In the midst of one of the worst crises to ever affect the world last year, there was something to rally around, a collective cause that truly brought out the best in the nation. Scotland’s men’s team qualified for an international competition for the first time in 23 years. For the first time in the […]
Diego Armando Maradona, the greatest footballer of his generation, died yesterday in his hometown of Buenos Aires aged 60. 15 years to the day that George Best, a similarly gifted yet troubled legend of the game passed away, Maradona’s passing similarly marks the end of a long battle against addiction that had begun during his […]
Was Scotland’s fateful world cup against the Netherlands in 1978 the most ‘Scottish’ game of all time? Well, yes and no. Scotland rallied to one of their greatest performances, knowing they needed to beat the Netherlands by three clear goals in the final group game of the 1978 World Cup. However, in true Tartan Army […]
There is no doubt in my mind that 26 October saw a defining moment in world rugby history. An engagement of two nations, dressed in a royal pride of black and white, played the most anticipated eighty minutes of test rugby the sport has ever seen. In typical student fashion – bathrobes included – we […]
England have been waiting for an opportunity to raise the Webb-Ellis Cup for over a decade. Their form this World Cup has been indisputably good: they are strong favourites walking onto the field in Yokohama on Saturday. The ball takes to the air and as the camera pans past officials and coaches, it finds its […]
The last decade of English World Cup rugby has seen much controversy and little consistency. 2011; England’s ‘antics’ and ‘off-field’ distractions took over Martin Johnson’s grasp of their World Cup. From ball swapping to inappropriate comments, England’s time spent south culminated in a £3,000 fine awarded to Manu Tuilagi for taking a disorderly dip in […]
The stage is set. Rugby’s worldwide fanbase draws teams from hats, excitedly reading the names of South Africa, New Zealand and England from the back of torn pieces of paper. With as many victories as there have been tournaments shared between the top-tier teams, fans are filled with hope that their draw will lead them […]
Commentary has always defined my sporting experience. From my early years listening to Murray Walker describe in his high-pitched, cracking voice the moment Damon Hill crossed the line at Suzuka winning the World Championship in 1996 with “he took the lead and he stayed there, and Damon Hill exits the chicane to win the Japanese […]