Modest and generous, the former Pontypool and Wales forward enjoyed a multi-dimensional life after he retired from playing“Greetings, Roberto.” Even when Eddie was just saying hello every word flowed more smoothly when he spoke – or wrote – them. And whether he was chatting with his colleagues in the press box, or delivering those impossibly brilliant, mellifluous television voiceovers, you wanted to hear more. Which, of course, is exactly how we all feel right now.It is scant consolation that the bard of Monmouthshire packed so much into his 65 years. Rugby player, story teller, commentator, novelist, linguist … there was almost nothing he could not do when he put his mind to it. Not many have ever captained their country...
From heroes of Ireland’s historic success in New Zealand to developing nations’ talent, the shining six from recent weeksIreland’s historic first series win in New Zealand was a huge collective effort but Beirne’s blue headguard was everywhere. As recently as 2015 the versatile forward was delivering pizzas and being overlooked for a senior contract at Leinster. A thigh injury in the Six Nations also hampered him but in the last two Tests in New Zealand he was superb, snaffling turnover and lineouts and also making crucial yards. Inspirational. Continue reading...
Wins for Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland have set up the prospect of some history-making in the southern hemisphereOne weekend of eye-raising rugby results does not necessarily change the world. Equally, there has never been a day to compare with Saturday. A clean sweep of wins for Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland against the southern hemisphere’s top four teams is unique in the game’s history, despite the south hosting all four of the fixtures.No Irish or Welsh team had previously won in, respectively, New Zealand and South Africa. Now here they both are, just one final push away from winning a best-of-three series. The same is true of England and Scotland, who also bounced back from first Test disappointment to...
Gloucester and Wales wing suffered during the Six Nations but is determined to get back to his best at his clubDuring this year’s Six Nations, lightning did not strike twice. Whereas Louis Rees-Zammit blazed his way through his debut championship in 2021, he failed to score a try and was axed for Wales’s key match against England. His Gloucester director of rugby, George Skivington, sums up nicely the predicament the 21-year-old winger found himself in: “When you’re one of the poster boys of the game, everybody knows when you’ve been dropped.”It represented a first major setback for Rees-Zammit, the youngest member of last year’s British & Irish Lions squad, but one that he dwelled on for all of five minutes....
Squad strength in depth and open-minded coaches have led to the grand slam and now the biggest prize awaitsLet’s start with Ange Capuozzo’s break, one step, two steps, a swerve, a curve, a burst, 10, 20, 30, 40m and more past one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine flailing Welsh defenders. You knew Capuozzo must be good just from the look of him when he came off the bench to make his debut against Scotland the previous week –a man that small and pretty must have something about him to get ahead in Test rugby – but it’s been startling to watch him this past fortnight, when he has scored two tries and set up one of the...