By South Stand Choir

This summer Newcastle Falcons became the seventh (eighth if we include Rotherham’s aborted attempt in 2002) team to bounce straight back into the Premiership since it was founded in 1997 following relegation.

The question now on every Geordie rugby fan’s lips is whether the Falcons can avoid going straight back down again. History is on their side – London Welsh were the first side since Leeds in 2008 to survive just one season back in the big time.

The breakdown is one of the most complex areas of modern rugby. In this expert video, QBE ambassadors Chris Robshaw and Conor O'Shea, alongside referee Luke Pearce, dissect and simplify the key areas of the breakdown.

BT Sport's Rugby Tonight were treated to a spectacular rendition of Frank Sinatra's Mack The Knife by England and Saracens player Matt Stevens. Check out the video below!

Canterbury recently ran a Facebook campaign for their fans to create the ultimate rugby Dream Team!


There were no restrictions - fans could select any players from any era... anyone really! The result was a fantastic line-up and Canterbury created a brilliant infographic showing the team plus an array of statistics and facts about the players selected.

Having attended Gloucester v Sale Sharks this weekend, it seemed unclear as to whether the new scrum call sequence was actually having an effect. Some scrummages were reset a few times, some went down but on a handful of occasions there was a clear pushing battle which is what everybody is striving towards.


It's not about who can hit the hardest - it should be about, as a collective, which pack is stronger and who can push the hardest.

This means the hookers will actually have to hook and the scrum should become a valuable set-piece tool.

Tweets by @ScrumFiveRugby

(Scroll down for names)

The RAF Spitfires Rugby 7s team have visited the iconic Derwent Valley Reservoirs and Dam to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the famous Dambusters story.

The rugby 7s team, who take their name from the iconic Royal Air Force Spitfire aircraft used in World War II, made a special stop at the Derwent Valley reservoirs and dam as part of a gruelling 500mile charity cycle.

The team rode from Glasgow to Twickenham, to coincide with the final two legs of the IRB World Sevens Series, and planned the visit to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Dambusters’ Operation Chastise, on Thursday 16th May.

Former Lion and now forwards coach Graham Rowntree discusses how some of the selections came to pass.



Credit: Nick Heath/Rugby Media

England and Leicester Tigers flanker Tom Croft on the thrill of being selected for the British & Irish Lions squad, and the difficulties facing the tourists in Australia this summer.