We had to win this one – George Skivington

Director of rugby George Skivington said this was a game Gloucester had to win. “We’ve been in a position in a...

Steven Luatua gives Bristol Bears reason to believe

By Roger Panting Bristol Bears .................... 31pts Tries: Ibitoye 29, Ravouvou 32, 55; Batley 70 Conversions: MacGinty 29, 32, 55, 70...

Winning ugly is important – Pat Lam

Bristol's director of rugby Pat Lam was impressed that his side could dig out victory in hard conditions. He said: “Winning...

Steve Borthwick needs strength in depth

By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week The 17 RFU central contracts announced by Steve Borthwick on Friday...

French exclusion zone is growing

It seems a criminal waste that players of the calibre of flanker Jack Willis and winger Henry Arundell are unavailable for...

Rusi Tuima: We’ve tightened up a few screws

By Paul Rees  Exeter v Harlequins - Match Preview If Exeter were to pick a team to travel to Sandy Park...

Harlequins determined to break their Sandy Park jinx

By Jon Newcombe Harlequins have faced up to facts this week and admitted that they need to put their dismal record...

Bath’s ‘bomb squad’ needs to be defused

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED CLOSE your eyes and imagine batting on a fiery Caribbean track in the 1980s, when West Indian...

Now Jonny Gray harms his chance to be a Lion

By the time the British and Irish Lions head for Wallaby country next summer, it will be 32 years since a...

Connacht too strong for slack Dragons

By Luke Jarmyn Connacht .......... 31pts Tries: Boyle 6, Blade 19, Prendergast, 39 Forde 73, Devine 80 Conversions: Forde 7, 20,...

Cardiff’s second-half fightback stuns Ulster

By Simon Thomas Cardiff ............... 21pts Tries: Stephens 49, Hughes 64, Young 68 Conversions: Sheedy 50, 65, 69 Ulster ................. 19pts...

Ospreys in charge as power pack call shots

■By ROGER PANTING Ospreys .............22pts Tries: Lake 4, Thomas 52, Parry 75 Conversions: O Williams 4, 75 Penalty: O Williams 60...

Rising stars thrive for Scarlets

■By SIMON THOMAS Scarlets ............ 30pts Tries: Rogers 28, Page 43, Murray 47, Macleod 57 Conversions: Lloyd 45, 58 Penalties: Lloyd...

Leinster made to dig deep

■ By KEVIN FALLON Leinster........... 24 Lions................... 6 LEINSTER maintained their winning start to the URC but they dropped a point...

Sharks take Munster apart

■ By JOHN FALLON Sharks..............41 Munster.......... 24 A SHARKS side laden with Springboks was too powerful for Munster but head coach...

Glasgow keep marching on

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Stormers.......... 17 Glasgow...........28 NEW Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu continued his red hot form as Glasgow powered to...

Llewellyn giving his best in attackLlewellyn

GLOUCESTER centre Max Llewellyn says the team’s new attacking style of play is bringing the best out of him after scoring...

McElroy joins Sale

SALE have signed Tadgh McElroy from Ulster until the end of the season. Luke Cowan-Dickie is with England and Tommy Taylor...

Saracens sign Swiel

SARACENS have signed versatile back Tim Swiel on a short-term deal to cover for the injured Louie Johnson. The 31-yearold, who...

We need to kick on after winning at last

Paul Rees talks to Ethan Grayson who heard from two rugby legends after he helped Newcastle end their 25-match losing run...

Tuipulotu taking the long road to Scotland

THE All Blacks will perish the thought that their pioneering exploits extend beyond strictly come war dancing, amateur lineout theatricals (Andy...

Murray’s on a wing – and a prayer …

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW BLAIR Murray began the week ‘in a state of shock’ at having gone...

Joseph Sua’ali’i out to prove he’s worth the money

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has selected rugby league convert Joseph Sua’ali’i in his 34-man squad for the autumn internationals. The 21-year-old...

Fiji get ready for Scots

PACIFIC Nations Cup champions Fiji have named a 39-player squad for the autumn Tests. Head coach Mick Byrne’s squad boasts a...

Matera to miss Italy clash

ARGENTINA flanker Pablo Matera will miss next month’s Test against Italy after being suspended for two weeks for receiving a red...

Dominant All Blacks get in the mood for England

■By BEN JAYCOCK Debut delight: Super sub Ruben Love reaches out to score a try and, PICTURES: Getty Images NEW Zealand...

