England challenge

England will host world champions New Zealand, and France in September as they build up to hosting the Women’s Rugby World...

All over for Lewington

Saracens wing Alex Lewington will retire at the end of the season. The 32-year-old, who was part of Saracens’ Champions Cup...

Ramm: We are up for a fight to the finish

By PAUL REES James Ramm believes Northampton’s exploits in the Champions Cup will boost their bid to not only make the...

Hendy making most of having his legs on ‘back to front’ – Dowson

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson believes George Hendy is a wing unlike any other – because he has his legs on...

Llewellyn adds some power

By JON NEWCOMBE Gloucester are reaping the rewards of Max Llewellyn’s weight-gain mission during the Six Nations, with the 109kg hulking...

Saracens turn their sights on May

Saracens are in talks with England and Gloucester winger Jonny May, below, about a move this summer. Saracens had also spoken...

Another year for O’Mahony

Ireland skipper Peter O’Mahony has signed a new one-year contract at Munster after speculation he was set to retire. The 34-year-old...

Offiah Jnr ready to make mark at Bath

ON THE BLINDSIDE By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Tyler Offiah is setting himself up for life on and off the field as the...

Porter set for Aussie return

England centre Guy Porter looks set to return to Australia this summer with the view to representing the Wallabies. Porter, who...

Dream Team with Billy Harding

The Blackheath, England Counties and former Rosslyn Park, London Scottish, Esher, Wasps, Ampthill & Coventry hooker, chooses the best XV he...

The pinball wizard who can fire Exeter

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK IMMANUEL Feyi-Waboso was a pretty unknown factor before the Six Nations, but the 21-year-old...

Green seizes day for dazzling Quins

By PAUL REES Bordeaux-Begles ...........41pts Tries: Lucu 19, Buros 24, Depoortere 42, Bielle-Biarrey 59, Tambwe 64, 75 Conversions: Lucu 25, 43,...

Millard: We knew we had to dig deep

Billy Millard said Harlequins knew they would have to dig deep to reach their first Champions Cup semi-final after travelling to...

Sparkling Leinster get it right this time

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster............................. 40pts Tries: Lowe 16, 60; Gibson-Park 37, Baird 42, Sheehan 56 Conversions: Byrne 18, 38, 43 Penalties:...

Doris: Croke will be massive

Leinster's victorious squad are looking forward to their ‘home” semi-final at the 82,000 capacity Croke Park, two miles across Dublin from...

Saints on rampage as Bulls fall apart

By GARY FITZGERALD  Northampton Saints..... 59pts Tries: Ramm 10, 47; Lawes 15, Sleightholme 20, Mitchell 24, 67; Coles 40, Dingwall 50,...

We won’t stop until the final whistle -Yeandle

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Toulouse v Exeter Chiefs Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Ernest Wallon Triumph: Exeter celebrate victory against Bath in...

Easy to spot the fairer competition

BRENDAN Gallagher reports on Leinster’s convincing win over Leicester Tigers in the European Champions Cup last 16. The Leinster side is...

Six minutes wasted

TO increase ball-in-play time I suggest that if a a try is scored under the posts it be an automatic seven...

Losers survive

WITH four games to go it looks like Newcastle might go down but, I forgot there is no relegation for losing...

A one-point ‘try’

I KNOW the ball never goes in straight at scrum or lineout, there are forward passes galore and the jackal is...

We’re ready for big finish, says Millard

By BEN JAYCOCK Harlequins face the toughest run-in of the Premiership’s top four contenders and director of rugby Billy Millard knows...

Exeter confirm swoop for Ealing’s Roots

Exeter Chiefs have confirmed the signing of Ealing Trailfinders prop Jimmy Roots, as revealed in The Rugby Paper last month. The...

Dawson predicts the battle at 10 will benefit England

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The Fin Smith–Marcus Smith fly-half debate was given a good airing when Matt...

RFU needs a sense of proportion

The RFU has always maintained that promotion-relegation is sacrosanct, even though the RFU Council agreed in February 2021 to a so-called...

Another barmy idea from the men in suits

The Ministry of Silly Walks was a Monty Python sketch which lampooned bureaucratic inefficiency. Rugby Union requires something similar to shame...

Sharks too strong for ordinary Edinburgh

By BRYN PALMER Sharks ...............36pts Tries: Am 16, J Venter 26, Mbonambi 55 Conversions: Masuku 17, 27, 56 Penalties: Masuku 48,...

