DREAM TEAM

TOPSY OJO, LONDON IRISH AND FORMER ENGLAND WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Clarke Dermody...

Anglo-Welsh Cup needs to rethink playing rules

COLIN BOAG I’ve made no secret of the fact I don’t much like the Anglo-Welsh Cup in its present form, and...

Gap between top tiers getting wider

SO this year’s Premiership relegation battle is between Bristol and Worcester – its two most recent recruits. Barring a play-off disaster,...

I thought RFU were there to grow the game at all levels

I READwith dismay that the RFU are seriously considering cutting the England Counties side and the County Championship deeming them ‘an...

Grandparents play big role in identity

ALTHOUGHI disagree with the three-year residency qualification, I believe that where you are born should not be the only qualification to...

Mallinder misses out to Wasps flier Howe

WASPS’ wing Tom Howe has won the Anglo-Welsh Cup breakthrough player award. Howe won a public vote from a ten-strong shortlist...

Beale determined to deliver the goods before departing

By NEALE HARVEY KURTLEY Beale reckons the addition of Springbok superstar Willie Le Roux to an already electrifying backline has given...

Easterby next on Kingsholm wanted list

Wanted: Ackermann GLOUCESTER have got a list of alternatives for their head coach job if they are turned down by South...

Falcons looking to lure Flood home

Heading home? Toby Flood TOBY FLOOD could this summer be heading back to Newcastle Falcons where he started his career when...

Irish step up recruitment for assault on top-flight

LONDON IRISH have been busy recruiting players ahead of their impending return to the Premiership next season. But I understand that...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■GARY GOLD looks like staying on at Worcester Warriors next season after being...

ROOM 101

PAUL SPIVEY THE ROSSLYN PARK LOCK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Economy class...

‘It’s taken 5 years for Joseph to get recognition for defence’

By NEALE HARVEY MIDFIELD maestro Jonathan Joseph has “no limits” to what he can achieve in rugby now that people have...

Surely the French capital can house two top teams?

THE troubled attempts to merge traditional archrivals Stade Francais and Racing 92 is fast developing into a farce that tarnishes the...

Europe’s finest being sold down the river

WELCOME to Northern Hemisphere rugby’s endless road. An 11 month season which purports to be all things to all men, but...

My team of the tournament…

15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland): One of few modern players with genuine x-factor. A try scorer and provider. Rob Kearney was in...

The Six Nations that was…

Player of the tournament: Owen Farrell. Last year’s winner Stuart Hogg again provided the moments that remain seared in the brain...

High quality moments could not mask increasing shortage of classic matches

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the defining moments of the Six Nations and how the introduction of bonus points effected things...

Wales denied despite Evans’ salvo

France W 39 Wales W 19 FRANCE made it three from three over Wales in this last weekend of the Six...

Skeldon holds nerve to earn Scots victory

Scotland W 14 Italy W 12 SCOTLAND claimed a second win in Six Nations for the first time since 2006 by...

It’s Grand for Scarratt as England sweep in

By SAM JACKSON Ireland W 7pts Try: Lyons 66 Conversion: Tyrrell 66 England W 34pts Tries: Wilson Hardy 16, Keates 53,...

France overpower Wales in the generation game

A DOMINANT second-half in Montauban on Friday night helped France and their famous sons hit Wales for six in the last...

Defensive shift earns Slam for Zach’s boys

By SAM JACKSON Ireland U20 10pts Try: Coombes 64 Conversion: Johnston 64 Penalty: Johnston 40 England U20 14pts Tries: Nay 18,...

Cards fall in favour of five-try Scotland

Scotland U20 38 Italy U20 17 DARCY Graham scored two tries as Scotland dominated an ill-disciplined Italian side to claim their...

‘Fantastic culture created by Vern’

SCOTLAND captain John Barclay was lavish in his praise of departing coach Vern Cotter. “It is hard to put into words...

