Total Flanker

I started this blog on 9th May 2007 - exactly fifteen years ago.Back then I was taking tentative steps to re-start my rugby journey by coming out of retirement aged 42, a comeback which may only have lasted a few short seasons but which rekindled my...

Many congrats to Heaton Moor RUFC's Mike Ireland, who played his final game for the club this weekend at the age of 56, captaining the club's 3rd XV alongside his SEVEN sons in the Heaton Moor pack.To play in the same team as one son is impressive en...

England Women's 24-12 win over France at the weekend, which secured a Grand Slam, their 23rd victory in a row and a fourth successive Women's Six Nations title, means that they are red hot favourites for the World Cup later this year.The Re...

Huge congrats to Leicester's Chris Ashton who yesterday became the Premiership's all-time top try-scorer.Ashton's 20-minute first-half hat-trick against Bristol at Welford Road took his Premiership try tally to 95, finally eclipsing Tom Varndell...

It would appear that Spain, for the second Rugby World Cup running, have been kicked out of the competition, having been found guilty of breaching player eligibility laws by selecting South African prop Gavin van den Berg in two Rugby Europe Champion...

Huge kudos to Leicester and former England and Lions hooker Tom Youngs, who this week announced that he was hanging up his boots with immediate effect at the age of 35.Youngs has been on indefinite leave from Leicester Tigers since October...

More gloomy news I'm afraid, as I discovered recently that former Barnes Rugby Club stalwart, Patrick Crabtree, had died on Easter Monday, after a year long battle with cancer. I can't pretend to have been bosom buddies with Patrick and it's a l...