On-target Carreras makes no mistake

By ROGER PANTING Gloucester .........23pts Tries: Blake 30 Penalties: Carreras 6, 18, 34, 49, 60, 65 Ospreys............... 13pts Tries: Giles 13...

Murphy promises new focus after Ulster are demolished by Clermont

By JOHN FALLON Clermont...........53pts Tries: Yato 18, 68, Sowakula 36, 60, Newsome 44, Simmons 64, Jurand 80 Conversions: Belleau 19, 37,...

Coach praises efforts in defence

GLOUCESTER director of rugby George Skivington praised his side’s defensive effort. He said: “After missing so many tackles in our league...

Connacht know they must rise to the occasion

By SAM JACKSON PREVIEW... Benetton v Connacht Today. Kick-off 12.30pm CONNACHT know they will have to go up a gear to...

Ireland get in mood for Twickenham showdown

By SAM JACKSON Ireland...............36pts Tries: Wafer 13, Higgins 19, Jones 25, Corrigan 41, Parsons 59 Conversions: O’Brien 15, 20, 26, 42...

Red card can’t stop England rampage

By BEN JAYCOCK Scotland .............................. 0pts England............................. 46pts Tries: Cokayne 6, Dow 11, Kildunne 33, 64; Kabeya 43, Breach 51, 58;...

France predict fierce battle

Preview France v Italy Today. 12.30pm LES Bleues have recorded wins over Ireland and Scotland to leave them second behind England...

Red Roses: Gloucester-Hartpury prop Mackenzie Carson

By BEN JAYCOCK Birthplace: British Columbia, Canada Date of birth: 24/06/98 Community club: Abbotsford RFC Red Roses debut: vs Scotland March...

Classy Quins on Easy Street

Leicester .........19 Harlequins ......33 By LOUIS CHAPMAN-COOMBE Harlequins' first-half dominance saw them coast to a convincing victory over competition newcomers Leicester...

Webb looking to get Bears firing

By BEN JAYCOCK Preview Bristol v Gloucester-Hartpury Today. Kick-off 3pm MEG Webb makes her first start of the season as Bristol...

Saracens cement place in cup final

By HARRY SCOTT-MUNRO Saracens ..........36pts Tries: Cleall 5, 19; Penalty 32, Kasolo 34, Gondwe 39, Clapp 43 Conversions: MacDougall 35, 39...

Deadeye Green has Lightning in Control

Sale ...................12 L’borough ........22 By DAVID WILSON Loughborough full-back Lia Green played a starring role and barely missed a kick as...

Time for props to take their share of the glory

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED OVERMATCHED teams usually find themselves facing the music without having to listen to any. It was different...

We need Biarrtitz back to their best

SERGE Blanco, the finest full-back ever to grace the union game, spent his entire club career at Biarritz. So did the...

Pirates keep Hartpury at bay to stay in the race

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury RFC ...25pts Tries: Barton 4, Penalty 44, Hunt 68 Conversions: Bazalgette 69 Penalties: Bazalgette 30, 72 Cornish...

Ampthill hold on to deny Bedford

By SHAWN TAYLOR Bedford Blues...............24pts Tries: Worley 15, French 28, Adamson 41, 70 Conversions: Maisey 16, 42 Ampthill.......................... 29pts Tries: Jackson...

Doncaster looking for revenge after Caldy’s December win

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Doncaster v Caldy Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Castle Park DONCASTER Knights are out for revenge after the Merseysiders...

Scottish find their feet in second-half comeback

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge .......13pts Try: Hanks 19 Conversion: James 20 Penalties: James 26, Caven 32 London Scots.. 43pts Tries: White...

Coventry get set for a battle in the mud

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Nott’mv Coventry Today. Kick-off 3pm, Lady Bay Return: Will Chudley starts for Coventry COVENTRY head coach Alex...

More local derbies in the north would help

Former Richmond boss Steve Hill talks to Ben Woods, below, the head coach at Tynedale in National Two North Why did...

Owen’s delight as Old Reds get ahead of the game

By BEN JAYCOCK Old Redcliffians have exceeded expectations this season and are ahead of time in the club’s five-year plan. The...

Rugby schedule has little to do with player welfare

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A roll of drums and a fanfare of trumpets late last summer heralded...

Pienaar heads the list for Europe’s golden oldies

In the course of wheeling their way into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend against the Cheetahs, the Michelin Men of...