Author Archives: bennurse

Tuilagi Move Signals Power-Shift Back to the North

As an 18 year-old whose memory doesn’t stretch back as far as 2006 my experience as a Sale Shark’s fan has been dominated by mid table obscurity and the revolving door of academy talents moving to the South in search of playoff rugby and England caps. In the last 5 years 4 academy graduates movedContinue reading “Tuilagi Move Signals Power-Shift Back to the North”

My 2021 Lions XV

Although the immediate rugby calendar is shrouded with doubt and uncertainty one major event which seems set to transpire is next summer’s British and Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa. Destined to be a monumental event, South Africa has long been a favourite tour destination of Brits due to its devoted rugby culture and fierceContinue reading “My 2021 Lions XV”

Rugby’s Roots- How Colonialism Shaped Rugby

Have you ever wondered why the Rugby World Cup and the IRB World Rankings are occupied by tiny Pacific Island nations and world sporting minnows such as Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Namibia and yet world superpowers and sporting powerhouses such as Spain, Germany, Brazil and China are completely absent? Everyone knows the story of RugbyContinue reading “Rugby’s Roots- How Colonialism Shaped Rugby”

Who is England’s Next Fly Half?

Rob Andrew, Paul Grayson, Jonny Wilkinson, Charlie Hodgson, Toby Flood, Owen Farrell. England have been blessed with many great fly half’s in their history and currently there is a plethora of young talent primed to usurp the incumbents and become the next great legend as standoff is quickly becoming England’s deepest and most competitive position.Continue reading “Who is England’s Next Fly Half?”