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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
To be, or not to be...Top 14 championsWriter Graham Jenkins gets an insight into the new ‘culture’ behind Castres surprise Top 14 championship win with Castres coach Joe El Abd.
Comfortable in chaos – train like a champion teamAs the dust settles on another epic northern hemisphere season, writer Graham Jenkins looks at Stuart Lancaster’s influence at Irish province Leinster as they set the bar in Europe last term with a brilliant blend of power, pace and skill that carried them to not only the Champions Cup title but also the PRO14 crown.
Ever seen a kid rush into a sports shop to buy a cone?Working alongside head coach John Fletcher and Peter Walton, as part of England’s U18 coaching team Russell Earnshaw is on a mission to equip English rugby’s brightest talents with an unrivalled skill set and give them both the freedom to express themselves and the confidence to execute in any given scenario. Graham Jenkins spoke with him to better understand Russell’s mission and how they are going about achieving it.
Major League Rugby proves the land of opportunityLatest edition of the US Major league kicks off next weekend, writer Graham Jenkins talks to ex Wasps and now San Diego Legions coach Rob Hoadley about the benefits of coaching overseas and in the US Major league.
Top players must be hungry for homeworkPreparing the body for the physical demands of the elite game is just part of the challenge for the northern hemisphere’s finest with the mental preparation arguably just as pivotal in not only securing a victory but also prolonging a career at the top. Writer Graham Jenkins looks at what is expected of elite players outside the training pitch and gym as they prepare for big matches.
Does ‘retrospective refereeing’ do the game any good?England’s narrow 12-6 victory over Wales attracted an impressive UK TV audience of 6.4m to underline the appeal of what is billed as ‘rugby’s greatest championship’. Writer Graham Jenkins examines how rugby failed to capitalise on its popularity at Twickenham where the officials and not the players stole the headlines.
Continuity the key to continued success for EnglandIn a sporting landscape where the news of a coach losing their job often appears as common as a kick off, word of one being rewarded with a contract extension certainly commands attention. In his latest article, Graham Jenkins evaluates Eddie Jones’ England head coach contract extension and what the succession plan could be.
The benefit of coaching out of your comfort zoneRonan O’Gara is set to swap French Top 14 side Racing 92 for the Crusaders in New Zealand next month in a bold bid to improve as a coach and broaden his understanding of the game. Writer Graham Jenkins looks at O’Gara’s motivation for heading down under to the Crusaders.
Money talks in World Cup bid processIn the wake of their success, even France acknowledged that the current financial model and the selection criteria make it almost impossible for any nation outside the deep-pocketed French and English to take on the role of tournament hosts. Writer Graham Jenkins explores the reality of the ‘voting’ and the future tournament prospects.
Is the congested calendar slowly killing the game?Graham Jenkins considers ongoing debate about the physical and mental demands of what is quite clearly an over-congested season.
