| July 2005 ..........continued
from the main Rugby World page............ action stations – Tom English preview The All Blacks v The Lions series with Lions skipper Brian O’Driscoll, there’s an epic on the horizon – Stephen Jones heralds a dramatic Lions Test series, one which has an added significance for New Zealand, fetch the red carpet - Sarah Mockford with Ian
McGeechan, get Carter – Gregor Paul meets New Zealand’s pin-up boy Dan Carter, thank you…and goodbye – Ian Stafford chats to modern legend Martin Johnson who is retiring, just do it – Wales & Lions scrum half Dwayne Peel chats with Sarah
Mockford, going the distance – Simon Taylor’s Lions tour in 2001 was cut short due to injury so he is determined to make his mark this time says Richard Bath, man on the run – Ian Stafford in conversation with Mike
Catt, in the line of fire – Gavin Mortimer catches up with England World Cup winner and Lion Steve Thompson, the big debate – will the Lions beat the All Blacks asks Nick Cain, end of the road – a World Cup winners’ medal and a Grand Slam in less than a year - Trevor Woodman’s future is in doubt due to injury as Ian Stafford found out, roll out the Farrell – Ian Stafford catches up league convert Andy Farrell, Team of the Year –
Bargoed, all the divisional champions in Wales, England and Ireland, schools rugby, Schools Team of the Year –
Millfield, fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), rugby, rugby everywhere – New Zealand’s obsession with the oval ball will provide an intense challenge for the Lions says Frank Keating.
September 2005 ..........continued from the main Rugby World page............ IRB Report – no quick fix – Alan Pearey on the IRB’s attempts to rescue Tier Two nations, talk back with Lawrence Dallaglio, Gavin Henson and Brian O’Driscoll, Under 21 World Cup – Baby Boks do the double as Frankie Deges reports from Argentina, pre-season – thirsty for some action – a look at the pre-season programme, Middlesex Sevens – alive and well as the 80th Twickenham event is set to be as popular as ever, hotshots – Ben Foden (Sale & England Under 21) and Nic de Luca (Scotland Under 21), 30 seconds with Pat Howard (Leicester & Australia), spotlight on Ludovic Mercier (Gloucester), spotlight on Michael Stephenson (Bath & England), spotlight on Shane Drahm (Worcester), spotlight on Gareth Llewellyn (Bristol & Wales), Stuart Barnes on the 2005 Lions, big is beautiful - the Lions tourists of 2005 may have failed on the pitch but they can still point the way to success in the future says Stephen Jones, when the going gets tough…Paul Morgan on late Lions tour arrival Ryan Jones, Shane of command – the roller-coaster career of new Saracens, Ireland & Lions hooker Shane Byrne with Alan Pearey, Bulloch by the horns – Alan Pearey with new Leeds, Scotland & Lions hooker Gordon Bulloch, King Edwards – Alison Kervin meets the Wales & Lions legend Gareth Edwards, rugby for sale – Alex Mead chats with former England & Lions hooker and now BBC pundit Brian Moore, growing pains – recent events Down Under have shown that ten years after abandoning amateurism, the northern hemisphere still has much to learn from its southern cousins in terms of how to play the game says Stuart Barnes, Fiji flagging – Jeremy Duxbury on how the island nations are struggling to get to grips with professional rugby, Jack’s pack on track – Greg Campbell chats with New Zealand second row Chris Jack, Tri-Nations fixtures, head start – Alex Mead meets Harlequins’ boss Dean Richards, wig-wam bam – Ian Stafford on Leeds Tykes and the Heineken Cup, Ireland - it’s a recurring theme for Irish, Scotland – toil and trouble north of the border, Wales – luck of the draw hits Ospreys hard, fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), Lions need to learn lessons – the problems encountered on this tour can help improve the planning of the 2009 trip says Frank Keating.
