Ollie Phillips

As is the competitiveness of this year’s Premiership, I wouldn’t put it past Saracens and Sale Sharks winning away from home.

When Northampton Saints and Bath take on each other this weekend in the Premiership final at Twickenham the front rows will be key.

Congratulations to Northampton on winning the Premiership. The East Midlanders’s 25-21 win was a reflection of just how good they've been.

The start of next month marks the start of England’s true test of strength as they take on the mighty New Zealand.

The next fortnight will be one which could end up defining Steve Borthwick’s tenure as England manager as his side tour New Zealand.

There has been a lot of talk this week about the history of playing the All Blacks at Eden Park being a heavy burden for England.

Let’s make one thing clear: if Wales lose to the Queensland Reds this weekend it would be an incredible humiliation for Warren Gatland.

When penning this column the niggling thought in my mind is that there’s no possible way that England beat the Springboks.

If you were to list the last five English appearances in an Investec Champions Cup final you’d find Exeter there once and Saracens four times.

For my last rugby union column of 2024 in print it’s only right that we hand out a couple of awards covering the last 12 months.