Charlie Smith

Charlie Smith

Freelance football writer. Leeds United fan

74 articles

Manu Tuilagi not expecting England call-up for tour of South Africa
England

Manu Tuilagi not expecting England call-up for tour of South Africa

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi believes he won’t be called up by England head coach Eddie Jones for the tour of South Africa as he does not think he is fit enough, Sky Sports report. England are set to announce their latest squad for the tour on Thursday, with the 26-year-old, who has been hampered by […]

Ben Foden to leave Northampton Saints at end of the season
News

Ben Foden to leave Northampton Saints at end of the season

Northampton Saints full-back Ben Foden will leave the club the end of the current season, the BBC report. Foden, 32, has spent 10 years with the Saints and will play his final match against Worcester this weekend, which will be his 250th. The England international has won 34 caps during his time with the Saints […]

No stopping Brad Shields playing for England says future boss Dai Young
England

No stopping Brad Shields playing for England says future boss Dai Young

Current Wasps head coach Dai Young believes Brad Shields will be free to play for England this summer if selected by boss Eddie Jones, Coventry Live report. The current Hurricanes flanker is set to join the Aviva Premiership and Wasps at the start of next season. Shields has made it no secret that he is […]

Brad Shields requests to be released to play for England
Articles

Brad Shields requests to be released to play for England

The ongoing saga over Hurricanes captain Brad Shields’ international future has taken another twist after he handed in a formal request to the New Zealand Rugby Union, the BBC report. Shields, who was born in New Zealand, does actually qualify to represent England through his parents and is hoping to do so this summer. However, […]

Dragons centre Adam Hughes forced to retire due to brain injury
Articles

Dragons centre Adam Hughes forced to retire due to brain injury

Dragons centre Adam Hughes has been forced to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect due to a brain injury, the BBC report. Hughes, 28, spent the majority of his career with the Dragons after making his debut in 2010 and had brief spells at Bristol and Exeter. The centre returned to the Welsh side […]

Bristol announce name and crest change ahead of Premiership return
Articles

Bristol announce name and crest change ahead of Premiership return

Newly promoted Bristol Rugby have confirmed that they will rebrand as Bristol Bears ahead of their Aviva Premiership return next season, BBC report. The club have confirmed that the new name and crest will come into place at the beginning of June. Bristol Rugby as they are known currently, are managed by Pat Lam, who […]

Northampton’s Rob Horne remains in hospital after arm injury
Articles

Northampton’s Rob Horne remains in hospital after arm injury

Northampton Saints’ Australian centre Rob Horne has remained in hospital over the weekend after suffering a nasty injury during Saints’ away victory against Leicester on Saturday afternoon, the Northampton Chronicle report. Horne, who was named as captain for the game, was carried off on a stretcher after receiving six minutes of on-field treatment. Horne was […]

Exeter Chiefs deny Stuart Olding link
Articles

Exeter Chiefs deny Stuart Olding link

Exeter Chiefs forward coach Rob Hunter has spoken out on reports linking centre Stuart Olding with a move to the club, claiming the player is ‘not on our radar at all’, the Irish Mirror report. On Saturday, Olding and former teammate Paddy Jackson had their Ulster and Irish Rugby Football Union contracts cancelled, following an […]

London Irish captain calls for relegation to be scrapped
Articles

London Irish captain calls for relegation to be scrapped

London Irish captain David Paice has called for officials of the Aviva Premiership to scrap relegation, according to a report from Sky Sports. Irish know that nothing less than a win against high flying Exeter Chiefs will do to realistically keep their survival hopes alive this season. However, Irish hooker Paice, who was relegated with […]

Maro Itoje’s agent given 22-month ban for gambling
England

Maro Itoje’s agent given 22-month ban for gambling

Maro Itoje’s agent Matt Hart has been given a 22-month ban after he placed more than 1,400 bets on rugby matches over a three-year period, which is a breach of the sport’s regulations, the Telegraph report. Hart, who is a registered agent with the RFU at Stellar Management Group and also represents Wales international Taulupe […]

Bristol promoted back to Aviva Premiership
Bristol

Bristol promoted back to Aviva Premiership

Bristol have been promoted back to the Aviva Premiership after winning the Championship title after Ealing failed to win on Saturday, the Bristol Post report. Pat Lam’s side demolished Nottingham 60-17 on Friday night, which meant second-placed Ealing had to win against Doncaster. Ealing suffered a shock 50-19 defeat to Doncaster on Saturday, which meant […]

Owen Farrell declared fit for Saracens’ quarter-final
Uncategorised

Owen Farrell declared fit for Saracens’ quarter-final

England and Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell has recovered from an injury scare to start for Saracens in their Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster this weekend, BBC​ report. Farrell’s England team mates, Mako Vunipola and George Kruis have also been included in the starting line-up. The 26-year-old had been struggling with a quad problem during the […]