Chessum and Martin were really ‘up for it’, says McKellar

Leicester boss Dan McKellar paid tribute to his young locks Ollie Chessum and George Martin. The Australian said they were “up...

Sleightholme leads the Saints fightback

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Exeter ................................ 36pts Tries: Vermuelen 5, 22; Feyi-Waboso 13, Townsend 17 Tuima 71 Conversions: Slade 6, 18, 24,...

First-half tries were crucial – Dowson

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said the two tries before half-time were crucial as they fought back from 26-0 down...

Malins puts Bristol on the right course

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Sale .....................................14pts Tries: Hill 31, Creevy 67 Conversions: Du Preez 32, 68 Bristol................................ 22pts Tries: Randall 7, Ibitoye...

‘We must be yards better than that’

Alex Sanderson was more angry with his Sale team’s performance than the fact their proud unbeaten home record had been ruined....

Time for Borthwick to put faith in Itoje

nick cain READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK STEVE Borthwick struck a positive note this week when he made it clear...

Pitfalls ahead for England’s new management company

AN England player group taking over the squad negotiations on remuneration – whether from RFU hybrid contracts, match fees, or sponsorship...

Mass rotation could end up a crowd killer

The Premiership wants to be taken seriously, but then makes the cardinal error of not taking itself seriously by trashing its...

Newcastle fail again as Quins march on

By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle........................... 3pts Penalties: Connon 36 Harlequins ....................... 24pts Tries: David 2, Esterhuizen 28, Walker 46, Hammond 55 Conversions:...

We need to turn a corner, and soon, says captain Chick

Newcastle skipper Callum Chick admits his side are not at the standard they need to be at, and is calling for...

50 up for Muir as he sets sights on a podium finish

■ By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Bath v Gloucester Today. Kick-off 3pm, The Recreation Ground SHRUGGING off defenders has proved far easier...

Millard backing Gloucester to do some damage

■ By PAUL REES Starts: Jonny May GLOUCESTER are looking for the new year to provide them with a reset after...

Pellegrini steers Cov back to top of the pile

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Bedford ............. 19pts Tries: King 11, 32; Penalty 48 Conversions: Maisey 33 Coventry .......... 34pts Tries: Pellegrini...

Jones delight as Caldy hit heights

By BEN JAYCOCK Three years ago Caldy players could only have dreamt of competing in the Championship, but the Merseyside club...

Lloyd making the most of life in the capital

By BEN JAYCOCK Garin Lloyd made the move from the small town of Neath, Wales to the hustle and bustle of...

Lyon set to swoop for pair of Sharks

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon are eyeing up a double raid on Sale Sharks to take their England and...

White is staying put

SCOTLAND scrum-half Ben White is close to re-signing at Toulon for next season, which will end the hopes of Premiership high-flyers...

Bath win battle to keep Redpath

Bath have won their tug of war with the Scottish Rugby Union and will be keeping Scotland centre Cam Redpath at...

Rees-Zammit in line for big Japan payday

WALES superstar Louis Rees-Zammit could be set to jump aboard the oriental gravy train after Mie Honda Heat made an offer...

England expect to snap up winger

STEVE Borthwick is set for an early New Year boost, with England close to winning their tug-of-war for in-form Exeter Chiefs...

Saints look to Gonzalez

•SALE Sharks want the Curry twins Tom and Ben to commit their long-term futures to the club, but it’s unlikely to...

Pearson: We are getting our reward for hard work

By PAUL REES Exeter's rise this season with a largely young group of players has taken many by surprise, but not...

Red Roses: Emma Sing

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY FULL-BACK Birthplace: South Molton, Devon Date of birth: 11/03/01 Community club: South Molton RFC Red Roses debut: vs Scotland March...

Gloucester are made to fight all way by Lightning

By SAM BYTHEWAY G-Hartpury........42pts Tries: Sing 10, K Jones 16, H Jones 28, 72; Monaghan 39, Brock 43 Conversions: Sing 11,...

Saracens run riot to leave Sale struggling

By HARRY SCOTT-MUNRO Sale Sharks ........................3pts Penalties: Irwin 17 Saracens .......................... 69pts Tries: Gondwe 14, Farries 19, 60, 66; Packer 30,...

