Six-try Scotland too good for Wales

Scotland ........40 Wales...............14 SCOTLAND cruised to a six-try victory in Edinburgh to make it back-to-back wins over Wales in 2024. Wales...

DREAMTEAM

MURRAY M cCALLUM, THE NEWCASTLE AND FORMER SCOTLAND, EDINBURGH AND WORCESTER PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH... 1....

Too much of a good thing can be overkill

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED "People might think it’s arrogant,” said Rian Oberholzer, the chief executive of the Springbok domain, just the...

Baffled by alliances at ‘the Allianz’

THE word “succession” has taken on a different, darker hue since Brian Cox effed and blinded his way through four whole...

Pumas humble sorry Aussies

Argentina ......67 Australia.........25 AUSTRALIA looked to be cruising to victory leading 20-3 midway through the first half before the Pumas ripped...

Marx on parade to make it four in a row

By Paul Rees South Africa ………………… 18pts Tries: Kolisi 48, Marx 73 Conversions: Pollard 49 Penalties: Pollard 31, Feinberg-Mngomezulu 54 New...

When it really matters, Pollard gets the vote

Brendan Gallagher So in the week that we learnt a proper All Blacks tour of South Africa is likely in 2026,...

Time we stopped indulging the haka

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER THERE is so much disingenuous hypocritical twaddle surrounding...

I’d fear the worst for Wallabies and Pumas

SO what to make of New Zealand’s proposed tour of South Africa in 2026, in fact it’s more than just a...

Springboks show why you should never give up

NEVER give up or underestimate the power of adversity. Never think a goal is out of reach and simply impossible to...

Nucifora shows the way forward

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Master: David Nucifora will start work with Scotland in December PICTURE: Getty Images...

The day one Newbridge became four

SO, UEFA deemed it necessary to hire extra security guards to protect their new AI-based draw for the Champions League from...

For me, you have to go out to play good rugby and enjoy yourself

Q&A As he approaches his 20th season as director of rugby at Bedford Blues, Mike Rayer chats to Jon Newcombe about...

PGP analysis – Borthwick given strong hand

Analysis Paul Rees looks at the new men's Professional Game Partnership Gand says it's a deal which suits the RFU more...

Titans lay a marker down with gritty win over Park

Rotherham T .. 31 Rosslyn Park.. 21 ■ By DAVID BEDDOWS NEWLY-promoted Rotherham Titans hit the ground running by taking the...

Tigers maul Esher in 20-minute blitz

Sedgley Park ........65 Esher........................24 ■ By TOM MARKHAM SEDGLEY Park demolished Esher on their return to National League One rugby in...

Moseley conquer visiting Crusaders

B Moseley ..............40 Dings Crusaders .. 20 By JON MEADOWS DESPITE spending much of the opening period in their own half,...

Richmond’s defensive efforts deny Club joy

■ By GRAHAM COX Blackheath ...... 20pts Tries: Ffitch 17, Hennessey 62 Conversions: Ffitch 17, 62 Penalties: Ffitch 15, 55 Richmond...

Rayment running riot for Stortford on poignant day

Bishop’s S...............36 Leicester Lions .... 12 ■ By JOHN ALLANSON THIS game was dedicated to the memory of Stortford’s former 4th...

Superior Sale enjoy trip south

Plymouth A ............. 19 Sale FC.....................28 ■ By JOHN BUTCHER SALE’S superior game management ensured a well-earned away victory in challenging...

Hat-trick Hayman leads by example

Rams ......................... 41 Darlington MP....... 12 ■ By RICHARD ASHTON MAX HAYMAN enjoyed a sensational start to his tenure as captain...

Law is happy to step in and help DMP’s crop of young talent

■ By BEN JAYCOCK GARRY Law is approaching 40, but that will not stop his duties as player-coach continuing at Darlington...

Rowntree keeps his cool as late kick seals win

Hull..................... 12 Otley................... 13 ■ By RICHARD GORE DESPITE scoring two tries to one, Hull were eventually undone by Otley’s scrum-half...

Dominant Dale pass Tigers test

Wharfedale............22 Sheffield Tigers...... 8 ■ By EDWIN WILLIAMS WHARFEDALE grabbed a bonus-point win to start their campaign, while a plucky Tigers...

Groark aids hosts to open the Gate

Billingham..............33 Harrogate................ 12 ■ By MIKE BROWN A CLINICAL second-half performance from Billingham saw them secure a bonus-point victory. An early...

Sheffield’s Posa is left proud as punch

Sheffield............38pts Fylde...................19pts ■ By ANDREW SMITH SHEFFIELD head coach Anthony Posa was a happy man as his side kicked off the...

