OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 06/03/202632 - This weekend's Six Nations matchday squads have a combined 32 changes from Round 3, the most between two rounds in a single year in the Men's Championship since the final round of 2020, and the joint 3rd most overall. Rotated. 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 19/02/202620% - 20% of the kicks from hand in this year's Men's Six Nations have been contested, up from 9% in 2025. Strategy. More ➡️ theanalyst.com/articles/six... 043
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 18/02/202663.8 - There have been 63.8 kicks from hand per game in the Men's Six Nations this year, only the 2009 edition has seen a higher average (65.2). Boot. We analyse how the kicking battle has changed in the Six Nations in recent years 👇 theanalyst.com/articles/six...theanalyst.comThe Kicking Game: How the Boot Is Reshaping the Modern Six Nations | Opta AnalystFrom box kicks to tap-backs, the modern kicking game has evolved into a primary attacking tool in the Six Nations. 041
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 16/02/20265 - Tries scored from kick returns in this year's Men's Six Nations: 5 - France 1 - Scotland 0 - England, Ireland, Italy, Wales Handful. 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 11/02/2026🆕 - Our Six Nations Stats Hub is now live, featuring statistics for every team and player in the Championship this year. Analysis. 👇 theanalyst.com/six-nations-...theanalyst.comSix Nations 2026 Stats | Opta AnalystTrack the top teams and players from the Six Nations 2026 with our advanced stats hub, your go-to guide for the Championship. 122
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 02/02/202630 - Maro Itoje is set to start on the bench for England in a Six Nations match for the first time since his debut in 2016; he's played the full 80 minutes in 43 of his 44 matches in the Championship since then, including the last 30 in a row - a Men's 6N record. Impact. 0113
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 07/01/202612.6 - Of players to make 10+ carries in the Champions Cup this season, Bristol Bears duo Kalaveti Ravouvou (12.6) and Louis Rees-Zammit (10.7) have gained the most metres per carry on average. Charging. 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 05/01/202613 - Ulster's Zac Ward beat 13 defenders against Munster, the most by any player in the URC, Prem or T14 at the weekend - only Alex Cuthbert (14 v Ulster in March 2015) has beaten more in a URC match since Opta have recorded this data (since 2009/10). Slippery. 052
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 05/01/2026933 - Northampton Saints gained 933 metres from 162 carries against Harlequins, just the fourth time that a team has made 900+ metres in a Prem Rugby game since Opta have recorded this data, with Northampton responsible for three of those instances. Electrifying. 030
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 29/12/202512 - Our European Club Rugby Team of the Week features players from 12 different teams, with Antoine Dupont the top-ranking player overall. Bridge. 020
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 22/12/202513 - Our European Club Rugby Team of the Week features players from 13 different teams, with Louis Rees Zammit the top-ranking player overall. Lightning. 031
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 19/12/202540 - Our 2025/26 Club Rugby Stats Hub is Live! Featuring statistics for all 40 URC, Prem & TOP 14 teams and their players, with some new metrics and functionality for this season. Gift. theanalyst.com/club-rugby-s...theanalyst.comClub Rugby Stats Hub 2025-26 | Opta AnalystOur club rugby stats for the 2025-26 season include player and team advanced stats broken down by category. 032
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 19/12/20253 - Of the 877 Prem, T14 and URC players to feature for 240+ minutes in all competitions this season, Saracens trio Tom Willis (7.9), Noah Caluori (6.0) and Theo Dan (5.7) have averaged the most defenders beaten per 80 minutes. Wolfpack. 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 17/12/202511 - Scarlets' Fletcher Anderson has beaten 11 defenders in the Champions Cup this season, more than any other player, with his 191 carry metres also being the most of any forward. Talent. 020
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 17/12/2025ICYMI - 11 different teams were represented in our European Club Rugby Team of the Week, with Harlequins' Cadan Murley being the top ranking player overall. Squad. Read more ➡️ theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 16/12/20258 - Marcus Smith assisted eight line breaks for Harlequins against Bayonne, no other player has assisted more than five in a Champions Cup game since Opta have recorded this data (since 2020/21). Catalyst. 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 16/12/202536 - Glasgow Warriors' Zander Fagerson has made 36 carries in the Champions Cup this season, more than any other player, while only teammate Jack Dempsey has gained more metres-in-contact than him (66, Dempsey - 70). Return. 1102