Zachary looking forward to facing her old club

■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Exeter v Ealing Today. Kick-off 12.30pm FORMER Exeter Chiefs captain Kate Zackary returns to Sandy Park for...

Leaney’s at the double as wait goes on for Tigers

By KEVIN MITCHELL Leicester T..... 24pts Tries: M Jones 29, Martin 48, Brody 55, McGhie 60 Conversions: M Jones 30, 61...

Star centre Gregson is back and raring to go

By BEN JAYCOCK Saracens missed out on the domestic final for the first time last season but have been the Women’s...

Mapletoft lads fall short but signs are positive

ENGLAND U20S MARK Mapletoft’s England U20s scored five tries but fell to a 42-33 defeat against Bath United at Shaftesbury Park....

Call for more diversity among referees

Jon Newcombe talks to high-level ex-ref David Rose On Boxing Day, Sam Allison became the first black referee to take charge...

Class acts who have inspired a generation

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED Jack Rowell, the man behind Bath’s “golden decade” at the back end of the amateur era, bore...

Time for Borthwick to look to the future

According to reports, as the television news broadcasters like to say, Billy Vunipola is toying with the idea of a move...

Borthwick puts his foot on the accelerator

Paul Rees looks at how England, without Owen Farrell at the helm, could turn into an attacking force Steve Borthwick’s England...

Teenager Morse is too good for Cardiff

By BEN JAYCOCK TEENAGE sensation Morgan Morse was the star of the show on New Year’s Day as the 18-year-old scored...

Ex-Gloucester boss takes charge at Ospreys

Ospreys have appointed former Gloucester boss Lance Bradley as their new chief executive. Bradley, below, who spent four years in charge...

When the selectors made the right calls

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S 2024 – a belated Happy New Year...

Sir Dicky’s New Year honour is hugely deserved

Everybody west of the Tamar, and indeed way beyond, was delighted that Dicky Evans was elevated to Sir Dicky in the...

The day Bancroft created history

TODAY sees the 130th anniversary of the first successful penalty kick in Test rugby with Billy Bancroft, below, landing a tricky...

Cheika brought an axe in and wielded it about

My Life in Rugby with Jono Lance - the former Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, Worcester and Western Force utlity back talks...

Time for new flier to make his choice

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW IMMANUEL Feyi-Waboso has been given a timely reminder that Wales wishes him to...

Dazzling Penaud out for a repeat

Given what they achieved throughout the old year, perhaps only Mary Earps and Pep Guardiola had reason to ring in the...

Club cling on to topple the Tigers

By TOM MARKHAM National One Sedgley Park......... 17 Blackheath.............24 BLACKHEATH staved off a Sedgley Park comeback to hold on for victory....

Moseley profit in penalty-try drama

By JON MEADOWS National One B Moseley............... 31 Richmond................29 A CONTROVERSIAL penalty try earned Birmingham Moseley victory over Richmond in a...

Battling Hull put up a fight in defeat at Fylde

By ALLAN FOSTER National 2North Fylde..................35 Hull....................... 8 FYLDE overcame Hull by five tries to one, but it was no stroll...

Ryan’s joy at Field’s top-class defence

By ANDREW SMITH Huddersfield... 24pts Billingham.......... 8pts National 2North HUDDERSFIELD head coach Neil Ryan paid tribute to his side’s “firstclass” performance...

Tigers are Dunne for as Titans hit form after break

By DAVID BEDDOWS National 2North Rotherham T..........35 Sheffield Tigers.... 17 ROTHERHAM turned in another storming second-half display to take the local...

Venables hat-trick rescues the Tykes

By BRIAN TILLEY National 2North Tynedale................. 12 Leeds Tykes...........35 RUNAWAY leaders Leeds Tykes overcame a scare to beat Tynedale and preserve...

Ionians sunk by six-hitting hosts

By ADAM CLEARY National 2North Sheffield..................40 Hull Ionians............ 10 SHEFFIELD made it six wins on the bounce with a bonus-point victory...

Hooker Hocking snatches victory for Reds

By MO SHER National 2West Dudley K............ 14 Redruth............. 19 REDRUTH followed up the highs of two rip-roaring derby games against...

Shillabeer building for future in Devon

NEWS EXTRA By BEN JAYCOCK DARTMOUTH RFC almost disbanded last season after struggling to raise 15 players for their fixtures, but...