Lennox Anyanwu gets his chance to replace Esterhuizen

Lennox Anyanwu starts at inside-centre for Harlequins as they begin life without South African talisman Andre Esterhuizen. The 23-year-old has filled...

Once again, the RFU is failing second tier

By Nick Cain READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK A new English season starts this weekend with strife and frustration in...

Twickenham stadium deal may come at a cost

The idea that the renaming of Twickenham as the Allianz Stadium for a reported £100m over 10 years is such a...

Fantasy Rugby 2024/25

PRIZE MONEY WINNER £500 SECOND £250 THIRD £125 LAST £250 MANAGER OF THE MONTH £25 SECOND £10 THIRD £5 LAST £10...

Rugby Rivalries that don’t stand the test of time

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Eyes down all you pub quiz...

Sorry, but it now looks like Eben Etzebeth got away with one

So, for 10 months or more I have been defending Eben Etzebeth, and by implication referee Ben O’Keeffe, for the deliberate...

Scarlets denied in final minutes

By Simon Thomas Benetton ........20 Scarlets ..........20 The Scarlets were denied a memorable victory at the death out in Treviso, but...

Alex Nankivell the difference as Munster win a thriller

By John Fallon Munster ...........35pts Tries: Nankivell 29, Haley 32, Hodnett 45, Coombes 60, Daly 70 Conversions: Burns 29, 33, 46,...

Luke Yendle in place to steal it for Dragons

By Simon Thomas Dragons...............23pts Tries: Keddie 28, Yendle 84 Conversions: Evans 29, 85 Penalties: Evans 1, 24, 77 Ospreys ............... 21pts...

Emiliano Boffelli injury woes add to Edinburgh problems

By Bryn Palmer Edinburgh......... 31pts Tries: Schoeman 11, Van der Merwe 32, 65, Cherry 42, Scott 80 Conversions: Thompson 12, 43,...

Glasgow Warriors fall to Ulster’s late grab

By Rory Morrow Ulster ..............20 Glasgow..........19 Ulster struck late as substitute Dave Shanahan’s last-gasp try earned a dramatic win over the...

Callum Sheedy gives Cardiff some reasons to be cheerful

By Simon Thomas Cardiff ..............22pts Tries: Winnett 10, Stephens 18, D Thomas 24, McNally 56 Conversion: Sheedy 11 Zebre................. 17pts Tries:...

Kate Williams clinches historic victory

By James Orpin Wales .............. 31 Australia........ 24 Wales beat Australia in dramatic fashion with Kate Williams going over in the...

Matt Kvesic finds his feet to make it easy for Coventry

By Paul Smith London Scots .. 19pts Tries: Mpiko 60, Ferdinand 78, 80 Conversions: Sheppard 60, Lloyd-Seed 78 Coventry .......... 45pts...

Ealing Trailfinders show why they are favourites to retain Championship title

By William Gupwell Ealing T ............55pts Tries: Williams 5, Reid 11, 78; Holgate 17, Taylor 35, Bird-Tulloch 53, Moore 60, Hampson...

New boys Chinnor open up in fine style

By Steve Jackson Cambridge ....................... 24pts Tries: Caven 17, 77; Sylvester 48, Veness 67 Conversions: Grimoldby 49, 68 Chinnor.............................. 57pts Tries:...

Jordan Olowofela shows the way for Semesa Rokoduguni

By Guy Williams Doncaster K .... 45pts Tries: Olowofela 1, 7, 46; Roberts 7, Tait 35, Bennett 40, Rokoduguni 80 Conversions:...

Will Maisey pulls the strings to set Bedford Blues on right road

By Andy Hastings Bedford B ........ 45pts Tries: James 3, Worley 17, 23; James 36, Le Bourgeois 58, Cousins 79 Conversions:...

Injury blow to John Stevens mars trip for Cornish Pirates

By Rob Wildman Nottingham...... 18pts Tries: Clayton 21, Ecclesfield 80 Conversions: Arden 21 Penalties: Arden 18, 60 Cornish P ......... 24pts...

Despite bankruptcy, USA Sevens are in good shape

Ben Jaycock talks to Mike Friday about his ten years with USA Sevens – and watching son Lucas Mike Friday recently...

Bedford’s DNA impresses powerhouse Joel Matavesi

By Ben Jaycock Joel Matavesi has committed himself to Bedford Blues having been enticed by the club’s expansive and entertaining style...

Maverick Shea the hardest of them all

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW NEWPORT heralded the season with a birthday bash on a lavish scale, filling...

Why is so much of the club game hidden behind a paywall?

AS more and more club football basks in the glare of the multi-million audiences on free-to-air television coverage, an increasing amount...

Conor O’Shea backing England A to bridge the gap

By Ben Jaycock England A return to action in November and RFU director of performance Conor O’Shea feels they have a...

