Farrell can lead Lions like Johnno says Telfer

Owen Farrell has emerged as a candidate to captain the Lions this summer according to one of the game’s most revered...

Worcester sign Jersey tighthead

Worcester have secured the signing of Jersey Reds tighthead Simon Kerrod. The 24-year-old began his career with Blue Bulls U19s and...

Newcastle Falcons sign Matavesi brothers

Newcastle Falcons’ recruitment plans for next season have advanced with the news that Fijian international Josh Matavesi and younger brother Joel...

Allinson to re-join Bath on a two-year deal

Bath have announced that scrum-half Darren Allinson has agreed a deal to re-join the Club on a two-year contract from the...

Dowson set to retire and become coach at Northampton

Phil Dowson will retire from rugby at the end of the season to take up the role of Assistant Coach with...

Edinburgh confirm Cockerill appointment

Richard Cockerill has been confirmed as head coach of Edinburgh from the start of next season. As revealed in the Fissler...

Mako Vunipola in line for England recall

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola has returned to the England camp as 28 players assembled at Pennyhill Park yesterday ahead of their...

Dream Team: Declan Cusack – Doncaster fly-half

1. Luke Cowan-Dickie – I only played with him a few times down at Plymouth Albion and he was still a...

Tainton’s rap after collapse to Tigers

BRISTOL head coach Mark Tainton ordered his strugglers to have “hard look at ourselves” after this thumping. Bristol have not won...

after seven-month injury lay-off

Until making his seasonal bow off the bench against Bath in the Anglo- Welsh Cup a fortnight ago, followed by another...

JP sentences Bristol to an eight-try lashing

Going over: Pat Cilliers scores Leicester’s first try PICTURES: Getty Images Well done, pal: Owen Williams congratulates Brendon O’Connor, left, after...

Enforcer Latu raring to be let off the leash

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingston Park Newcastle v Northampton HAVING fought back from a career-threatening knee injury, Newcastle’s...

Kingston: One little mistake was costly

HARLEQUINS coach John Kingston is still mystified how his side managed to leave the Rec empty handed last night. “I am...

Quins suffer mauling as Bath begin to flow

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER BATH maintained their push for a playoff place by pulling away from a dogged and resilient Harlequins side...

Start Te’o against Italy and utilise Daly from full-back

In n ideal world Eddie Jones would love to arrive at the 2019 World Cup in Japan with 38 players that...

DREAMTEAM

BRENDON O’CONNOR, THE LEICESTER & FORMER BLUES OPENSIDE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Tony Woodcock...

Painful truth is Italy are just getting left behind

COLIN BOAG With two rounds gone, what have we learned so far from this year’s Six Nations? First, that the standard...

Anyone else had enough of Butler?

YET another year goes by with the BBC continuing to regard biased Eddie Butler as the best commentator for the big...

Cain’s right, sort scrum mess or risk league-style farce

NICK Cain was 100 per cent correct in his column about raising the issue of crooked feeds in the scrum and...

English backs must pay more attention

HAVINGread many extensive Wales v England match reports, I am astonished to see no analysis of Liam Williams’ try for Wales....

Trophy success is priority for one-club man Myler

By NEALE HARVEY STEPHENMyler insists personal milestones are way down his priority list as he battles to lift Northampton back to...

Crossword

ACROSS 1. Racing Metro lock given his France debut v Argentina last year (4) 3. Bath’s ex-London Irish prop with experience...

Montpellier boss must wait for Gloucester ruling

MOHEDAltrad faces a further wait to find out if his proposed takeover of Gloucester will be allowed to go ahead. The...

Cracknell battling to avoid the scrapheap

By NEALE HARVEY FORMER Fiji 7s coach Chris Cracknell fears he may have to quit rugby after failing to find work...

It’s seven heaven for Armitage with Pau

FRENCH COLUMN Life has been somewhat eventful for Steffon Armitage, the back row forward voted the finest player in Europe not...

Rhydyfelin go top in East with rivals on plate duty

SWALEC round-up NEWBRIDGE celebrated their first home league win since December 3 as they ran out 15-13 victors over Glynneath in...

