Ben Coles

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...

When was the last time you saw post, crossbar, post, crossbar, miss?

Rupeni Caucau could have been rugby’s greatest – and we tracked him down Closest thing the sport has seen to Jonah Lomu with the potential even to surpass him – wasted talent of Fijian who had world at his feet

Have always been fascinated by Rupeni Caucaunibuca, one of rugby’s greatest talents. And yet the way his career panned out feels like a tragedy.

With thanks to Wayne Pivac, Doug Howlett, Jonny Wilkinson, Colin Yukes, Yannick Nyanga, and Caucau himself. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Rupeni Caucau could have been rugby’s greatest – and we tracked him down Closest thing the sport has seen to Jonah Lomu with the potential even to surpass him – wasted talent of Fijian who had world at his feet

Have always been fascinated by Rupeni Caucaunibuca, one of rugby’s greatest talents. And yet the way his career panned out feels like a tragedy.

With thanks to Wayne Pivac, Doug Howlett, Jonny Wilkinson, Colin Yukes, Yannick Nyanga, and Caucau himself. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Henry Pollock leading rugby’s new ‘celly’ trend From Saints flanker’s free-throw to Chandler Cunningham-South’s nod to Cole Palmer, the game could do with more players showing personality

Celebrations are hot right now. We should give Tommy Freeman’s lawnmower more love. Also revisited some classics. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Rugby is in a new era of audacious try celebrations From Henry Pollock’s free-throw to Chandler Cunningham-South’s nod to Cole Palmer, the game could do with more players showing personality

Celebrations are hot right now. We should give Tommy Freeman’s lawnmower more love. Also revisited some classics. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Basketball is Tomos Williams’ secret weapon in bid to make the Lions Wales and Gloucester scrum-half credits his hoops love affair for the magical moments that could well propel him into Andy Farrell’s squad

Spoke to Premiership Rugby's player of the month, Tomos Williams, about basketball, @gloucesterrugby.bsky.social's young attack coach James Lightfoot-Brown, what Wales need from their next head coach and, of course, the Lions. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Joe Marler interview: Men’s rugby players should do TikTok dances too Recently retired Harlequins prop offers take on viral social media moments, greyhounds and his work with Team England Rugby

A chat with @JoeMarler. Discussed post-game TikToks - "If the girls want to express themselves, then express themselves. And if the boys want to do the same, f------ get on board with it" - and the 30-game guideline limits for England players. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

In non-parachute news, understand that Leicester have lodged a complaint to the citing commissioner over an alleged eye gouge on Dan Cole by Glasgow's Henco Venter. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Watch: Leicester lodge complaint after Dan Cole ‘eye-gouged’ by Henco Venter Incident occurred in the opening minutes of the first half during Leicester’s comprehensive Champions Cup defeat by Glasgow

In non-parachute news, understand that Leicester have lodged a complaint to the citing commissioner over an alleged eye gouge on Dan Cole by Glasgow's Henco Venter. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Tropical here. #GLAvLEI

Ruben Love has an elite Super Rugby name and an elite passing game.

Andy Farrell must not be forced to pick token Welsh players for Lions tour A complete Wales snub would be travesty for their national game but Farrell should not be guilt-tripped – his job is to win

The smart money is on at least one Wales player making the Lions squad. But should Andy Farrell have to pick one to keep everybody happy? And are there any absolute certainties at this point? No. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Premiership to introduce away ends for rugby fans – this is no bad thing Two trials at end of April will offer supporters option to sit in designated section; Plus, why this is not making rugby like football

Premiership Rugby will trial away sections at two games next month - Saracens v Gloucester on April 19 and Leicester v Harlequins on April 26. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

The Telegraph Rugby Podcast Go beyond the back pages and join the Telegraph's rugby experts and big name guests as they tackle the game's most interesting trends, themes and talking points. Our unrivalled rugby coverage now avai...

And that’s our last @TelegraphRugby Podcast of the Six Nations! We’ve had a blast. See you for the 🦁🦁🦁. pod.link/1196875127/e...

Premiership to fund £4m loan for struggling Newcastle Falcons to receive cash injection from rivals to meet financial criteria to stay in league next season, with club’s future in jeopardy

Sources confirming @MarkKleinmanSky's story - Newcastle Falcons set to receive a loan from rival Premiership clubs and CVC so they can meet financial criteria to stay in the league next season. Understood to be between £3-4m. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Premiership to fund £4m loan for struggling Newcastle Falcons to receive cash injection from rivals to meet financial criteria to stay in league next season, with club’s future in jeopardy

Sources confirming @MarkKleinmanSky's story - Newcastle Falcons set to receive a loan from rival Premiership clubs and CVC so they can meet financial criteria to stay in the league next season. Understood to be between £3-4m. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Ireland up against it with this fella helping over Italy's kicks at goal. #ITAvIRE

Italy v Ireland live: Score and latest Six Nations updates

Updates (and eventually a report) in here: www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Muggy. Nice to be in Dubl… no, Rome. (First thing heard out of the taxi - “it’s like a fucking invasion.”) #ITAvIRE

England’s 2013 Six Nations disaster – by the players involved Stuart Lancaster’s side had the Grand Slam in their grasp but buckled in a storm of ferocity Wales will hope to replicate on Saturday

Revisited the 30-3 game ahead of Wales-England with help from Haskell (talked his 50th cap song), Ken Owens, Tom Youngs, and the very good story on 'For The Love Of Rugby' about the England team taking a Welsh fan's glasses. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...