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 16/12/2025⭐️ - Harlequins' Cadan Murley was the Star Player in our European Club Rugby Team of the Week - find out who else made the XV. Joker. ➡️ theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 15/12/20254 - Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu assisted four tries for the Stormers against Stade Rochelais, just the 6th player to assist 4+ tries in a Champions Cup game since Opta have recorded this data (since 2009/10). Creative. 011
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 08/12/2025⭐️ - Bordeaux-Begles' Matthieu Jalibert was the Star Player in our European Club Rugby Team of the Week - find out who else made the XV. Selection. ➡️ theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 110
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 08/12/20259 - Zac Ward beat nine defenders v Racing 92, the most by any player in the Champions Cup or Challenge Cup at the weekend and the most by an Ulster back since Jacob Stockdale beat nine v Stade Rochelais in January 2018. Elusive. 031
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 03/12/2025181 - Australia vs New Zealand is the most played fixture in men's international rugby, with the sides having met on 181 occasions, they will meet again in Pool A of #RWC2027. Familiar. Read our full review of the draw here 👇 theanalyst.com/articles/rug...theanalyst.comRugby World Cup 2027 Draw: Head-to-Heads, History and Early Favourites | Opta AnalystOur in-depth breakdown of the Rugby World Cup 2027 draw, with full pools, historic head-to-heads, key talking points and early predictions. 030
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 02/12/2025ICYMI – 12 different teams were represented in our most recent European club rugby Team of the Week, with Stade Français Paris, Ulster Rugby and Union Bordeaux Bègles each having two representatives in the side. Elite. 🔽Read more🔽 theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 001
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 01/12/20258 - Ulster's Jude Postlethwaite beat eight defenders and made three line breaks against Benetton, both match-highs for a centre in the URC this season. Dynamic. 0113
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 29/11/202573 - South Africa's 73-0 victory today is the biggest by any side against Wales in Cardiff in men's Test rugby, overtaking England's 54-point win at the Principality Stadium in March of this year (68-14). Comprehensive. 041
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 22/11/20253 – Wales' Tom Rogers is the first player to score a hat-trick of tries in a men's Test match against New Zealand since Marius Joubert did so for South Africa in the 2004 Tri Nations. Historic. 053
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 20/11/202551% - Only New Zealand (7.3) have averaged fewer box kicks per game than South Africa (8.9) and Argentina (8.7), however the Springboks (51%) and Pumas (42%) have the highest rate of contested box kicks. Pounce. 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 19/11/2025117 - In addition to being the only player to hit 100+ rucks in the PWR this season (117), Exeter Chiefs' Emily Robinson also tops the charts for lineout takes, whilst only teammate Maisy Allen (71) has completed more tackles than her 57. Omnipresent. 030
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 18/11/20258 - Louis Rees-Zammit beat the most defenders in the QNS at the weekend (8); since the beginning of 2022 there have been 6 instances of a Wales player beating 8+ defenders in a match, with LRZ responsible for half of them (Liam Williams, Rio Dyer, Blair Murray once each). Return. 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 15/11/202527 - Ireland have scored 30+ points in a men's Test against Australia for the very first time, with their 27-point margin of victory today also being their largest against the Wallabies. Emphatic. 0192
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 15/11/20252012 - England have beaten New Zealand at Twickenham for the first time since December 2012 (38-21) and have now won 10 consecutive men's Tests for the first time since an 18-game stretch between 2015 and 2017. Seismic. 020
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 07/11/202583 - Of players to feature for 800+ minutes for a Tier 1 nation this decade, only Louis Bielle-Biarrey has a better minutes per try rate than Will Jordan and Darcy Graham. Prolific. 110
