Nick Cain: Harlequins lacking the launchpad George Furbank needs

George Furbank is a gem of an attacking full-back with the skills and elusive running to spark a backline.

Leinster 43-13 Sale Sharks: Alex Sanderson’s side buried by a second-half try landslide

Alex Sanderson wore a resigned look as his Sale Sharks’ Champions Cup hopes were buried by a landslide of second-half Leinster...

Glasgow Warriors 19-22 Toulon: The Scottish side are stunned by the brilliant Nacho Brex

Toulon will head to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to face Leinster in the European Champions Cup semi-finals after inflicting a first home...

Bath 43-41 Northampton Saints: Ted Hill steps up to get Johann van Graan’s side over the line in a thriller

Bath, not without controversy, survived an extraordinary early Northampton Saints blitzkrieg to mount a stirring comeback and reach the Champions Cup...

Jeremy Guscott: French rivals are showing England the way ahead

No-one is really surprised by the magnitude of the heavy defeats suffered in the European Cup Round of 16 last weekend...

Wales 19-24 Scotland: The Scots stay cool to keep the Welsh out

Scotland withstood a ferocious late onslaught to spoil Sean Lynn’s first Six Nations game in charge of Wales with a hard-earned...

England 33-12 Ireland: Sarah Bern at the double to power Red Roses into life

The Red Roses enjoyed a happy homecoming to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in their first outing since the World Cup, as Meg...

Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade ‘doing everything’ to get back in the England side

Henry Slade hopes England coach Steve Borthwick will return to his tried and tested midfield partnership this summer to give the...

England’s Helena Rowland is putting her best foot forward at the 2026 Women’s Six Nations

England playmaker Helena Rowland played last year’s World Cup knowing there was a chance it would be the swansong of her...

Ernst van Rhyn commits to Sale Sharks as Courtney Lawes joins up

Ernst van Rhyn has committed himself to another three years with Sale Sharks, having found his second home in Manchester.

>> Guscott: French rivals showing England the way

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>> Cain: Quins lack the launchpad for Furbank

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>> Barbeary is the Bath hero

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Paul Rees analysis

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Les Bleues take their time to put on a show

■By MARK ROGERS Tries: Grando 21, Arbez 44, Brosseau 54, Khalfaoui 60, Murie 70, Barrat 75 Conversions: Arbez 44, 55, 61,...

We’re improving. I was super proud of all of them, says Lynn

Orr was sharp and di- That left the game fine-allowed her to return ing to cut the gap to five. ing....

This team just will not give up, says van Graan

PROUD Bath head coach Johann van Graan hailed his side’s fighting spirit after they stunned Saints at the death. “This team...

I’ve got to be a dog at the breakdown, says Willis

By BEN JAYCOCK TOULOUSE flanker and renowned jackaler Jack Willis has pinpointed the breakdown as the decisive battleground ahead of today’s...

Nick Cain: At the top level, Northampton Saints’ young guns have a bit to learn

When the European Cup reaches the last eight thankfully it has shed the hangers-on who finish in the lower end of...

Ulster march into final four with style

■By BEN JAYCOCK ULSTER moved to within one game of a first European final since 2012 with an impressive victory over...

Montpellier cash in on Connacht’s error count

■By GEORGE LAWRENCE Penalty: Gilbert 3 CONNACHT’S Challenge Cup campaign came to a disappointing end as they suffered a heavy defeat...

Zebre 32-35 Dragons: The resolute Welsh region keep cool to push the Italians out of the picture

Dragons edged a dramatic Challenge Cup quarter-final in Parma against Zebre to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their...

Chiefs looking for fast start

■By BEN JAYCOCK EXETER Chiefs head to Treviso braced for a fast start from Benetton, with director of rugby Rob Baxter...

Borthwick needs help on selection

STEVE Borthwick has been England manager for over three years now, and he has a similar win record (at roughly 60...

DREAMTEAM

SLOOT, THE FORMER CAMBRIDGE FLANKER NOW PLAYING FOR BLACKHEATH, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST... 1. Jake...

Limit Champions Cup to the top six

Letters THERE have been comments that the lack of relegation in the Prem leaves clubs nothing to play for. However clubs...

Will Furbank get the ball at Quins?

MONEY talks and it must have been screaming at George Furbank to entice the England fullback to The Stoop from Northampton....

England too good

I’M excited by the start of the women’s Six Nations, but it is only really the France game that presents a...

