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Articles by Sandra McDonnell

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About Sandra McDonnell

As an Englishwoman married to a Scot, Sandra experiences some tension at home during Six Nations tournaments. Her enthusiasm for rugby was acquired through early visits to Fylde club matches with her father and her proud boast is that she has missed only two England home games at Twickenham since 1995. Sandra has three grown-up children, none of whom follow rugby. More Posts

Upon leaving for the Land of the Rising Sun

This will be my first-ever visit to Japan – a veritable treat sprung upon me only ten days ago – and I have barely had time to leave Himself adequately set-up to run the family in my absence as I now look forward with barely-concealed excitement to seeing something of the beguiling nation that [...]

October 24, 2019 // 0 Comments

With half-time approaching …

As the Pool stage draws to its conclusion this week it seems to me that the Rugby World Cup has served primarily to highlight some of the sport’s strengths and weaknesses as it seeks to develop its global reach. Whilst its special qualities have ticked the boxes as a festival of athleticism, [...]

October 7, 2019 // 0 Comments

Cranking up the pressure …

For domestic reasons which need not concern the average Ruster I have yet to witness more than a pair of BBC New bulletin brief reports’ worth of coverage of the matches played so far but – as yet – the 2019 Rugby World Cup experience seems to have been progressing much as World Rugby and the [...]

September 22, 2019 // 0 Comments

At last the Phoney War is over …

After a rather hectic day of domestic engagements and chores yesterday, in the evening I served my particular take on Welsh rarebit (involving Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and extra mature cheddar since you ask) and uncorked a bottle of chardonnay in order to join the family in front of the [...]

September 7, 2019 // 0 Comments

A bit of a damp squib

For my sins – despite the ‘Phoney War’ nature of all these Rugby World Cup warm-up games – yesterday I made a point of watching Channel Four’s live coverage of the Welsh 13-6 victory over England in their return fixture at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. It the event, for all the [...]

August 18, 2019 // 0 Comments

The weekend’s rugby union matches

Let us be blunt about it. Few rugby fans will be drawing conclusions about the outcome of this year’s Rugby World Cup if, like me, they watched the Northern Hemisphere warm-up games between Ireland and Italy (29-10 in Dublin) and England v Wales (33-19 at Twickenham) on television over the [...]

August 12, 2019 // 0 Comments

Rugby World Cup preview

With the Rugby World Cup beginning in Japan next month, rugby union fans are gearing up for the biggest festival of the 15-a-side game on the planet with mix of keen anticipation and restrained nervousness as regards their own nation’s prospects. In my view the 2019 tournament is one of the most [...]

August 9, 2019 // 0 Comments

Thrilling spectacles may be the order of the day

Yesterday afternoon at 4.50pm I joined the family in front of the television in order to watch the European Champions Cup Final between the holders Leinster and Saracens at St James’ Park, Newcastle (kick-off 5.00pm). The venue – Newcastle United’s iconic football stadium (almost sold out to [...]

May 12, 2019 // 0 Comments

The delicate art of self-preservation

When last week I read in the media of a World Rugby summit held in the United States at which various ideas were considered to broaden the appeal of the sport around the world, including the old chestnut of expanding the Six Nations tournament and also setting up a 12-Nation around the world [...]

February 1, 2019 // 0 Comments

It’s that time of year again

Upon the eve of a sporting contest – indeed any contest un which life and limb may be at stake – it is not unknown for those directly or indirectly involved to turn to thoughts of Shakespeare’s Henry V, Act IV, Scene 3 and the King’s famous speech to his troops on the eve of battle at [...]

January 28, 2019 // 0 Comments

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