Power Ranking Europe’s Top 15 Club Teams After Weekend of January 2-4

This week, a change at the top of Europe’s power ranking and signs of a good second half of the season to come from Wasps, Leicester and Leinster, who all improve their standings. There were some timely performances from players vying for international spots, particularly by England wide men, with Christian Wade looking lethal for Wasps, Jack Nowell starring for Exeter, David Strettle bagging a pair with Saracens and Marland Yarde’s epic try-saver against London Welsh. The Telegraph runs the rule over the wing contenders. So, with one week of league play left before the drama of the... 

Rhys Priestland Signing Confirmed by Bath: Full Details, Comments and Reaction

Wales international fly-half Rhys Priestland is joining Bath from Scarlets at the end of the season, the Aviva Premiership club have confirmed: Priestland had also been linked with a move to London Irish, per Sky Sports, but he has decided to join Bath. He will become Bath’s second big signing for next season after Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Niko Matawalu agreed to join last month, per the Bath Chronicle. Priestland has scored over 1,000 points in almost 150 games for Scarlets, but the 27-year-old is now ready for a new challenge, telling Bath’s official website: My entire rugby... 

Biggest Winners and Losers in World Rugby for Weekend of January 2-4

Northampton Saints enjoyed a good week in the Aviva Premiership stakes, benefiting not only from their own boosting win this weekend, but seeing their pursuers fall at the hands of their foes. Jim Mallinder’s side weren’t the only ones to have an especially fruitful couple of days, however, as Montpellier reached a potential turning point in their season, while England fans may soon have some new faces to cheer. With the good comes the bad, however, and we also look into the difficulties Sam Burgess is facing in his transition to union, as well as a much gloomier side of Montpellier‘s... 

Best XV in World Rugby for Weekend of January 2-4

The new year began much as the old one was seen out in England. Wasps picked up where they left off after their opening match at their new Coventry home, demolishing Sale Sharks at the Ricoh to keep the new ground buzzing, while Leicester Tigers ground out another win, this time gaining revenge for their heavy loss at Bath earlier this term. In France, Stade Francais followed a rousing win at home to Toulon with a dismal defeat at Lyon, while Toulon lost their second straight game, this time away to a resurgent Montpellier. Clermont Auvergne won the weekend’s heavyweight clash in the Top... 

10 Best Tries in World Rugby in 2014

The 2014 calendar may be behind us, but the celebration of yet another great year in the rugby world hasn’t yet ceased, a year that was full to the brim with world-class tries. Between the southern and northern hemispheres, fans witnessed the elite go at it once again in both club and international competitions, with thousands of scores to choose from in order to compile this list. We’ve whittled the list down to a selection of the most entertaining tries, ranging from solo efforts to team tries being finished following lengthy passages of fluid hands, supreme skill and synchronicity. Higher... 

Brodie Retallick: World Rugby’s Player of 2014

Nothing provokes debate like a player of the year list, perhaps except the choice of the man at the top of any such compilation. Except when that man is Brodie Retallick and when he has had a year like the one just passed. Unlike the anointment of his coach Steve Hansen as coach of the year, it is just about impossible to quibble with the naming of the young New Zealand second row as the best player on the planet in 2014. Here’s a breakdown of why he deserves it.   Super stats Retallick had a strong campaign in Super Rugby with the Chiefs, playing in 16 matches and averaging over nine... 

Kurtley Beale: World Rugby’s Clown of 2014

It’s not easy at the top, but some elite athletes make it harder for themselves with an uncanny habit for bad decision-making. Kurtley Beale is one of those.  In 2014, the Wallabies utility embodied the definition of rugby’s biggest clown in all regards, entertaining for the masses en route to helping Waratahs win their maiden Super Rugby title but also showing a much more regrettable side. Just to be clear, 2014 wasn’t the first year in which Beale may have been nominated for this honour. It’s unfortunate that the gifted playmaker’s biggest issues are all alcohol-related,... 

Malakai Fekitoa: World Rugby’s Emerging Star of 2014

Among the swarm of budding superstars to have made their breakthroughs in 2014, New Zealand up-and-comer Malakai Fekitoa made bigger strides than any other. When we speak of emerging stars, we’re not speaking exclusively of younger stars, either—although Fekitoa is still a babe at just 22—but of players who came out of the wilderness and showed an entirely new quality. Considering we are of the understanding that New Zealand are the best team in the world at present, the centre star did an amazing job this year in escaping the restrictions placed ahead of him to win his first... 

Power Ranking Europe’s Top 15 Club Teams After Weekend of December 26-28

The final power ranking of the year accounts for a shock in Paris, a comeback in Manchester and a despair in Dublin. Toulon were humbled by Stade Francais in the Top 14 while the usual home-and-away Jekyll-and-Hyde form of many of the top French sides continued. In England, the leaders ploughed on while the chasing pack kept up the pursuit. The Pro 12 sees Welsh and Scottish sides setting the pace while Ireland’s juggernauts continue to struggle for consistency. So, as thoughts turn to the denouement of the European pool stages, here are the final power rankings for 2015. Begin Slideshow  Read More →

Best XV in World Rugby for Weekend of December 26-28

This week’s team features a number of heavyweight names from the pack of Toulouse with a smattering of talent from the Bath back line. After their seventh straight win, Mike Ford’s Bath are established as the key contenders to reigning champions Northampton, who had another stellar showing from Samu Manoa to thank for a win against Harlequins. In a suffocating contest in France, Toulouse struck a blow against top-four team Racing Metro, with all the points from the boot but a monumental shift put in by a forward pack who, collectively, made 102 tackles and are therefore well represented... 

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