Charlie Elliott: The 21 forwards I would select for the British and Irish Lions squad

By Charlie Elliott The British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer is set to be announced on Thursday. ...

Social Media Moments of the Week: Henry Pollock divides opinion with try celebration 

By Charlie Elliott As the weekend of rugby draws to a close, the discourse around the sport continues to bubble away.  The...

Champions Cup Team of the Week: Northampton Saints’ Lions hopefuls help deliver historic upset

By Charlie Elliott The Champions Cup played host to two of the best semi-finals we have seen in the competition, as the two favourites were...

Northampton Saints stun Leinster in Champions Cup semi and sweep into final

By Adam Hathaway in Dublin Northampton captain Fraser Dingwall hailed the spirit of his side as they pulled off one of...

Go with your boy for the British and Irish Lions, Lawrence Dallaglio tells Andy Farrell

By Gary Fitzgerald Lawrence Dallaglio insists Andy Farrell must take a punt on his “Test match animal” son and pass him...

Bristol Bears aim to cash in on Big Day Out

By Paul Rees Bristol host their Big Day Out at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday, intending it to become an annual...

Independent review calls for RFU Council to be axed

The RFU is facing a structural revolution as an independent review has recommended abolishing the RFU Council. The proposed changes could...

Adam Radwan: I have got to win the Leicester Tigers fans over

By Gary Fitzgerald Adam Radwan claims there is an “infectious” title bug in the air at Welford Road which has caught...

Lee Blackett and Byron McGuigan join Steve Borthwick for England’s Summer Tour

Lee Blackett and Byron McGuigan will join Steve Borthwick’s England coaching team for the summer tour to Argentina and the United...

Phil Dowson: Henry Pollock is buzzing for every chance he gets

By Adam Hathaway Henry Pollock has been smashing it out of the ballpark this season, and that has led to calls...

We can finish in the top two, says Sale’s Joe Carpenter

By Paul Rees Bath may have stood above the rest of the Premiership for most of the season, but Joe Carpenter...

Charlie Ewels enjoying ‘the most exciting time’ as Bath power on

By Jon Newcombe Charlie Ewels admits the struggles that Bath had under Stuart Hooper a few seasons ago now feel like...

Christian Wade will be a hit at Wigan Warriors – Andy Powell

By Ross Heppenstall Andy Powell’s time at Wigan Warriors was, by his own admission, no great success, but he has backed...

Ospreys boss Mark Jones backs Keelan Giles for spot on Wales tour

By Simon Thomas Keelan Giles has to be in the shake-up for a place on Wales’ summer tour of Japan, according...

Jeremy Guscott: Maro Itoje the right man to bring the British and Irish Lions together

By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week... The ceremonial unveiling of the 2025 Lions squad at the O2 Arena...

Leinster 34-37 Northampton Saints: Tommy Freeman hat-trick ignites stunning Saints

By Adam Hathaway Leinster ...........................34pts Tries: O’Brien 17, Van der Flier 25, 58; Doris 58, Lowe 69 Conversions: Prendergast 25, 47,...

Brendan Gallagher: Northampton Saints win over Leinster is the best win on the road I’ve seen

I’ve been reporting on this Heineken Cup, European Cup, Investec Champions Cup – call it what you want – since the...

Bordeaux vs Toulouse Preview: Injury problems put Toulouse on the back foot

By Ben Jaycock Bordeaux v Toulouse Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Velodrome, Marseille An injury-plagued Toulouse are up against it today when...

Benjamin Kayser: Gap between Premiership and Top 14 is huge

By Paul Rees The top two sides in the Top 14 meet in today’s Champions Cup semi-final at the Matmut Atlantique...

Nick Cain: At last! Welcome words reinforce value of jeopardy

One of the few signs of clear-thinking rugby union sanity this week came from Simon Gillham, the chairman of the Tier...

Henry Pollock’s energy could give British and Irish Lions that extra boost

By Nick Cain The likelihood of any uncapped young “bolters”, who were a feature of Lions squad announcements in the amateur...

Nick Cain: Backing of franchise rugby is myopic, hypocritical and self-serving …

The parallel universe which some of the main movers and shakers in the RFU/ Premiership currently inhabit has revealed itself in...

Edinburgh 24 – 39 Bath: Bath’s final push too much for Edinburgh in Challenge Cup semi-final

By Roger Panting Edinburgh .......................24 Tries: Tuipulotu 18, Penalty 42, Price 64 Conversions: Thompson 19, 65 Penalty: Thompson 37 Bath .....................................

We are delighted to make Challenge Cup final, says Johann van Graan

Bath boss Johann van Graan was delighted to secure a place in the final at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. He said: “We...

Farrell’s chance to impress dad

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Lyon v Racing 92 Today. Kick-off 12.30pm, Matmut Stadium de Gerland Man in charge: Owen Farrell captains...

