A comment by a young rugby writer about Italy and project players got me thinking and on the back of that I wrote an article on Italy and where they are in 2020. https://debsknigsport.com/2020/10/25/the-6-nations-italy-when-is-enough-long-enough/ In their Autumn Nations Cup match against Scotland on the first weekend of the tournament they had just one ‘project player’ … More Project Players and International Rugby 2020
2021 sees a change to the way the Champions Cup is structured. The competition will consist of 2 Pool of 12 teams. The 24 teams, 8 from each league – the Premiership, The Top 14 and the Pro 14 have been put into 4 tiers. A draw was held to decide which team from each … More European Rugby 2021 – What will it look like?
An article I wrote in 2020, I thought it needed a refresh on the weekend Italy went to Cardiff and beat Wales, the 2021 Champions, in the dying moments. After so many calls over this 2022 tournament to exclude Italy, one of the shareholders in the company that is the Six Nations, there is unbridled … More The 6 Nations – Italy when is enough long enough?
I heard someone talking about the media early on in the Covid Lockdown – it went along the lines of – It’s all about being first, facts aren’t important. Let’s hold that thought as I look back at the match between Saracens and Wasps last weekend. I realise I’m late to this subject but I … More Owen Farrell – That Tackle – and Hysteria over fact media.
Rugby Union feels a long way in the past at the moment, what was a fairly unpleasant season as a Saracens fan came to an abrupt halt on the weekend of March 7/8th. Two teams had won 9 games from the 13th played, one sits at the top of the table, the other at the … More Premiership Rugby – Where are we now?
In November Saracens were given a £5.4 ish fine and a 35 point deduction, having been found to have breached the salary cap for 3 seasons. As a Saracens fan that’s felt pretty awful, but more was yet to come! There’s been a sense of glee around any negative news around Saracens from some quarters, … More Saracens v Racing 92 – a bright afternoon on a gloomy weekend!
Round 4 of the Champions Cup saw Munster arriving at Allianz Park; my first experience of Munster was at the impressive Thomond Park in Limerick in December 2012, followed up by their visit to the gloomy Vicarage Road. This was another double header and with the first match finishing Munster 15 Saracens 9 and the … More Saracens v Munster Rugby – The Champions Cup
With the Premiership proper a week away and little or no pre-season for most teams, both of these teams saw an injection of experience. There were players on both sides who might be considered unlucky not to be in Japan. For some that time will surely come, with Harlequins’ Marcus Smith at 20 who has … More Saracens v Harlequins – The Premiership Rugby Cup
This final was one of the most highly anticipated for a while, Leinster in possession of 4 stars, sharing the record 4 wins with Toulouse. And Saracens looking to add a third to their tally. I’d bought a Golden Ticket along with a group of friends last May, it was a happy set of Saracens … More Leinster v Saracens – The Heineken Champions Cup
In their wisdom the EPCR decided that the Ricoh Arena was the best place to hold a home country semi-final for Saracens on a weekend when trains weren’t running to the area. I’d usually drive to the ground but took the Zeelo coach option at £25. I didn’t buy a ticket with the bulk of … More Saracens v Munster – The Champions Cup Semi-Final
365 Sporting Days 