Ulster leave it late but Ruan Pienaar secures the five points

Ulster had to wait until the third minute of stoppage time and a try from Springbok Ruan Pienaar to secure a...

20 Questions: Dean Schofield – Worcester lock

Hectic summer for you? I’ve had a few plates spinning since arriving from Toulon, with getting settled down, a baby on...

“Warren Gatland must hold his nerve over Lions team,” says Ian McGeechan

In an era when even the finest rugby coaches have a drastically short shelf-life, Sir Ian McGeechan’s longevity of service with...

Heineken Cup round 1: preview and predictions

Pool 1 Edinburgh v Saracens Edinburgh make six changes to their starting line-up to take on Saracens at Murrayfield. Internationals Tom...

Amlin Challenge Cup round 1: preview and predictions

Bordeaux-Begles v London Irish Guy Armitage and Chris Hala’ufia will both start their first matches’ of the season as London Irish...

“Last week was a major boost but let’s be consistent now,” says Topsy Ojo

On paper, London Irish are one of the most threatening team in the Premiership. On the pitch however, the Exiles have...

Nick Cain: This waste of George Ford’s talent is so senseless

There are imperfections in most rugby structures, but, when it comes to getting the right outcome for the national team, England’s...

Andy’s new attitude means he’s coming Goode for the Worcester Warriors

In recent times rugby’s version of the Goode life has all been about Alex, not Andy. While Saracens star Alex is...

Gloucester do the job in France but Andy Hazell faces lengthy ban

Fourteen-men Gloucester earned an ugly 11-6 win at Mont-de-Marsan in the opening game of the Amlin Challenge Cup. Ian Clark’s first...

My Life in Rugby: Duncan Bell – Lydney player/coach and former Bath and England prop

I have never been the best of losers and was always a bit sulky after a defeat but I don’t think...

Brilliant Brian O’Driscoll is early charger for Lions place

Selecting a Lions team from the ranks of the Aviva Premiership and the RaboDirect Pro12 is a fraught business at this...

Dragons also want WRU help to keep Lydiate

Newport Gwent Dragons say if Cardiff Blues and the Welsh Rugby Union struck a deal to keep Wales centre Jamie Roberts...

A former Saracen to referee England

Former Saracens fly-half Glen Jackson will referee England‘s clash with Fiji at Twickenham next month continuing his meteoric rise as an...

Edinburgh rejects Cape Town switch with Saracens

Edinburgh have rejected a proposal by Saracens to play their Heineken Cup clash in South Africa. Saracens planned to move their...

Peter Jackson: Survivor Tony back on case for Dragons

Tony Brown has been through a lot since he rescued Newport from oblivion and spent millions on a galaxy of Southern...

“It’s a privilege to play with Owen Farrell,” says Saracens Steve Borthwick

Saracens captain Steve Borthwick has backed Owen Farrell to hit top form ahead of England‘s autumn international campaign. The 21-year-old fly-half...

Dream Team: Ross Samson – London Scottish and former London Irish scrum-half

1. Alan Jacobsen – ‘Chunk’ is the Godfather of Scottish rugby. Nobody messes with him and he knows all the dark...

Jeff Probyn: It will be tougher now Welsh have shown their abilities

London Welsh got their first away win of the Premiership last week seven days after winning their first ever Premiership game...

“We need Olympic formula” – Jonny Wilkinson

Jonny Wilkinson says it is time for England to put wins on the board during their forthcoming autumn internationals against Australia,...

Wales and Cardiff in bid to keep Lion king Jamie Roberts out of France

British Lion Jamie Roberts is at the centre of a groundbreaking deal being hatched to prevent him falling into French hands....

Welford Road not shortlisted as RWC venue

England Rugby 2015, the organiser of the next Rugby World Cup, has announced the long list of 17 potential match venues...

Premiership round 6 review

Bath (Lost 10-16 to Gloucester) With Olly Barkley gone, you’d think Bath struggle and, despite his status, Stephen Donald hadn’t made...

Peter Jackson: Such a loss as Nevin joins pantheon of lives cut short

The Spence family farm catastrophe brought a small Ulster town to a standstill on Wednesday, a triple tragedy marked with bare-headed...

Room 101: Andre Bester – Rotherham coach

1. Queues I simply don’t do queues. I would rather drive 10 miles around the houses than sit in a long,...

Lions greatest XV: Roger Utley (1974) – blindside

When the going gets tough, blindside flankers get going – and in Peter Dixon and Derek Quinnell (1971), Roger Uttley (1974),...