October 2005 ..........continued from the main Rugby World page............ ray of sunshine as Richard Bath explains why Scottish rugby is smiling again, National Leagues – Richmond spark – Alex Mead finds some famous faces at the Athletic Ground, women’s rugby – judgement time as Paul Morgan previews England women’s tour to New Zealand, hotshots – Thom Evans (London Wasps) and Ben Cairns (Scotland Under 21), 30 seconds with Rory Lamont (Glasgow & Scotland), spotlight on Mike Hercus (Llanelli Scarlets & USA), spotlight on Mark Taylor (Sale Sharks, Wales and Lions), spotlight on former league coach Daryl Powell (Leeds Tykes), spotlight on Bruce Reihana (Northampton & New Zealand), it’s time to attack – Ian Stafford meets up with Wasps, England World Cup-winner and Lion wing Josh Lewsey, seeking the pot of gold – Stephen Jones suggests “10 commandments” that can revitalise the game in the British Isles, two of a kind – Ian Stafford with England World Cup winners Phil Vickery and Mike Tindall both of Gloucester, Magne of the moment – Ian Borthwick on new London Irish signing France’s Olivier Magne, banking on Shanklin – having helped Wales in a Grand Slam, Cardiff Blues centre Tom Shanklin is now battling back to fitness as Clive Gammon found out, straining at the leash – Tom English chats with Leinster, Ireland and Lions wing Shane Horgan, talk of the town – Scotland and Lions fly half Gregor Townsend returns home to join Border Reivers as Richard Bath reports, Dean Wilson talks with new Worcester recruit and England scrum half Andy Gomarsall, Finegan begin again – Alan Pearey meets former Brumbies & Australia back rower and Newcastle’s recent signing Owen Finegan, leaving on a high – Ian Stafford chats with Bath coach John Connolly, one shot at glory – Ian Stafford catches up with the Leicester’s coaching team of Pat Howard and Richard Cockerill, round trip – Mark Regan and Mark Denny return to Bristol their first stomping ground as Sarah Mockford reports, best is yet to come – Saracens and France’s Thomas Castaignede explains to Ian Stafford the Herts club could be on the verge of new glory, Dawe open to Premiership – Alex Mead speaks with Graham Dawe won everything there was to win at Bath now he is Plymouth Albion’s ageless player-coach, no great shakes – Chris Hewett takes the IRB to task over the economic imbalance at the top level, spotlight on France – Stade set out to right wrongs, spotlight on Paul Griffen (Italy), fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), passing of a dear friend – after 33 glorious years the English Cup has lost its minnows and thus its whole purpose says Frank Keating.
December 2005 ..........continued from the main Rugby World page............ Sarah Mockford reports on local success at MASTRIC 2005 (Malaysia Airlines Tens Rugby Invitation Championship), hotshots – Danny Care (Leeds & England Sevens) and Neil Briggs (Sales & England Under 21), 30 seconds with Andrew Henderson (Glasgow & Scotland), Wales – new chapter for Henson – the Wales centre is preparing to return a better player than ever reports Graham Clutton, fixtures for November, Corry on a strong footing – Alan Pearey with England captain & Lion Martin Corry, spotlight on Andrew Sheridan (Sale, England & Lions), spotlight on Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets, Ireland & Lions), spotlight on Simon Taylor (Edinburgh< Scotland & Lions), spotlight on Chris Horsman (Worcester & Wales), hungry eyes – Leicester, England & Lions flanker Lewis Moody tells Ian Stafford of his huge appetite for action, Graham Clutton chats with Wales & Lions captain Gareth Thomas on why he hates losing, relight the fire – Stuart Barnes analyses the autumn internationals and the home nations’ prospects, Stephen Jones tells Andy Robinson the team he should pick for the autumn series, Frank exchange – Richard Bath chats with Scotland’s new coach Frank Hadden, time for Paul to stand tall – Munster, Ireland & Lions lock Paul O’Connell talks with Tom English, level pegging – Sale Sharks’ Charlie Hodgson is vying for the national No. 10 jersey with Jonny Wilkinson on equal terms as Ian Stafford explains, paint it black – a place in the history books beckons for New Zealand full back Mils Muliaina as Gregor Paul reports, granddad we love you – Dan Retief chats to Springbok prop Os du Randt who returned to the international scene after 5 years in the wilderness, diamond in the rough – versatile back Matt Giteau chats with Greg Campbell, Wales need to end losing streak, club round-up, Team of the Month – Capenhurst, Gavin Mortimer chats with Gloucester & Wales hooker Mefin Davies, regional news in England including spotlights on Lewes, Cleve, Windermere and Newport (Shropshire), schools rugby, Schools Team of the Month – Haileybury, fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), the peace de resistance – the future health of English rugby hinges on club and country resolving their differences writes Frank Keating. |