Harlequins' George Robson and George Lowe talk about Harlequins' massive Aviva Premiership fixture with Saracens at Wembley this weekend.


Credit: Aviva Premiership/Russell Hargreaves

By Jake Harvey

With a recent heavy decline in attendance figures and a mass amount of Welsh talent leaving their Welsh region to play elsewhere brings the question, what can be done to save Welsh rugby?

Let’s start at the beginning. In 2003, Rugby turned professional in Wales and to do this 5 Regions were made out of Welsh clubs joining together. Newport, Ebbw Vale and Gwent created the Dragons, Swansea and Neath created the Ospreys, Llanelli RFC became the Scarlets, Pontypridd and Bridgend came up with the Celtic Warriors and Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan would be represented by the Cardiff Blues.

Northampton full-back and Guinness Ambassador Ben Foden spoke to Russell Hargreaves earlier today ahead of Northampton's crucial Aviva Premiership encounter with Bath at the weekend.


Credit: Guinness - facebook.com/GuinnessGB

Dylan Hartley has been suspended for eight weeks for a biting offence but will be available for England's summer tour to South Africa.

New Zealand born Hartley was cited for biting the finger of Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris during England's 30-9 Six Nations victory on March 17. Hartley will miss the remainder of the Aviva Premiership season but will be available for England's opening match against South Africa on June 9th.

Following Gloucester's narrow loss to Exeter on Saturday, head coach Bryan Redpath admitted that Gloucester's chances of reaching the play-offs were slim.

When asked about the topic, the former Scottish international said "We've had too many games we haven't been able to see out... we are still going to strive for Heineken Cup rugby [next season]".  Click 'play' below for full audio:

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath was disappointed following their late loss against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday. Here's what he had to say:

Following Exeter's late victory over Gloucester today, head coach Rob Baxter spoke to the media about the use of the TMO and the experimental changes that are being introduced. Watch the video in HD now!

By James Pritchard

James in action for Canada

Two games into the playoffs and its 2 wins from 2. As captain I don’t think I could of asked for a better start to our playoff campaign, although we did make very hard work of our win against the Pirates on Friday night.

A first half that was blighted with too many unforced errors and some soft and non-exsistent tackling had us behind 6 – 26. All credit to the Pirates they came to play on Friday and took every opportunity that we gave them and punished us accordingly. At the halftime break we knew what we had to do, it was simple, keep the ball and cut down on the silly offloads and go through the phases and the points will come.

By David van der Merwe

The 2012 Six Nations is a thing of the past and Wales have been crowned Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Six Nations Champions. The tournament however had some surprises as well as disappointments. Here is a brief recap on each team and their performance over the last 7 weeks.

Following the Six Nations, England interim coach Graham Rowntree has given an emotional endorsement to Stuart Lancaster:


Credit: Rugby Media/Nick Heath

Danny Cipriani is set to return to to English rugby following confirmation of a new deal with Sale Sharks.

The 24-year-old ventured to Australia in 2010, signing a deal with Super Rugby newcomers Melbourne Rebels. He will complete his contract with the Australian club before joining Sale, who he has signed for on a three-year deal.

England hooker Dylan Hartley has been cited following the 6 Nations match between England and Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday for an alleged biting offence.

The independent Six Nations Citing Commissioner for the match, Alberto Recaldini from Italy, cited the England player under IRB Law 10.4(m), “Acts contrary to good sportsmanship”, for allegedly biting the finger of an opponent in the 23rd minute of the first half.

Hartley's hearing will be held by an independent Six Nations Disciplinary Committee, at a date to be confirmed.

Following England's win over Ireland at Twickenham earlier today, Russell Hargreaves chatted to try-scoring scrum-half Ben Youngs and England's captain Chris Robshaw.

Despite huge French defensive efforts and some missed kicks at goal, Wales held strong and came through as victors at the Millenium Stadium.

Having beaten Italy and every other the team already in the tournament, Wales came into the match as favourites and with confidence despite losing to France last year in the Rugby World Cup semi-final.

The turning point came minutes into the second quarter when Alex Cuthbert dashed over the line following a huge run from halfway. After a couple of penalties from either side and a Halfpenny conversion, the score at the break was 10-3 to the hosts.

