but it was the newbies who won the match. Related: Leicester 21-16 Sale: Premiership rugby union semi-final – live reaction Advertisement Adam Radwan's two first half tries, his 10th and 11th in 10 matches, since his arrival midseason from Newcastle, were taken with stunning audacity, to earn Leicester a 10-point lead at the break. Then, come the hour, or at least the 68th minute, Izaia Perese, the Wallaby whose season has been so disrupted by injury, broke the newly imposed deadlock by bursting on to a pass from 40 metres out and skinning the Sale defence to seize the keys to Twickenham. Sale, whose lightness tends to be supplied by George Ford, a previous champion with Leicester, had worked their way back into the match with a pair of penalties by the old maestro, either side of a try by Rob du Preez, put over by sweet interplay between the Curry twins and Ford again. Du Preez has played every single minute of Sale's Premiership campaign. How worthy a finalist he would have proven, but almost as soon as Ford's third penalty of the match had levelled the scores at 16-16, Perese relit the fires of Welford Road. Sale pressed in the final knockings, having survived another siege, as the minutes ticked away. Luke Cowan-Dickie charged down the left touchline, but he spilled the ball in a tackle by Freddie Steward with the clock deep in the red. Leicester, fans and players alike, went beserk, but there was one last twist of drama to be endured. Steward's head had collided with Cowan-Dickie's in the tackle that dislodged the ball. One last séance by TMO was required. Advertisement It was decided that Steward, who was virtually prone on the floor when the tackle was made, could not conceivably have gone any lower. His arms were up in an attempt to make the tackle. But not as up as everybody else's after referee Matt Carley waved his to confirm once and for all the end of the match. Some heroes of yore had the send-off they craved. But there is one last battle to come.
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Rare English double in Europe would be a dream result for Premiership
It has not happened very often. Just once in the past 20 years, to be precise. Winning a single trophy is hard enough but English clubs hoisting aloft both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in the same season would be a proper rarity. Other than the Covid-afflicted year of 2020 when Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears prevailed in mostly empty stadiums, the last time there was a Premiership double was in May 2004. Back then Wasps and Harlequins were the happy couple, beating Toulouse and Montferrand respectively. This week also features two Anglo-French finals with Northampton facing Bordeaux-Bègles in the main event and Bath tackling Lyon in Friday night's amuse bouche. A measure of the challenge facing the English duo is that French clubs have hoovered up seven of the past eight available trophies, with South Africa collecting the other. That Gallic trend could continue if Bordeaux uncork their glorious attacking game and Lyon bely their modest 11th position in the Top 14 table. But given the depth of forward resources at Bath's disposal and Northampton's outstanding display in their semi-final win over Leinster, the two clubs can at least dream of a return to the distant days when English rugby was officially first among equals. To which some will rightly reply that the degree of correlation between Champions Cup pedigree and international success can fluctuate. True enough, but there are some persuasive past case studies. When, for example, was the English national team at its strongest in the professional era? Probably between 2001 and the 2003 World Cup. And which nation collected seven out of eight European trophies around that same period? You've guessed it. So while there remains a way to travel – and nothing can be remotely guaranteed in Cardiff – the tender green shoots of an English recovery are discernible. Steve Borthwick's squad to tour Argentina this year, even without a battalion of Lions, will feature some exciting young talent by anyone's standards. And when you buy a ticket to a club match at the moment, you are liable to receive better value for your money than you have in ages. It might be a stretch to suggest English rugby is quietly reinventing itself – Northampton's Henry Pollock is not the shy retiring type – but a tad more confidence and a touch less introspection are discernible. On their day Saints, Bath, Bristol, Gloucester and Harlequins can all leave eye-catching vapour trails while Leicester, Sale and Saracens, in their slightly contrasting ways, are no slouches. What no one yet knows, however, is whether this is just a brief phase. Are Bath and Saints mere outliers? Will the financial muscle of the French clubs tip the balance? In that context the looming Cardiff finals feel important in terms of transforming perceptions as well as English self-belief. No one is suggesting Bordeaux and Lyon would not be worthy champions but an opportunity exists for the Premiership to send an overdue message to the rest of Europe and South Africa. There is certainly no shortage of motivation for Northampton as they seek to emulate the 2000 heroics of Pat Lam and co against Munster at Twickenham. These latter-day Saints are the defending English champions and, while their league form has been mixed, few if any teams have ever won away in Pretoria, Limerick and Dublin in the same season. Bath's last Champions Cup title was even longer ago (though they did win the Challenge Cup at Worcester's expense in 2008) but the hope is that good things will come to those who wait. Domestically Bath have been way ahead of the regular season pack, to the point where