Ben Coles (@bencoles_) header
Ben Coles (@bencoles_) profile picture

Ben Coles

@bencoles_

Sports writer, @ObserverUK. 📹+🎧 The Rugby Bunker Podcast. ✍️ The Off-Field Review on Substack. Freelance work: [email protected]

 Tooting
linktr.ee/bencoles
Joined June 2009
  • Tweets39.9K
  • Following929
  • Followers12K
3.4KMedia
Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)Photo by Ben Coles (@bencoles_)
An incredibly moving interview with the great @Phil_Vickery. We discussed his fears for his future living with probable CTE, his great mate Steve Thompson, and why he would do it all again. Exclusive for @ObserverUK. Read here: observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
18
56
12
313
96,615
@USARugby
283
Ben Coles retweeted
Ben Coles (@bencoles_) profile picture
Ben Coles
@bencoles_20h
...predicting Round 5 of @premrugby. youtube.com/watch?v=nO-PUqCx…
PREM Round 5 predictions - Gloucester to win at Northampton?

PREM Round 5 predictions - Gloucester to win at Northampton?

Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by analyst and author Sam Larner...

youtube.com
1
1
1,614
...predicting Round 5 of @premrugby. youtube.com/watch?v=nO-PUqCx…
PREM Round 5 predictions - Gloucester to win at Northampton?

PREM Round 5 predictions - Gloucester to win at Northampton?

Ben Coles (The Observer) is joined by analyst and author Sam Larner...

youtube.com
1
1
1,614
Good to have @SamLStandsUp on the podcast this week discussing tactical trends this season, picking England's centres (gulp) and... podfollow.com/the-rugby-bunk…
The Rugby Bunker

The Rugby Bunker

The Rugby Bunker gives you the insight and tactical understanding you need, hosted by Ben Coles (The Observer) and featuring regular guests including Charlie Morgan (The Times). Listen for expert...

podfollow.com
1
1
3
1,456
Sure that time is a coincidence
Gloucester Rugby 🍒 (@gloucesterrugby) profile pictureGloucester Rugby 🍒
@gloucesterrugbyOct 29
News @ 12 👀
2
1,687
No Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, Andre Esterhuizen, and Handre Pollard for South Africa this November due to injury. Six uncapped players in Rassie Erasmus's squad: Yaqeen Ahmed, Sebastian de Klerk, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller, Riley Norton, and Emmanuel Tshituka.
1
1
1,447
Ben Coles retweeted
Ben Coles (@bencoles_) profile picture
Ben Coles
@bencoles_Oct 27
Dom Besag might be the USA's brightest prospect in a minute. Spoke to him for @RugbyPass about the Sharks - who he *has not* signed for - late nights watching the last Rugby World Cup, and why youth soccer coaches insisted he should play rugby instead. rugbypass.com/plus/usas-dom-…
USA's Dom Besag on his trial with the Sharks, being inspired by Ma'a Nonu and World Cup dreams

USA's Dom Besag on his trial with the Sharks, being inspired by Ma'a Nonu and World Cup dreams

After trial in South Africa, the young Californian centre is open to offers and knows the Nations Cup will be a shop window for his talents

rugbypass.com
4
3
1
19
4,681
Dom Besag might be the USA's brightest prospect in a minute. Spoke to him for @RugbyPass about the Sharks - who he *has not* signed for - late nights watching the last Rugby World Cup, and why youth soccer coaches insisted he should play rugby instead. rugbypass.com/plus/usas-dom-…
USA's Dom Besag on his trial with the Sharks, being inspired by Ma'a Nonu and World Cup dreams

USA's Dom Besag on his trial with the Sharks, being inspired by Ma'a Nonu and World Cup dreams

After trial in South Africa, the young Californian centre is open to offers and knows the Nations Cup will be a shop window for his talents

rugbypass.com
4
3
1
19
4,681
Ben Coles retweeted
Ben Coles (@bencoles_) profile picture
Ben Coles
@bencoles_Oct 26
Gloucester have conceded 67 points through four PREM games. Pretty good! Spoke to a source about what's different under Joel Tomkins' defence. Read here: theofffieldreview.substack.c…
Image from Ben Coles (@bencoles_)
1
2
25
5,075
Gloucester have conceded 67 points through four PREM games. Pretty good! Spoke to a source about what's different under Joel Tomkins' defence. Read here: theofffieldreview.substack.c…
Image from Ben Coles (@bencoles_)
1
2
25
5,075
Ben Coles retweeted
Ben Coles (@bencoles_) profile picture
Ben Coles
@bencoles_Oct 25
After a tough opening round in the Champions Cup for PREM defences, wanted to see what coaches in the URC and Top 14 make of the league. Feedback was that outside of the playoffs it’s just not competitive enough, which leads to bad defensive habits. observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
Why can’t English teams defend? | The Observer

Why can’t English teams defend? | The Observer

Small playoffs, an outdated bonus-point system and no relegation in the Prem are all to blame, say foreign coaches

observer.co.uk
1
2
9
2,974
Can't believe these are still happening in 2026
Video

This media is unavailable

1
15
2,563
After a tough opening round in the Champions Cup for PREM defences, wanted to see what coaches in the URC and Top 14 make of the league. Feedback was that outside of the playoffs it’s just not competitive enough, which leads to bad defensive habits. observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
Why can’t English teams defend? | The Observer

Why can’t English teams defend? | The Observer

Small playoffs, an outdated bonus-point system and no relegation in the Prem are all to blame, say foreign coaches

observer.co.uk
1
2
9
2,974
Sounds like Will Joseph and Joe Marchant both heading into England camp. Courtney Lawes not yet required. Max Hicks on the radar as well – that England A game looks like a good opportunity for him. thetimes.com/sport/rugby-uni…
Rejuvenated Will Joseph and Joe Marchant set for England recalls

Rejuvenated Will Joseph and Joe Marchant set for England recalls

Versatile backs rewarded for excellent displays in Gallagher Prem with Steve Borthwick due to assemble training squad for Nations Championship next week

thetimes.com
10
3
2
108
16,708
Spurs dominated and then made it count. Tel impressive. observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
Lift-off for Spurs as Penders and Palmer lose their heads

Lift-off for Spurs as Penders and Palmer lose their heads

An own goal and a red card make it easy for Tottenham to seal a 2-0 victory at the home of their London rivals at last

observer.co.uk
508
Grim out there.
Image from Ben Coles (@bencoles_)
2
1
1,311
All credit to Canada 🇨🇦 Here are my thoughts on Canada’s excellent game plan, the problems with TMO, and insights from chatting to Red Roses players in their camp this week observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
5
6
1
43
3,909
🇯🇵 Eddie Jones lets off some steam about now losing first-choice fly-half Ryunosuke Ito, 21, to uni rugby: “He’s the only 10 for a T1 nation in the world who has to go and play for an amateur team now. Imagine if Shohei Ohtani went back to play for Keio University.” #rugbyjp
Image from 🇯🇵 RugbyJP.com (@rugbyjpcom)
20
25
55
351
199,136
Gloucester doing that without Lake, Seb Atkinson and Loader is properly encouraging.
1
1
99
4,137
Load more