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Tonga Hoping to Squeeze in Through the Back Door (Published: 22 Sep 11)

Tonga Hoping to Squeeze in Through the Back Door With all the controversy this week regarding France's possible selection policy ahead of their meeting with hosts New Zealand, it is easy sometimes to... more »

Tonga Still Hopeful of Progression (Published: 22 Sep 11)

Tonga Still Hopeful of Progression The Rugby World Cup has generated a few shock results and the defeat of Tonga by a spirited Canada team certainly will rank amongst them. The Tonga team began... more »

Georgia Coach Confident of Success (Published: 13 Sep 11)

Georgia Coach Confident of Success Coach Richie Dixon believes his Georgia squad are more than capable of holding their own during the Rugby World Cup. The minnows, not known for their Rugby Uni... more »

France To Be A Threat? (Published: 02 Sep 11)

France To Be A Threat? By William Taylor France have always been considered a bit of a threat in World Cups. Arguably they have not done as well as they should have yet, but with the sort of pla... more »

Johnson Confident of Full Strength Squad (Published: 02 Sep 11)

Johnson Confident of Full Strength Squad England boss Martin Johnson has maintained his belief that he will have a fully squad to pick from when naming his starting 15 for their opening World Cup gam... more »

Flutey Denied World Cup Dream (Published: 25 Aug 11)

Flutey Denied World Cup Dream When England’s eventual thirty-man World Cup party was revealed on Monday evening, one name not on the list was that of New Zealand-born centre, Riki Flutey. Flute... more »

Scotland Victory Tinged With Disappointment (Published: 22 Aug 11)

Scotland Victory Tinged With Disappointment Scotland concluded their preparations for next month’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand with a morale-boosting victory over Six Nations rivals Italy at... more »

Steyn Back in driving Seat for Springboks (Published: 19 Aug 11)

Steyn Back in driving Seat for Springboks Having been virtually given up on just a number of days ago, Morne Steyn is now in pole position for a starting berth when South Africa get their World Cup u... more »

Rees Losing World Cup Fitness Battle (Published: 12 Aug 11)

Rees Losing World Cup Fitness Battle Wales skipper Jonathan Rees looks likely to miss the World Cup after it was revealed that the operation on a neck injury that would mean a prolonged spell on the... more »

Aussies Sweat on Palu (Published: 02 Aug 11)

Aussies Sweat on Palu Australia's back-row problems have deepened this week with the news that Wycliff Palu, already ruled out of the Tri-Nations with a shoulder injury, has now picked up a knee pro... more »

Gatland Trims World Cup Squad (Published: 26 Jul 11)

Gatland Trims World Cup Squad Wales head coach Warren Gatland has begun trimming his squad ahead of the World Cup later this year. Jonathan Thomas, Andy Powell and Richie Rees are the highest profil... more »

All Blacks to rest stars against Fiji (Published: 26 Jul 11)

All Blacks to rest stars against Fiji This week, New Zealand will be taking a similar chance against Fiji in their upcoming charity match on Friday, as Australia took last weekend when they sent out... more »

McCaw Fit to Start Against the Stormers (Published: 30 Jun 11)

McCaw Fit to Start Against the Stormers All Black Richie McCaw looks to have won his race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the Crusaders play-off semi-final clash against the Stormers... more »

Cipriani Back In Rebels Contention (Published: 06 Jun 11)

Cipriani Back In Rebels Contention Danny Cipriani could make his first appearance in more than a month for the Melbourne Rebels after his suspension from playing for the Super Rugby franchise was lif... more »

Dragons Release 16 Players (Published: 24 May 11)

Dragons Release 16 Players Newport Gwent Dragons have released 16 players from their contracts as the club go in search of a new-look after a disappointing 2010/11 season. The club could only mu... more »

Johnson Demands More From England (Published: 14 Mar 11)

Johnson Demands More From England England coach Martin Johnson insists his side must improve if they are to win their first 6 Nations Grand Slam since 2003. Johnson was captain of the 2003 side... more »

Moody Misses Out as Sheridan Returns (Published: 25 Feb 11)

Moody Misses Out as Sheridan Returns Sale’s Andrew Sheridan’s inclusion is the only change to Martin Johnson’s team ahead of their crucial 6 Nations clash against France on Satu... more »

Italy Looking To Make An Impact At The Twelfth Time Of Asking (Published: 21 Dec 10)

Italy Looking To Make An Impact At The Twelfth Time Of Asking Following the expansion of the Five Nations in 2000 to include Italy, the Azzuri have spent the majority of those tournaments propping up... more »

Johnson Reflects on Promising Year (Published: 07 Dec 10)

Johnson Reflects on Promising Year The season may have ended with an eye-opening defeat but England coach Martin Johnson has plenty of reasons to be positive after a successful 2010. The loss to... more »

"What the Ruck XIII" by DC (Published: 03 Sep 10)

What the Ruck XIII By DC I have never been a fan of Conspiracy Theories - you know the ones Area 52, who shot JFK, and the classic about Lizard Men replacing the Royal family - utter tosh. D... more »

What the Ruck XII (Published: 01 Jul 10)