Nick Cain talks to the multi-talented Alex Goode about his ability to play full-back and fly-half

Alex Goode has shown that he can carve out time and space in the crash-bang mayhem of international rugby, and that...

Young Gun: Jack Gadd – Bristol centre

Bristol centre Jack Gadd required two operations last summer to correct a hip condition he has had since birth but after...

Jeremy Guscott: Barkley proved his worth in that pivotal role of No.10

Olly Barkley’s move to Racing Metro is a bolt from the blue for Bath supporters, and the real issue is that...

George Ford’s boots earn Leicester Tigers a win over sorry Sale Sharks

George Ford kicked 15 points from the tee to help Leicester claim a convincing 20-8 win over Sale in Salford. It...

20 Questions: Jonny Golding – Newcastle prop

Three wins from three and 15 points… perfect start for Newcastle? Ideal start? Yes. Perfect? No. We’re not totally satisfied and...

“We’re not used to it but we deserve it,” says Worcester Richard Hill

After the first five rounds, a clear transformation can be seen in how the Worcester Warriors play the game and for...

Nick Cain: Not pausing for a second, the scrum is still a mess

The scrum is under sustained attack in the modern game with barely a match at elite level where the referee does...

Premiership round 6: preview and predictions

Exeter v Harlequins Wallaby lock Dean Mumm will make his Chiefs debut tomorrow as Exeter seek to return to winning ways...

RaboDirect Pro12 round 6: preview and predictions

Cardiff v Glasgow Leigh Halfpenny makes his return from injury for Cardiff as the Blues seek to make amends from the...

Top14 round 8: preview and predictions

Jonny Wilkinson return at fly-half for Toulon as the French giants try to get back to winning ways when they travel...

Stuart Lancaster’s likely to turn to youngsters to fill Ben Foden’s gap

England head coach Stuart Lancaster is likely to put youth ahead of experience as he sifts through wing replacement options for...

My Life in Rugby: Kris Chesney – Esher player/coach

No trophies from my 14 seasons with Saracens is a pretty meagre return and it was hugely frustrating because we often...

Peter Jackson: Jones heads lost legion of forgotten Welsh stars

There is a whole team of them to be found out there – the Welsh internationals whose meteoric streak in some...

“Leicester Tigers exit paying off for me,” says Billy Twelvetrees

Leaving Leicester can be considered to be either brave or stupid but, after starting Gloucester‘s first four games this season, Billy...

Rugby Championship round 6: preview and predictions

Argentina v Australia Santiago Phelan has once again named the same starting XV as the Pumas seek their first ever win...

Dream Team: Carlo del Fava – Newcastle and Italy lock

1. Tendai Mtawarira – He’s called the ‘Beast’ because he’s an animal on the pitch, capable of making 22 tackles a...

Jeff Probyn: Let Premiership go it alone and free up RFU cash for all

I can’t help thinking that there is something strange in the way that the Premiership chose to announce their potential new...

Payne and Brady suspended, Powell fined

Tim Payne celebrated his 250th game for London Wasps by getting a two-week ban. The former England prop pleaded guilty to...

Watch out, Saints Courtney Lawes is back and bigger than ever

It was Andy Goode’s misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time last Saturday afternoon. With 60 minutes...

George Ford may be forced to quit Leicester Tigers says Austin Healey

Austin Healey says Welford Road is not big enough to accommodate both Toby Flood and George Ford. Tigers director of rugby...

Premiership round 5 review

Bath (beat Sale 31-10) The West Country side were bidding farewell to Olly Barkley who is off to Racing Metro today...

Room 101: Lee Mears – Bath hooker

1. Planners and Planning applications I want to build a kitchen in the basement of a semi-detached house in Bath and...

Farrell and Saracens give Harlequins first taste of defeat

Champions Harlequins suffered their first defeat of the season to the hands of Saracens in a 18-16 thriller at The Stoop....

Lions greatest XV: Willie John Mcbride (1974) and Martin Johnson (1997) – locks

When it comes to the big second row turbines which drive the pack The Lions have been able to call on...

Nick Cain talks to Exeter blindside Tom Johnson about his remarkable rise from grass roots to Test level

Tom Johnson is not so much a late bloomer as a one-man Indian summer. The Exeter Chiefs blindside flanker was a...