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Posts by Alex Spink

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Ex-Springboks captain: PREM Rugby 'will regret' controversial decision as it 'fails' English Rugby and leaves Steve Borthwick with blunt 'tools' 🗣️ “There's absolutely no jeopardy in the players’ lives beneath Test level.”

“If you’re happy to play in the bland marshmallow land that is neither a promotion nor a relegation environment, why would you suddenly be a sharpened tool in a Test environment?”

Bob Skinstad believes England ‘may live to regret’ PREM’s lack of jeopardy
www.planetrugby.com/news/ex-spri...

1 week ago 1 1 0 0
Glasgow Warriors star admits it would be 'arrogant' to look ahead to final while 'emotional heartbeat' expected to bring the energy 🗣️ "This is the best opportunity they will have for a while"

“The top two inches are hugely important. It’s a mind game”

The assumption that could break Scottish hearts .. if Glasgow get ahead of themselves. @johnbarc86 examines the likelihood of that happening. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/glasgow...

1 week ago 0 0 0 0
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The phone call that led to 'enforcer' Courtney Lawes choosing Sale Sharks and why age of England legend 'isn't a concern at all' 🗣️ "You'd normally be really nervous about signing somebody of that age, but Courtney has looked after himself so well over the years that his age isn't a concern at all."

First he auctioned his England jersey for a world record £500k, now he has brought a 37-yr old great back to the top of English rugby.

Dorian West takes up the story @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/the-pho...

2 weeks ago 0 0 0 0
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Bath v Saracens: Five takeaways as 'Thomas the Tank' sparks recovery while Itoje's men restore 'self-respect' Bath needed to conjure a five-star comeback to beat Saracens! 🏆

‘Ditch the fear’: Half-time demand which sparked Bath to Champions Cup win over Saracens @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/bath-v-...

2 weeks ago 0 0 0 0
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Why Owen Farrell must return against Springboks as England legend urges Steve Borthwick to pick 'unshakeable' veteran England need Owen Farrell back and he should be invited to rejoin the squad ahead of their Nations Championship clash with South Africa.

England need Owen Farrell back and he should be invited to rejoin squad ahead of Nations Championship clash with South Africa.

So says Anthony Watson. And here’s why.. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/unshake...

2 weeks ago 0 0 0 0
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Lawrence Dallaglio urges 'pantomime villain' Henry Pollock to hold up his end of the deal as Eddie Hearn makes 'foray' into rugby 🗣️ "Rugby is too quick to judge. I'm a fan of Pollock, I’m a fan of the game. We need superstars in this game.”

Lawrence Dallaglio urges rugby to lay off Henry Pollock and get back to celebrating difference – the value on which it claims to pride itself @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/lawrenc...

3 weeks ago 0 0 0 0
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England hopeful receives 'be careful' message from rugby league great who sees similarities in his style 🗣️ "Do I think he can go all the way to the top, absolutely I do. But the internet can be a bad thing as well as a good thing. My message to Noah is just be careful."

'The way you build a career is through consistency, not being a highlight'

Sage advice for PREM try leader Noah Caluori from rugby's greatest finisher. Piece with Martin Offiah for @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/noah-ca...

3 weeks ago 1 0 1 0
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Bristol v Harlequins: Five takeaways as Quins end year-long wait, spoiling Bears' Big Day Out and silencing 'unfair' criticism 💬 "Alex Dombrandt returned to Cardiff, the city he called home in his university days, to lead Harlequins to an against-all-odds victory over Bristol." #PREMRugby

Harlequins: a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/bristol...

3 weeks ago 0 0 0 0
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Six Nations winners and losers from the 'histrionics' of Henry Pollock to the 'unplayable' Louis Bielle-Biarrey 🗣️ "Pollock’s response is to shush the crowd and cup his ears. It felt ill-advised at the time, completely dumb when France went back up the other end and won the game." #GuinnessM6N

✅ Ramos, Carre, Ulster, Bielle-Biarrey, Lamaro

❌ Pollock, Furlong, Galthie, RWC obsession, England

Now the dust has settled, here are our #SixNations winners and losers. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/six-nat...

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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'We are all hurting' claims England boss following unshackled performance overshadowed by ill-discipline Thinking Correctly Under Pressure. With it, England won a Rugby World Cup; without it, they coughed up victory in Paris.

England failed to think correctly under pressure. The RFU must not make the same mistake.

Comment piece on a Six Nations campaign like no other. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/we-are-...

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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Andy Goode urges RFU to 'throw the chequebook' at former Wallabies boss as he eyes 'massive' change Former England fly-half Andy Goode has called on Rugby Football Union bosses to grasp the nettle and replace Steve Borthwick.

