Toulouse 77-7 Sale Sharks: That drubbing really hurts, says Alex Sanderson

France’s superstar captain Antoine Dupont put any watching England fans on high alert ahead of the Six Nations after showing that...

Harlequins full-back Tyrone Green – We will need to be at our best for second half of season

Tyrone Green made a timely return from injury last weekend to help Harlequins out of their slump with a big performance...

Sale Sharks humiliated as Toulouse inflict record defeat

Sale Sharks last night suffered a record 77-7 defeat at the hands of Toulouse as the French team avoided a shock...

Bayonne 13-22 Leinster: Another late show makes sure of top spot for the Irish province

Leinster ensured top spot in Pool 3 and secured a home last 16 tie by grinding out a hard-fought victory over...

Stormers 39-26 Leicester Tigers: Geoff Parling’s visiting side put up a fight

Leicester Tigers look destined for the Challenge Cup, but a much-changed side made the Stormers battle for victory to the very...

Josh Barton: Coventry are raring to go after break

Coventry scrum-half Josh Barton believes the mid-season break arrived at just the right time as his side target a sixth consecutive...

George McGuigan extends his Newcastle Red Bulls deal

Hooker George McGuigan has signed a contract extension at Newcastle Red Bulls.

Bring on Bordeaux-Begles monsters – Bristol Bears back rower Fitz Harding

Bristol Bears were the talk of the Champions Cup last weekend after sticking 61 points on the Bulls at altitude in...

Eastmond keen to make his mark as a coach

■By ROSS HEPPENSTALL KYLE Eastmond says the lessons he learned in rugby union will hold him in good stead as he...

Edoardo Todaro is quick to find his feet at Northampton Saints

Edoardo Todaro was not on many one-to-watch lists at the start of the season, but five months in, the 19-year-old has...

Jeremy Guscott: It’s time for Bristol Bears to stand up and deliver

When you’re shipping 49 points, as Bristol Bears did against the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend in the European Cup, you’ve...

Eight-try Sharks get back in the mood to leave Clermont on the floor

■ By SAM JACKSON Sharks ...............50pts Tries: Fassi 2, 65; Hendrikse 17, Koch 45, Sobahle 50, Masuku 73, Buthelezi 79, Julius...

Heartbreak for Munster as Castres take their chances

By BEN JAYCOCK Tries: Casey 17, 34; Abrahams 46, Edogbo 59, 78 Conversions: Crowley 18, 79 Munster ............29pts Castres ..............31pts Tries:...

Nick Cain: Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson fails to produce a cutting-edge strategy

Scott Robertson’s ‘windmill’ spin breakdancing celebrations were shelved during his tenure as All Blacks head coach.

Bordeaux beef wins the day

NO scrum, no-win! That was the message rammed home at the Stade Chaban-Delmas as European champions Bordeaux-Begles brought last season’s runners-up,...

Weak Edinburgh don’t deserve their place

IF Edinburgh fail to qualify for the last-16 in the European Cup, good riddance. By putting out a severely weakened team...

Chris Hewett: Junior Kpoku on course to power up Red Roses

On the basis that Junior Kpoku is 6ft 8ins and 120kgs, his opponents must be dreading the day they run into...

Now the All Blacks need to crack on

THERE is something of the Clive Woodward about Scott Robertson, whose coaching career at international level has just disappeared off a...

Bulls put in a late run to keep out battling Pau

■By BEN JAYCOCK Pau ..................... 24pts Tries: Delhommel 10, 41; Maximin 33 Conversions: Mondinat 11; Souverbie 34, 42 Penalty: Souverbie 49...

Peter Jackson: Blizzard of points is obscuring the view

The Champions Cup, a misnomer if ever there was one, gorged itself last weekend on a feast of tries: 107 at...

A frozen farce with no hint of an apology

THE credibility of European Professional Club Rugby Ltd took another bashing last weekend over a botched attempt to stage the Cheetahs-Ulster...

Baxter sets sights on a home draw in last 16

■ By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Exeter Cardiff Chiefs v Today. Kick-off 1pm, Sandy Park EXETER Chiefs head into today’s final pool...