Hogg brings the fizz to Cotter’s leaving do

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Scotland 29pts Tries: Russell 28, Scott 38, Visser 62, Seymour 73 Conversions: Russell 28, 62, 73 Penalty: Hogg...

Sorry, France, but this was not in spirit of the game!

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND What an effort by Wales. What a sham by France! Some might call it cheating,...

Maestri blasts Barnes for failing to award penalty try

YOANN Maestri was in a foul mood following France’s farcical win over Wales, claiming refereee Wayne Barnes treated them like a...

The party’s over

Battling Irish end Eddie’s double Grand Slam dream By ADAM HATHAWAY Better to lose in Dublin now than in Japan in...

Young Gun: Will Jones – Wales U20s captain

Enjoying the student life while trying to become a professional rugby player is not easy but Wales U20s captain Will Jones...

Lions watch: centres

The ebb and flow of Lions selection at centre during this Six Nations turned decisively in England‘s direction when Jonathan Joseph...

Room 101: Gareth Steenson – Exeter fly-half

1. Traffic I’m lucky that I don’t have too far to travel to get to work because I live close to...

Young Gun: Nick Haining – Jersey No.8

Big win against Yorkshire Carnegie last week? It was a great home win for us and it raised the confidence levels...

My Life in Rugby: Anthony Allen – former England and Leicester centre

With hindsight, getting capped by England at 20, just over a year after leaving school, was way too soon. But you...

Dream Team: Marc Jones – Bristol hooker

1. Eifion Lewis-Roberts – Turned up at Sale around the same time as me in 2005, so I spent a long...

George: Public hurt drove me to world class show

GEORGE North revealed the hurt of recent criticism inspired him to his two-try display against Ireland. Wales coach Rob Howley hailed...

North’s a wrecking ball again but bonus point would have been good

From PETER JACKSON at the Principality Stadium WHEN the forensic experts screen the findings of their video dissection tomorrow morning, Wales...

Farrell and Ford were piping hot again

BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT The definition of a gentleman is famously somebody who can play the bagpipes but doesn’t. Mark Twain in...

The Scots looked lost and confused, the Irish won’t be

GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMY Unstoppable: Billy Vunipola escapes the challenge of Scotland’s Hamish Watson PICTURE: Getty Images A fine...

Joe to join George at Leicester

EXCLUSIVE By JOHN NEWCOMBE GEORGE Ford will be joined at Leicester next season by big brother, Joe. George has come back...

Symons gunning for Test debut against the Pumas

By NICK VERDIER WASPS lock Matt Symons admits he has “no idea” of where he stands in the England pecking order,...

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, March 12, 2017 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs ... Continue reading......

Kirkham eager to carry banner for the North

SCHOOLS SEVENS KIRKHAM Grammar School will kick off the defence of their North of England Sevens title today high on confidence...

Seven-try Bishop’s land big day at HQ

NATWEST SCHOOLS CUP SEMI-FINALS By NICK VERDIER Upset: Bishop’s Wordsworth celebrate after their semi-final win over Bromsgrove BISHOP’S Wordsworth booked their...

All-change for England despite rout of French

ENGLAND U18s ENGLANDU18s made a winning start to their season after a seven-try 43-14 victory over France in Aylesbury. In tough...

Flood sees red to add to Tolouse nightmare

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN In normal times, you might expect former England star Toby Flood to be thrilled to bits about...

Hughes denies Kidwelly with late penalty

SWALEC Division One round-up By JAMES LLOYD IOAN Hughes held his nerve with a late penalty as Llanelli Wanderers snatched a...

Oliver’s army on march for resurgent Skewem

SWALEC Championship round-up By JAMES LLOYD SKEWEN pulled off a dramatic comeback to beat Bedlinog in a 25-21 thriller to leapfrog...

Keys stay onwinning streak as Bargoed draw blank

By RICH JONES CROSS KEYSmade it eight wins on the trot in all competitions after they shut out Bargoed at Pandy...

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