Champions Celtic begin the defence of their Scottish Premiership crown at home to St Mirren on Sunday, 3 August. Kilmarnock against newly promoted Livingston is the only 15:00 BST kick-off on Saturday, 2 August, with Rangers visiting Motherwell in the early evening. Falkirk, back in the top flight after an absence of 15 years, host...
Spencer joined Bath in 2020 after nine years with Saracens where he won seven major trophies – including four Premiership titles – through the London club’s era of dominance. The 32-year-old was made captain in 2022-23 as head of rugby Johann van Graan’s tenure at Bath began, just months after the club had finished bottom...
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, Du Toit; Roux, Ewels, Hill, Pepper, Reid. Replacements: Annett, Van Wyk, Stuart, Molony, Bayliss, Carr-Smith, Donoghue, Barbeary. Leicester: Steward; Radwan, Kata, Woodward, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Van Poortvliet; Smith, Montoya (c), Heyes; Henderson, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Cracknell. Replacements: Clare, Cronin, Cole, Rogerson, Ilione, Youngs, Volavola,...
The Prem will focus on delivering more action and behind-the-scenes content to YouTube and social media, with big hits, young stars and emotional moments showcased alongside tries and match highlights. Its marketing push is part of a drive for growth, investment and subsequent financial security after the chastening demise of Worcester, Wasps and London Irish,...
“There is a saying ‘never waste a crisis’, and that judgement against Saracens was a big springboard to enhance the whole system,” he says. He now has an ocean of data to dive into. Copies of players’ contracts, image rights deals and other employment arrangements are sent to Rogers within 14 days of being signed....
Following in the footsteps of Harlequins’ well-established ‘Big Game’ concept, Bristol played their home game against West Country rivals Bath at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium last month, drawing more than 51,000 to the Welsh capital. Another club is considering the possibility of shifting a regular-season home game to a bigger stage for the 2025-26 season, with...
One man not in the running is former Scotland forward Steven Naismith, who has been out of management since being sacked by Hearts in September. “For me to go back in, it needs to be the perfect job for me because of family life,” he told Sportsound on Sunday. “If when Wimmer got the job,...
Leicester Tigers reached the Premiership final for the second time in four seasons as they edged Sale Sharks 21-16 in a pulsating play-off semi-final. Handre Pollard and George Ford traded penalties before Adam Radwan’s double – including a sensational diving finish – put the dominant hosts 13-3 up at the break. Pollard quickly matched Ford’s...
Bath: De Glanville; Cokanasiga, Ojomoh, Redpath, Muir; Russell, Spencer (c); Obano, Dunn, Stuart, Roux, Ewels, Hill, Pepper, Barbeary. Replacements: Annett, Van Wyk, Du Toit, Molony, Reid, Carr-Smith, Donoghue, Bayliss. Bristol: Heward; Ravouvou, Janse sVan Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye; MacGinty, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska, Dun, Batley, Luatua, Harding (c), Mata. Replacements: Thacker, Woolmore, Lahiff, Rubiolo, Grondola, Marmion,...
In his first and only season in the league, Cheika says he has “enjoyed the ride” in the East Midlands and has been surprised by the diversity of playing styles across the Premiership, citing Bristol’s free-wheeling approach. He also believes the league has the potential to rival Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) and become one...
Dundee want to speak to Linfield boss David Healy about their managerial vacancy at Dens Park. Last month the Dark Blues sacked Tony Docherty one day after securing their Scottish Premiership status for next season in the final game of the campaign. Healy, who is the Northern Ireland men’s team’s record goalscorer, has been in...
Exeter: Hodge; Brown-Bampoe, Slade, Tua, Wyatt; Skinner, Townsend; Blose, Yeandle (capt), Iosefa-Scott, Tuima, Molina, Vermeulen, Capstick, Roots Replacements: Frost, Sio, Roots, Tshiunza, Moloney, Cairns, Haydon-Wood, Vintcent Yellow card: Roots (39) Sale: Carpenter; O’Flaherty, R du Preez, Ma’asi-White Reed; Ford, Quirke; Rodd, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, van Rhyn, Hill, J-L du Preez, B Curry (capt), D du Preez....
On this note, Cole admitted in his retirement announcement he didn’t want to be “the old guy, sitting around and hanging on,” as financially-challenged Premiership clubs put their faith in youth. But they have all done remarkably well to get this far. Brown, who will turn 40 in September, has put his longevity down to...
Thanks to data supplied by Opta, it is possible to view wider trends across the division and whether the style of football being played in Scotland is shifting. In the season just gone, compared to the 2019-20 season, there were more passes per game, a higher percentage of passes completed and fewer forward passes. It...
Martindale’s teams in the Premiership were renowned for being awful to play against. Physical. Aggressive. In your face. Coupled with an ageing plastic pitch, watching silky soccer wasn’t a Saturday staple for the Livi support. However, since dropping down to the Championship, he has taken the opportunity to rebuild and rethink. Quality players like Lewis...