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
The pressure to specialise in sport, is it really the path to a professional career?In his latest article Graham Jenkins explores the fascinating subject of the pressure to specialise in sport.
In this world of junior representative teams and academy programmes, at what age should our children get really serious about rugby at the expense of other sports? Read on, better still join the discussion and share your views and experiences.
Lancaster’s Hartley headacheGraham Jenkins dissect’s the Dylan Hartley discipline conundrum facing Stuart Lancaster. England’s most capped current player also has the most compromised discipline record in the international game. Hartley’s a world class rake and critical to England’s rugby’s 2015. He also knows there’s only so much a coach with the value set of Lancaster can take.
The world's best coaches – 2014Graham Jenkins identifies the five coaches who made the biggest difference to the global game. The world’s best coaches of 2014.
We welcome your comment and feedback, who are your top five globally?
Match fixing and rugby – The fight to ensure the integrity of our gameAs the dust settles on another series of fiercely-fought inter-hemisphere clashes another intense battle continues, the one to preserve the integrity of the sport.
Match-fixing scandals have hit increasingly close to home in recent months with football, cricket and rugby league all tarnished by reports of alleged corruption. Until now, rugby union has escaped such ignominy but far from celebrating the fact, officials are stepping up their efforts to keep it that way.
England performance a timely mix of brute force and intellectGraham Jenkins dissects a very timely England performance against Australia. A victory not just built on brute force but their most intelligent performance of the autumn. Lancaster’s side saved the best until last with a dominant 26-17 victory over Australia.
Ford brings England's future into focusGraham Jenkins reviews England’s performance against Samoa over the weekend, identifying George Ford as the shining light the England team has been searching for.
Predictably fired up after a turbulent week off the pitch, Samoa went after the comparatively slight Ford, and some of his team-mates, but he reminded us he has the steel to complement the abundance of skill he can call on.
Dan Carter: coming back from adversity (part 2)One of the most gifted players of his or any generation, Carter insists hard graft has played a more significant part in his undoubted success. “Hard work is crucial,” he said. “You can have all the talent in the world but if you are not prepared to work at the highest level then that is a big part…"
Dan Carter: coming back from adversity (part 1)Mental resilience is often an overlooked factor in sport, but it’s an essential part of the makeup of all champion athletes. Dan Carter is a prime example of this trait.
Following his return to the All Blacks’ No.10 shirt for the first time since the victory over England almost a year ago, Carter reflects on the ‘dark days’ of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and his determination to return to his very best for New Zealand’s defence of the sport’s biggest prize next year.
England come up short against the SpringboksSouth Africa’s narrow 28-31 victory at Twickenham reinforced that England’s player’s decision making and mistakes are costing them against the world’s top teams.
England come frustratingly close againDespite England rattling the All Blacks in the first half, England lost out 21-24 at Twickenham yesterday as Richie McCaw and his men saved their best till last.