Lawes is the man

I MUST admit I do not watch any ProD2 rugby so I’m not sure what sort of shape Courtney Lawes is...

It’s time for one real champion to disappear

EUROPE’S match of the season kicks off on the banks of the Garonne this afternoon, the champions of Europe (Bordeaux) versus...

Nottingham fight back to secure Matt Gallagher Cup

■By CÓILÍN DUFFY Nottingham .....33pts Tries: Christian-Goss 20, Cherry 32, 40; Yarnell 66, Parks 77 Conversions: Parks 21, 33, 40, 67...

Cambridge turn up the heat on Ealing

They put everything into pressure. ■By STEVE WHILE Ealing went away with the expected five points, a defiant Cambridge pushed them...

We are still in the race for play-offs, says Cattle

■By MIKE SINCLAIR C Pirates ...........57pts Tries: Nelson 13, Yates 26, 39; Price-Thomas 35, Elderkin 44, Relton 48, Becconsall 52, Ribbons...

Caldy secure their league status for fifth year in a row

By JOHN By LUKE Caldy .................20pts Tries: Wynn 11, Gallagher 55, Owen 67 Conversion: Wilkinson 10 Penalty: Wilkinson 73 Hartpury ...........17pts...

Bracken in for hat-trick to steer the Mob home

■By LUKE JARMYN L Scottish .........19pts Tries: Clayton 24, Wilkinson 45, Law 61 Conversions: Honey 46, 62 Ampthill ........... 48pts Tries:...

Doncaster take their time to get up to pace

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster .........31pts Tries: Olowofela 8, Bainbridge 44, Rokoduguni 49, 72; Edwards 56 Conversions: Dolly 8, 44, 56 Richmond...

Red Roses blown away as France run riot

U18 Women FRANCE completed a perfect U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival campaign with a dominant 75-7 victory over England, running in...

The Championship deserved better

MENTION of Coventry’s famous 19-18 win over Newcastle in the old Courage League One 30 years ago – equivalent to the...

Titans get the board thundered up in huge 80-pointer

■By DAVID BEDDOWS Rotherham T ..80 Rams ................... 7 ROTHERHAM TITANS trampled over Rams, to move within touching distance of promotion,...

On-pace Club get their play-off place

■By GRAHAM COX Blackheath ............40 Sale FC..................... 19 BLACKHEATH soared to an emphatic victory over Sale, one which guaranteed the Club...

Park dream ‘what if’ with Mehson as the main man

■By CHARLIE WHITE Rosslyn Park .........88 Leicester Lions ...... 7 LUKE MEHSON scored a remarkable seven tries as Rosslyn Park ran...

Ding-dong affair is a victory for Dings

■By LILEE O’CALLAGHAN Dings Crusaders ..40 Bishop’s S ...............34 DINGS CRUSADERS produced a fine display of attack to secure a hard-fought...

TJs tear it up after finding quick juice

■By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J ...........33 Clifton ......................24 TONBRIDGE Juddians’ first-half dominance saw them run out winners, despite an energised fight...

Leicester Lions captain Ethan Godefroy proud despite relegation from National One

Leicester Lions captain Ethan Godefroy admits this season has been one of the toughest of his career, but believes the club...

All hail Bailey after Tykes farm last try

■By JON MEADOWS B Moseley ..............24 Leeds Tykes ..........25 BENJAMIN BAILEY’S final-minute effort saw Leeds Tykes out, after a nail-biting affair...

Tyne’s tide turner Will still simply their best!

Tynedale ......... 44pts Scunthorpe ......19pts ■By BRIAN TILLEY Tyne on top: Will Roberts breaks in the first minute to score, and...

Ionians rejoice but Bills leave in-voice

■By BRIAN NORMAN and closed the half with HULL IONIANS left it late to seal a home win against Billingham, who...

Renouf’s wing-shaking pair brings Hull goods away

Otley ......................... 12 Hull............................22 ■By NICK DOYLE ALEC RENOUF’s try-scoring exploits played a huge hand in Hull’s away win at Otley....

Douglas doubles and Checks Field

Darlington MP .......42 Macclesfield .........41 ■By IAN MORRIS BEN DOUGLAS’ pair of tries and Liam Checksfield’s hat-trick proved pivotal for Darlington...

Peter Southern: Tynedale can fight their way back to National One

Tynedale director of rugby Peter Southern thinks his club have what it takes to fight their way back into National One...