No stopping the American battlers

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points IT’S exactly 100 years ago since France and...

Don’t let our sport move to summer

RUGBY MATTERS NOT for the first time I offer a heartfelt warning against those who continue to argue for a switch...

Spanish youngsters show how to tackle low

RUGBY MATTERS I DON’T know if you caught any of Spain’s game against Italy at the Junior World Cup last Sunday...

Flamboyant Harlequins add steel to their spine

HARLEQUINS are following the path trodden by Northampton a year ago, one that took the Saints to Twickenham and the title...

Playing for your country is the biggest honour

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER USA HOOKER AND HEAD COACH, WHO PLAYED PROFESSIONALLY FOR HARLEQUINS AND PONTYPRIDD TOM BILLUPS IWAS born...

All Black who was bristling with pride

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW On the front foot: Norm Hewitt leads the Haka before a match against...

Wrong that Hill was picked in the first place

GIVEN the dysfunctional state of their national game, perhaps only Wales could find a long-overdue win mired in a sorry controversy...

Protesters who lit the flame under apartheid

Brendan Gallagher looks back on the 1969/70 Springbok tour to England and the huge opposition it generated SPORT’s important role in...

Macclesfield ready for the long haul…

Q&A Ben Jaycock talks to new Macclesfield director of rugby Matt Coleridge, bottom, about the challenges his newly promoted side will...

It takes a long time to learn ‘the dark arts’

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME SO IT was a second defeat in New Zealand for an England...

Overseas stars join top teams

Ben Jaycock reports on the increasing popularity of the Women’s Prem as 30 imports sign for the top sides in England...

Vannes facing a tough early test

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Promoted ProD2 winners Vannes will kick off their first-ever season in the Top 14 at home against...

You are only ever as good as your players

Steve Hill puts the questions to David Marshall, below, head coach of Westcombe Park in National Two East and backs coach...

Cromack: We can follow path set by footballers

Women’s U20 Summer Series By PAUL EDDISON Women’s rugby can follow the example set by the growth of women’s football according...

Bristol heading to Cardiff for one home fixture

BRISTOL Bears will play a home Premiership fixture at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium next season. The match on May 10 will be...

Patchell becomes a rocket in Japan

On the move: Rhys Patchell scoring a try for the Highlanders last season PICTURES: Alamy WALES fly-half Rhys Patchell has joined...

Rivals prepare for warm-up matches

By SAM JACKSON FIXTURES for the innovative PWR Up Series have been confirmed ahead of its debut this September. Three weekends...

Saracens move for ex-England U18s forward

SARACENS have signed former England U18 forward Harry Wilson from Doncaster. The 27-year-old, who can play lock or back row, scored...

England crowned Junior World Cup champions

Under a full moon at the DHL stadium, the Under 20’s World Championship came to an enthralling end as England emerged...

Baby Blacks beat Ireland to the podium

New Zealand secured third place in the U20 World Championship with a 38-24 victory over the Irish, after coming alive in...

Scotland u20s back in the big time

By James Orpin Scotland have secured their spot back in the big time of age-grade rugby. They won the Rugby Trophy...

England u20s take on France for World Championship glory

By James Orpin This Friday will see England’s next generation look to end France’s reign on the u20 championship, it will...

Cory Hill apologises for past ‘mistake’ as he prepares to captain Wales

Wales end their Australia tour by tackling Queensland Reds. Wales lock Cory Hill says he regrets an incident that happened three...

Don’t judge us on this one game – Mapletoft

Mark Mapletoft has taken the pressure off his World Championship hunting England side by saying this week’s final is not the...

Rugby union rookie Regan Grace handed Wales start against Queensland

The former rugby league star played twice for Bath last season. Regan Grace will start for Wales in only his third...

England secure u20s final with hard-fought win over Ireland

By Will Gupwell England………………..31 Tries: Wright 24, Allen 30, Kerr 41 Conversions: Kerr 25, 31,  Penalties: Kerr 37, 51, 57, 80...

George: I just can’t wait for rematch

From ADAM HATHAWAY at Eden Park England captain Jamie George is desperate for a rematch with the All Blacks after another...

Ireland stun world champions

By SAM JACKSON Super-sub Ciaran Frawley landed a last second drop-goal to write his name into Ireland legend as Andy Farrell’s...

Borthwick approach tempted Strawbridge

By ADAM HATHAWAY Assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge reckons England are a team on the up and that persuaded him to throw...

Blackheath agree £1.5m deal to buy ground

By Jon Newcombe Blackheath managing director Russell Ticehurst has hailed the purchase of Well Hall as “a momentous day” in the...

Only our best will do, says Carnduff

By JAMES ORPIN FINN Carnduff leads England U20s out to face old rivals Ireland today knowing they must produce their best...

Underhill so impressed by England’s improvement

By ADAM HATHAWAY Sam Underhill is a decent barometer of England’s progress in the last 12 months having watched them from...

Agony for England as they fail to breach the All Black fortress

By Adam Hathaway in Eden Park New Zealand................... 24pts Tries: Tele’a 11, 61 Conversions: McKenzie 12 Penalties: McKenzie 21, 38, 69,...

A thunderous match that had no losers

PAUL REES The first thing that needs to be said is that this was an absorbing Test match between two teams...

High-risk blitz puts England in charge

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK There's nothing not to like about England’s blitz defence. It’s bold, gutsy, and good...

Hat-trick for Ashman as Scots down the Eagles

By Sam Jackson USA ........................ 7pts Tries: Boni 32 Conversions: MacGinty 33 Scotland .......... 42pts Tries: van der Merwe 6, Ashman...

Aussies made to fight all the way

By Roger Panting Australia........................... 36pts Tries: Daugunu 7, 67; Gordon 25, Alaalatoa 54 Conversions: Lolesio 8, 26 Penalties: Lolesio 15, 31,...

We have makings of a good team – Gatland

Wales produced their best performance of the year but still fell to their ninth successive defeat – and a 15th loss...

Wales show defiance but the wait goes on

PETER JACKSON All week long the Red Dragon legions had planned their regimental mobilisation with just enough military precision to let...

Overseas stars are blocking new talent

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There is a double standard in English rugby that stands out as a...

Future’s looking bright up front

There were reasons to be cheerful in wet and windy Cape Town in midweek. England might have a better scrummaging future...

European Cup must only be for elite

Nick Cain Column When an elite competition like the European Cup comes up with a dullard draw which has deposed two-time...

Ireland’s ecstasy as cool Frawley steals it

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER South Africa..................... 24pts Penalties: Pollard 19, 35, 45, 48, 53, 57, 61, 65 Ireland............................... 25pts Tries: Murray 14...

On-target Garbisi shows the way for Italy

International round-up Italy beat Tonga 36-14 in Nuku’alofa as the Azzurri bounced back from a shock defeat to Samoa on their...

Josh McNally: I still have a lot more to give

Josh McNally views his move to Cardiff as the perfect outcome after contemplating for a time that his rugby career may...

DREAMTEAM

John Liley, the former Wakefield, Leicester, Moseley and Worcester full-back, chooses the best XV he has played with or against... 1....

European elite keen to exclude outsiders

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Whichever way you care to define the i-word, it was an interesting few hours for Canadian sport....

Slipper deserves place at top table

Wallaby props? How we used to snigger at them over here in England as Jason Leonard, Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan...

Entertaining the crowds is not the only thing

Paul Rees says that, while attracting a new audience is important, the game must not ignore its core support Scott Robertson...

Six Nations may stick to Saturdays

The Six Nations is considering playing all three matches in a round on Saturdays, something that has been reserved only for...