'New kids on the Premiership block will catch Borthwick's eye'
The England coach will be heartened by the emergence of three talented young tight-head props.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
02 Oct 2024, 4:40
{{item.n}}
Contributors
Neil Squires
Neil Squires is the ex-rugby union correspondent for the Daily Express and has covered eight Rugby World Cups and 30 Five/Six Nations Championships. He has also written four books on the sport including the well-received but commercially catastrophic House of Lancaster, released with impeccable timing, to coincide with England's 2015 World Cup campaign.
'The Premiership's values can renew the league's diminished profile'
A solid culture, in contrast to some other sporting events, can help rugby increase its footprint in England.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
26 Sep 2024, 6:41
'Should Northampton Saints book another open-top bus? Probably not'
High-profile departures and salary cap laws will render back-to-back Premiership titles a huge ask.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
20 Sep 2024, 1:52
Why leading Harlequins could help Alex Dombrandt find favour with England again
The powerful No 8 ‘has a positive energy' and will 'really embrace' being made captain, believes former skipper Chris Robshaw.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
13 Sep 2024, 1:28
Why England should host 'magnetic' Test series against southern hemisphere giants
Test series add something extra, and England should follow where South Africa and New Zealand lead.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
09 Sep 2024, 9:34
'A 10-team Premiership sells the English game, its devotees and broadcasters short'
The top flight is competitive and watchable, but its 20th September start date feels much too late.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
29 Aug 2024, 4:05
Dissenting voices mask the fact rugby fans can watch more live footage than ever
With Premier Sports strengthening their position as the home of rugby, rugby fans are voicing their dissatisfaction at added costs
LONG READ
Neil Squires
21 Aug 2024, 4:30
England's next golden generation must be given opportunity to thrive
Mark Mapletoft's young bucks have tasted glory but is there now a clear pathway to Steve Borthwick's senior team?
LONG READ
Neil Squires
25 Jul 2024, 6:06
'RFU would live to regret moral guardian angel Sinfield's departure'
Though no longer England defence coach, Kevin Sinfield's value to the RFU should be blindingly obvious.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
17 Jul 2024, 0:47
Slow-burner George Furbank catches light as England attempt to storm All Blacks stronghold
The Northampton Saints full-back has cut a dash from deep and added some much-needed width to England's attack
LONG READ
Neil Squires
11 Jul 2024, 14:25
Bloodied but unbowed Dan Cole prepares for final hurrah
The adamantine Leicester Tigers tighthead knows he hasn't got long left at Test level and deserves every bit of praise coming his …
LONG READ
Neil Squires
03 Jul 2024, 0:01
Johnson happy to stay in shadows but coaching absence 'a terrible waste'
The England legend was badly burned by his experience as manager but his career is missing a post-script.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
26 Jun 2024, 9:57
Borthwick's Babes primed to take New Zealand by storm
With Test centurions Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes absent, there is a youthful feel to England's touring party
LONG READ
Neil Squires
12 Jun 2024, 15:32
Jon Callard: 'It'll be just like the old days. Last one off to Twickenham turn the light off'
Twenty-eight years after their last Premiership title, Bath tread a path to HQ once so familiar.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
04 Jun 2024, 14:02
Tom Dunn: ‘Bath was a massive ship facing the wrong way.'
The piratical hooker has been at the coalface through a turbulent 12 years and wants to leave a tangible legacy.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
30 May 2024, 13:56
Why Gloucester and England will miss Jonny May, the great entertainer
The popular speedster has made the most of his natural gifts and will hope to leave English rugby by lifting a cup with his belove…
LONG READ
Neil Squires
23 May 2024, 6:33
'Nobody wants to go the entire season without a league win' - Falcons aim to avoid equalling record
Newcastle have one match left to break their winless run or join Rotherham and London Welsh in Premiership history.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
14 May 2024, 0:28
Ben Youngs: 'The job description of a 9 has changed. Gibson-Park and Dupont are leading the evolution'
It is the most poorly paid position in the Gallagher Premiership but never has the influence of a scrum-half been so high
LONG READ
Neil Squires
09 May 2024, 0:15
Alex Mitchell: Saints 'are in a very good place at the moment'
Northampton have mirrored the England scrum-half's own rise and will travel with confidence to face Leinster in Dublin.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
01 May 2024, 8:17
Rugby’s forever man Mike Brown: 'I'm a driven individual'
Mike Brown may be considered past his sell-by date but he remains a Premiership force at 38.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
27 Apr 2024, 1:39
'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in'
What is the point in having South African teams in the Champions Cup if they demean it when it comes to the showpiece games?
LONG READ
Neil Squires
17 Apr 2024, 4:37
'Star power of individual players can grow overall size of rugby's pie'
It is typical of rugby union, the ultimate team game, that Marcus Smith's individual brilliance is mistrusted in certain quarters
LONG READ
Neil Squires
10 Apr 2024, 9:23
Are English sides underdogs at the business end of Europe?
There maybe six Premiership sides still standing as we head into the Champions Cup knockout stages, but how many will progress fur…
LONG READ
Neil Squires
05 Apr 2024, 1:55
Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me'
The abrasive Sale Sharks hooker feels he owes his new club a favour when he faces his beloved Exeter Chiefs
LONG READ
Neil Squires
28 Mar 2024, 8:00
Is it about time we gave George Ford a bit of respect?
The England fly-half put in a classy performance against France and looks to have sealed Steve Borthwick's trust
LONG READ
Neil Squires
19 Mar 2024, 9:17
'Borthwick may conclude George Martin is now indispensable'
All the best teams have an enforcer’s presence and in George Martin, England have a natural
LONG READ
Neil Squires
13 Mar 2024, 10:19
A question of nationality
Players playing in this year's Six Nations come from all over the globe and reflect the diverse society we live in
LONG READ
Neil Squires
05 Mar 2024, 7:55
Our friends in the North
Yorkshire has produced an abundance of talent for the English rugby team and it is a county with rich seams of talent
LONG READ
Neil Squires
28 Feb 2024, 3:49
'Murrayfield carries with it the feeling of a mugging waiting to happen'
Pipers, pillars and pain: Scotland's backyard has proved unsettling for many an England team
LONG READ
Neil Squires
20 Feb 2024, 7:32
High time conversion charge downs were consigned to history
Players being allowed to charge down conversions but not penalties adds unnecessarily to rugby's complexity.
LONG READ
Neil Squires
13 Feb 2024, 4:41
For England's dashing debutants, the hard works starts now
Similar to England against Italy Stuart Lancaster blooded six debutants at the 2012 Six Nations but beyond Owen Farrell, who can n…
LONG READ
Neil Squires
07 Feb 2024, 5:53
Nine reasons to be thankful for the Six Nations
From Finn Russell to 'cheesecake' via Shaun Edwards' thunder face, a sideways look at what to expect in this year's Championship
LONG READ
Neil Squires
01 Feb 2024, 2:29