Pontypool add sorry Cardiff to their Cup collection

By ROB COLE Cardiff 32 Pontypool 43 PONTYPOOL beat Llanelli in the last round and the Championship leaders added the scalp...

Llandovery bounce back as cup defence continues

By ALEX BYWATER Llandovery 27 Bargoed 5 LLANDOVERY’S impressive season continued at Church Bank as the defending WRU National Cup champions...

Prosser unlocks Neath as Keys progress to next round

By ROB COLE Cross Keys 29 Neath 10 JOSH Prosser booted Cross Keys into the quarter-finals of the WRU National Cup...

Jarvis keeps double hopes alive for the Ironmen

By RICH JONES Bedwas 14 Merthyr 25 MERTHYR remain in reach of an historic league and cup double after they outshone...

Battling Beddau edged out by Ebbw in gritty

By ELGAN ALDERMAN Beddau 3 Ebbw Vale 7 EBBW Vale had to dig deep to hold off a spirited Beddau side...

Impressive RGC march on as Ravens fall short

By JAMES CANDY Bridgend R 20 RGC 1404 31 RGC1404 have added a WRU National Cup quarter- final to their list...

Ponty scrape through despite a spirited Newport display

By TIM LEWIS Pontypridd 34 Newport 29 PONTYPRIDD resisted a red-hot Newport comeback to secure a battling victory and advance to...

Narberth humbled as Quins cup run continues

By JOHN ARKLESS Narberth 19 Carmarthen 52 CARMARTHEN Quins remain on course to go one better than last season’s runners up...

Oaks revert to old style power game

■ By JON NEWCOMBE Match-winner: Florin Vlaicu in action against Spain FLORIN VLAICU scored all his side’s points as Romania beat...

Test moved from Tonga

WALES’ summer Test against Tonga will be staged in another country after Welsh Rugby Union concerns over the suitability of the...

Otley on rise after Luffman dismissal

■ By JON NEWCOMBE OTLEY chairman Nick Girling says the National Two North club will wait until the summer to find...

Harlequins fight back to take the Academy crown

HARLEQUINS were crowned Premiership U18s Academy champions after they scored 20 unanswered points to beat Sale 20-8 in the final at...

Cragg demands changes to tier two schedule

■ By NEALE HARVEY HACKED-OFF Rotherham chairman Nick Cragg has called for a review of the Championship fixture list amid a...

Priestland enjoying life alongside Tapuai

By TOM BRADSHAW RHYS Priestland says the arrival of a Southern Hemisphere cavalry at Bath has given the West Country side...

Bath reap benefits from Cheika snub

By NEALE HARVEY BEN Tapuai admits leaving Australia left him “scared” but says a fresh start was necessary after being snubbed...

England expect Venter backlash after humbling at hands of Irish

Defence guru: Italy coach Brendan Venter By GARY FITZGERALD PAUL Gustard claims his old Saracens pal Brendan Venter will arrive at...

Tigers splash out to bring home prodigal son George

■By ED HUTSON GEORGE Ford this wek ended months of speculations by confirming he will be heading back to Leicester next...

‘Periodisation’ is a training concept from years back

Acres of space: Elliot Daly receives the perfect pass from Owen Farrell to skin Alex Cuthbert PICTURE: Getty Images With the...

The boot of Ben upsets Dings’ title tilt

National League 3 South West BEN LOVELL’S kicking led Brixhamto a surprise win over title-chasing Dings Crusaders as the fly-half scored...

Field tighten grip at the top of the table

National League 3 North HUDDERSFIELDcontinue to power away at the top of the table after a convincing 28-16 win at third-place...

Shaken Nuns fight to avoid banana skin

National League 3 Midlands NUNEATON battled back from a 14-point deficit to prevent a second shock in eight days and hold...

Judd look unstoppable after early scare

National League 3 London & SE TONBRIDGE JUDDIANStook maximum points to maintain their grip on top spot, with a 47- 17...

YOUNG GUNS

BEN LOADER ENGLAND U18S WING Breaking into senior rugby ranks is high on Ben Loader’s agenda but for now his focus...

20 QUESTIONS

ETHAN DAVIES WALES SEVENS Enjoying the break after thye opening two events in Wellington and Sydney? I’m just about over the...