Ireland v England. The launch of Borthwick era 3.0 and what England can learn from the Kansas City Chiefs in their quest to turn narrow defeats into victories: #IREvENG Big match preview ⬇️ www.thetimes.com/article/7043...

Siya Kolisi: Hero, sinner, world-changer — an athlete like no other Amazing interview with @owenslot.bsky.social in @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/article/4796...

Cash-strapped RFU, which made 40+ jobs redundant, is to spend c£100k on a crisis-management firm and £50k on a governance review after the executive pay row triggered an unprecedented grass roots revolt. Exclusive by @owenslot.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

What the RFU has tried to dismiss as "media spin", "clickbait" and "speculation" has, at every turn since Bill Sweeney's salary was revealed, been factual reporting. Tom Ilube resigned today with Bill Beaumont confirmed as interim chairman, as The Times reported would happen.

Jan ‘23: “The RFU apologises for the anger and concern that’s been created among the rugby community. We got the engagement wrong and we are truly sorry." Dec ‘24: “The RFU council recognises the reputation damage that’s been done…and has called for radical changes to the way the RFU communicates”

Some interesting F1 stats: - 42% of the total fan base is under 35 years old - 41% of the fanbase is female vs 37% in 2018 - 16-24-year-old females is the fastest growing age sector The above is part of the reason F1 has been so attractive commercially

“Under strengths you’ve put cauliflower ears”

It’s the anniversary of this Julian Dicks penalty in 1996. “Panenkas? Stick ‘em up yer bollocks…”

Black mambas, Bear country, mullets - and maybe an England future. Great piece with Benhard Janse Van Rensburg by Will Kelleher in @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

'My night with Andy Carroll watching Newcastle-Liverpool in a Bordeaux pub' Great piece by Martin Hardy in @timessport.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Double 🥇 for Fontaines DC #spotifywrapped

Hit me up if The Ruck made it onto your Spotify Wrapped podcast list. @timessport.bsky.social #spotifywrapped

The RFU president - who initially blamed ‘media clickbait’ for anger over the executive pay row at Twickenham - has woken up to the reality of a grassroots revolt and called an emergency council meeting without Tom Ilube and Bill Sweeney. t.co/X6P7baoL8j

🎙️ Tune in to the latest episode of The Ruck as we discuss the RFU’s executive pay row and more. Twickenham officials dismiss it as media spin and clickbait. We call it facts and analysis. Take a listen and decide for yourselves. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

🎙️ Tune in to the latest episode of The Ruck as we discuss the RFU’s executive pay row and more. Twickenham officials dismiss it as media spin and clickbait. We call it facts and analysis. Take a listen and decide for yourselves. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

"They are hypocritical" The RFU exec pay row continues to engulf Twickenham as England players, council members and grassroots clubs react with fury. www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

"Andy Farrell senses Ireland have something special in the oven" - Ronan O'Gara Sam Prendergast gets his shot today to become Ireland's long-term fly half - and put himself in the mix for the British & Irish Lions. www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

RFU council members are furious at the latest revelations, buried deep in the annual report, that six execs shared a bonus payout of £1.3m in a year of record losses and redundancies. Bill Sweeney got £358k. The others an average of £180k each. Based on three-year performance targets.

The RFU’s blended ratio strikes again. In 2021 the RFU was caught double counting England men's games to boost its win percentage. Now the results of England men and women have been blended to unlock Bill Sweeney’s bonus (in a year of redundancies it’s equivalent to six £60k jobs) 1/2

Bill Sweeney should resign after disgraceful bonus, say ex-RFU leaders ✍️ @willgkelleher www.thetimes.com/article/0eaf...

The RFU will pay Bill Sweeney £1.1million this year — a record for a chief executive at a British sports governing body — at a time when Twickenham is braced for record losses and redundancies www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

England feast on nine tries against Japan but what does it really mean? Little to learn in attack - but alarm bells sound again over England’s defence. www.thetimes.com/article/daec...

Great piece in The Times about Banquet Records and their Pryzm gigs. I have seen Foals and Fontaines DC at Pryzm multiple times and they stand out among the best gigs. Suede too. And The Cribs. And Wolf Alice....and.... @banquetrecords.com @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/culture/musi...

No prop has ever been nominated for World Rugby's player of the year award, let alone won it. This year's men's shortlist: Eben Etzebeth (SA) Cheslin Kolbe (SA) Pieter-Steph Du Toit (SA) Caelen Doris (Ire)

'Nailing those details when the game is on the line is what separates the men from the boys. And England are in short trousers.' A look into England's present shortcomings and a long record of mediocrity, powered by the @russpetty.bsky.social stats supercomputer. www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

🎙️ The Ruck podcast - recorded live at Twickenham. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Are England in a crisis? 🏉 Pressure on Borthwick 🗣️ 'They're in a really tricky spot' @willgkelleher, @owenslot, @AlexMLowe and @AlfredReynolds5 dissect another England defeat. podfollow.com/the-ruck

'South Africa have it all - England's only hope is perfection' Big match preview. www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

‘Rugby’s revolutions normally die quickly – this one feels different’ Analysis of rugby’s proposed new global franchise league www.thetimes.com/article/221c...

Exclusive: Breakaway rugby competition to offer the top 40 Test stars a £1m package. www.thetimes.com/article/a60f...

Exclusive: Rugby stars sign up for Formula 1-style breakaway league www.thetimes.com/article/20ea...

‘It’s an English win’ Brett Robinson (Australia) elected the new chairman of World Rugby, Jonathan Webb (England) is vice chairman. And Agustin Pichot is not happy. ✍️ @willgkelleher www.thetimes.com/article/92d4...

As forecast in @TimesSport on Monday, Freddie Steward starts at full back. Jack van Poortvliet parachuted in to start at scrum half with Sam Underhill back in at open side. www.thetimes.com/article/5324...

“If you want to achieve something you’ve never achieved before, you have to do something you’ve never done before” How Rassie Erasmus and his ideas factory keeps South Africa at the vanguard of the game. www.thetimes.com/article/a4b0...