Hoppers grounded after missing late conversion

Preston G................. 30 Chester.....................32 ■ By TOM KELLY CHESTER made a winning return to the National 2 North, where they edged...

Lymm joyous over away-day success

Hull Ionians............27 Lymm........................39 ■ By BRIAN NORMAN LYMM came away from Brantingham Park with the spoils after an entertaining clash against...

Tykes hope romp sets tone for year

Leeds Tykes...........47 Tynedale................... 5 ■ By BEN CROPPER PRE-SEASON title favourites Leeds Tykes lived up to their billing with a comprehensive...

‘Full circle’ moment for Hayes with Chester gig

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Coach: Rhys Hayes in action last season for Caldy RHYS Hayes has hung up his boots and...

Wills wins it with the final kick to sting the hosts

Hornets..............27 Redruth.............29 ■ By JON RICHARDSON DEAN Wills was Redruth’s hero as his last-minute penalty snatched victory to break Hornets hearts....

Mayell proves too strong for Titans

Loughborough S....33 Taunton Titans....... 3 ■ By SAM SMITH IN-FORM Loughborough Students welcomed Taunton for the first time in the two...

No sweet start for league new boys

Bournville...............40 Devonport S............22 By PAUL BOLTON DEVONPORT Services were given a tough introduction to national league rugby by a Bournville side...

Anderson steps up to secure top draw

Exeter Uni.......... 15pts Clifton................. 15pts ■ By JOSH THOMAS CLIFTON produced a brilliant second-half performance to stun Exeter University after they...

Welcome back! Brassington’s the star of the show

Camborne................52 Macclesfield..........25 ■ By BILL HOOPER CAMBORNE began their campaign in fine style, scoring eight tries with Aden Brassington bagging a...

There’s no Luc in second-half storm

Hinckley.................. 17 Luctonians..............27 ■ By CHRIS CAMPBELL LUCTONIANS secured victory in a battle of attrition between two physical sides thanks two...

Late Cinderford surge not enough

Old Redcliffians....38 Cinderford............... 31 ■ By MO SHER AN ABSORBING, high-scoring encounter at Scotland Lane went the way of the hosts,...

Cozens can see selection headaches on Clifton horizon

■ By BEN JAYCOCK PLAYER-COACH Luke Cozens has had to make way for Clifton’s new batch of fly-halves who aim to...

Simmonds makes the difference as Raiders do battle

Guernsey......... 24 Worthing........... 16 ■ By MIKE MARSHALL FOURTEEN-MAN Guernsey edged out Worthing in a tight tussle between the Raiders. Guernsey...

Wonderful Webb has Quins in spin

Barnes......................47 Oxford H...................22 ■ By MICHAEL WHITFIELD BARNES opened their account with victory over Quins Star man Paul Webb made the...

Canterbury blow Colchester away

Canterbury..............53 Colchester.............. 13 ■ By TAFF GWILLIAM CANTERBURY were in red-hot form on the opening day of the campaign, clocking up...

Barnes treble helps TJs to dominate Dorking

Tonbridge J..... 45pts Dorking............... 31pts ■ By GARETH WITHERS All action: Dorking on the attack and, right, Tonbridge take the battle...

Star man Carr drives Havant to a super opener

Havant......................25 Sevenoaks.............. 15 ■ By PETE MAYHEAD AFTER 15 years away, Havant roared back into the national leagues with a hard-fought...

It’s no stroll in the Park for Combe

Westcombe P.........29 Bury St Ed’s.............24 ■ By JOHN VALLELY COMBE were involved in another high-scoring encounter to start the 24/25 season,...

Hawks hang on to deny the hosts

Old Albanian........... 21 Henley Hawks.......22 ■ By RICHARD HOMER HENLEY came out the right side of a tense one-point affair. The...

Ford aiming to Bury all memories of sorry finish

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Big changes: Bury St Edmunds boss Jacob Ford JACOB Ford has overhauled his squad at Bury St...

I couldn’t let my old club go to the wall

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER WEST HARTLEPOOL PLAYER, CAPTAIN AND COACH, WHO ALSO REPRESENTED DURHAM, THE NORTH AND BRITISH POLICE JOHN...

Hard to pin the blame on unions

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME AS IF things in the game aren’t bad enough, the BBC’s Rugby...

PATRICK HOGG

YOUNG GUNS NEWCASTLE & ENGLAND U18 FORWARD England U18s captain Patrick Hogg is using his time at Newcastle Falcons to pick...

A French triumph against the odds

Brendan Gallagher on the ten-match tour which changed rugby in France for ever FRANCE’S ten-match tour and series win in South...