I’m feeling sorry for the Wallabies

AS an England supporter, I used to revel in Australia being beaten, mainly because it was so rare. However, now I’m...

Losing Jones is bad news for England

FELIX Jones quitting as England defence coach shows a lot is going wrong behind the scenes in Steve Borthwick’s coaching staff....

Move to Glasgow suits Schickerling

By Mark Stevens It wasn’t all that long ago that Patrick Schickerling was being ear-marked as a potential England bolter, a...

Dream Team – JJ Hanrahan

JJ Hanrahan, the Munster, Northampton, Clermont, Dragons, and Connacht fly-half, chooses the best XV he has played with or against... 1....

Farrell in danger of being lost in France

Jeremy Guscott Outspoken and unmissable... Every week Finn Russell’s statement about how much he’d like to reunite with Owen Farrell for...

Cambridge fall to surprise defeat

CAMBRIDGE fell to a late and unexpected defeat to National One near-neighbours Bishop’s Stortford in a typically harem-scarem encounter between the...

Canny Baxter looks like he’s found another gem

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ………… 46pts Tries: Brown-Bampoe 13, 36, 38, Vermeulen 26, Wimbush 29, Woodburn 32, Rigg 57, Dorrell 71...

Coventry are quick to get in the swing

COVENTRY reclaimed the Harry Walker Memorial Trophy with a nine-try demolition against Birmingham Moseley.

Logan double puts Blues on the right track

REUBEN Logan’s double ensured Bedford Blues made a victorious start to their pre-season schedule in a battling contest against Blackheath.

Semesa puts on a power display

SEMESA Rokoduguni, Doncaster’s new star signing, made an impressive debut at Castle Park, threatening to cause havoc each time he had...

Caldy make Sharks work hard for their victory

By John Lyon Caldy ................ 24pts Tries: Penalty 20, Rushton 31, Mitchell 44, Booth 46 Conversions: Barker 44 Sale Sharks ......

Yeandle shows he’s still the man

JACK Yeandle marked his return from injury by scoring twice as Exeter Chiefs kicked off their pre-season programme with victory over...

Rosslyn Park show Barnes how it’s done

By Ben Jaycock National One Rosslyn Park illustrated their league superiority by dispatching their London rivals Barnes 52-12. Park took the...

Pre-season fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs MONDAY, AUGUST 26 Chinnor v Rams (3pm) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST...

It’s time to call for three-man scrum

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Uncontested scrums are a blight on the fifteens game, and my solution to...

Contepomi shouldn’t have changed his winning pack

ARGENTINA are full of surprises when it comes to the Test arena, and nothing changed in the week between their epic...

Arrogance which saw two clubs excluded

THE arrogance of the Premiership in its dealings with other parts of the English club game knows no bounds. Nothing illustrates...

Saracens agree deal for Braley

SARACENS have signed former Northampton Saints scrum-half Callum Braley on a short-term contract. The 30-year-old joins on a three-month deal to...

No time to chat at Leicester

LEICESTER are desperate to make ground on the top Premiership Women’s Rugby clubs after finishing bottom of the table in their...

New pair join Chiefs

EXETER have signed centre Tamati Tua and loosehead prop Kwenzo Blose. Tua, 26, joins from ACT Brumbies but the New Zealander...

Ospreys are improving every season -Booth

By Rob Cole Toby Booth has his eyes on a prize for his ever-improving Ospreys this season and if he achieves...

Marler to miss start of the season

HARLEQUINS prop Joe Marler will miss the start of the Premiership season because of a broken foot sustained during England’s summer...

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...

I want that winner’s medal this time around

Jon Newcombe talks to Bath back rower Miles Reid as he prepares for the new Prem season Miles Reid is saving...

Daley-McLean keen to build game in north-east

By Paul Martin Katy Daley-McLean hopes hosting next summer’s World Cup will provide a much-needed boost for women’s rugby in her...

