TOTAL FLANKER...a rugby blog

I started this blog on 9th May 2007 - exactly fifteen years ago.
Back then I was taking tentative steps to re-start my rugby journey by coming out of retirement aged 42, a comeback which may only have lasted a few short seasons but which rekindled my enthusiasm for the game and which stimulated my creative juices...

England Women's 24-12 win over France at the weekend, which secured a Grand Slam, their 23rd victory in a row and a fourth successive Women's Six Nations title, means that they are red hot favourites for the World Cup later this year.
The Red Roses do look in great shape, but there is no room whatsoever for complacency....

Many congrats to Heaton Moor RUFC's Mike Ireland, who played his final game for the club this weekend at the age of 56, captaining the club's 3rd XV alongside his SEVEN sons in the Heaton Moor pack.
To play in the same team as one son is impressive enough (not something I've managed, unless you count Touch) but seven? Amazing....

Huge congrats to Leicester's Chris Ashton who yesterday became the Premiership's all-time top try-scorer.
Ashton's 20-minute first-half hat-trick against Bristol at Welford Road took his Premiership try tally to 95, finally eclipsing Tom Varndell's 92-try total which has stood since 2017....