Ben Coles

YouTube video by The Rugby Bunker Will England drop George Ford? Your questions answered | The Rugby Bunker

Will England axe George Ford? How damaging are these defeats for Steve Borthwick?

Your questions answered with @charliemorgan.bsky.social over on The Rugby Bunker. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpsa...

As it's the fallow week, planning to do a Six Nations Q&A on The Rugby Bunker with @charliemorgan.bsky.social when we record tonight. What would you like to know?

Six Nations: Steve Borthwick’s bandwagon falls apart as I... Coach faces serious questions over form and selection after losing 42-21 at Twickenham

England lost 20 turnovers at Murrayfield. They topped that by giving up 22 against Ireland.

Ben Earl said after Wales "we know we've got the toughest run of four, five weeks we've had in a long time”, and boy, does it feel like it.

For @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

England vs Ireland: Henry Pollock is the perfect blend of... Kevin Sinfield has seen a few things. Involved in both codes of rugby for three decades as a decorated player and now coach, he has worked with hundreds of players, a broad range of personalities. Non...

Big day for Henry Pollock tomorrow making his first England start. Don't think he'll be nervous. Insight from Borthwick, Sinfield and Joe Heyes on a "wonderfully different" player.

For @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

England vs Ireland: Henry Pollock is the perfect blend of... Kevin Sinfield has seen a few things. Involved in both codes of rugby for three decades as a decorated player and now coach, he has worked with hundreds of players, a broad range of personalities. Non...

Big day for Henry Pollock tomorrow making his first England start. Don't think he'll be nervous. Insight from Borthwick, Sinfield and Joe Heyes on a "wonderfully different" player.

For @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Picking through England's problems: midfield, high ball, and their selection for Ireland Winning only four out of 18 contestable kicks and conceding 20 turnovers, plus Henry Arundell's two yellow cards, were a combined disaster

Substack is now out. Actually did Scotland a disservice.

England only won back six out of 19 contestable kicks, and one of those 'wins' led to Earl being bundled straight into touch.

Midfield, Underhill, Pollock and ref mic gold all covered: theofffieldreview.substack.com/p/englands-p...

YouTube video by The Rugby Bunker Super Scotland punish sloppy England, reaction from Murrayfield | The Rugby Bunker

Post-match reaction from Murrayfield up on The Rugby Bunker featuring Harry Latham-Coyle. www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Dz...

Six Nations: Scots crush England but must front up again ... Doubts still over hover Scotland’s head coach despite his team stunning the Auld Enemy in 31-20 victory

Piece from Murrayfield. We know Scotland can beat England, and they did so ruthlessly here. Now what else can they do.

For @theobserveruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

'The Truth' about Lucas Friday, England's next scrum-half prospect England Under-20s scrum-half mentored by Danny Care on his ACL recovery, idols growing up and practicing in the garden with father Mike

Lucas Friday, the Harlequins and England Under-20 scrum-half who looks some prospect, is known at his club as 'The Truth'. After some digging, I found out why.

For @rugbypass.bsky.social. www.rugbypass.com/plus/the-tru...

YouTube video by The Rugby Bunker Predictions for round two of Six Nations 2026 - The Rugby Bunker

Back with @charliemorgan.bsky.social on The Rugby Bunker to preview each of the Six Nations games, with some predictions in there too. And Charlie discussing how Steve Borthwick made him squirm this week.

youtu.be/TpzmQiiW3ko

Say 'Bielle-Biarrey Brau-Boirie' ten times and they'll send you a replica Six Nations trophy

Antoine Dupont returns to greatness with a stronger Franc... Antoine Dupont has reclaimed his throne and this time he’s finally part of a team strong enough to share the load, reports Ben Coles from the Stade de France

Piece from Paris on the return of Antoine Dupont, who was quietly impressive.

Olivier Magne suggested beforehand that the best approach might be for Dupont to let Jalibert run the show, then to take over if/when it goes wrong. Saw a glimpse of that. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

That's the one! Waiting for the fourth replica RWC trophy to arrive.

The Substack is out, with extras from interviewing Rassie Erasmus that didn't make the Observer article on Tony Brown, his dark horse for the Six Nations, players potentially playing their final Test in 2026.

Read: theofffieldreview.substack.com/p/extras-fro...

Plus, Six Nations predictions.

Spent some time in Cape Town with Rassie Erasmus.

We covered a lot. How he communicates with players. His improved relationship with World Rugby. England and the Pom Squad. The next wave who will be Springboks. And... fruit.

