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The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Lion Pollock handed chance to make number eight his own in Perth
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock look dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers SYDNEY (Reuters) -Henry Pollock's rise in the rugby world has been nothing short of meteoric and on Saturday he gets a chance to make another mighty leap in a red British & Irish Lions number eight shirt against Western Force in Perth. The explosive 20-year-old has gone from England under-20s representative, to full international and then Lion in little more than five months and made his debut for the tourists in the loss to Argentina in Dublin last week. Number eight is traditionally the province of the biggest and brawniest man on the pitch, but Pollock has been given licence by Lions coach Andy Farrell to make it his own. "He knows what we want from our eights, but he's got to find his own version of that, as that's what we want, him being himself," Farrell said after naming his team on Thursday. "His point of difference is his ability to see things quickly and act upon that and his line running, for example, is pretty good. "His awareness of space and how sharp he is in his mind and his athletic abilities are up there with the other lads in the squad." After setting the rugby world alight with a brilliant display in his normal openside flanker role as his club Northampton beat Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-finals last month, Pollock was named number eight for the final. It did not go as well as he hoped with the Saints losing 28-20 to Bordeaux Begles but Farrell said such experiences were all an important part of his development. "The final was perfect for him as at the top end of club level, and international level, and the top end of British & Irish Lions matches, they're all experiences that you'd hope to get," he added. "He's had one of those where it all didn't go his team's way. He's got to find a way within that. That's going to happen on a tour like this." By contrast with the 2013 Lions tour of Australia, which Warren Gatland won with what local media described as "large slabs of meat", Farrell is more blessed with athleticism than size in his loose forwards. Injury robbed him of Ireland captain Caelan Doris, who fits the more traditional mould, and Ben Earle, the archetype of the smaller, more athletic eighth man, was at the back of the scrum for the Pumas match. Replacement Jack Conan gives Farrell another bigger man to turn to if he needs to against a Force team who have built a reputation for physicality under Simon Cron, the nephew of longtime All Blacks forwards coach Mike. Cron senior is now an assistant coach under Joe Schmidt at the Wallabies and he will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the balance of the Lions pack on Saturday. Western Australia, and the Force since 2006, have never provided that much opposition to the Lions, losing 44-0 in 1989, 116-10 in 2001 and 69-17 in 2013. Even with four players held back in Wallabies camp, however, the 2025 Force team is studded with internationals hoping to do enough to be in Schmidt's squad for the three tests in late July and early August. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Bath and Leicester roll back the years in battle for English supremacy
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Bath Rugby v Lyon - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 23, 2025 Bath Rugby's Ben Spencer lifts the trophy as he celebrates winning European Challenge Cup with teammates Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo REUTERS LONDON -Bath v Leicester is a fixture that is evocative of a time when the clubs totally ruled English rugby, and memories and rivalries forged in the 1980s will re-emerge on Saturday when they meet in the English Premiership final for the first time. They, along with Gloucester, are the only clubs to have been permanent members of the top flight since it was formed 1988 and in the league's early years they were totally dominant, winning 12 of the first 15 titles between them, as well as nine versions of the cup. Since those glory days, however, it has been a different story, as the likes of Saracens, Wasps, Northampton and Exeter broke up the hegemony. Leicester did continue to dine at the top table, winning the league in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2022 to take their tally to 11, but Bath's last triumph remains the 1996 title when the winners were still decided by a simple league table with no end-of-season final. That was also the last time the two big guns faced off at Twickenham, as Bath triumphed 16-15 in the Pilkington Cup final courtesy of a last-minute penalty try that Leicester fans have been grumbling about for 29 years. Until this season, Bath's 1996 league and cup double remained their last domestic success - though they did win the European Cup two years later. They have lost three Premiership finals since then, including last year's nail-biter against Northampton, but are now bidding for a 2025 treble having already bagged the Premiership Cup - largely a development competition - and the European Challenge Cup. They finished away and clear at the top of the Premiership and, after an early wobble, eventually swept past Bristol in the semis. South African coach Johann van Graan has introduced a level of pragmatism rarely seen at the Recreation Ground and fans dreaming of running rugby, but starved of silverware, have learned to love seeing their massive pack, and particularly their own Bomb Squad, overwhelm all opposition in a succession of second-half surges. The team have also been expertly guided by the halfback combination of on-song Ben Spencer and Finn Russell, who has curbed some of his wilder instincts to move his team around the pitch, while also taking his goalkicking up to truly world-class level. "It's taken a lot of hard work from the group," scrumhalf Spencer said of Bath's revival since Van Graan arrived two years ago. "I think one huge thing that Johann brought in was turning hope into belief. This group believes now, and