Source: Celtic Challenge

January Rugby Diary 2025

Scrumqueens is no more 1 January PWR’s Team of the Week includes 10 Red Roses, the most ever? 2 January Trailfinders announce the signing of Rori Wood (Canada) 3 January 34 Azzurre begin training in Rome under new coach, Fabio Roselli 3 January Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere) signs short-term deal with Leicester Tigers 3-10 January

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Source: PWR

PWR – Round 16 – Preview

Fixtures Saturday Tigers v Glos-Pury Midlands v West Bears v Lightning West v Midlands Trallfinders v Sarries London v London Sunday Chiefs v Quins West v London Background I present the fixtures slightly differently this time, to show a feature that I still find disturbing. It’s Sale’s turn to stay at home, so we are

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Source: ECB

England and Cricket

With two days of the tour to go, we know that England will return home without a single point to their name, the first time this has been suffered. Rain is not forecast. Even the pundits are at a loss to explain England’s dismal performances. You can take your pick of a shopful of possibilities.

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Source: PWR

Fancy another Round?

There have been memorable rounds of the PWR over the past eight years, but few to equal the drama of Round 15 2025. So dramatic, that I invite you to enjoy a second draught. In General There were three outstandingly exciting games to enjoy: only the Welford Road match was the away banker it had

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Source: Leicester Tigers

PWR – Yet another Head coach to depart

Tom Hudson, head coach of Leicester Tigers, will step down at the season’s end; so will his deputy, Luke Stratford. This is yet another indication of the fraught nature of existence in the PWR. Any parallels you may draw with Premier League football only go to show the perils of the move towards professionalism. At

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Source: Exeter Chiefs

The Result of the Season

Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks An astonishing result in astonishing conditions. This was Chiefs’ chance to catch up on their rivals at the top of the league. Bears’ loss yesterday to Trailfinders calmed their nerves a touch; could they profit? It was a heaven-sent opportunity for Susie Appleby to give her leading players a bit

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Source: Bristol Bears

A Sensational Game in London

PWR – Round 15 With the champions sitting this round out, the other four title hopefuls could make their mark. Glos-Pury spent the weekend wondering what life would feel like without Sean Lynn in charge. Rather like life without Susie Appleby, perhaps. Trailfinders v Bristol Bears For all their scoring successes, Trailfinders had never beaten

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Source: Guinness 6 Nations

A 2024 World Team?

Time for me to make up for an omission. Back at the start of the year our friend at ladiesrugbyclub (ladiesrugbyclub.blogspot.com/ 2025/01/il-xv-del-2024-di-ladies-rugby-club.html ) in Italy published his idea of the top XV of 2024. It’s always interesting to see a different viewpoint. What do you make of his choices? 1 Hannah Botterman (England) 2 Emily

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Source: INPHO/Women's 6 Nations

Sean Lynn – the inevitable choice

The Welsh Rugby Union have announced the name of the one person most likely to be handed the task of resurrecting Cymru’s fortunes: Sean Lynn. He has seen his club, Gloucester-Hartpury, rise to become double trophy winners in the English PWR, and they have a decent chance of a hat-trick of triumphs, That would be

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Source: PWR

Chiefs in high drama

PWR Round 14 – Complete with reactions Loughborough Lightning v Exeter Chiefs This was a contest to show the PWR at its tightest: a team with pretensions to taking the title visiting another on the way back; fifth v sixth. A half-time score of 7-7 showed the intensity of thr battle. No sooner had Chiefs

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