Dan Cole talks to Russell Hargreaves ahead of England's Six Nations clash with Ireland on Saturday.


Credit: Rugby Media

By James Pritchard

Well I don’t think I could have asked for a better start to out playoff campaign than the 5 points we walked away with away at Rotherham on Saturday. Rotherham has never been a happy hunting ground for Bedford and things didn’t look good for 75 minutes as they hounded our try line and kept putting us under all sorts of pressure.

But credit to the boys, we held out their attacks and showed some of our class in the dying minutes as we took our opportunities and converted them to secure ourselves a great start and a 5 point win. And the news got better as we learned that the Pirates and Leeds drew there game and had to be happy with 2 points each.

By Graeme McNicol

Apologies are due... it’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog as I’ve been rather busy at work and at Lanark RFC.

We’ve had another substantial away trip, this time to Cowal RFC, and again it involved a coach and a ferry trip, so there was lots of fun to be had that day. But before the fun we had a game of rugby to play.

Two long, hard and tiring trips back to back take their toll on our squad. As we’re not a professional squad and we do not pay our players, we depend on them wanting to be part of the team, we depend on them to give up their Saturdays to be part of the team, we depend on them to fundraise and seek sponsorship.

Wales and British & Irish Lions prop Gethin Jenkins has backed Warren Gatland to coach the Lions on their tour of Australia in 2013.

Jenkins, 31, has worked under Gatland since he took control of the Welsh team in 2008 and also in South Africa on the Lions' last tour.

As Wales prepare for another possible Grand Slam, Jenkins believes the 48-year-old New Zealander is the ideal man to coach the Lions when they head to Australia next year.

Graham Rowntree chats to Steve Jones and Russell Hargreaves of the RFU.com podcast ahead of facing Ireland at Twickenham, on the back of beating France in Paris on Sunday. Graham also discusses his coaching role within the national set up and that of interim head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Following England's victory over France in the Six Nations at the weekend, there has been speculation about whether Stuart Lancaster should keep the England job. Using our Six Nations discussion hashtag, #ScrumFive6N, you have been sending in your views.

We have compiled a list of some of your Tweets below but we want you to keep sending them in! Many of you think Lancaster should keep the job but still think he needs to do more to prove himself. Have a scroll through and see if your Tweet made it into our list!

Following England's epic victory over France, Russell Hargreaves of the RFU.com podcast caught up with Charlie Sharples who replaced the injured David Strettle on the wing and try-scoring Northampton full-back Ben Foden.

England had won four of their last five meetings with France and only once in the last 11 Six Nations meetings with the French had England failed to score a try. France on the other hand, were unbeaten in ten matches at the Stade de France, a run stretching back to 2008.

The visitors were forced into making a late change when Charlie Sharples came in for David Strettle who had suffered a chest injury in mid-week. France made a tactical change in switching their half back pairing from Parra and Trinh-duc to Beauxis and Dupuy and England were targeting a clean sweep of away wins in the 2012 tournament, a feat completed only five times before in the Six Nations.

Manu Tuilagi talks to Russell Hargreaves ahead of England's clash with France tomorrow.


Credit: Nick Heath/Rugby Media

When these sides first met, five years after King Edward VII took the British throne, England were victorious as they were on 18 out of the 21 occasions prior to the Second World War. The scoreline at the Parc des Princes in Paris on March 22 1906 was 35-8 to a visiting English side that had been playing rugby since 1871.

The rules of scoring in the early years of rugby union weren't ideal for attacking teams, a try worth just three points. Try conversions and penalty goals were the same as today but a drop-goal was worth four, even more useful for teams leaving it late to secure a victory.

England have called up Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples to replace injured David Strettle. Strettle, who has stood out for England so far in the tournament, has been ruled out of England's clash with France in Paris tomorrow with a chest injury.

Sharples, 22, won his only cap as a replacement against Wales last August and tomorrow's match will be his first start for England. The Gloucester youngster will start on the left wing in place of Strettle.

IRB Junior Player of the Year for 2011, George Ford, proved his incredible talent by kicking Leicester Tigers into the LV=Cup final as they narrowly beat Bath 17-16 at the Rec on Friday night.

