JAMES HASKELL was so desperate to tour New Zealand with the Lions that he was willing to go as a bag carrier. The England and Wasps flanker was called up on Sunday to replace injured No8 Billy Vunipola who pulled out with a shoulder problem. And Haskell admitted it was one of the proudest days […]
DYLAN Hartley is in line for an 11th hour Lions call. The England captain was a controversial omission from Warren Gatland’s 41-man squad last month. But an injury to Wales hooker Ken Owens could yet see Hartley face the All Blacks. Keep up to date with ALL the RUGBY UNION news, features and opinion on […]
THE magnitude of the honour truly hit home to Sam Warburton over dinner in a west London hotel on Tuesday night. There, the giant Welshman sat round the table with each of the other 11 living Lions captains. And when they spoke about taking on the All Blacks, he noticed the fire in their eyes […]
WARREN GATLAND surprised everyone by beefing up his Lions squad to New Zealand and picking 41 players. Sam Warburton was confirmed as the tour captain for the second time in a row – emulating World Cup winner Martin Johnson. But there was no spot for England skipper Dylan Hartley as his fellow Kiwi Gatland opted […]
SAM WARBURTON will emulate Martin Johnson by becoming a two-times Lions captain. The Wales flanker has been named as the 2017 skipper after his heroics in leading Warren Gatland’s men in their win over Australia in 2013. Warburton has 74 Wales caps and will become just the second man to do the double like England World Cup […]