Articles
Graham Jenkins Here's what Jenks thinks...
About Graham Jenkins
Graham Jenkins is a freelance sports journalist who has been reporting around the rugby globe for over 20 years. A former editor of the leading rugby union website Scrum.com, he is a veteran of five World Cups and cites England’s 2003 triumph as the most memorable moment of his professional career – closely followed by a night out with Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal.
Graham Jenkins's latest articles
Premiership clubs roll out artificial turfNewcastle Falcons’ decision to install a hi-tech artificial pitch at Kingston Park makes them the second club in England’s top flight to ditch a traditional grass playing surface. The new generation of materials promises a faster and more entertaining game, and safety concerns appear to be a thing of the past.
Don't cry for ArgentinaA desperately disappointed Argentina came agonisingly close to their first Rugby Championship victory over South Africa in Salta last Saturday. And it’s not about to get any easier with New Zealand and Australia and thousands of air miles looming in the coming months.
But Argentina are not complaining. They deserve their place in this most brutal of competitions.
Bledisloe draw leaves Aussies with hollow feelingThe Wallabies denied the All Blacks a record 18th consecutive victory with a 12-12 draw in Sydney on Saturday night.
But Australia should have won.
A rare victory would have further fuelled the feel-good factor in Australian rugby generated by the Waratahs’ recent Super Rugby triumph. Instead, the Wallabies find themselves trudging to Eden Park, the graveyard of Bledisloe dreams since David Campese and Simon Poidevin spearheaded the series victory of 1986.
Cheika inspires Waratahs to historic Super Rugby victoryWith the NSW Waratahs’ victory in the Super Rugby final, Michael Cheika is now the first coach to have captured the most-prized domestic titles in both the southern and northern hemispheres.
Graham Jenkins looks at how Cheika’s unconventional approach and management team turned around the ailing franchise.
7's at the Games: Tietjens raises the stakes in the quest for gold180,000 tickets were sold for the two days of Sevens action at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Beaten finalists New Zealand have raised the stakes for Rio 2016 by announcing that the country’s elite players – All Blacks and Super Rugby Players – will be encouraged to join the quest for rugby’s first Olympic gold medal since 1924.
How will the rest of the world respond?
German lessons from the 'other' World CupGermany showed at the FIFA World Cup that they are the world’s best football team. Graham Jenkins looks at what RWC contenders can learn from the success of coach Joachim Löw and Die Mannschaft
Top coaches travel far and wide to learn from other sportsGood coaches never stop learning, and the off-season gives a coach good opportunities to take on fresh thinking from other codes. Graham Jenkins looks at where some of the UK’s top rugby coaches are finding expert advice – and in some cases, hiring the experts themselves.
Will money talk in Super Rugby expansion debate?Singapore or Japan? Graham Jenkins tries to predict which country will be chosen as the first Asian Super Rugby franchise.
Rugby in English schools: still an elitist sportWill English rugby ever shake its elitist reputation? Should the RFU do more to increase playing opportunities at state schools?
Giselle Mather, the first female Premiership Rugby Coach?Breaking rugby’s glass ceiling: Graham Jenkins profiles the woman who might just be the Premiership’s first female coach