Robertson needs to redress the balance

Chris Hewett Thinking allowed It was a cheap shot, admittedly, but only a pacifist or a fool would spurn the opportunity...

TV deal will boost women’s game

THERE are two ways of looking at the BBC’s latest foray into rugby broadcasting: a deal securing exclusive rights to next...

Stick or twist? The choice at 10

Paul Rees looks ahead to New Zealand's heavyweight matches against world champions South Africa The Rugby Championship title could be decided...

I worked really hard to maximise my talent

MY LIFEIN RUGBY CHRIS COOK THE FORMER ENGLAND U20, BATH, BRISTOL, NORTHAMPTON AND ZEBRE SCRUM-HALF I CAN look back on my...

Boulton’s respect for game he loves

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW COLIN Boulton of Derby County stands astride the Himalayan peaks of Football League...

Saints are ready to open new chapter

Paul Rees reports on how things are changing at Franklin's Gardens ahead of the new season Northampton's early season form gave...

Everyone’s on a different journey – so enjoy yours

Steve Hill puts the questions to Fred Pierrepont, below, the head coach at Worthing RFC Why did you get into coaching...

Six-try Fiji prove too strong for Samoa

By JON NEWCOMBE FIJI started their bid for a sixth Pacific Nations Cup title with a 42-16, six-try win over arch...

James will prove to be a star at Racing

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER HERE’S a little prediction that will either leave...

Throwing the ball in straight at the lineout should be a given

IS there anybody out there who can explain to me, preferably in words of two syllables or less, the rationale behind...

When the French were sent packing

BRENDAN GALLAGHER ON WHY FRANCE ENDED UP SPENDING 16 YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS Brendan Gallagher looks back on ‘The Rupture’ when...

Despite everything, it all worked out pretty well in the end

RUGBY has never been good with the unintended consequences of change and the knock on effects were considerable. Let’s go through...

FRANCE’S LAST STAND

Les Blues played their last Championship game for 16 years on April 6 1931 – Easter Monday – although at the...

Young Guns – Ben Coen

Young Guns - England u20 fly-half Ben Coen, by Ben Jaycock Ben Coen has enjoyed an incredible season that saw him...

Rae: Good to see promotion back

By BEN JAYCOCK WITH promotion a realistic possibility for Championship clubs heading into the new season it has created renewed excitement...

Northampton given tough route in cup

PREMIERSHIP champions Northampton have been drawn alongside big rivals Leicester, Coventry and Nottingham in pool two of the 2024/25 Premiership Rugby...

Tainton is right to highlight problems

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME TOM Tainton, Bristol Bears’ chief operating officer, has said that the professional...

The culture of playing through pain has got to stop – it is so outdated

Barney Davies, a 24-year-old who retired from the game with concussion issues, is urging a new approach The stigma around toughness...

BBC will be covering all 32 World Cup games

By PAUL MARTIN On top: WXV champions England are favourotes to lift the World Cup WORLD Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin believes...

Carbonel will add the flair for Stade

James Harrington French column Last season, Stade Francais finished second in the Top 14 to qualify directly for the semi-finals –...

La Rochelle hit lucky

It was a while ago, now, but French rugby watchers with longer memories may recall the other Top 14 semi-final between...

Youngsters were quick to take their chances

Ben Jaycock caught up with England U18s assistant and backs coach Will Parkin Reaching out: Noah Caluori scores for England against...

England can’t keep South Africa at bay

By BEN JAYCOCK South Africa.....39pts England.............. 17pts EXETER Chiefs scrum-half George Newman scored a first half wonder try but England U18s...

Finn Russell: I’d love to forge creative axis with Owen Farrell on Lions tour

The rivals butted heads for years as influential playmakers for Scotland and England but struck up a friendship during the 2021...

Joe Marler faces race to be fit for England’s autumn internationals

Joe Marler will miss the start of Harlequins’ season with the broken foot sustained during England’s summer tour to place doubt...