“A massive change needs to come. I just don’t think he’s the right man”

Andy Goode seeks 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 regime change and knows who he wants to take over 🇦🇺… @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/andy-go...

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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Comment: Why Steve Borthwick's predicament is different to what Eddie Jones faced as 'ragged' England looking to avoid wooden spoon 🗣️ "If, as Rassie Erasmus contends, the Cumbrian "thinks like a machine", the time is now for a reboot. Because lose again and his power supply may well be switched off." #GuinnessM6N

“In the space of six weeks Borthwick‘s ambitions for Paris have shrunk from hitting the jackpot to simply keeping his job”

Comment piece on England, whose Six Nations goes from bad to worse. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/comment...

1 month ago 1 0 0 0
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Natalie Pinkham explains ‘gross’ surgery moment that removed her voice box Natalie Pinkham reveals the shocking reality of the operation that kept her away from the F1 paddock.

“When they told me what they were going to do I was like, ‘not a chance’. They were like, “Hmm, you don’t really have a choice’”

Sky F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham opens up on spinal surgery and emotional return to F1 paddock. Interview for @planetf1com.bsky.social

www.planetf1.com?p=914864

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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David Croft relives Stevenage to Times Square as F1 2026 looms From standing with Lewis Hamilton in Times Square to decoding F1’s most radical rules overhaul, Crofty opens up on the sport’s next era.

📻 From hospital radio to Hollywood
⚽️The night I threw my radio against the bedroom wall
🗣️ The great commentators that inspired me
🏎️ The ‘other’ F1 boy from Stevenage

Interview with ‘Voice of F1’ David Croft #f1
@planetf1com.bsky.social

www.planetf1.com?p=914721

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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Planet Rugby's top 10 players of the 2026 Six Nations thus far 👏 Planet Rugby runs the rule over the first three rounds of the Six Nations and picks out 10 performers worthy of praise. #GuinnessM6N

🇫🇷 3, 🇮🇪 2, 🇮🇹 2
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 1, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 1, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 1

Pick out 10 standout players in #SixNations, they said. Don’t worry, nobody will disagree 🙉
@planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/six-nat...

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
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Comment: Ireland place a bookend on difficult period as broken England back to square one 🗣️ "It was an occasion to rejuvenate the Irish programme, to renew belief in what may be possible even though the squad is ageing and 20 months to the World Cup seems a long time for some of the group...

From ‘are we Irish?’ to Are We Ireland? Andy Farrell asks two tough questions, gets one 🔥 answer.

Comment piece from Twickenham. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/comment...

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
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'This isn't rugby' - Jim Hamilton brands social media abuse 'a disgrace' 🗣️ "This isn’t rugby, right. This isn’t a rugby issue, it’s a social problem."

“It’s absolutely important for rugby to call these comments out but it shouldn’t need me or anyone else to say, ‘We shouldn’t have this in our game?’ It’s obvious”

Jim Hamilton blasts 🏉 trolls but says abuse is a snapshot of society we find ourselves in

www.planetrugby.com/news/this-is...

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Comment: 'Two Jobs' Townsend holds his nerve but Calcutta Cup showing reaffirms riddle Scotland must solve 🗣️ "The deserved acclaim for the achievement of this weekend does not change the fact that this is a riddle Townsend must solve if the criticism of him and his players is to go away." #SCOvENG #Guinne...

“What made their effort so special also condemns this group”

Scotland magnificent. But can they do it on a wet night in Stoke, as they say in football? We know the answer.
Calcutta Cup comment @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/comment...

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
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'Infectious' Henry Pollock can lead England to Calcutta Cup victory and why he is 'brilliant for the game' 🗣️ "These guys are not scarred by those defeats because they are untouched by them. They aren't fussed around the history of this fixture." #SCOvENG #GuinnessM6N

"These guys are not scarred by previous Calcutta Cup defeats because they are untouched by them"

Why 'show pony' Henry Pollock and fellow Murrayfield rookies are key to England turning tide of history in Scotland

#SCOvENG preview. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/why-inf...

2 months ago 0 0 2 0
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'Maybe that suits World Rugby' - Richard Cockerill's plea to bigwigs after failing 'two KPIs' led to Georgia dismissal 💬 "For whatever reason Georgia don't seem to be fashionable enough to be granted that opportunity."

"I could never lose to a Tier 2 country. If I did, there was three months notice. And in a calendar year, I had to beat a Tier 1 team"

EXCL Richard Cockerill's extraordinary explanation for Georgia sacking and renewed Six Nations plea
@planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/exclusi...

