Rugby

Toulon 19 Toulouse 15

Yesterday I joined the Rusters in Nice as I had a ticket for Toulon v Toulouse, two of the powerhouses of French rugby. So much so that the match is played in the Orange Velodrome Stadium of Olympique Marseilles and attracted a sell out crowd of 64,580. I was saddened that Toulouse chose to rest [...]

April 24, 2022 // 0 Comments

A sporting afternoon in front of the television

Yesterday, upon something of a whim, I chose to tune into BT Sport’s “live” television coverage of the English rugby Premiership clash between third-placed Harlequins and “long-time top of the league table” Leicester Tigers at the Stoop in West London (kick off 3.00pm). The Rust’s [...]

April 24, 2022 // 0 Comments

The Trailfinders won’t be trailblazers next season

Yesterday brought the news that Ealing Trailfinders – who came top of rugby union’s Championship 2021/2022 league table, thereby becoming entitled to be promoted to the Premiership but then were judged by the RFU to have failed to meet the set criteria required, specifically including a minimum [...]

April 23, 2022 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 33 Montpelier 20

Quins missed out by just one point (59/60) to reverse the score line in Montpelier. The damage of the first half in Montpelier – when Quins conceded 26 points – was too much to overcome even for the comeback kings. The game will live long in the memory for a superb try by Joe Marchant. [...]

April 17, 2022 // 0 Comments

European Rugby Champions Cup results

There exists a small but committed group of columnists on this organ who would admit variously to past, current or even relatively recent adherence to the fortunes of Premiership rugby club Harlequins FC. [For the purists or ‘anoraks’ amongst our readers interested in such things, until the [...]

April 11, 2022 // 0 Comments

London Irish 14 Harlequins 41

This was another bravura performance by Quins. Typically they fell seven points behind to a Paddy Jackson try from London Irish. Quins rallied with 4 tries to get bonus point. In the second half they added a fifth, sixth and seventh try. It seems churlish to criticise the performance but these [...]

April 4, 2022 // 0 Comments

Six Nations: nation by nation

France Worthy Grand Slam winners. France won all 5 games and only looked vulnerable in the second half against Wales. France combined a powerful pack with typical Gallic flair behind it. Will be World Cup favourites on their own patch. Ireland Runner-up was about right. They lost the key [...]

March 20, 2022 // 0 Comments

Thoughts on the Six Nations

An early sending off in any sporting encounter is always controversial. Some say it ruins the spectacle. Others say the referee has to enforce the law and – in the case of soccer – the first five minutes was once open warfare as players felt assured enough to commit horrendous fouls as [...]

March 14, 2022 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 24 Newcastle Falcons 10

This was a comfortable victory at the Stoop in the Premiership against a foe who Quins customarily beat. The worry that the absence of internationals like Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt and Joe Marchant was dispelled by the presence of Joe Marler and more importantly Louis Lynagh and Cadan Murley [...]

March 5, 2022 // 0 Comments

Saturday sport – rugby and boxing

Yesterday was one for sports-following – in my case, the resumption of the Six Nations tournament and then, by chance, a boxing bout I joined via radio. For the rugby union internationals – Scotland against France at Murrayfield and then England against Wales at Twickenham – I made an [...]

February 27, 2022 // 0 Comments

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ITV COVERAGE OF CHELTENHAM

March 14, 2026 // 0 Comments

I am in the camp of watching on tv rather than attending for the 3 Cs: cost , convenience and comfort. With the cost of travelling and attending Cheltenham and last [...]
Max Schmelling/ The Good German

March 4, 2026 // 0 Comments

In the unlikely event that I would be asked to nominate a Great Life on Matthew Parris ‘ show my choice would be the Black Uhlan Max Schmelling. In the 1930s thee [...]
The Tanner Report : Fulham 2 spurs 1

March 3, 2026 // 0 Comments

Prior to Fulham ‘s comfortable win over Spurs (2-1) I watched the big match Revisited featuring Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2 i guess in the early 70s It would be foolish to [...]
The Six Nations

February 24, 2026 // 0 Comments

The Six Nations continues to throw up surprises. England could not bounce back against Ireland , a resurgent Wales gave Scotland à close game with the Millennium Stadium [...]
Brentford 0 Brighton 2

February 23, 2026 // 0 Comments

The heat is off Fabian Hürzeler with Brighton ‘s 1st win in 13 games. Club owner Tony Bloom was not at the G Tech stadium due to a long planned family engagement but had [...]