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 07/11/20250 - Scotland are winless in their 32 matches against New Zealand (D2 L30), the only nation they've never beaten in men's Test rugby. Blanked. Can Scotland finally break the All Black curse this weekend? ⬇️⬇️⬇️ theanalyst.com/articles/sco...theanalyst.comScotland vs New Zealand Prediction: Can Townsend’s Side Finally End the All Black Hoodoo at Murrayfield? | Opta AnalystScotland host New Zealand at Murrayfield still searching for a first-ever win over the All Blacks. We break the game down in our Scotland vs New Zealand prediction. 141
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 01/11/202545 - Scotland's 45-0 lead against USA is the most they’ve ever been ahead by at half-time of a men’s Test match, overtaking their 42-0 advantage over Romania at the 2023 RWC (84-0 at FT). Rampant. 031
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 22/10/2025ICYMI – 14 different teams were represented in our most recent European club rugby Team of the Week, with Northampton Saints the only side to boast two representatives. Pious. 🔽Read more 🔽 theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 21/10/2025⭐️ - Saracens' Noah Caluori was the Star Player in our European Club Rugby Team of the Week - find out who filled the rest of our lineup. Sensation. 🔽Read More🔽 theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 21/10/2025754 - Emily Scarratt retires as the top points scorer in Red Roses history (754), having scored 54 tries, 158 conversions & 56 penalties - those points came across 119 caps, with only Sarah Hunter (141) & Rocky Clark (137) having represented the Red Roses more often. Legend. 1295
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 20/10/2025246 - USAP's Jefferson Joseph gained 246 metres from his 14 carries against UBB, the most by any player in a TOP 14 match over the last 15 years. Magnifique. 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 16/10/20255 - Cardiff's Callum Sheedy has assisted 5 tries in the URC this season, over twice as many as any other player - in fact, he's assisted more tries from kicks alone than any other player has in total (3). Inventive. 040
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 16/10/2025XV - #ICYMI our European Club Rugby Team of the Week, which featured players from 13 different teams. Selection. More ➡️ theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 020
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 15/10/2025181 - Leeds Rhinos' Jake Connor ranked in the top three for points scored (181, 2nd), try assists (30, =2nd) and line engaged metres (620) in Super League XXX and was one of three players with a place-kick success rate over 80% (80.9%, min. 30 attempts). Steely. 000
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 15/10/202542 - Leigh Leopards' Lachlan Lam played the most minutes of any player in Super League XXX (2333) and was the only player to assist more than 30 tries (42), registering at least one try involvement in 24 of his 29 appearances this year. Laudable. 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 14/10/2025⭐️ - Benetton Rugby's Louis Lynagh was the Star Player in our European Club Rugby Team of the Week - find out who else made the XV. Elite. 🔗 theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 08/10/2025XV - #ICYMI our European Club Rugby Team of the Week, which featured players from 10 different teams. Selection. More ➡️ theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 07/10/20258 - Saracens' Tom Willis beat eight defenders v Bristol Bears, the most of any Prem Rugby player at the weekend, and the sixth time that a Number 8 has beaten 8+ defenders in a match since the start of last season, with all six instances having been recorded by Willis. Wilful. 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 07/10/202528 - Will Evans completed 28 tackles against Leicester Tigers, the most by any player in a Prem Rugby game since the start of 2024, and the most by a Harlequins player since Chris Robshaw made 28 against Saracens in March 2019. Strict. 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 07/10/2025⭐️ - Bordeaux-Begles' Nicolas Depoortère was the Star Player in our European Club Rugby Team of the Week - find out who else made the XV. Standout. 🔗 theanalyst.com/articles/eur... 010
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 01/10/2025107 - Sophie de Goede was the only player to make a century of carries at #RWC2025 (107), after being the only player to do so at the previous edition (101). Great. ⭐️Find out who else joined the Canada star in our Team of the Tournament 👇 🔗 theanalyst.com/articles/eng... 072
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 27/09/20253 - The Red Roses have won the Rugby World Cup for a third time - their 20-point victory was the second biggest in a final, after New Zealand's 44-12 win against the USA in 1998. Pinnacle. 041
OptaJonny @optajonny.optajoe.com · 27/09/202510 - England's Natasha Hunt has assisted two tries against Canada and has now assisted at least one in every round of #RWC2025, the only player to manage that; overall, she has recorded a tournament-high 10 try assists this campaign. Provider. 051