What the Ruck XII By DC The Media is a cruel mistress and when I say cruel Mistress I mean a six foot tall leather clad sadomasochistic bitch in high heels and a whip. If the media tells us... more »

What the Ruck Volume XI (Published: 17 Jun 10)

What the Ruck Volume XI By DC A wise man once said that 'there is no honour amongst thieves' - more likely than not it was some crook that got stiffed on his cut of the loot. I don't know many... more »

What the Ruck Volume X (Published: 23 Apr 10)

What the Ruck Volume X By DC Pop the Champagne corks, warm up the band - he is back. Ok I know I have been away a little while but the celebrations are not for me, it's for the return of t... more »

What the Ruck Volume IX (Published: 08 Apr 10)

What the Ruck Volume IX By DC Before I begin, just a brief history lesson - the State of the Union: 'an annual address that not only reports on the condition of the nation but also an occasion... more »

What the Ruck Volume VIII (Published: 25 Mar 10)

What the Ruck Volume VIII By DC So the Six Nations are over for another year, gone but not forgotten a memorable tournament for many reasons - most of them good, grinning like a loony reasons bu... more »

What the Ruck - VII (Published: 18 Mar 10)

What the Ruck - Volume VII By DC I started this weekly article to rant and moan, to exorcise the demons of my soul, however this week I would like to change track and tip my cap to a hero, a leg... more »

What the Ruck - VI (Published: 11 Mar 10)

What the Ruck - VI By DC I never have, nor will I ever claim to be a great literary genius, the only time I get close to the works of the greats is when they make a Hollywood blockbuster or they... more »

What the Ruck V (Published: 04 Mar 10)

What the Ruck V By DC Ok by now you must all realise that I am a grumpy old man, the kind of bloke that shakes his fist in the air and shouts at clouds for being too fluffy or not fluffy enough... more »

What the Ruck IV (Published: 25 Feb 10)

What the Ruck IV By DC Ladies and Gentleman this week I would like to introduce you to the walking F bomb, the biggest F*%K YOU to come out of rugby since I told my coach what I thought of him w... more »

What the Ruck Volume III - Tragedy, Lunacy & Idiots (Published: 18 Feb 10)

What the Ruck Volume III - Tragedy, Lunacy & Idiots By DC OK the second round of the six nations is over and what a weekend it was a truly memorable weekend and not all of it for good reasons.... more »

What the Ruck - Volume II (Published: 11 Feb 10)

What the Ruck - Volume II By DC The whole point of me writing a weekly article is to keep my anger under control; seriously this article has been forced on me by a combination of medical profess... more »

What the Ruck – Volume I (Published: 03 Feb 10)

What the Ruck - Volume I By DC For those of you that don't know me please allow me to introduce myself, I am an angry short fat Welshman - why am I angry? Hell don't you listen I said I was shor... more »

DC's Rugby Union Roundup (Published: 28 Jan 10)

DC's Rugby Union Roundup By DC You know what the best thing about rugby is? Go on think about it before you answer .... it's not the tries, the flow of the game, the breath stealing suspense, it... more »

The end of an AWEra (Published: 09 Jan 10)

The end of an AWEra By DC To quote that old Dean Martin, 'the weather outside is frightful' ... in fact let's start again ... the weather outside has put the kibosh on most of the rugby matches... more »

The Weekend at a Glance (Published: 17 Nov 09)

The Weekend at a Glance By DC Has everyone recovered from the weekend yet - from action packed, thrill a second rugby clashes packed filled with tries and awe inspiring rugby? Didn't think so &n... more »

England v Australia – lessons learned?? (Published: 10 Nov 09)

England v Australia - lessons learned?? By DC Ok so I have had my rant following the Wales v All Black game, and I put off writing this article in case people thought I was just bashing England... more »

Wales v All Blacks: The Aftermath (Published: 09 Nov 09)

Wales v All Blacks: The Aftermath By DC Well the first of Wales' autumn internationals has come and gone and what have we learned so far? Before I answer that can I take just a few seconds... more »

Round Two First XV (Published: 20 Oct 09)

Round Two First XV By DC Some fantastic games this weekend, high scoring entertaining thrillathons, in my opinion some of the best viewing I have seen since the paparazzi caught Kelly Brook sun... more »

What has happened to the wonderful game??? (Published: 19 Aug 09)

What has happened to the wonderful game??? By DC I grew up during a better time, not eternal summers and log fire lit snow filled Christmas, no a far better time than that.... more »

Guinness Premiership Review (Published: 13 Aug 09)

Guinness Premiership Review By DC Once again we stand on the verge of a new season of the top flight English game. A lot has happened in the off season, the Lions, 'Bathgate', 'Bloodbinga... more »

Magners League Preview (Published: 10 Aug 09)

Magners League Preview By DC Change comes to the Magners League this season, following in the tracks of the Super 14 and the Guinness Premiership. This season for the first time, the winn... more »

Top 14 - Season Preview (Published: 07 Aug 09)

Top 14 - Season Preview By DC On the 14th of August the new season of the top flight French club rugby kicks off, all over France teams will start the long road to the final. Each team fight... more »