Wallabies push All Blacks to the limit in thriller

By Ben Jaycock Australia....................................................... 28pts Tries: McReight 18, Faessler 36, Paisami 65, Wright 79 Conversions: Lolesio 19, 37, 66, 79 New...

Slipper spreads the love as he hits 140 caps

JAMES Slipper has become the most-capped player in Australian rugby history. Loosehead Slipper made his debut against England in Perth back...

Fiji make it two in a row as they see off Japan

By James Orpin Fiji ..................... 41 Japan...............17 Fiji won the Pacific Nations Cup for the seventh time – and second year...

Making the game pay is still the main challenge

>> PAUL REES CONSIDERS THE OPTIONS AS TEAMS FROM ACROSS EUROPE AND SOUTH AFRICA KICK OFF THE NEW SEASON The dawn...

England aiming for a repeat success

By Ben Jaycock and James Orpin Break: Abby Dow scores against New Zealand and, inset, John Mitchell PICTURES: Getty Images ENGLAND...

Wales and Scotland are in the mood to prove themselves

Star: Jasmine Joyce WXV 2 FOLLOWING their bottom-place finish in the Six Nations, Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham has galvanaised his...

WXV 3 Newcomers prepare for Dubai test

WXV 3 takes place in Dubai with newcomers Madagascar, Hong Kong and Netherlands welcomed into the fray this year. There’s an...

Rotherham Titans put down a marker after haul by Hayes

By David Beddows Rotherham T . 48 Esher ................. 19 Rotherham overcame a spirited display from Esher to extend their winning...

Dings Crusaders enjoy away-day success

By Joe Barnes-Taylor Sedgley Park .........11 Dings C..................... 20 Sedgley Tigers hosted Dings Crusaders yesterday and the first half saw Dings...

Birmingham Moseley continue their upward curve

By Jon Meadows B Moseley ..............28 Bishop’s S............... 14 Moseley were quick out of the blocks with a penalty to touch....

Rams finally end their Sale hoodoo with rout

By Richard Ashton Rams ..................33pts Sale FC................. 0pts Tries: Graham 34 Pozniak 41 Clow 44 Hayman 54 R Stapley 64 Conversions:...

Blackheath’s strong finish is too much for Park

By Graham Cox Blackheath ............32 Rosslyn Park .........24 An excellent game, fast, furious and physical saw Blackheath leading for all bar...

Plymouth Albion withstand Lions’ late charge

By Paddy Marsh Plymouth A.............27 Leicester Lions.....22 Plymouth recorded their first win of the season with a hard-earned win over Leicester,...

Richmond run riot to remain perfect

By Timothy Forrester Richmond................48 Darlington MP......... 7 Richmond maintained their impressive start to the season with a thumping home win to...

Pre-season will stand Rosslyn Park in good stead, says Kieran Power

By Chris Collyer Despite coming up short against Richmond after a last-minute drop goal by Lewis Dennett, Rosslyn Park’s director of...

Joe Fawcett’s hat-trick matches Roberts in thriller

By John Clark Wharfedale.... 34 Tynedale..........28 Wharfedale came out on top of a superb match as they survived Tynedale’s comeback. Straight...

Nathan Beesley stars in great Lymm start

By Joe Santamaria Lymm........................49 Fylde......................... 14 Lymm continued their strong start to the season with a third victory in as many...

Tigers are tamed in late, late show

By TOM KELLY Preston G.................27 Sheffield Tigers....26 A last-minute converted try saw Preston Grasshoppers snatch the win against Sheffield Tigers. After...

Last-gasp drop-goal missed in a slugfest

By MIKE BROWN Billingham........ 19pts Otley.................... 17pts BILLINGHAM grabbed a narrow win over Otley in a desperately tight and physical encounter....

Ionians stand firm as defence is key to victory HULL

By BRIAN NORMAN Hull Ionians............ 30 Chester..................... 19 HULL Ionians’ strong defence proved the key to victory as they ground out...

Home fires still burn after try-fest

By DAN WILSON Sheffield..................57 Harrogate................ 19 SHEFFIELD continued their impressive home form from last season with a nine-try demolition of Harrogate....

Flying start sets up Tykes victory

By BEN CROPPER Leeds Tykes...........49 Hull............................ 16 LEEDS Tykes maintained their unbeaten start to the season by racking up a near...

Shard aims for heights in Lymm’s second go

By TOM KELLY Confident: Tom Shard is aiming high this season LYMM fly-half Tom Shard has urged his team to push...

Uni boys maintain top start to their campaign

By ALEX GREGGOR Exeter Uni........ 43 Macclesfield.. 24 EXETER University continued their unbeaten start to the season with a solid win....

Rob makes sure opportunity Knox

By PAUL BOLTON Bournville...............34 Redruth....................22 BOURNVILLE banked their second home bonus-point win of the season but made hard work of subduing...

Matavesi is main man for the hosts

By BILL HOOPER Camborne................58 Taunton Titans.....25 JOSH MATAVESI gave a masterclass as the Cherry & Whites once again put in a...