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RFU chief Bill Sweeney ‘wanted to defer’ controversial bonus payment

22 January 2025 0 comments

Bill Sweeney, the under-fire chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, has revealed he wanted to defer the controversial bonus payment that has led to […]

Five players who have scored five or more tries in a single game

20 January 2025 0 comments

By Charlie Elliott After Damian Penaud’s heroics for Bordeaux Begles against Sharks over the weekend, having broken the Champions Cup record for tries in a single game […]

Steve Borthwick: It’s time to put our foot down

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Adam Hathaway Steve Borthwick insists he has come up with a solution to England’s problem in closing out matches – be even quicker out […]

Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade can work in Six Nations – Brad Barritt

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Brad Barritt backs the misfiring duo of Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence to continue together in midfield for England, stressing the importance […]

Anthony Watson: I had to quit, I was in so much pain

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees As Anthony Watson trudged off five minutes into the second-half in Leicester’s match at Sale in December, he knew deep down that […]

Christ Tshiunza: There’s no panic at Exeter Chiefs

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees As Christ Tshiunza reflected on what has been a frustrating season for the Wales forward, he recalled a recent conversation he had […]

Uncapped Fergus Burke gets nod from Gregor Townsend in Scotland Six Nations squad

19 January 2025 0 comments

Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke has been named in Scotland’s squad for the Six Nations as they look to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish. New […]

Alex Mitchell back to his best and ready for Six Nations battle

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Alex Mitchell is now eight games into his injury-delayed season and feeling full of energy for the Six Nations campaign ahead of […]

Antoine Dupont returns to Six Nations stage

19 January 2025 0 comments

Scrum-half Antoine Dupont will take part in his first Six Nations since 2023 after missing last year’s competition to prepare for the Paris Olympics, where […]

Prop Jack Boyle called up to Ireland Six Nations squad after Tom O’Toole ban

19 January 2025 0 comments

Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has called up Leinster’s uncapped prop Jack Boyle, 22, for the Six Nations to replace the suspended Tom O’Toole. […]

Teddy Williams is poised to shift up a gear for Wales

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Simon Thomas Teddy Williams will be looking to put his international disappointments behind him now his remarkable shift this season has been rewarded with […]

Stephen Varney & Tommy Allan back in the mix for Italy

19 January 2025 0 comments

Italy have recalled Stephen Varney and included Tommaso Allan in their squad for the Six Nations but are without Louis Lynagh who has undergone knee […]

‘Life at Sale Sharks without my brother is weird’ – Luke James

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Sale stalwart Luke James admits his first season apart from older brother Sam has been “very weird”. Before the Curry twins and […]

Curtis Langdon’s Dream Team

19 January 2025 0 comments

CURTIS LANGDON, THE ENGLAND, NORTHAMPTON AND FORMER SALE, DONCASTER, WORCESTER, & MONTPELLIER HOOKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… Forwards 1. […]

Jeremy Guscott – Steve Borthwick must put faith in his players during Six Nations

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Jeremy Guscot – Outspoken and unmissable every week… The change of England captaincy that was discussed in last week’s column has become reality with […]

Good news on Maro Itoje, but England’s problems persist

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Nick Cain – Read his expert opinion every week Having been a long-time advocate of Maro Itoje as England captain, my first reaction to […]

The RFU Board has failed to do its job properly

19 January 2025 0 comments

The employment of the crisis management company, Teneo, by the incumbent RFU administration to help it weather the SGM storm is a scandal – especially […]

Referees are not free from criticism

19 January 2025 0 comments

In a country in which we are lucky to have freedom of opinion and speech as a birthright, Wayne Barnes is entitled to his say. […]

Matt Banahan tribute to ‘superb’ Anthony Watson

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Jon Newcombe Former England international Matt Banahan has hailed Anthony Watson as the ‘ultimate team man’ and a ‘true professional’ who had an unparalleled […]

I want the Red Roses to be unstoppable, says Zoe Aldcroft

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Dan Robertshaw Newly appointed England captain Zoe Aldcroft insists there is work to be done before her side can set their sights on glory […]

Captains don’t have to play the full 80

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Chris Hewett – Thinking Allowed It seems your columnist’s hotline to the England head coach Steve Borthwick has turned positively polar. “Don’t take the […]

Beefing up club rugby may start a trend

19 January 2025 0 comments

HERE’S a novel idea: a fresh European tournament specifically aimed at clubs based on the continent of Europe, as opposed to a European tournament featuring […]

Greg Fisilau is following in father’s footsteps

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Mark Stevens In what has been a challenging campaign for the Exeter Chiefs, Greg Fisilau has emerged as a rare shining light. The young […]

South America aiming for four teams at Rugby World Cup 2027

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Joe Santamaria After a historic 2024 for rugby in South America, former Argentina head coach Daniel Hourcade is turning his attention to the future. […]

What a team London Irish could have been…

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Peter Jackson – The man truly in the know Those disciples of London Irish pining for their lost Premiership team will be given more […]

