Month-By-Month: Key moments of 2017 in Rugby Union - Page 3 of 12 - Ruck

Month-By-Month: Key moments of 2017 in Rugby Union

March

March 1st: SA Rugby announce that only overseas-based Springboks with more than 30 Test caps will be eligible for selection in future, thus ruling out the talents of several emerging players.

March 11th: Wales halt Ireland’s Six Nations dream whilst England, welcoming back Billy Vunipola, put Scotland to the sword at Twickenham 61-21 and in doing so retain the Championship, and elsewhere, Georgia overcome Russia to go four from four in the Europe Championship.

March 12th: England Women go three better than their male counterparts, beating Scotland 64-0, with flying wing Kay Wilson becoming the first player to score seven tries in an international game. England’s U20’s made it a hat-trick versus the hapless Scots to seal a junior Six Nations championship.

March 18th: An emotional Vern Cotter leaves his position at Scotland as they overcome Italy to leave him with a 53% win rate (19 wins from 36 games) the most successful Scots coach of the professional era and the most successful since Ian McGeechan between 1988 and 1993.

March 18th: An inspirational performance from last-minute replacement CJ Stander leaves Eddie Jones’ Grand Slam hopes in tatters as Ireland overcome the wind and the rain to end England’s 528 day unbeaten run, whilst in Donnybrook, England’s Women overcome Ireland to record a Grand Slam.

March 18th: Wales and France set a rather unwanted record for the longest test match in history as scrum shenanigans take the game over the 100-minute mark.

March 19th: Romania become worthy champions of Europe in the Second Tier, and Leicester Tigers beat Exeter Chiefs to take the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

CONTINUES ON PAGE FOUR