Ben Coles

6 days ago | telegraph.co.uk | Ben Coles

To flip that point, it is also why so few clubs have dared to try to come up. No team has been promoted since Saracens in 2021, after what was effectively a one-year suspension from the top flight. The last time we had a promoted club not in possession of a perpetual share - otherwise known as a P share, entitling shareholders to a percentage of the central income of the league as well as voting rights - was London Welsh in 2014. Two years later they went into voluntary liquidation.

1 week ago | telegraph.co.uk | Ben Coles

Russell was picked ahead of Sexton four years ago for the tour of South Africa and went on to play a prominent role in the third Test, playing 70 minutes following Dan Biggar's early injury. When asked last October who Sexton believed should be at fly-half in Australia, Sexton mentioned Owen Farrell, citing that you want "Test-match animals" in the position. "Who do you want in there when the going gets tough? Test-match animals. I know who the media would want.

1 week ago | ca.sports.yahoo.com | Ben Coles

Johnny Sexton will join the British and Irish Lions in Australia this summer as an assistant coach. The former Ireland fly-half, who retired following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, will join the Lions coaching staff and link up with his old head coach Andy Farrell. As a player, Sexton toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017, starting in five Test matches and winning the first series in Australia before drawing in New Zealand four years later.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Ben Coles

This may not come as a surprise given Caucaunibuca’s speed, but the boy from Nasau Village, in the Bua district of Vanua Levu Island, was scouted at a local sevens tournament by the Fiji sevens head coach, Rupeni Ravonu. Fast-tracked into the national side in 2001, he featured in five World Series events and scored a ridiculous 38 tries – while also being sent off in a Wellington Sevens final for two reckless tackles – and went to the Sevens World Cup in Argentina. The star of that tournament?

1 week ago | telegraph.co.uk | Ben Coles

Sexton, who won 118 caps for Ireland and guided Leinster to multiple titles domestically and in Europe, has been working as a consultancy coach with the Irish national side since retiring. Ioane's move to Dublin will follow Jordie Barrett's successful spell with Leinster, with the All Blacks centre making a significant impact since arriving in December as Leinster bid to complete a URC and Champions Cup double.