Leicester, who didn't make the best of starts to their Aviva Premiership campaign, will be able to take some pressure off their shoulders in knowing they may have a simpler route to Heineken Cup qualification in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final where they will face Northampton or Scarlets.

Following speculation that Brumbies coach Jake White was in the frame to take over as England boss, it has emerged that he has declined the offer. White Tweeted: "Always hard turning down a chance to win a world cup, but rugby is about making the right decisions and that's to stay with @BrumbiesRugby"

Yesterday it seemed that White was the frontrunner to become Martin Johnson's permanent successor but promised he would Stay with the Brumbies until the end of the new Super Rugby season which is only in its third week. White took South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory back in 2007 and is currently only eight months into a four year deal with the Brumbies.

Credit: Russell Hargreaves/Talking Rugby

Current coach of the Brumbies Jake White has confirmed he has been approached by the RFU to take charge of England as Martin Johnson's permanent successor. However, the former South Africa coach has promised to remain in his current post for the rest of the 2012 Super Rugby which is only in its third week.

White is currently only eight months into a four-year deal with the Brumbies but is among the front-runners to take charge of England.

Talking to Simon Ward of the RFU.com podcast, England forwards coach Graham Rowntree tells us what made Lewis Moody such a great player.


Credit: Simon Ward/RFU.com

Former England captain Lewis Moody has announced his immediate retirement from all rugby.

The 33-year-old's career has been hampered by several different injuries. Moody suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the season and it was confirmed on his website that he had decided to hang up his boots.

Ireland have been struck with two huge blow with the news that scrum-half Conor Murray and Irish captain Paul O'Connell will miss the rest of Ireland's Six Nations campaign through injuries sustained in their re-arranged match with France on Sunday.

O'Connell, has suffered ligament damage and will miss the remainder of Ireland's Six Nations matches. The Irish legend remained on the field for the full eighty minutes at the Stade de France despite suffering the injury. He is expected to miss between three and four weeks.

Phillipe Saint-Andre has announced an unchanged side for France's Test against England on Saturday at the Stade de France.

After two shaking performances against Ireland and Scotland, Saint-Andre has been criticised for not freshening up his side but has resisted any temptation from the fans and the media and has chosen the same side the faced Ireland on Sunday.

History was behind France at the start of this one, Les Bleus winning 55 of the 89 encounters, Ireland just 29. The last time these sides had drawn was in 1985 in Dublin, the score was 15-15 that day.

France hadn’t recovered fully from their shabby performance against Scotland last week but came back in the second half, securing a crucial point but ruling both sides out of Grand Slam contention.

Two first half tries from Tommy Bowe, one thanks to poor French passing, the other due to a bit of luck, and a penalty goal from Jonny Sexton gave Ireland their total of 17 points. The reliable boot of scrum-half Morgan Parra and a Wesley Fofana try made up the French points tally.

Bath secured a bonus point victory over Worcester Warriors at the Rec with two tries coming from both Michael Claassens and Tom Biggs with Matt Banahan adding another. Worcester on the other hand could manage only two from Arscott and Benjamin. Simon Ward was on hand and caught up with Sam Vesty and Matt Banahan after the match.

Credit: Simon Ward/RFU.com

By James Pritchard

Hello once again and welcome back for another week of my inner thoughts on rugby in the Championship and with a Bedford side, that after a good 5 point win on the weekend against a determined Nottingham side, are gearing up for the playoffs. We’ve been given a week off this week from training to let the body’s heal after a gruelling campaign and to get us all ready for the next 4 weeks which are a step up in intensity from what we are used too.

And it doesn’t get any tougher for us than our first game away up in Rotherham. A side that has been a thorn in our sides for the last few seasons up there and I don’t see next weekend being any different. But this being our 3rd year in the playoffs, the boys know what to expect and we’ll be ready come kickoff. The other big game in our group is Pirates at home to Leeds. This will be an interesting game to watch as both teams are looking pretty sharp at the moment, but with home ground advantage, I think the Pirates may just scrape this one.

Credit: Russell Hargreaves/RFU.com