@bencoles.bsky.social
Rugby writer. Now for @observeruk.bsky.social and freelance. Give me your pitches and ideas: [email protected]
@bencoles.bsky.socialReposted by @bencoles.bsky.socialCan I tempt you with another Harlequins long-read?
Spent the week talking to sources inside and outside the club about the obvious problems, the solutions, and just how deep this rebuild is. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
@bencoles.bsky.socialCan I tempt you with another Harlequins long-read?
Spent the week talking to sources inside and outside the club about the obvious problems, the solutions, and just how deep this rebuild is. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
@bencoles.bsky.socialThis Gloucester pack: enjoyable. George Skivington getting the dominant maul and physicality he wanted back on day one.
@bencoles.bsky.socialThis week's Substack: Kane James was mentioned as a breakout player for Exeter during pre-season. Has started hot, and here's why.
theofffieldreview.substack.com/p/kane-james...
Plus notes on Gloucester, Sale, a missed chance for Newcastle, and Rees-Zammit being very much a wing.
@bencoles.bsky.socialNew titles this week, obviously.
Saracens discussion here: youtube.com/watch?v=ZB7G...
Podcast: pod.link/1837150363/e...
@bencoles.bsky.socialThat’s a huge win for Australia in Perth for multiple reasons (optics, momentum under Kiss, hype for 2027).
But for the Springboks I’m not sure the actual result means anything, besides answering some depth questions and showing that rust is bad.
@bencoles.bsky.socialThis is a shame, keep the line of yellow blocks going
@bencoles.bsky.socialMuch-changed Boks turning in a rusty performance felt quite likely and, well, yeah.
@bencoles.bsky.socialNice to see the Saffas (not all!) complaining about the officiating again.
@bencoles.bsky.socialNot sure what that noise was
@bencoles.bsky.socialAlso wherever you get your podcasts. pod.link/1837150363
@bencoles.bsky.socialNecks on the line with @charliemorgan.bsky.social predicting the PREM table ahead of the 2026/27 season starting tonight. We agreed on three. There will be regrets. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNCV...
@bencoles.bsky.socialWe spoke to Moody ahead of this airing on Friday night. The documentary will hit hard but must be, as Moody described it, "a call to action" to help fund research. This year's bike ride raised £640,000. observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...
@bencoles.bsky.socialReposted by @bencoles.bsky.socialSpoke to agents and heads of recruitment to find out who they think are best signings ahead of the new PREM season.
A few obvious names - Lawes, Marchant - did not come up. Some veterans and under-the-radar overseas players did.
@bencoles.bsky.socialSpoke to agents and heads of recruitment to find out who they think are best signings ahead of the new PREM season.
A few obvious names - Lawes, Marchant - did not come up. Some veterans and under-the-radar overseas players did.
@bencoles.bsky.socialAs expected, this was excellent. Lewis Moody vs MND premieres on Friday 25 September at 10pm on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.
@bencoles.bsky.socialYes, this is a real picture. Shaun Edwards has joined the Red Roses in a short-term coaching consultancy role.
@bencoles.bsky.socialDon't take the draw! Was prepping a glowing tribute to a length-of-the-field Canadian winner there.
@bencoles.bsky.socialThis week's Substack column on New Zealand's approach to comments about referees outside of press conferences, which could quickly start to wear a bit thin. theofffieldreview.substack.com/p/all-blacks...
@bencoles.bsky.socialLive thought that was coming back, as it looked like most of the All Blacks did.
