Author Archives: Sam Roberts

Barry Jon Welsh

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Sam Roberts

There are some wonderful nicknames handed out by our rugby playing brethren across training paddocks week in, week out. You will have your personal favourite. But if ‘Barry Jon Welsh’ wasn’t uttered by someone in the Newcastle squad on Monday … Continue reading →

Posted in rugby, Sport | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

500 words about just two

Posted on January 7, 2017 by Sam Roberts

“I’m sorry.” Those are the words with which Ian Tempest showed the red card to Richard Barrington, the Saracens prop forward sent from the field in their game against Exeter this afternoon. Two little words but they can mean a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The man you want on your side

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Sam Roberts

As Tom Varndell crossed for his third and decisive try on Boxing Day in front of a particularly festive Ashton Gate crowd, one Bristol back row forward pumped his fist a little harder than most. Nick Fenton-Wells, the boy who … Continue reading →

Posted in rugby, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Up in the air

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Sam Roberts

As George North hit the deck on early Saturday evening and laid there motionless, many questions were being asked. Most it seemed centred around the Welsh winger’s cognitive health. Understandably so; he looked unconscious, for not the first time in his … Continue reading →

Posted in rugby, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Humphreys, Harlequins and Henson – a review of Aviva Premiership Round 7

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Sam Roberts

Click here for my review of round seven on the Aviva Premiership of the Rugby Pod

Posted in rugby, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eddie Jones’ Diary – 26th October 2016

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Sam Roberts

26th October 2016 I’m back in my hotel room, another press conference done. I find all that smiling exhausting. Managed to get in the clown reference though. Cheika will have loved that. Must text him later. Is there a clown … Continue reading →

Posted in rugby, Sport | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Touching Wood

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Sam Roberts

Another Eddie Jones’ selection, another eyebrow raised. Tom Wood’s inclusion has people talking. In selecting the Northampton man, Jones knows he has made a surprising choice. In press conference, Jones talked about Wood’s work ethic and hair. “Tom Wood is like … Continue reading →

Posted in rugby, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shark soup, pinball wizards and black, gathering clouds – Round 6 Review of the Aviva Premiership.

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Sam Roberts

Click here to read my piece for The Rugby Pod and see my team of the week Boom! Round 6 in your face! What a week: we started with a Club v Country row, got sidetracked with one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in rugby, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Crocodiles, Sharks and Wasps – Week 5 Review of the Aviva Premiership

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Sam Roberts

Click here to read my Round 5 Review of the Aviva Premiership for Yahoo/The Rugby Pod Week five of the Aviva Premiership and the hits just keep on coming. Some of the games became ‘purist’ affairs, with defences elbowing their … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Few certainties… Round 4 Review of the Aviva Premiership

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Sam Roberts

Click here for Week 4 Aviva Premiership Review plus a team of the week There are few certainties in sport. Fewer still in the Aviva Premiership. As we rounded our fourth lap of a twenty two week campaign, previous givens … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment