Ruck.co.uk

4 days ago | ruck.co.uk | Tom Sansom

Business is about to pick up in the Gallagher Premiership, as the play off semi-finals are set to kick off tomorrow night in Somerset. Bath, Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears make up the top four for the 2024/25 Premiership season, with the Kings of England set to be crowned in 10 days time in the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. The action kicks off with a hotly anticipated West Country derby, as the table toppers Bath host the fourth placed Bristol Bears down at the Rec.

4 days ago | ruck.co.uk | Tom Sansom

The 2024/25 United Rugby Championship ‘Elite XV’ has officially been announced. The Elite XV is determined by a media vote and players must have made at least nine appearances to be considered, with the media panel provided a shortlist of 10 per position by URC StatMaster. Meanwhile, Vodacom Bulls forward Cameron Hanekom has been named as Next-Gen Player of the Season. The prestigious award was voted for by members of the media across all five BKT URC nations.

4 days ago | ruck.co.uk | Tom Sansom

Sale Sharks Women have agreed a deal to sign Red Roses fly-half Holly Aitchison from PWR rivals Bristol Bears from the start of the 2025/26 season. Southport-born Holly, who has won 40 England caps and played a key role in the recent Six Nations Grand Slam, has signed a two-year deal to join Tom Hudson’s squad. Proud northerner Holly played her junior rugby at Waterloo, where her dad was Director of Rugby, and then Liverpool St Helens before joining Lichfield.

4 days ago | ruck.co.uk | Tom Sansom

Ireland centurion Cian Healy and All Blacks star Shannon Frizell have been confirmed as the latest names to join up to feature for Barbarians FC when they face the Springboks for the first time, in the historic Qatar Airways Cup in Cape Town at the end of the month. Healy and Frizell, who have 170 Test caps between them, will join Sam Cane, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray in Robbie Deans’ squad for the match on Saturday, 28 June at the DHL Stadium.

4 days ago | ruck.co.uk | Tom Sansom

With two trophies already safely secured in the Recreation Ground’s cabinet, it has certainly been a season of success for Bath Rugby. The blue, black and whites triumphed for the title in their Premiership Rugby Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup campaigns, yet Johann van Graan’s side will not sit back and enjoy their spoils just yet. Bath have their sights set on the Premiership title to complete an unforgettable treble, which would be an era-defyining win for the Somerset club.