“We can’t afford to go backwards now, “ – Sailosi Tagicakibau

London Irish will look to build on their bonus point win over Bordeaux-Begles last week when they take on Mont de...

Nick Cain: Jonny for the Lions? His form says Yes

Jonny Wilkinson’s statement this week that  there’s no way he could say no to an invitation to be part of the...

Geordan Murphy is still the role model for Leicester’s Niall Morris

Niall Morris has no doubt about his place in the full-back pecking order at Leicester: ‘Geordan Murphy is still  Number One.’...

Gloucester get the five points but worry over injuries

Four first half tries handed Gloucester a 25-13 bonus-point win over Bordeaux-Begles at Kingsholm tonight. However, the game may be costly...

My Life in Rugby: Tom Voyce – former Wasps, Gloucester and England wing

I played a lot of finals at Wasps but the game that I remember most vividly was when we beat Munster...

Mealamu to get 100th All Black cap

New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu will become the third All Black to win 100 Test caps as New Zealand travel to...

Peter Jackson: Be positive Danny, and learn from Mad Dog

Danny Lydiate may have spent most of the week in hospital but he is still a long way from matching the...

“Let’s keep the momentum before the Premiership resumes,” – Jim Hamilton

Gloucester host Bordeaux-Begles tonight in a bid to keep the pressure on London Irish at the top of their Amlin Cup...

Missile Joe Launchbury is for lift-off, says Wasps head coach Dai Young

Joe Launchbury is not one for the future, according to Wasps chief Dai Young, because the flanker-cum-lock has arrived already! Young,...

Neck injury forces Richard Birkett to retire

London Wasps lock Richard Birkett has been forced to retire from rugby as a result of a neck injury. The 33-year-old,...

Dream Team: Will Green – Former Wasps, Leinster and England prop

1. Craig Dowd – I’m picking Craig purely because he can squat while standing on a tennis ball one-legged. He’s amazingly...

Jeff Probyn: Team GB face so many problems on road to Rio

When I first read Clive Woodward’s call for the 2016 Team GB Sevens squad to be playing together for two years...

Rob Cook makes up for lost time with Mike Tindall help at Gloucester

Gloucester full-back Rob Cook has waited a lifetime to get his chance at the top level of elite sport and now...

Andy Hazell cited following Amlin Cup red card

Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell will appear before an ERC disciplinary hearing following the red card he received against Mont de Marsan...

Ospreys signs international front row

The Ospreys have signed Moldovan international front row Dimitri Arhipa in a bid to increase their front row options ahead of...

France call on rising star for November Tests

Philippe Saint-Andre has included Toulouse rising star Gael Fickou in his 33-man squad ahead of the November Test series. 18-year-old Fickou...

Baa-Baas welcome Dean Richards back as coach

Dean Richards has been short-listed for a return to the big stage as coach of the Barbarians. The renowned touring club...

Room 101: Mark Nelson – Fylde head-coach

1. 1996 (the Game going ‘open’) It didn’t take long for me to feel the negative effects of professionalism. Fresh from...

Lions greatest XV: Fergus Slattery (1974) – openside

There is a body of opinion that the role of the openside flanker has changed significantly in the 41 years since...

Nick Cain looks at the lack of back-up for Stuart Lancaster’s penalty takers

When there is enough footage of goal-kickers winning big matches to pave the M4 corridor between Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium,...

Young Gun: Ben Howard – Worcester full-back

Ben Howard has not followed the traditional path into the international ranks having failed to even make a Midlands representative team...

Jeremy Guscott: Sharples injury jinx may give Wade his chance

With Ben Foden’s injury more serious than first thought, Stuart Lancaster has said he will be seeking a back three replacement...

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...