Owen Slot

Meet ‘nutty’ Mondo Duplantis — who is also world’s most dominant sportsman Mondo Duplantis may look like an unfazed skateboarder with floppy hair but no one can touch him — with 11 world records, the next one is only around the corner

My interview, here, with Mondo Duplantis. Can the most dominant sportsman on the planet be a pole vaulter?
www.thetimes.com/sport/athlet...

Tom and Ben Curry: We watched Lions announcement on Sale bus — it was hell Twins on the ‘hell’ of discovering their different Lions fates on Sale team bus and how they have decided to live apart for the first time in their lives

My interview, here, with Tom and Ben Curry, on the twin thing, chasing shared dreams, sometimes getting there together and sometimes not.
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

The African kids sold a European dream then sent to UAE’s ‘Wild West’ Gulf state is heaving with wannabe footballers abandoned by unscrupulous agents. One player, Joseph Agyei, is yet to tell his parents of his three-year ordeal

My special report, here, on the disgrace of the UAE and how it became a Wild West for the transfer market of young African footballers.
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

How ghost club of Ray Gravell became symbol of Wales decline Mynydd-y-Garreg has a beautiful location, a mown pitch and an active bar with TV – but its team hasn’t played in nearly a decade. Can this club, and others like it, reverse rugby’s decline there?

Finally, here's a story I wrote earlier in the Championship where I was almost typing through the tears: www.thetimes.com/article/beea...

Maro Itoje can seal captaincy but Finn Russell must shine — Lions dilemmas Ireland’s top players need to bounce back to reinforce their claims for a spot on the plane to Australia while slots at prop and flanker remain up for grabs

Here's the big Lions debate:
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Unsparing Ireland, classless Fabien Galthié: lessons from Six Nations Irish decision to deny 137-times-capped Cian Healy a final farewell and France head coach’s incendiary media comments speak volumes about nature of elite sport

This is my column on classless Galthié, lonely Borthwick, the ruthless Ireland selectors and much more: www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

I believe we could see a historic Wales victory at a rocking Cardiff Levels of Welsh physicality have taken us all by surprise. Through that, they can force England into the three or phases of attack that are not their strength

As we count down to the Six Nations finale, here's a lot of stuff from our rugby team, all available for free as the paywall is down for the entire weekend. Start here with Sam Warburton explaining why he thinks Wales can beat England: www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Made in Worcester: Club that died still influencing England’s attack The international success of academy products such as Fin Smith and Ollie Lawrence has former staff wondering what might have been had club not met its demise

Worcester Warriors went out of business two and a half years ago yet, to England's great benefit, its legacy is thriving
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Punch-drunk England fans find consolation in booze and bonhomie Despite seeing side snatch defeat from jaws of victory in Six Nations opener against Ireland, travelling supporters still find joy during weekend in Dublin that has become a biennial ritual

Ireland-England in Dublin. The aftermath
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Lunch with Gregor Townsend: haggis, humility and beating England The Scotland head coach is aware that he does not have the job for life, having initially planned to go into teaching, and does not intend to be liked by everyone

An interview, over haggis, with Gregor Townsend in which he is good fun, proud of the food and fascinating on coaching, coaching theory and not being liked.
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Pole vault mecca unites Armand Duplantis and old men with bad hamstrings European schedule prevented Olympic hero from attending Reno annual summit this year but 1,200 competitors, aged six to 60, still descended on the city

In my next life, I'm gonna be a pole-vaulter and compete in Reno...
www.thetimes.com/sport/athlet...

It’s hard to believe any Bill Sweeney comment – apart from bonus defence From saying that his contract obliged him to accept six-figure bonus to not knowing why his own chairman resigned, RFU CEO has shown just how out of touch he is in mini PR tour

A brilliant, damning commentary from @owenslot.bsky.social on a truly embarrassing PR campaign from rugby chief Bill ‘I had no idea’ Sweeney, supported by Teneo, one of the most renowned and expensive PR firms.
www.thetimes.com/article/04e4...

RFU hires crisis management firm at £5k a day to fix its image Under-fire governing body employs corporate consulting firm to help it navigate storm caused by perceived excess of the rewards of its own senior staff

Cash-strapped RFU, which made 40+ jobs redundant, is to spend c£100k on a crisis-management firm and £50k on a governance review after the executive pay row triggered an unprecedented grass roots revolt.

Exclusive by @owenslot.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Siya Kolisi: Hero, sinner, world-changer — an athlete like no other Siya Kolisi icon tells Owen Slot why he’s tired of people celebrating his triumph over childhood struggle, benefiting from therapy and leaving Paris to ‘feel’ his homeland again

Siya Kolisi: Hero, sinner, world-changer — an athlete like no other

Amazing interview with @owenslot.bsky.social in @timessport.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/article/4796...

Rugby league due its first knight – but Sir Kev must wait his turn Now 90, Billy Boston rose above discrimination to establish himself as a role model in a community that was proud to support him. He and his sport should be properly honoured sooner rather than later

My column on honours lists, the snubbing of rugby league, a history of racism in 20th century Welsh rugby and why Billy Boston should be league's first knight.
www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Luke Littler, 17, etches name into legend with final masterclass The 17-year-old Luke Littler becomes youngest-ever world darts champion with comprehensive 7-3 defeat of Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace

New year, new platform for me... Here is my report on an extraordinary night watching Luke Littler making history.
www.thetimes.com/sport/darts/...