their supporters will be gutted should they fail to win the Premiership title. For all the ability of Scotland's Finn Russell and their South African contingent – has there been a more consistently impactful bench player this season than the underrated Francois van Wyk? – the steady improvement of Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Will Muir, Max Ojomoh and Ciaran Donoghue has also helped enormously That English quintet must all now be in the frame to tour Argentina and the US this summer (although Donoghue is qualified for Ireland as well). As with Saints, their development is a credit to those coaching and mentoring them. How interesting, in that regard, that the league's most upwardly mobile teams all have something in common coaching-wise. Did you know that Phil Dowson, Johann van Graan, Lee Blackett, Sam Vesty, Alex Sanderson, George Skivington – not to mention Leicester's new incoming coach, Geoff Parling – are all aged between 41 and 45? And all bar Van Graan are English … Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion It hints at a coaching sweet spot in the modern game: influential voices from a younger generation with both an instinctive grasp of a fast-changing sport and a proactive relationship with today's players. The current England head coach, Steve Borthwick, at 45, is from the same bracket and the extra freedom with which England have sought to play further reflects shifting attitudes. It makes for an increasingly virtuous circle: club and international players seeking to pursue similar objectives, a hugely promising clutch of emerging age-group internationals, more licence for decision-makers to play what they see. None of this is rocket science but, like a gum-shielded Rip Van Winkle, English rugby finally seems to be awakening from its tactical slumber. Eyes wide open, hearts full, expectations high. No wonder there is a buzz surrounding this weekend. Only two of England's premier clubs, Saracens and Exeter, have claimed the Champions Cup since Wasps' last triumph in 2007. Successfully update that statistic and a wider English renaissance may dawn sooner than people think. This is an extract taken from our weekly rugby union email, the Breakdown. To sign up, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rare English double in Europe would be a dream result for the Premiership
It has not happened very often. Just once in the past 20 years, to be precise. Winning a single trophy is hard enough but English clubs hoisting aloft both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in the same season would be a proper rarity. Other than the Covid-afflicted year of 2020 when Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears prevailed in mostly empty stadiums, the last time there was a Premiership double was in May 2004. Back then Wasps and Harlequins were the happy couple, beating Toulouse and Montferrand respectively. This week also features two Anglo-French finals with Northampton facing Bordeaux-Bègles in the main event and Bath tackling Lyon in Friday night's amuse bouche. A measure of the challenge facing the English duo is that French clubs have hoovered up seven of the past eight available trophies, with South Africa collecting the other. Advertisement That Gallic trend could continue if Bordeaux uncork their glorious attacking game and Lyon bely their modest 11th position in the Top 14 table. But given the depth of forward resources at Bath's disposal and Northampton's outstanding display in their semi-final win over Leinster, the two clubs can at least dream of a return to the distant days when English rugby was officially first among equals. To which some will rightly reply that the degree of correlation between Champions Cup pedigree and international success can fluctuate. True enough, but there are some persuasive past case studies. When, for example, was the English national team at its strongest in the professional era? Probably between 2001 and the 2003 World Cup. And which nation collected seven out of eight European trophies around that same period? You've guessed it. So while there remains a way to travel – and nothing can be remotely guaranteed in Cardiff – the tender green shoots of an English recovery are discernible. Steve Borthwick's squad to tour Argentina this year, even without a battalion of Lions, will feature some exciting young talent by anyone's standards. And when you buy a ticket to a club match at the moment, you are liable to receive better value for your money than you have in ages. It might be a stretch to suggest English rugby is quietly reinventing itself – Northampton's Henry Pollock is not the shy retiring type – but a tad more confidence and a touch less introspection are discernible. On their day Saints, Bath, Bristol, Gloucester and Harlequins can all leave eye-catching vapour trails while Leicester, Sale and Saracens, in their slightly contrasting ways, are no slouches. Advertisement What no one yet knows, however, is whether this is just a brief phase. Are Bath and Saints mere outliers? Will the financial muscle of the French clubs tip the balance? In that context the looming Cardiff finals feel important in terms of transforming perceptions as well as English self-belief. No one is suggesting Bordeaux and Lyon would not be worthy champions but an opportunity exists for the Premiership to send an overdue message to the rest of Europe and South Africa. There is certainly no shortage of motivation for Northampton as they seek to emulate the 2000 heroics of Pat Lam and co against Munster at Twickenham. These latter-day Saints are the defending English champions and, while their league form has been mixed, few if any teams have ever won away in Pretoria, Limerick and Dublin in the same