believes that we can win big games. Saturday will be another huge game for the group and we know that each and every one of us has got each other's back." Leicester are back where they feel they belong after an horrendous dip that had them finish third-from-bottom last season. Under the leadership of Australian Michael Cheika they have rediscovered much of their swagger and finished strongly to secure second place in the standings before edging past Sale in the semis. "They gave us a bit of a tonking when we were down there a few weeks ago and Bath are the only team we haven't beaten yet this year, so we have got to find a way to master that opponent," Cheika said in relation to his side's 43-15 league defeat on May 17. Whatever the result, it will be an emotional day for scrumhalf Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole - England's two most-capped players - who are playing their final games after almost 700 Leicester appearances between them. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Bath and Leicester roll back the years in battle for English supremacy
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Bath Rugby v Lyon - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 23, 2025 Bath Rugby's Ben Spencer lifts the trophy as he celebrates winning European Challenge Cup with teammates Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo LONDON -Bath v Leicester is a fixture that is evocative of a time when the clubs totally ruled English rugby, and memories and rivalries forged in the 1980s will re-emerge on Saturday when they meet in the English Premiership final for the first time. They, along with Gloucester, are the only clubs to have been permanent members of the top flight since it was formed 1988 and in the league's early years they were totally dominant, winning 12 of the first 15 titles between them, as well as nine versions of the cup. Since those glory days, however, it has been a different story, as the likes of Saracens, Wasps, Northampton and Exeter broke up the hegemony. Leicester did continue to dine at the top table, winning the league in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2022 to take their tally to 11, but Bath's last triumph remains the 1996 title when the winners were still decided by a simple league table with no end-of-season final. That was also the last time the two big guns faced off at Twickenham, as Bath triumphed 16-15 in the Pilkington Cup final courtesy of a last-minute penalty try that Leicester fans have been grumbling about for 29 years. Until this season, Bath's 1996 league and cup double remained their last domestic success - though they did win the European Cup two years later. They have lost three Premiership finals since then, including last year's nail-biter against Northampton, but are now bidding for a 2025 treble having already bagged the Premiership Cup - largely a development competition - and the European Challenge Cup. They finished away and clear at the top of the Premiership and, after an early wobble, eventually swept past Bristol in the semis. South African coach Johann van Graan has introduced a level of pragmatism rarely seen at the Recreation Ground and fans dreaming of running rugby, but starved of silverware, have learned to love seeing their massive pack, and particularly their own Bomb Squad, overwhelm all opposition in a succession of second-half surges. The team have also been expertly guided by the halfback combination of on-song Ben Spencer and Finn Russell, who has curbed some of his wilder instincts to move his team around the pitch, while also taking his goalkicking up to truly world-class level. "It's taken a lot of hard work from the group," scrumhalf Spencer said of Bath's revival since Van Graan arrived two years ago. "I think one huge thing that Johann brought in was turning hope into belief. This group believes now, and believes that we can win big games. Saturday will be another huge game for the group and we know that each and every one of us has got each other's back." Leicester are back where they feel they belong after an horrendous dip that had them finish third-from-bottom last season. Under the leadership of Australian Michael Cheika they have rediscovered much of their swagger and finished strongly to secure second place in the standings before edging past Sale in the semis. "They gave us a bit of a tonking when we were down there a few weeks ago and Bath are the only team we haven't beaten yet this year, so we have got to find a way to master that opponent," Cheika said in relation to his side's 43-15 league defeat on May 17. Whatever the result, it will be an emotional day for scrumhalf Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole - England's two most-capped players - who are playing their final games after almost 700 Leicester appearances between them. (Reporting by Mitch PhillipsEditing by Christian Radnedge)
The Star
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-List of European Champions Cup winners
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Bordeaux Begles players celebrate with the trophy after winning the European Challenge Cup Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
List of European Champions Cup winners
Rugby Union - European Challenge Cup Final - Northampton Saints v Bordeaux Begles - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - May 24, 2025 Bordeaux Begles players celebrate with the trophy after winning the European Challenge Cup Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers REUTERS Rugby's Champions Cup winners since the competition began in the 1995-96 season: 2024-25 Bordeaux-Begles 2023-24 Toulouse 2022-23 La Rochelle 2021-22 La Rochelle 2020-21 Toulouse 2019-20 Exeter Chiefs 2018-19 Saracens 2017-18 Leinster 2016-17 Saracens 2015-16 Saracens 2014-15 Toulon 2013-14 Toulon 2012-13 Toulon 2011-12 Leinster 2010-11 Leinster 2009-10 Toulouse 2008-09 Leinster 2007-08 Munster 2006-07 Wasps 2005-06 Munster 2004-05 Toulouse 2003-04 Wasps 2002-03 Toulouse 2001-02 Leicester 2000-01 Leicester 1999-00 Northampton 1998-99 Ulster 1997-98 Bath 1996-97 Brive 1995-96 Toulouse REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
