Greatest overseas signings for each Gallagher Premiership club
From Sebastian Chabal to Francois Louw, we have selected the best overseas signings in the history of each Premiership Rugby club since 1995.
Northampton Saints 2013/14 Premiership winning team: Where are they now?
Northampton Saints won their first Premiership title in 2014 by defeating Saracens after extra time at Twickenham. Alex Waller smashed over for a late try to win the game but here is what the starting XV are doing nowadays.
Top 12 points scorers in Heineken/Champions Cup history
Top drawer goalkickers are crucial and can be the difference between winning and losing matches. Here are the top 12 points scorers in Heineken Cup/European Rugby Champions Cup history.
Concussion forced me to give up rugby - the game I love
Alastair McKee has played rugby for over 15 years but a series of concussions have forced him to stop playing. In this essay, he talks about the heartache associated with the decision and what the great game has given to him.
Remembering World Cup winning All Black Piri Weepu at London Welsh
The Flanker remembers World Cup-winning All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu’s spell at London Welsh, which saw the famous old club relegated from the Premiership without winning a single game.
Five things British and Irish Lions must take into 2nd Test vs South Africa
Thanks to their second half display, the British and Irish Lions got the test series in their tour of South Africa off to the perfect start as they beat the Springboks 22-17. But what must they do going into the next game to secure an historic series win?
For and Against: An NFL-style rugby draft
The hype of the NFL draft captures the attention of America’s sporting media every year - so could a similar concept be used to give rugby some more pazazz?
Five British and Irish Lions selection headaches for head coach Warren Gatland
The 2021 British and Irish Lions tour against South Africa is here. With the squad announced this week, here are five selection issues head coach Warren Gatland must mull over as he names his team to play the Springboks.
Rugby and Gallagher Premiership must learn lessons from football’s European Super League
Twelve clubs, including the traditional “Top 6” in England plus Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus have stated their intention to be “founder members” of a European Super League. Rugby and the Premiership must not go the same way.
Six Nations 2021: Six Talking Points from Round 5
We still don’t have a winner of the 2021 Six Nations. France produced the most brilliant of finishes to break Welsh hearts in Paris while Scotland demolished Italy in Edinburgh to leave the Azzurri without a win in the tournament in six years. Electric Ireland put England to the sword in Dublin to leave them a dreadful fifth in the table. Here are our key talking points from the action.
Six Nations 2021 player ratings: France 32 - 30 Wales
Wales’ Six Nations Grand Slam dream was ended in dramatic fashion as an overtime try from Brice Dulin secured a breathtaking 32-30 win for France. Read The Flanker’s player ratings after a fantastic 80 minutes in Paris.
Six Nations 2021 player ratings: Ireland 32-18 England
The Flanker rates the players on both sides after Ireland’s 32-18 victory over England in Dublin to close out both their 2021 Six Nations campaigns.
Six Nations 2021 player ratings: Scotland 52-10 Italy
The Flanker rates the players from Scotland’s comprehensive win over Italy by a score of 52-10 on the last weekend of the 2021 Six Nations.
Six Nations 2021: Six Talking Points from Round 4
Round 4 of the 2021 Six Nations was one for the ages in these COVID-19 affected times. Wales kicked off the festival of rugby by trouncing Italy, England and France then played out an epic at Twickenham before Ireland squeezed past Scotland at Murrayfield. Read our talking points from the weekend below.
Six Nations 2021: Six Talking Points from Round 3
Have all you Six Nations rugby fans got your breath back? England in Cardiff is always a niggly affair but the 2021 edition was off the charts as the Red Rose went down to a resurgent Wales in controversial circumstances. Ireland dispatched Italy in Rome while we mourned the postponement of Scotland against France in Paris due to COVID-19 positive results. Read our talking points from the weekend below.
The top 13 points scorers in Premiership Rugby history
Good goalkickers in rugby are worth their weight in gold and can be the difference between winning and losing matches. Here are the top 13 points scorers in Premiership Rugby history.
Six Nations 2021: Six Talking Points from Round 2
Six Nations 2021 continues as Wales narrowly beat 14-man Scotland and England got back to winning ways by thrashing a stubborn Italy at Twickenham. Title favourites France held on for a crucial win in Dublin as Ireland push them all the way. Read our Six Talking Points from the weekend’s action.
Six Nations 2021 preview: Le Crunch to decide the title?
The Six Nations 2021 is almost here - but who is going to claim glory this year? Will England stay on top? Will France topple their old enemies? Will Ireland or Scotland make a charge? We are about to find out.
Did World Rugby get their team of the decade right?
Last December, World Rugby announced their Team of the Decade and it is fair to say not every rugby fan agreed.
The Flanker went through the XV and made our own changes where needed.
Rugby World Cup 2023: The Flanker predicts the starting England XV
With the draw for Rugby World Cup 2023 in the books, England fans are already looking forward to their next chance to claim the title that eluded them in Japan in 2019. The Flanker has got out the crystal balls to see who will be running out in the tournament opener in three years' time.