From Ruckgate to the Lions – this really has been the year that gave us everything
2017 began with the sacking of a man with three titles on his CV and ends with the double European Champions on a startling losing run. And quite a lot went on in between
January
1 Is it to be Owen Farrell’s year? He scores the only try for Saracens at Leicester’s Welford Road, without the Vunipolas or George Kruis to help.
2 Richard Cockerill is sacked as Leicester director of rugby despite winning three Premiership titles in eight years. They are only five points off the top four but professional rugby is very harsh.
4 Sad news with Manu Tuilagi out for the season with a knee injury. Rugby is a cruel sport.
7 The first weekend with new directives to lower the height of the tackle and Saracens’ Richard Barrington is sent off for contact with Exeter Chiefs’ Geoff Parling’s head.
9 Liam Williams of Scarlets signs for Saracens and Wales later introduce new parameters to maintain the best lads in Wales. You stay if you want to play for Wales. An absolute must.
18 Aaron Cruden, awesome All Black No10, signs for Montpellier. On €1million a year reputedly. The best are starting to come north earlier. Money talks.
30 Jim Telfer, legendary Lions coach, describes Eddie Jones as a “bit like Donald Trump”, having called England “arrogant, pretentious, and condescending” and dismissing Welsh players as “basically lazy”. I love Telfer.
February
4 The opening weekend of the Six Nations. All the talk is about positive rugby and bonus points. In the end, the only bonus points are losing ones.
11 Jones calls his subs “finishers” after England beat France.
14 George Ford re-signs for Leicester Tigers; Freddie Burns goes the other way to Bath.
26 England beat Italy
36-15 but “Ruckgate” dominates. Only the Italians and referee knew what they were doing at the breakdown. They had everyone scrambling for the law books.
March
11 England equal the world record of 18 straight victories, beating Scotland 61-21 with Jonathan Joseph in brilliant form.
18 Ireland ambush England in Dublin to deny them a second Grand Slam, the highlight is Kieran Marmion’s tackle on Elliot Daly.
April
1-2 Four epic European quarterfinals and four huge home wins at the Aviva, Allianz Park, Thomond, and Clermont. As stadiums get bigger and noisier, getting a home quarter-final is critical.
19 Warren Gatland announces his Lions squad and it is punchy. Joe Launchbury misses out but shows his class by congratulating team-mate Daly on Twitter.
22 Saracens are brutal in Dublin to batter Munster in the Champions Cup semi-final. Clermont survive a late scare to beat Leinster.
28 A special mention for those retiring, including Nick Evans, Kelly Brown and Neil de Kock. True gentlemen of the game.
May
10 The 2019 World Cup pool draw. Ireland get Scotland and Japan, and I get a fist-bump from a happy Jamie Heaslip. England get France and Argentina, which draws a shrug from me, Jonny Wilkinson and James Haskell.
13 I wear a kilt for the Champions Cup final with Scott Quinnell. I’m still not sure why. Saracens beats Clermont 27-18, with Billy Vunipola and Alex Goode superb.
20 Two glorious Premiership semi-finals decided in the dying seconds by tries from Sam Simmonds, for Exeter against Saracens, and Josh Bassett, for Wasps versus Leicester.
21 Billy Vunipola pulls out of the Lions tour with shoulder injury. Blow to Lions. Billy is special.
28 Extra-time win for Exeter Chiefs v Wasps in Aviva Premiership final. What a story for the club and Rob Baxter.
29 The Lions set off on tour. Wow! What memories and what a result for Gatland and his
warriors.
June
10 & 17 England “kids” led by Dylan Hartley beat Argentina. An amazing achievement.
August
26 A sensational Women’s World Cup, one which beats all TV records, ends with New Zealand defeating England in the final.
September
2 The opening Aviva Premiership weekend sees faster rucks with new laws and the tackler only able to compete if entering through the gate. Points galore. 23 Jonny May scores a brilliant try for Leicester against Quins. May trots round under the posts and as he puts the ball down Mike Brown steps across him chest on chest. May stays on his feet but it’s unnecessary contact.
October
13 My father gets his OBE from the Queen for services to rugby and they share a smile when the Queen tells him, “I know Mike Tindall”, and my father responds, “that’s funny Ma’am, so do I”.
21 Clermont v Northampton. Poor old Camille Lopez breaks his ankle and Clermont hooker Benjamin Keyser takes a knee and offers a small kiss of support to the forehead of his injured pal.
November
4 I coach the Barbarians with Robbie Deans and Razor Robertson. We lead the All Blacks 17-5 at one stage and, although we lose 31-22, my trick move worked! It was a cross-field kick-move taken from American Football.
6 Doddie Weir’s charity evening and an incredible turnout in Battersea for a great man suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. The 1997 Lions tourists turned up to a man.
12 I play in my first #LGBT Rugby match, Bristol Bisons v Northampton Outlaws. Nigel Owens is referee, Ben Cohen and I are guest players. An incredible day of inclusivity.
15 France overturn World Rugby’s recommendation to host 2023 World Cup. It smells of politics and money.
December
3 Saracens lose their fifth consecutive game, away at Quins as Danny Care seems to take them on single-handedly. But they are still my tip to be champions. Northampton Saints lose fifth successive match and Jim Mallinder’s days are numbered.
11 Did I say no panic at Saracens? Clermont batter them at home. It concludes the worst week ever for English clubs in Europe as they lose seven from seven.
16 Let us finish with the tackle of the year. Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Ali Price, well under six foot and weighing less than 80kg, hunts down Montpellier’s Nemani Nadolo, who is not far off seven foot tall and 120kg. It saves a try and is a truly wonderful moment.