Black mark for the Joe Biden

19 January 2025 0 comments

And so Joe Biden leaves the White House for the last time. Whatever judgement history passes on his single term in the Oval Office, there […]

A hat-trick to beat them all

19 January 2025 0 comments

PETER Brown, born into one of Scotland’s most decorated footballing families during the Second World War, responded to the privilege by daring to do a […]

Steve Borthwick needs to be brutal – and bold – this Six Nations

19 January 2025 0 comments

Paul Rees looks at the tough decisions the England coach has to make ahead of this season’s Six Nations It is the middle of winter […]

Scotland’s class of 1925 fired by legends

19 January 2025 0 comments

Rugby Matters – A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher Scotland only have three Grand Slams to lovingly remember but […]

Farewell, Hammer of the English

19 January 2025 0 comments

SCOTLAND wins over England are ten a penny these days but there was a time when they were a rarity which is why former Scotland […]

Harry Faulkner keeps upbeat about Esher’s chance to avoid drop in National One

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Positive feeling: Esher full-back Harry Faulkner Harry Faulkner remains hopeful Esher can survive in National One this season. Last year’s National Two […]

Chris Wearmouth’s top-four aim for Tynedale as he edges to 400 club

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Ben Jaycock Chris Wearmouth is approaching 400 National League appearances and hopes to help Tynedale secure a top-four finish. The 38-year-old second row played […]

Veteran Jack is revelling in life as Camborne eye a title push

19 January 2025 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Experienced head: Camborne lock Jack Andrew IN his first season at Camborne, experienced campaigner Jack Andrew has proven a key cog in […]

Flying wing Armstrong eyes history for Islanders

19 January 2025 0 comments

By CHRIS COLLYER In form: Guernsey wing Anthony Armstrong ANTHONY Armstrong hopes his free scoring form can fire Guernsey to a first ever top six […]

Bill’s tour depends on fame, not facts

19 January 2025 0 comments

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Well, it hasn’t taken long for Bill Beaumont to reveal what we were all thinking, with […]

Champs looking to keep on top

19 January 2025 0 comments

BUCS RUGBY By CAMERON STEPHENS AFTER a six-week break, BUCS Super Rugby returns for round 12 as Loughborough look to extend their lead at the […]

Whitgift bounce back in fine style

19 January 2025 0 comments

SCHOOLS RUGBY By CAMERON STEPHENS AMONG a smattering of games cancelled due to the weather in the second week back of schoolboy rugby, Whitgift started […]

I tell them we are all in this together

19 January 2025 0 comments

Coach to coach Steve Hill talks to Baz Basra, below, the head coach at Letchworth Garden City RFC in Regional 1 South East Why did […]

Hartpury aiming for top four, says Short

19 January 2025 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK HARTPURY University continue to punch above their weight in the Championship and influential back row Harry Short says they are targeting a […]

Hat-trick for Griffiths as Ponty stay ahead of the field

19 January 2025 0 comments

Welsh Premiership round-up By CARL FIELD WING Iwan Griffith’s hat-trick inspired leaders Pontypridd to victory 66-28 over Llangennech in a 14try contest at Sardis Road. […]

Spandler hits four for Bath

19 January 2025 0 comments

England U20 By BEN JAYCOCK Bath United……………… 50pts England U20……………. 28pts JASPER Spandler scored four first-half tries as Bath came out on top against reigning […]

Kitamura stars with try double for Blue Revs

19 January 2025 0 comments

Japan League One round-up By BEN JAYCOCK SHIZUOKA Blue Revs ended Brave Lupus Tokyo’s unbeaten start to the season with scrum-half Shuntaro Kitamura grabbing a […]

Drovers make it nine on the spin

19 January 2025 0 comments

Super Rygbi Cymru LLANDOVERY are the new leaders in Super Rygbi Cymru after seeing off Pontypool 38-27 at Church Bank to make it nine wins […]

Encore for exiled prop star Rabah Slimani

19 January 2025 0 comments

French Column by James Harrington Last Wednesday, Fabien Galthie named six uncapped players in his 42-strong list for the first match of the senior men’s […]

Forthcoming fixtures

19 January 2025 0 comments

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Rob Baxter: Tom Hooper will be the first of a few big-name signings for Exeter Chiefs

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Tom Hooper is the first of a number of big signings Exeter intend to make before the end of the season as […]

Will Wand enjoying life as a Leicester Tiger

19 January 2025 0 comments

By Paul Rees Will Wand is living his dream with Leicester, the club he supported as a boy, having become a professional rugby player in […]

Lam on the lookout for cover at No.10

19 January 2025 0 comments

PAT Lam is looking to add an outside-half to Bristol’s squad with only one fit 10 on the books. AJ MacGinty will be out for […]

Anthony Watson announces retirement after injury struggles

17 January 2025 0 comments

England and Leicester wing Anthony Watson has been forced to retire from professional rugby on medical grounds. The 30-year-old has had a number of injury […]

Donnacha Ryan reflects on career and life coaching La Rochelle

16 January 2025 0 comments

By Brendan McGilligan There are some people that have people who look so alike you could be forgiven for thinking that they may have been […]

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