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Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Six Nations
Tuesday 08 February, 2022
3 min read

Six Nations memories: England finally deliver in Dublin

Neil Back talks us through the Six Nations match in Ireland that set England on the path to Rugby World Cup 2003 glory.
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Having blown a Grand Slam against Wales, and then against Ireland and Scotland, England went into the Six Nations 2003 knowing they needed to get finally over the line to be considered serious challengers for the Rugby World Cup in Australia later that year.

Neil Back was one of the players who’d borne the scars of those previous near-misses and, as one of the senior members of the group, was determined it wouldn’t happen again. In fact, the all-action openside was so confident, his pre-match match prediction of a 40-6 win almost came right.

A Grand Slam is a special achievement and something that has been achieved 11 times in the Guinness Six Nations. @WelshRugbyUnion
🏆 2005
🏆 2008
🏆 2012
🏆 2019@FranceRugby
🏆 2002
🏆 2004
🏆 2010@EnglandRugby
🏆 2003
🏆 2016@IrishRugby
🏆 2009
🏆 2018 pic.twitter.com/9Y5D91hW6i

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 13, 2021

“Before that Ireland game, I vividly remember sitting at the breakfast table on the Saturday morning of the match with Matt Dawson and Simon Shaw and a few more of the good-looking lads. I was an old head then, I was 34, and I looked around and I could feel the pressure building,” said the 71-cap former England and Lions international. 

“That’s the worst time in the game week. When you’re training you’re in your zone, when you’re not, you’re thinking of winning, losing, winning, losing … I could feel that and I said don’t worry lads, ‘we’re going to beat them, 40-6.’

“Sure enough, we were 40 points to six up. Jonny (Wilkinson) was off and Grays (Paul Grayson) was on, and he had a conversion kick, right on the edge, and he kicked it to spoil my prediction. Obviously, I wasn’t bothered by that!”

Red-letter day

Before the match, the then President of Ireland Mary McAleese had to walk on the grass rather than the red carpet when meeting the Irish team as England were lined up on the wrong side.

England were instructed to move but refused to budge, a show of defiance that showed how pumped up they were.

“The facts are that we didn’t have a clue what the protocol was. We warmed up on that side of the pitch so when we lined up for the national anthems, guess what, we stood on that side of the pitch,” explained Back.

“The ground staff came over and said you’ve got to move over there. Well, we weren’t moving because had we moved, it would have felt like a mental weakness.

“It wasn’t our fault, there were no funny games, we were there to win, and that was it.

“It was meant as no disrespect to her, to Ireland or to the country whatsoever. Had we been told when we walked out, we’d have stood on the other side.”

Cruising home to victory

The final scoreline suggests England walked the match but with only a seven-point lead at half-time, they had to wait until around the hour-mark, when Mike Tindall scored the second of their five tries after an earlier Lawrence Dallaglio effort, to make the result certain. Will Greenwood added two more and Dan Luger went over in stoppage time.

“We were in full control in the second half and, at 60 minutes, we’d built up such a lead that we knew the game was won. But we didn’t take our foot off the pedal, there was never any danger of that after what had happened to us before, and it wasn’t until the referee blew his final whistle that we celebrated.

“Then, there was a bit of relief and a feeling that all the hard work and sacrifice was worthwhile.

“To seal the Grand Slam was fantastic and we felt great.”

Sweeping all before them enabled England to have huge self-belief going into the Rugby World Cup.

“After that French defeat in the third round of the Six Nations in 2002, we started building towards the World Cup. We beat New Zealand, South Africa and Australia and then the big target was the Six Nations.

“We had a word with ourselves and said if we can’t win five games over seven weeks, how are we going to win the seven games in six weeks that we need to do to win a World Cup. We put a big onus on winning the Grand Slam that year.”

Read more: Six Nations memories: Wil-KO - Serge Betsen takes down England hero >>

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
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