Exclusive for @observeruk.bsky.social.

observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Calm and confident England - this feels different. Picking a 23 for Wales Inside centre, full-back and tighthead prop need addressing but when you look at their title rivals, this time England are not the side in crisis

A belated post for this week's Substack, picking an England team for Wales while addressing how enjoyably calm their build-up feels to the Six Nations (when others are floundering).

theofffieldreview.substack.com/p/calm-and-c...

YouTube video by The Rugby Bunker Penaud and the latest Six Nations squads plus Razor's All Blacks exit | The Rugby Bunker

ALSO, we (@charliemorgan.bsky.social and myself) have a latest episode out of The Rugby Bunker breaking down the Six Nations squads and Scott Robertson's All Blacks exit.

Creeping up to 1k subscriptions, and we'd love your help.

youtu.be/jp74iWRmTKo

The Off-Field Review | Ben Coles | Substack Insights and opinion from Ben Coles, a rugby journalist now with The Observer and elsewhere. Click to read The Off-Field Review, by Ben Coles, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Sorry Bluesky, I've neglected you for so long that I need to tell you about the Substack column which drops every Monday morning (and is currently being written) which you can sign up to here: theofffieldreview.substack.com

It's a nice long-read every Monday for your morning commute/coffee.

New ‘cooling cap’ that could be concussion game changer Two-year trial to study technology that has cut symptoms and return-to-play times in ice hockey

New “cooling cap” rugby study will look at whether lowering the brain’s temperature quickly after a concussion can improve recovery. (By @bencoles.bsky.social for @observeruk.bsky.social)
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

YouTube video by The Rugby Bunker How the Springboks can win a third straight Rugby World Cup | The Rugby Bunker

Had a good chat re all things Springboks with @bencoles.bsky.social on the Rugby Bunker.

Been a great year for Rassie's men, but there's still room to grow in the lead-up to 2027.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOAy...

Farewell Cole and Youngs: Leicester Tigers will miss two ... For Leicester stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, it now feels like the best time to say goodbye

Farewell to two excellent old-timers. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Bath fans hope to end 29 year wait for glory | The Observer Bath fans write in about their hopes for Saturday’s Premiership final

Many thanks to all the Bath fans who wrote in for this. Enjoyed collating them together. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Hi, Bath fans. Keen to hear from you all about what it would mean to win on Saturday after so long, how long you have been following the club and who you'll be thinking about on the day.

Please reply, DM or email bencolessport@gmail.com. Thanks!

Bath looking hot as they tackle the Tigers for final rede... Premiership top dogs could bounce back from heartbreak last season... and end a 29-year drought

Remember leaving the press box with @charliemorgan.bsky.social after last year’s Premiership final and saying “well, Bath will definitely win it next year”.

Johann van Graan often says “dream big”. Bath right now can achieve anything they want to. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Can I see why RUNIT and Run It Straight have become so popular? Absolutely. Have I also been watching through my fingers while participants with bad technique are being knocked out? Again, absolutely.

Latest for @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Phil Dowson hopes Northampton Saints can exorcise some demons of the past | The Observer As the Saints make their first Champions Cup final appearance in more than a decade, there is ample opportunity to settle a score

Northampton in a Champions Cup final for the first time in 14 years, in the same stadium where they lost in 2011? Love those coincidences.

Coaches have bigger things to worry about than fate, but the rest of us can hypothesise about the stars aligning. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Finn vs Fin: it’s not just in the name that Lions face tight selection battle | The Observer The debate rages on as to whether it will be Finn Russell or Fin Smith starting in the British and Irish Lions No 10 shirt this summer

Bravely writing about this now so we can try to avoid a summer of 'Finn Smith'. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Finn vs Fin: it’s not just in the name that Lions face tight selection battle | The Observer The debate rages on as to whether it will be Finn Russell or Fin Smith starting in the British and Irish Lions No 10 shirt this summer

Bravely writing about this now so we can try to avoid a summer of 'Finn Smith'. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Obviously, this isn't for @telegraphnews.bsky.social. Very grateful for the last eight years working alongside some of the best.

Have a pitch or an idea? Send to bencolessport@gmail.com

Maro Itoje proves Eddie Jones wrong to become British & Irish Lions captain The England captain, once written off by Jones, has been named as captain of the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad ahead of the full squad announcement today

Maro Itoje being named Lions captain isn't a shock. The only surprise is that it took this long. Piece for @observeruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...