Jones: We showed spirit and played some good rugby

EDDIE Jones was left frustrated that Warner Dearns’ disallowed try proved the catalyst to his side’s downfall but says he’s still...

Recall for Allan but no room for Varney

TOMMASO Allan returns from a break and Harlequins lock Dino Lamb is back from injury in Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy squad, while...

Snyman back to add his weight for Boks

LEINSTER lock RG Snyman is one of four returning World Cup winners in the South Africa squad for their autumn internationals...

Chiefs take charge in second-half comeback Quins

■By WILLIAM GUPWELL Exeter Chiefs ............... 36pts Tries: Poulin 25, Johnson 38, Penalty 46, Nielson 50, Rogers 53, Cramer 80 Conversions:...

Kildunne steps up to snatch it at the last for Quins

■By CONOR MCLARNON Harlequins .........22pts Tries: C Powell 26, Neumann 28, Phillips 65, Kildunne 75 Conversion: Tuima 75 Loughborough .. 19pts...

Bears go on rampage to leave Sale all at sea

■By STEWART McCULLOGH Sale Sharks ....... 10pts Tries: Swailes 28, Fielding 56 Bristol Bears .....57pts Tries: Nigrelli 3, Penalty 10, Keight...

RFU to provide sanitary products

SANITARY products will be provided at more than 500 rugby clubs across England in an effort to boost female participation in...

Lilli out to shine for Red Roses

■By DAN ROBERTSHAW Ambition: Lilli Ives Campion hopes to become an England regular LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning lock Lilli Ives Campion is relishing...

Infante bows out as last season’s top two face off

■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Saracens v Gloucester-Hartpury Today. Kick-off 12.45pm StoneX FORMER England scrum-half Leanne Infante plays her 100th and final...

England must show that this is their time

>> PAUL REES SAYS BORTHWICK’S MEN ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THE NEW ZEALAND CHALLENGE AND COME OUT ON TOP...

Cheika: Ollie has the class to get back to the top

By GARY FITZGERALD a Speed merchant: Ollie Hassell-Collins scoring against Gloucester last weekend MICHAEL Cheika is backing “raw” Ollie Hassell-Collins to...

Coetzee’s pulling his weight again

By JON NEWCOMBE Stand and deliver: Jaco Coetzee playing for Bath against Quins last week PICTURES: Getty Images WHETHER he starts...

Gloucester sign Nelson

By SAM JACKSON GLOUCESTER have signed Morgan Nelson from Cornish Pirates to cover injuries to their hooking department. With George McGuigan...

Williams hoping for Dragons deal

WALES centre Scott Williams is training with Dragons and head coach Dai Flanagan says it could lead to the offer of...

Call time on this pantomime ploy

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER THIS 60-second shot clock twaddle. If we must...

Why are we making life intolerable for our refs?

I’M not sure if referees have a patron Saint – such a notion probably contravenes some obscure World Rugby regulation –...

Park run rampant to tame battling Lions

By GARETH COLLINS Leicester L ..... 24 Rosslyn Park . 48 AN entertaining 11try game between two attack-minded sides went the...

Dogs snap up stylish victory

By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC.....................33 Esher ........................22 SALE saw off second-bottom Esher in an entertaining clash to make it two wins...

Henderson treble in vain for Tigers

By TOM MARKHAM Sedgley Park ........24 Blackheath ............36 BLACKHEATH flexed their muscles as they barged past Sedgley Park with a resounding...

Hayes makes hay as the sun shines on Titans

By JON MEADOWS B Moseley ........ 19pts Tries: Edwards 43, Porter 72, Brough 80 Conversions: Jolly 44, 73 Rotherham T ......

Richmond stretch unbeaten run in feast of tries

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S ............... 31 Richmond ...............43 AN 11-try thriller saw unbeaten Richmond deservedly win by the odd try...

Hayman’s double extends record

By PADDY MARSH Plymouth................. 16 Rams......................... 21 RAMS maintained their unbeaten record this season, but they were pushed all the way...

Late surge sees Dings romp clear

By BAZ JOHNSON Dings.........................46 Darlington............... 20 DINGS fully justified being favourites with a big win over Darlington Mowden Park. On paper...

Tom’s a jack of all trades with Goode role model

By BEN JAYCOCK PLYMOUTH Albion playmaker Tom Putt is a victim of his own versatility but through the guidance of director...