Pitch #12

Pitch #12 lands just in time for a summer of Lions rugby, and the issue brings plenty of scrum-side storytelling to match. From the wild highs of Hong Kong Sevens to the grounded grit of Championship clubs, rugby union takes centre stage across 20 pages. We also meet rising England star Henry Pollock, a young sevens back-rower making his mark.

Beyond the pitch, we head to Flanders with award-winning cycling photographer Gaëtan Flamme, whose lens captures the region’s reverence for the sport like nowhere else. Cricket fans won’t want to miss Paul Simpson’s deep dive into the IPL’s meteoric evolution — a conversation with some of the brightest minds in the game.

And in golf? Rory McIlroy’s Masters moment is immortalised, while Justin Rose’s noble defeat reminds us that sport isn’t just about victory, but how we carry ourselves in its absence.

As ever, Pitch brings together the poetry and politics of sport, one thoughtful page at a time.