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Philip Bendon

Philip is a rugby journalist with a background in covering the sport at all levels. Having started out covering National One fixtures in the UK. He has gone on to write for several publications such as Planet Rugby, Rugby365 and RugbyDump. Due to his background of being an Irish/Saffa mix he has a particular focus on the sport in the two countries. His biggest passion however is reminding everyone of the glory days of Munster Rugby.

Scott Lawrence: 'It's important to keep an eye on your depth and succession planning'
Scott Lawrence's USA Eagles are just twenty-four hours out from arguably their biggest test to date under his tutelage. Tackling a…
Interview
Philip Bendon
13 Sep 2024, 3:49
Lucas Rumball: 'We're unified in what we need to do going forward'
Canadian captain Lucas Rumball has seen it all when it comes to rugby in his homeland. Cutting his teeth in the now-defunct Canadi…
Interview
Philip Bendon
12 Sep 2024, 10:59
Argentina player ratings vs Australia | The Rugby Championship
Argentina handed Australia a record defeat 67 - 27 in Santa Fe for one of the very best performances ever from a Pumas side.
Opinion
Philip Bendon
07 Sep 2024, 14:59
USA player ratings vs Japan | Asahi Pacific Nations Cup
Scott Lawrence's USA Eagles saw their potent second half comeback fall short as Eddie Jones's Japan secured a 41 - 24 at the Kumag…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
07 Sep 2024, 7:25
Japan extinguish impressive USA comeback to clinch top spot in Pool B
Eddie Jones’s Japan completed an unbeaten pool stages run in the Asahi Pacific Nations Cup with a 41 – 24 win over the USA in …
Philip Bendon
07 Sep 2024, 5:55
Fiji player ratings vs Tonga | Asahi Pacific Nations Cup
Fiji overcame an early red card to centre Adrea Cocagi to secure a second victory in the 2024 Asahi Pacific Nations Cup with a com…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
05 Sep 2024, 23:54
'Discipline, physicality and bravery' - USA head coach Scott Lawrence previews Japan clash
Sport's great East meets West sporting rivalry is set to for renewal at the 24,000 seat Kumagaya Rugby Stadium when the Brave Blos…
Interview
Philip Bendon
05 Sep 2024, 9:34
Nate Brakeley: Both camps will have this match circled as one due for a big performance
Familiar rivals since the formation of the modern USA Rugby governing body, Japan and USA have faced off since a first meeting in …
Opinion
Philip Bendon
05 Sep 2024, 2:12
Canada player ratings vs The United States | Asahi Pacific Nations Cup
Canada's search for a first win in the 2024 Asahi Pacific Nations Cup goes on as they succumbed to a first half blitz from the USA…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
01 Sep 2024, 5:29
Argentina player ratings vs Australia | The Rugby Championship
Argentina's bright start to The Rugby Championship is now firmly in the rearview mirror as they let slip a late lead to fall to th…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
31 Aug 2024, 17:25
Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship
South Africa kept their unbeaten start to The Rugby Championship rolling as they closed out a remarkable comeback to down the All …
Opinion
Philip Bendon
31 Aug 2024, 10:55
‘I always felt welcome in the Canadian system, more so than the American’ Ethan Fryer
One of the bright lights amongst an exciting new generation of Canadian Rugby players, Ethan Fryer is one of many players who is l…
Interview
Philip Bendon
31 Aug 2024, 5:47
Tonga player ratings vs Samoa | Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup
Tonga's wait for a first victory in Samoa since 1980 continues as the Ikale Tahi fell 43 - 17 in Apia. Struggling to match the acc…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
30 Aug 2024, 0:13
Snubbed Louis Rees-Zammit to make shock switch to new NFL franchise - reports
Less than twenty-four hours after being informed that he had not made it onto the Kansas City Chiefs 53-man roster, Louis Rees-Zam…
Philip Bendon
28 Aug 2024, 15:31
'I don't like the comparison' Israel Folau discusses similarities to Joseph Sua'ali'i
Former Wallaby Israel Folau has been doing the podcast rounds in recent weeks, most recently appearing on the Ebbs and Flows podca…
Philip Bendon
26 Aug 2024, 3:53
Canada player ratings vs Japan | Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup
Japan got their 2024 Pacific Nations Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 55 - 28 win over Canada in Vancouver.
Opinion
Philip Bendon
25 Aug 2024, 16:41
Scottish Rugby pull off major coup with signing of David Nucifora
Scottish Rugby have secured the signature of former Irish Rugby High Performance Director David Nucifora on a two year deal.