Rob Hunter leaves Exeter Chiefs after record defeat

Exeter head coach Rob Hunter has left the club by mutual consent. He and attack coach Ali Hepher were suspended following...

Jack Singleton: Gloucester to keep chasing Premiership play-off spot

By Mark Stevens Jack Singleton believes Gloucester are hitting form at just the right time in the race for the play-offs....

Glasgow’s Jack Mann excited to agree Kingsholm deal

Gloucester have signed back row Jack Mann from Glasgow Warriors from next season. The 25-year-old, who has made 13 appearances for...

Les Kiss to replace Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach ahead of 2027 World Cup

Australian Les Kiss will replace Joe Schmidt as Wallabies head coach in 2026 and will lead the team in their home...

Fly-half Tinus de Beer switches from Cardiff to Dragons

Dragons have confirmed the signing of South African fly-half Tinus de Beer from Cardiff. The 29-year-old has had limited chances this...

Dan Murphy to take over at Gloucester-Hartpury

Three-time Premiership Women’s Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury have appointed Dan Murphy as their head of rugby for the 2025-26 season. Murphy has...

Dream Team – Jamie Jack

JAMIE JACK, THE BEDFORD BLUES & THE FORMER NOTTINGHAM, AMPTHILL, EDINBURGH, LONDON IRISH AND COVENTRY PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE...

Trio recalled All Black triumph one final time

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW SHORTLY before Christmas, in the hometown of the Manic Street Preachers, a trio...

Ken Owens eying a move into politics

Ken Owens, aka the Sheriff of Carmarthen, is planning to plunge into the whirlpool of politics as a Labour candidate at...

Brendan Gallagher: Here are my 37 to tour with the British and Irish Lions

Brendan Gallagher picks his likely lads for the Summer trip to Australia  Let the fun begin. Every four years, we all...

Andrew Goodman: Joe Schmidt called me and it changed my life

By Adam Hathaway Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman is aiming to bite the hand that once fed him when he goes...

Paul Brown-Bampoe: I never set limits to what I can achieve

Paul Rees talks to Paul Brown-Bampoe about turning his back on banking and his hopes for Exeter next season Exeter have...

Steven Luatua ready for Bristol Bears’ awayday

By Paul Rees Bristol will look to get their playoff push back on track in the home of Welsh rugby on...

Johan Mulder looking to push Cardiff in South Africa double header

By Simon Thomas Johan Mulder heads back home to South Africa this week, having exceeded all expectations with play-off chasing Cardiff....

Title race down to the wire

PAUL REES EXAMINES THE PERMUTATIONS AS T HE PREMIERSHIP AND THE URC BOTH ENTER THE HOME STRAIGHT THE Premiership enters the...

Cardiff set for play-offs but should they be in running?

THE United Rugby Championship has two rounds to go in the regular season before the top eight move into the play-offs....

Tommaso Menoncello – I want to be one of Italy’s best ever

Joe Santamaria talks to Tommaso Menoncello, the 2024 Six Nations Player of the Year, about facing the Springboks Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy...

British and Irish Lions bolters who truly made their mark

Rugby Matters - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points, by Brendan Gallagher What exactly do we mean by...

Why did such a good side break up so quickly?

FOR the best part of two decades, Exeter Chiefs have been a textbook success story, poster boys for the professional club...

Doncaster take some time to find their feet

By JOHN LYON Caldy ...................................15pts Tries: Hearn 17, Gallagher 60 Conversion: Barker 17 Penalty: Barker 39 Doncaster ......................... 33pts Tries: Bennett...

Pirates hold firm to do double over Cov

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry ...........14pts Tries: Hutler 38, Green 50 Conversions: Mathews 39, 51 C Pirates ...........21pts Tries: Relton 15, Pritchard...

Ealing put Bedford loss behind them -and how!

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge .......19pts Tries: Caven 48, Hema 69, Green 75 Conversions: Caven 49, 70 Ealing T .............89pts Tries: Willemse...

Brothers link up to make difference for Hartpury

By RHYS ANDERSON Hartpury ...........38pts Tries: H Short 7, Austin 19, Benz-Salomon 42 Smith 49, 76 Conversions: Bazalgette 8, 20, 42,...

Nottingham blown away by Chinnor comeback

By JOHN VAUGHAN Chinnor .............41pts Tries: Carter 52, 68; Hughes 56, 61; Chamberlain 71 Conversions: Chamberlain 47, 55, 57, 61, 67...

Adamson delight as he breaks try record

By WILLIAM BULL Bedford .............61pts Tries: Tuilagi 3, A Garside 6, 14, 53; Le Bourgeois 30, Maisey 36, Adamson 45, Herman...