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Chris Jones

Rugby and tennis correspondent of the Evening Standard for 22 years . Now in Sunday Times, ESPN,Mail on Sunday, Express, Mailonline and RugbyPass.

Reports on Owen Farrell leave Mark McCall confused

Saracens boss Mark McCall has warned the club’s PREM Rugby rivals that Owen Farrell is “flying” in training and ready to pro…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
25 Sep 2025, 3:12
Exclusive

Homecoming hero George McGuigan sets new PREM record

The lure of Newcastle has proved too strong for the try-scoring hooker, who always manages to find his way back to the North East.

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
24 Sep 2025, 4:48
Exclusive

The Welshman in France eager to plunder Wales' shrinking URC talent pool

Gareth Baber, who led Fiji to a remarkable Olympic sevens gold medal defence in Tokyo, has his own personal experience of a Welsh …

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
04 Sep 2025, 4:14
Exclusive

The 'made in heaven' coach switch-up ex-England star urges Borthwick to make

Dan Robson is urging England to make a “match made in heaven” by bringing in Lee Blackett as attack coach after he made a majo…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
30 Aug 2025, 1:13
Exclusive

Dean Richards itching to 'get back into the game' and eyes Test role

Dean Richards, one of the legendary figures of English rugby, is ready to end his self imposed exile from the Gallagher PREM havin…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
28 Aug 2025, 4:13
Interview

'George Ford is the best 10 in the world but doesn’t get recognition'

Former England star Toby Flood rates George Ford the best fly-half in the world and says he deserves to be England’s starting No…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
26 Aug 2025, 2:42
Opinion

Ditch South African teams and get Americans in: Ex-England star Nick Easter

The former No.8 would love to see US-based teams take part in the URC.

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
20 Aug 2025, 4:18
Interview

Mark Evans on the bold move that could make the next Lions tour matter

The British and Irish Lions should dismiss talk of a money spinning match in France and opt for a clash with Fiji in the build up …

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
04 Aug 2025, 7:41
Exclusive

Lions legend John Bentley has an interesting take on whitewash talk

John Bentley is backing the current British and Irish Lions to avoid the pitfalls the 1997 Lions fell into and achieve an historic…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
29 Jul 2025, 5:02
Exclusive

George Gregan backs Ardie Savea 'clone' to keep the Lions series alive

Wallaby legend George Gregan is backing Joe Schmidt’s players to keep the British and Irish Lions series alive by “ writing th…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
23 Jul 2025, 6:00
Exclusive

'I know what I would do': Rob Henderson wades into Lions centre debate

Rob Henderson knows all about the benefits of picking a proven centre combination for the first Test of a British and Irish Lions …

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
15 Jul 2025, 0:20
Exclusive

'Graham Henry wasn't exactly welcoming': Life as a late Lions call-up

Andy Nicol believes Ben White will make the most of his late Lions call-up, an experience he can relate to after being drafted in …

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
02 Jul 2025, 10:00

Tales from the back of the plane: A reporter's eye view of the 1989 Lions tour

The looming presence was hard to ignore as I settled down with the smugness that comes from ensuring that your long flight to Aust…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
26 Jun 2025, 6:24

Keith Wood's idea to avoid 'extraordinarily difficult' time for Lions after tour

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood believes players who take part in a British and Irish Lions tour should sit out their national t…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
19 Jun 2025, 7:23

'I can see us being a serious challenger': Newcastle investment edging closer

Newcastle boss Steve Diamond has revealed owner Semore Kurdi’s negotiations with a potential new backer for the club, understood…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
27 May 2025, 3:22
Exclusive

Finn Russell is still misunderstood: Anthony Watson

Finn Russell may be viewed as a maverick player prone to significant mistakes but Anthony Watson dismisses this criticism of a pla…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
20 May 2025, 8:55

'Great tourist' backed to beat Jamieson Gibson-Park to Lions Test jersey

George Skivington believes Tomos Williams’s brilliant form for Gloucester can win him the British and Irish Lions No.9 jersey on…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
18 May 2025, 0:42

New investment could mean 'old dog' Steve Diamond has had his day

Newcastle boss Steve Diamond admits his job could be under threat if reported new investment from Red Bull comes into the struggli…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
13 May 2025, 3:47

Alex Sanderson discloses the 4 Sale players he expects to become Lions

Alex Sanderson, the Sale Sharks director of rugby, is backing Tom Curry, Luke Cowan-Dickie, George Ford and 20-year-old prop Asher…

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
06 May 2025, 8:38

Newcastle hoping for a Hollywood ending to cash problems

Newcastle boss Steve Diamond has revealed “two or three” parties are interested in pumping much needed cash into the club and …

Chris Jones
Chris Jones
06 May 2025, 3:10