Philip Bendon
25 Aug 2024, 11:09
'We're going to fight for every win and every inch out there': Jason Higgins
Sunday afternoon at BC Place will for a short period become the epicentre of Canadian Rugby as Les Rouges tackle former Rugby Worl…
Interview
Philip Bendon
24 Aug 2024, 9:10
Argentina player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship
New Zealand got their Rugby Championship campaign back on track with a first half blitzing of Argentina to secure a 42 - 10 win in…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
17 Aug 2024, 3:25
Argentina player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship
Argentina completed a third-ever victory over the All Blacks and a second in two seasons in New Zealand, winning 38 - 30 in Wellin…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
10 Aug 2024, 2:45
Heavy hitters come up trumps on day one of the Olympic rugby sevens
HSBC SVNS Series powerhouses Australia, France and New Zealand each completed an unbeaten day one at the 2024 Olympic rugby sevens…
Philip Bendon
28 Jul 2024, 13:01
Olympic Sevens rugby final match up confirmed as Blitzbokke stumble
The final for the 2024 Olympic rugby sevens has been confirmed with hosts France set to face the defending champions Fiji.
Philip Bendon
27 Jul 2024, 7:49
Scotland player ratings vs Chile | July Tests 2024
Scotland player ratings: Gregor Townsend's Scotland kept their unbeaten run across the Americas alive as they overcame a passionat…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
20 Jul 2024, 14:50
South Africa player ratings vs Portugal | July Tests 2024
South African player ratings: South Africa got back in the win column following their loss to Ireland a week ago as they downed a …
Opinion
Philip Bendon
20 Jul 2024, 10:51
France player ratings vs Argentina | July Series Second Test
Fabian Galthie's baby-faced assassins put behind them a challenging week off the pitch to push an experienced Argentinean side in …
Opinion
Philip Bendon
13 Jul 2024, 14:57
South Africa player ratings vs Ireland | July Series Second Test
South Africa player ratings: The Springboks were left shellshocked in Durban as two late drop goals from Ciaran Frawley sealed a 2…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
13 Jul 2024, 11:08
Bordeaux-Bègles player ratings vs Toulouse | 2023/24 Top 14 final
Bordeaux-Begles suffered a record 59 - 3 defeat at the hands of Toulouse in Marseille in what was a tough pill to swallow for a si…
Opinion
Philip Bendon
28 Jun 2024, 14:21
Bulls player ratings vs Glasgow | 2023/24 URC Final
The Vodacom Bulls let slip a golden opportunity to claim a first international title since 2010 as they lost at home to the Glasgo…
Analysis
Philip Bendon
22 Jun 2024, 11:18
Munster player ratings vs Glasgow | 2023/24 URC semi-final
Munster Rugby's reign as the BKT URC champions came to an abrupt end as they lost at home to the Glasgow Warriors 17 - 10. Here is…
Philip Bendon
15 Jun 2024, 12:14
Bulls player ratings vs Leinster | 2023/24 URC semi-final
The Vodacom Bulls secured a remarkable 25 - 20 win over a highly touted Leinster side at Loftus Versfeld to book a place in next w…
Philip Bendon
15 Jun 2024, 9:55
Stormers player ratings vs Glasgow | 2023/24 URC quarter-finals
The DHL Stormers travelled to Scotstoun Stadium in search of a third consecutive semi-final space. Instead, they will return to Ca…
Philip Bendon
08 Jun 2024, 14:02
Bath player ratings vs Northampton | 2023/24 Premiership final
Bath Rugby came agonisingly close to a first-ever Premiership title as they fell 25 - 21 to the Northampton Saints. Losing loosehe…
Philip Bendon
08 Jun 2024, 9:22
Gloucester player ratings vs Sharks | EPCR Challenge Cup 2023/24
Gloucester Rugby couldn't make their early advantage tell as they succumbed to a powerful display from the Hollywoodbets Sharks wh…
Philip Bendon
24 May 2024, 14:17
McKenzie Hawkins: 'I hope that we come off as electric'
“It's great to play the best in the world, and having it at home on American soil will definitely change the tune of the game. W…
Interview
Philip Bendon
27 Apr 2024, 3:38
Watch - Racing 92's Henry Arundell finishes off 65m counter-attacking try
Arguably, the most highly touted talent in English Rugby, Henry Arundell, has already collected a highlight reel worthy of a full …
Philip Bendon
27 Nov 2023, 7:47
Six of the very best rugby player and referee interactions
Philip Bendon
23 Jan 2023, 6:54
Top five rugby players to represent more than one nation
Philip Bendon
23 Jan 2023, 6:36
Top five rugby interviews of all time
Great characters, epic one-liners and general rugby banter is the stuff of dreams for rugby fans here are our Top 5 Rugby Intervie…
Philip Bendon
15 Nov 2022, 5:38
The top ten rugby families of all time
As the saying goes It runs in the family. More often than not this is not the case when it comes to top level elite sport but in t…
Philip Bendon
15 Nov 2022, 5:35
Top five haka responses of all time
Whenever the All Blacks there is a special feeling in the air, a mystique if you will. Rugby fans the world over know the unique …
Philip Bendon
02 Nov 2022, 5:38
Top 5 international rugby rivalries of all time
Here we take a look at the top 5 international rugby rivalries of all time.
Philip Bendon
22 Aug 2022, 15:32
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