Tom Savage

Bleyendaal’s new deal may combine playing and coaching

By Tom Savage / March 14, 2019 / Comments Off on Bleyendaal’s new deal may combine playing and coaching

They call him “The General”. As squad nicknames go, it’s a pretty good one. You don’t get a nickname like that for nothing in a rugby squad. Normally they’re just…

Read More

Idea of Ireland holding back for the World Cup doesn’t hold up

By Tom Savage / March 7, 2019 / Comments Off on Idea of Ireland holding back for the World Cup doesn’t hold up

I’ve been hearing an awful lot as of late about the possibility of Joe Schmidt “holding things back” for the World Cup and this, somehow, is an explanation for some…

Read More

Signing new players is always a difficult process

By Tom Savage / February 28, 2019 / Comments Off on Signing new players is always a difficult process

There are all kinds of moving parts to consider before that announcement goes up on the Munster Rugby website. First, let’s assume that you’ve spotted a hole in your squad…

Read More

O’Brien exit is a hit that the IRFU can afford to take

By Tom Savage / February 14, 2019 / Comments Off on O’Brien exit is a hit that the IRFU can afford to take

Sean O’Brien is one of those “force of nature” type of players. One of those guys that you see on the opposition team sheet and think, fuck it, we’re in…

Read More

Tom Savage: “The IRFU can’t afford to select Irish players playing outside the provinces”

By Tom Savage / February 7, 2019 / Comments Off on Tom Savage: “The IRFU can’t afford to select Irish players playing outside the provinces”

Robbie Henshaw’s troubles at fullback and the growing injury crisis in the second row have led to a lot of calls for the return of Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan…

Read More

Tom Savage: “Schmidt’s Ireland Comfortable With Favourites Tag”

By Tom Savage / January 31, 2019 / Comments Off on Tom Savage: “Schmidt’s Ireland Comfortable With Favourites Tag”

IF GOLIATH wiped David out with a meaty swipe of his right hand, it wouldn’t be remarkable enough to pass into myth, it would merely be the world acting like…

Read More

Departing Keatley Owes Nothing to Munster’s Cause

By Tom Savage / January 24, 2019 / Comments Off on Departing Keatley Owes Nothing to Munster’s Cause

I have two regrets in my time doing Three Red Kings and writing about rugby in general. The first is advocating the Icelandic Clap as something Munster supporters should do…

Read More

Player privacy will surely only increase after Murray saga

By Tom Savage / January 17, 2019 / Comments Off on Player privacy will surely only increase after Murray saga

The Conor Murray saga, such as it is, kicked off again last week with his words at a function in Limerick where he spoke about his “hurt” at the rumours…

Read More

The right recruitment is pivotal to Munster’s and van Graan’s future

By Tom Savage / January 10, 2019 / Comments Off on The right recruitment is pivotal to Munster’s and van Graan’s future

We’re coming to the time of year when a coach and organisation start making hard decisions when it comes to player recruitment. Munster, for example, will be making decisions with…

Read More

Missed opportunity for Munster in France

By Tom Savage / December 20, 2018 / Comments Off on Missed opportunity for Munster in France

Munster just weren’t clinical enough to get the job done when the job needed doing. The thuggery that went unpunished by Wayne Barnes almost takes place in a separate universe…

Read More