season. Bath's last Champions Cup title was even longer ago (though they did win the Challenge Cup at Worcester's expense in 2008) but the hope is that good things will come to those who wait. Domestically Bath have been way ahead of the regular season pack, to the point where their supporters will be gutted should they fail to win the Premiership title. For all the ability of Scotland's Finn Russell and their South African contingent – has there been a more consistently impactful bench player this season than the underrated Francois van Wyk? – the steady improvement of Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Will Muir, Max Ojomoh and Ciaran Donoghue has also helped enormously Advertisement That English quintet must all now be in the frame to tour Argentina and the US this summer (although Donoghue is qualified for Ireland as well). As with Saints, their development is a credit to those coaching and mentoring them. How interesting, in that regard, that the league's most upwardly mobile teams all have something in common coaching-wise. Did you know that Phil Dowson, Johann van Graan, Lee Blackett, Sam Vesty, Alex Sanderson, George Skivington – not to mention Leicester's new incoming coach, Geoff Parling – are all aged between 41 and 45? And all bar Van Graan are English … It hints at a coaching sweet spot in the modern game: influential voices from a younger generation with both an instinctive grasp of a fast-changing sport and a proactive relationship with today's players. The current England head coach, Steve Borthwick, at 45, is from the same bracket and the extra freedom with which England have sought to play further reflects shifting attitudes. It makes for an increasingly virtuous circle: club and international players seeking to pursue similar objectives, a hugely promising clutch of emerging age-group internationals, more licence for decision-makers to play what they see. None of this is rocket science but, like a gum-shielded Rip Van Winkle, English rugby finally seems to be awakening from its tactical slumber. Eyes wide open, hearts full, expectations high. No wonder there is a buzz surrounding this weekend. Only two of England's premier clubs, Saracens and Exeter, have claimed the Champions Cup since Wasps' last triumph in 2007. Successfully update that statistic and a wider English renaissance may dawn sooner than people think. Lost weekends The fixtures are out for the 2026 men's Six Nations and – shock horror – the championship will kick off on a Thursday night when France host Ireland. So much for a fun-filled Parisian weekend on the lash. Sorry, visiting galleries and museums. Advertisement Now travelling Irish supporters face the prospect of having to take off at least two working days to attend. Not exactly the lost weekend of traditional legend. The reason for the Thursday switch is to avoid clashing with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics … to which the traditional answer would have been to schedule the game on a Saturday or Sunday instead. Tournament officials, however, are keener than ever to keep their television partners happy and so, for better or worse, Thursday it is. There will also be only one fallow weekend rather than two for the first time, posing logistical problems for, among others, diehard England fans whose side now face three away trips to Edinburgh, Rome and Paris and a home game against Ireland at Twickenham inside 29 days. Travelling fans have long been integral to the Six Nations' popularity. The 2026 schedule threatens to test that special relationship. One to watch … This weekend's Cardiff finals coincide with another period of deep uncertainty within Welsh rugby. The Welsh Rugby Union is now saying there will no longer be four evenly funded professional clubs beyond 2027, neither confirming nor denying reports suggesting a region will be cut. With Cardiff and Dragons having already signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement, it further raises the stakes for Scarlets and Ospreys, neither of whom had signed up prior to the latest deadline. With a finite pot of money to go around, those seeking to resurrect Welsh rugby on and off the field have a far-reaching call to make. Memory lane This weekend's Champions Cup final will stir memories of great renewals of the past. For Leicester fans it will be the unforgettable comeback in Paris after being 21-14 down, and under suffocating pressure following the sin-binning of their captain, Martin Johnson, when they managed to beat Stade Français 34-30 in 2001. 'I don't think at any stage we doubted one another and that total trust is the secret to our success. [Dean Richards] makes the players play for Leicester and each other, not for a pay packet,' said Austin Healey afterwards before Richards, as Robert Kitson reported, 'could be seen in the front seat munching a takeaway from a paper bag' as the team bus sped across the Place de Saint-Cloud. 'Continental sophisticates may shudder but the map of Europe is now plastered with tell-tale Tiger footprints,' our reporter memorably added. Still want more? The needless controversy over foreign-born Lions players has ramped up the pressure on the squad, writes Gerard Meagher. Advertisement In the Premiership over the weekend … Michael Aylwin took in Saints' comeback victory against Saracens; Tom Dunn shone for Bath as they crushed Leicester; and the in-form George Ford guided Sale to an emphatic win over Bristol. And the incoming Wallabies coach, Les Kiss, will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the Lions in Adelaide. Subscribe To subscribe to the Breakdown, just visit this page and follow the instructions. And sign up for The Recap, the best of our sports writing from the past seven days.
