Rugby World

Rugby World is the voice of global rugby and the biggest-selling rugby magazine anywhere. Through its team of respected and professional writers, it offers unrivalled access to the players and coaches behind the thrilling clashes that define the sport of international rugby union. The magazine has four editions, one for each of the UK national teams, and delivers a comprehensive monthly package of rugby action, with hundreds of images that capture the excitement and passion that define this high-impact sport..

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THIS MONTH…

SAVE THIS MONTH

EDITOR’S LETTER • It’s the players who make the Six Nations special

INSPIRING THE YOUTH • Bristol Bears’ new signing Ilona Maher meets young fans at Ashton Gate. The high-profile American has signed a short-term deal until the end of the PWR season

THE DIRECTORY • European knockout places are on the line – all the fixture details you need for January

AROUND THE WORLD IN TEN STORIES • A whistlestop tour of the rugby globe

REMEMBER WHEN… THE FIVE NATIONS BECAME SIX • 2000 saw the inaugural Six Nations as Italy joined rugby’s greatest championship

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MARK RING

DOWNTIME WITH… Ollie Chessum “I’m a clean freak and JVP is driving me up the wall” • The Tigers and England lock on tidiness, tight spaces and laughing at Freddie Steward

HARLEQUIN AMATEURS RFC • Giving grass-roots rugby the love that it deserves…

KEN OWENS • The Wales great who also represented the Lions and Scarlets with distinction

RISING STARS

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO… TURN A RUGBY INJURY INTO PARALYMPIC JOY • Cyclist Blaine Hunt went from pro rugby hopeful to Paralympian medallist

THE KIT COLLECTION SCOTLAND 1999 • A jersey from trophy-winning times in Scottish rugby

MY RUGBY WORLD WITH MIKE BUBBINS • The Mammoth star and comic on Gareth Edwards, moustaches and Cliff Morgan’s 101 Best Tries

Would a Springboks second team win the Six Nations?

BEN YOUNGS • The Leicester Tigers scrum-half who won a record 127 caps for England

RUGBY WORLD

PHIL VICKERY • The England World Cup winner on the legacy of 2003, inspiring others and how the game changed through professionalism

“Success in rugby is cyclical. Wales will bounce back” • The current plight of the Welsh team is not down to Warren Gatland, says Stephen Jones, who tips the Kiwi to revive fortunes

FITZ HARDING • Bristol’s captain embodies the spirit of the Premiership’s great entertainers

THE STADIUM WITH A STORY • In 2007 rugby was played at CROKE PARK for the first time, adding another chapter to its incredible history

TALE AS AULD AS TIME • The oldest Test fixture in rugby has seen a change in the tide over the past decade

Rule of the rooster • Between 2002 and 2007, France wonfour SixNationstitlesinsix years. Here’s how they did it…

ROME WASN’T BULT IN A DAY • It’staken time but 25 years on from their debut, the ITALY Six Nations project is taking effect for the Azzurri

A Day Trip to Dublin • RW hops over the Irish Sea to see what all the craic with Irish rugby is about

TOP 12 SIX NATIONS MOMENTS • To mark 25 years of the greatest championship in rugby, we asked readers for the 12 moments that defined the tournament. Here’s what you picked

THE GREATEST 6 NATIONS XV • The ultimate men’s Six Nations XV from the past 25 years as chosen by Rugby World and its cast of contributors

A feast in the East • KFC and the star-studded League One kick-off? What’s not to like about Christmas in Japan…

THE QUICK QUIZ • Do you know your rugby onions? Ten teasers for your tea break

WEIGH AND PLAY • MAN v FAT...