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

It goes further than this and will have a knock on effect on the number of kids playing rugby; volunteers; rugby club memberships etc.
It’s not over-egging it to say that this disengagement is the most important issue facing the WRU right now because the impact could destroy the sport.

2 months ago 9 6 3 0
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Wales legend's grave prediction as 20,000 tickets remain unsold and the 'quickest fix' they must find against France 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 "We're not attracting enough supporters or enough fans. And without fans, without supporters, the game won't exist." #WALvFRA #GuinnessM6N

“We could lose a generation of fans”

EXCL Tom Shanklin’s warning as supporters vote with feet amid three-year #SixNations losing run and rise of Welsh football. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/wales-l...

2 months ago 1 0 1 1
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What 'broken' Wales need to do against France as Jonathan Davies reveals his 'overriding emotion' after loss to England 🗣️ "I looked at the boys at Twickenham last weekend and they looked broken in the second half." #GuinnessM6N #WALvFRA

“Seeing Wales lose game after game hurts me, but I think it hurts everyone who loves the sport. A strong Wales makes for a better Six Nations"

EXCL Jonathan Davies articulates pain felt across Welsh rugby - and only way out of crisis @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/what-br...

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
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'Never done' George Ford handed ultimate complement as coach backs England fly-half for international first 🗣️ "Clearly his rugby IQ is higher than mine. It's higher than anyone's I've met." #ENGvWAL #GuinnessM6N

“His rugby IQ is higher than anyone I've met. He could be the first player-coach in international rugby”

A decade after starting every game in England’s last Grand Slam, George Ford is at it again.

Piece from Twickenham. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/never-d...

2 months ago 3 0 0 0
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Six Nations prediction: England to 'come up short' as Steve Borthwick's 'hunters' battle France for glory 🗣️ "Maro Itoje leads England into the Six Nations with optimism high that the Red Rose is about to end a trophy drought which dates back to the dark days of the pandemic." #GuinnessM6N

When asked about his piano-playing ability Eric Morecambe famously said, “I’m playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order”.

So it has been with England selection at times. Not in last year. #6N prospects here @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/six-nat...

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
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Hostile orcas, night sweats, 17kg weight loss and learning to walk again; Ollie Phillips reveals brutal 'payback' of World's Toughest Row 🗣️ "One million per cent I will have PTSD around that cabin. I can't tell you how much it affected me."

“One million per cent I will have PTSD around that cabin. I can’t tell you how much it affected me”

EXCL: Final part of 3-piece series charting former England rugby 7s captain’s
Atlantic row, revealing brutal 'payback' of 3000m ordeal.
@planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/hostile...

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Former England captain 'closer to space than land' as he takes part in World's Toughest Row race 🗣️ “She wants her husband and the dad of our three young kids to come home.”

“We’re closer to space than we are to land. Literally in the middle of nowhere. It’s mind-blowing, absolutely nuts”

EXCL: Former England rugby captain rowing into New Year somewhere in the Atlantic. His words. Remarkable stuff @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/shes-wo...

3 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Ollie Phillips inspired by 'hero' Kevin Sinfield ahead of Atlantic Ocean challenge as race briefing brings back Jonah Lomu 'sensation' 🗣️ "I just don't think you know how you're going to react to that until you're in it."

A rugby man in a rowing boat, inspired by Kevin Sinfield, risking his life in fight against MND.

Interview with Ollie Phillips as he prepares to paddle across the Atlantic. Not a gig for the faint hearted. @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/ollie-p...

4 months ago 3 0 0 0
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Opinion: Ollie Lawrence steps out of Manu Tuilagi's 'shadow' to down the All Blacks 13 years after his predecessor did the same 💬 "The Bath man had spent a 36-cap career likened to the wrecking ball midfielder but denied a similar billing because he lacked a standout performance." #ENGvNZL

Ollie Lawrence steps out of Manu Tuilagi’s shadow to skittle All Blacks 13 years after his predecessor did the same. Piece from Twickenham @planetrugby.bsky.social

www.planetrugby.com/news/opinion...

5 months ago 1 0 0 0
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The day 'the blood drained out of the faces' of Richie McCaw and Kieran Read and why 'this is England’s time' again A lot of water has run under Twickenham bridge since Tom Youngs and Tom Wood combined to beat New Zealand with England back in 2012.

The day ‘the blood drained out of the faces’ of All Blacks greats Richie McCaw and Kieran Read and history was made

How Twickenham 2012 came to pass and what England need to do if they are to repeat the result. #ENGvNZL

www.planetrugby.com/news/the-sta...

5 months ago 1 0 0 0