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Grand plan for England's struggling second-tier: rebrand it as ‘the Champ'
Is there nothing that Henry Pollock cannot do? Not only is he being used to sell headbands in the Northampton Saints club shop but the tearaway Lions flanker was also the unwitting poster boy for the great relaunch of the second tier of English rugby. By removing seven letters, the boring old Championship has become the sexy new Champ Rugby – there's good money in being a brand consultant – with Pollock being used front and centre behind the strapline of the 'The Proving Ground' by way of his five games on loan at Bedford Blues. A new name, a new logo, a new format and lots of talk of growing aspiration but the age-old question of whether the drawbridge to the Premiership will ever be fully lowered remains frustratingly opaque. What we do know is that Champ Rugby will be made up of 14 teams, including a reformed Worcester Warriors. The champions will be determined by a play-off system from the top six teams that has been unashamedly borrowed from French rugby. Telegraph Sport understands that further radical changes are being considered for the 2026-27 season, including law-trial changes which would allow a team who score a try to either take a conversion or restart play with an attacking scrum from the opponent's 22. However, the biggest question will be whether a path to promotion and relegation between the top two tiers of English rugby will be realised in light of Telegraph Sport 's revelation that the Premiership wants to move to a franchise system. This proposal was endorsed by Bill Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union chief executive. 'The old traditional one-up, one-down promotion and relegation system doesn't currently work in England,' Sweeney said. In theory, there should be a play-off between the winners of the Championship – with Ealing needing one more victory to secure the title – and the team who finish bottom of the Premiership to determine who goes into the top flight the following season. However, this is subject to the Championship clubs meeting the minimum standards criteria (MSC) which only Doncaster Knights, who are 23 points behind Ealing, have passed. However, at the virtual launch of Champ Rugby, there were lots of positive noises that the MSC – or as Coventry chief executive Nick Johnston described it the 'charade of the audit' – will be revised in time for next season. Simon Gillham, the Tier 2 (T2) board chair, said: 'We have had discussions and an oral commitment that we will revisit those minimum operating standards for next year because quite frankly the way things happened this year was not satisfactory as far as tier two was concerned. We need to have a runway where you need to agree to certain conditions by certain times in order to be promoted or relegated.' This was endorsed by Conor O'Shea, the executive director of performance at the RFU who also sits on the T2 board, who says 'grown-up conversations' have been taking place after years of mutual antagonism between the Premiership and Championship, saying: 'How do you make it accessible to them [the Championship clubs] without breaking them?' Part of the reason that the Champ is rebranding itself and starting its own minimum standards criteria for clubs entering from the National Leagues is to show that it has its own house in order. 'We want to inspire desire rather than pity,' Gillham explained. 'We have got to get our house in order' There was also precious little clarity over the role of access to P shares (a perpetual share that grants a Premiership club a percentage of the league's central income and voting rights) or a more equitable funding arrangement, but as the chief executive of a club who failed the audit, Johnston says the days of backbiting are over. 'We can sit back and whinge or we can get off our backsides and do something about it and that's what we are doing,' Johnston said. 'We have noticed a step change in how serious PRL [Premier Rugby Limited] are starting to take us because we have got our act together and our house in order.' Part of getting their house in order will be a restriction of six dual-qualified players in any match-day squad after London Scottish once snuck in 12 Harlequins for a match against Doncaster. Meanwhile, the team who finish bottom will be automatically relegated to National 1 and the teams finishing 12th and 13th will face each other in a single-leg play-off with the loser facing the National 1 play-off winner for a place in Champ Rugby.
Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Every club once wanted to ‘do an Exeter' — so what's gone wrong?
T he post-Covid world has not been kind to English rugby, with financial problems putting paid to three Premiership clubs. Exeter Chiefs endure, yet their downturn has been stark. From champions of England and Europe in 2020 to a club restructuring their coaching staff (again) mid-season, near the bottom of the table, and still with budgetary work to do. After Sunday's 79-17 defeat by Gloucester came Monday's news that the coaches Ali Hepher and Rob Hunter had been suspended, pending a review of the match and season, with three rounds remaining. The great success story of English rugby has become a byword for instability. 'Doing an Exeter' was the desire of every club in the land. They were the model for the opportunity that ringfencing would
