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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · May 31

Please forgive the self-indulgent bits, because it’s been awesome to follow this guy’s career. A retirement interview with Alex Goode:

www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

My mate Alex Goode is retiring and I might just be sadder than he is

Saracens stalwart is calling time on record-breaking career almost two decades after graduating from our school team to professional game

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Apr 30

Been fascinated by the long commutes of professional coaches for a while. Lee Blackett let me join his one on Monday morning, which got going at 3.53am. It was an absolute treat. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

I joined England’s new coach Lee Blackett on his 4am commute

Telegraph Sport accompanied one of the brightest minds in English rugby on his daily journey to Bath’s training ground from Leicestershire

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

… those are just the ones that had bursaries? Stuart, Earl, F Smith, M Smith, Slade, Baxter, George, Daly all independent school as well - so that’s 12/23 from Saturday alone

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

Sweet, man.

Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

Fair enough. The hope was to put across the genuine anxiety/uncertainty in that sector because of the policy. They’re talking the book of others as well, I’d argue, but appreciate your point of view

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

I can assure you that it’s written independently of those, although that pervading mood probably helped get this commissioned

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

Certainly don’t disagree

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

Absolutely not intended as a hit-job and I don’t think a hit-job would entertain a whole section with is essentially about good practice in the state sector

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

Ha fair enough. I hope it’s balanced

Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

Please read the whole thing first 👍

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 26

A long-read on how VAT on independent school fees could alter the landscape of English rugby union.
😡 Anger about “envy tax”
🏰 Do “life-changing” bursaries go?
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 “Anomaly” state school with 3 Eng U18s
🏉 ACE programme key?
💭 Future solutions

www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Labour’s private schools plan is an ‘existential threat’ to English rugby

Special report: Telegraph Sport spoke to those within rugby to find out how much damage the VAT law change could really inflict

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Reposted by Charlie Morgan

Ben Coles @bencoles.bsky.social · Feb 13

Response towards Bath's recruitment seems to be 'how are they doing that?'

Salary info in here (with @charliemorgan.bsky.social ) on Santi Carreras and Henry Arundell, along with how Bath are structuring their contracts. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Bath and the salary cap: How they are pulling it off

In this era of austerity, Telegraph Sport looks at how West Country club are embracing a more extravagant approach to recruitment

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 13

Interview with Kepu Tuipulotu. A very talented, very enthusiastic young man. And Wales tried to call him up for the 2024 Six Nations before he’d played a game of senior rugby union… www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Kepu Tuipulotu: Wales invited me to train, but I think England is best for me

Teenager, who declined Warren Gatland’s advances 12 months ago, is keen to put a stamp on the hooker position at under-20 level

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 10

Think that’s definitely the shout in time and Carpenter is obviously rated if he’s started for England A. Distribution/organisation/ability to step up at first-receiver of Smith proved important though

Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 9

A look at Marcus Smith’s performance. Scruffy bits and lucky escapes, but sparked England in distinctive ways and helped them win kicking battle.

Also highlighted naivety/stubbornness of France, who didn’t put a high ball on him til the 74th minute. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

England’s Marcus Smith full-back experiment is worth sticking with

There were scruffy moments, but he stayed in the game and helped to justify Steve Borthwick’s tactical plan

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 8

Piece on that last England try and how it encapsulated England's selection/tactics/performance
- Faith in kick-pressure with it all on the line
- Bench vindicated because line-out became a weapon
- A strike move borrowed from Saints to clinch it www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

The Northampton move England used to bamboozle and beat France

England’s winning try originated from a tactical template that Premiership side Saints use prolifically

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Feb 8

A longish read on Fin Smith, who will have a lot of proud well-wishers today. Self-aware, unselfish, tough.
📺 A rare teenager who watched full games
⚔️ Leadership amid Worcester collapse
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 How it could have been Scotland
😇 How he makes others look good

www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Strap yourselves in for the Fin Smith era, England fans

England’s new fly-half has shown both an exceptional skill set and ability to thrive in adversity during his rapid ascent to the top

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 31

Spoke to some referees about refereeing Maro Itoje and what sort of England captain he will be.

📊 Stats illustrating risk v reward
🥷 Properly sneaky stuff at the line-out
💬 How demeanour compares to predecessors
📏 Why new laws might temper penalties www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Maro Itoje will be an upgrade as England captain, according to referees

Despite a mild-mannered persona, the Saracens lock has a reputation for playing risk and reward with officials

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 31

Ben Curry and Ben Earl have taken precisely zero line-outs between them this season for their clubs.

Here's a piece on insert lifting, a tactic that is often totally missed by television coverage and might well be key to England's strategy this weekend. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

The ‘impossible’ line-out move England can turn on against Ireland

One suspects Steve Borthwick’s side will have to be squeaky clean with this intricate tactic during Six Nations

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 22

It's a year, in terms of Test fixtures, since Courtney Lawes retired from internationals. England haven't settled on a succession plan, seemingly. That's not a massive surprise, because Lawes was/is a freak-show. But they do have options... www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Steve Borthwick’s choice of blindside flanker could make or break the Six Nations for England

A year since Courtney Lawes bowed out of Test matches, England are still striving to nail down a succession plan

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 21

😅 picturesque paper round

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 21

We don’t do half marks because that’s a cop-out and I’m in a good mood ✌️. Champions Cup definitely bitty for clubs as a whole but players in that squad have largely been good, I’d argue

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 21

A look at the domestic and Champions Cup form of each player in the England squad. Some heading into the Six Nations hot, others in a tricky patch. Form never the only factor in Test selection, but still interesting. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

Who’s hot and who’s not: England player-by-player form guide ahead of Six Nations

Several England regulars have suffered a dip in form while those on the outskirts are starting to shine

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 8

Chiefs not in for H Byrne, I’m told…

Charlie Morgan @charliemorgan.bsky.social · Jan 8

Understand that Fergus Burke is “definitely in the mix” for a maiden Scotland call-up. Final decision at the beginning of next week. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...

England-qualified Kiwi Fergus Burke in mix for Scotland call-up

Gregor Townsend likely to call up Saracens’ triply eligible fly-half as back-up to Finn Russell after Adam Hastings suffered jaw injury

www.telegraph.co.uk

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