World Rugby's Bonkers Proposal

The biggest news in the background of rugby right now is whether World Rugby will get their new proposal for the annual structure of international rugby past the major Unions and league stakeholders. The proposal stands to join together the 6 Nations and the Rugby Championship in a single league, adding Japan & Fiji, which will play through the year. All ending in knockout games in November. Put simply the concept is idiotic, and could ruin rugby, read on to find my views as to why.

Bill Beaumont (L) and Agustin Pichot (R) are leading the debate for changing the international game.
Usually I agree with their policies, but this is one I am deeply against.

Quick Tap: 6 Nations Week 1 Round Up

Time for another Quick Tap article. The 6 Nations started this weekend, so here's my chief take away from each game on a weekend that saw Wales come from behind in Paris; Scotland get their expected bonus point against Italy, and finally England romp to victory in Dublin.

England put in the performance of the weekend, but what were the takeaways from the first round?

6 Nations: Fight for Positions

The Six Nations is always important, but in a World Cup year it takes on a new level of significance. The head coaches have to weigh up the desire to win games and gain momentum for Japan, as well as fine-tuning any elements that require it and giving form players opportunity to stake a claim for September. By now most national teams should know their first choice team and simply be tweaking the game plan a little. However that is never the case, and below I discuss the primary position each Six Nations team needs to sort out before the end of March.

There's a lot riding on this tournament for the head coaches, the will to win, but also to prepare for the World Cup.