Montpellier claim top spot as Ospreys comeback falls short

■ By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys .............26pts Tries: Watkin 11, Lloyd 40, 52; Moriarty 58 Conversions: Walsh 12, 41, 53 Montpellier .....31pts...

Stade go close but Ulster hold on

■ By JIM STEVENS Ulster ................26 Stade .................19 RELIEF poured out of Ravenhill at full-time after the hosts’ 26-0 half-time lead,...

11-try Connacht secure home tie

Connacht .......75 Montauban ...14 ■ By MARK WILLIAMS CONNACHT produced a ruthless display to book a home tie in the last...

PREVIEW…Lyon v Benetton

Today. Kick-off 1pm, Matmut Stadium de Gerland LAST season’s finalists Lyon face a do or die clash against pool leaders Benetton...

PREVIEW…Racing v Cheetahs

Today. Kick-off 5.30pm, La Defense Arena ONLY pride is at stake in this matchup with both Racing 92 and Cheetahs out...

Perpignan through but Lions are sent packing

Round-up ■ By SAM JACKSON A DRAMATIC Challenge Cup clash at Stade Aimé Giral ended all square as Perpignan and the...

Nick Cain’s column should be hung in Sweeney’s office

NICK Cain’s column last week should be cut out, framed and hung on the wall of Bill Sweeney’s office as it...

Worrying direction of travel

A SUCCESSFUL enterprise is usually built on firm foundations. I wish that I could see this in rugby union with a...

Classy Chinnor stun Bedford

The Champ ■ By WILLIAM BULL Chinnor ..............27pts Tries: Smith 15, Rukhadze 22, Hanks 58 Conversions: Chamberlain 16, 23, 59 Penalties:...

Reduce numbers to raise standard

THE European Cup still throws up some fantastic matches – Bulls against Bristol last week was crazy – but too many...

DREAM TEAM

JACOB ATKINS, FORMER LONDON IRISH AND ROVIGO CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH TAILORED NOT FOR PACKED STADIUMS,...

Brendan Gallagher: European Champions Cup is still in dire need of an overhaul

The European Champions Cup which, after this weekend, goes back into hibernation for the best part of three months, remains in...

100 years ago when Scots missed the Slam

THE one that got away is a staple in sport – indeed life – and for Scotland the one that got...

McCrae enjoyed hitting heights

NOT many senior careers span four decades but that was the longevity displayed by former Scotland scrum-half Ian McCrae who died...

Paul Rees: Rampaging Baby Rhino Ellis Genge in the form of his life

Paul Rees on how Ellis Genge is driving Bristol Bears - and England - in the right direction.

Buchanan echoes the thoughts of many

WALES have not beaten England in the Six Nations at Twickenham since 2012. If they will not be going into next...

Leaders Albion dull the roar of the Lions

Leicester L ......17 Plymouth A .... 47 By MALCOLM WRIGHT FORM side Plymouth Albion tightened their position at the summit, with...

Down-stream TJs flooded by Rams

Tonbridge J ...........33 Rams ........................35 By GARETH WITHERS WHEN IT RAINS it clearly pours at Tonbridge Juddians’ Slade home, after an...

Titans capitalise in tantalising taunt

Bishop’s S ...............27 Rotherham T .........35 By JOHN ALLANSON ILL-DISCIPLINE was the key factor that let Bishop’s Stortford down, after travelling...

Park shine to abandon Blackheath in darkness

By CHARLIE WHITE Rosslyn Park ...36pts Tries: Stanton 22, King 37, Digby 43, Piper 63, Smith 79 Conversions: Johnston 23, 38,...

Lavender and Blacks gather at the back to battle on

Clifton ......................24 Sedgley Park ........ 10 By ROGER OPIE HOSTS CLIFTON displayed a defensive determination to keep Sedgley Park at bay,...

Longstaff seals it at the end for Sale

Leeds Tykes ..........14 Sale FC..................... 19 By MARK DOCHERTY KILLER INSTINCT was the difference as Sale FC overcame strugglers Leeds Tykes,...

Crusaders keep on going until end

Dings Crusaders ..25 B Moseley .............. 19 By LILLEE O’CALLAGHAN DINGS CRUSADERS secured a slim victory over Birmingham Moseley, in a...

Prop’s script is flipped to help author Albion’s Pullinger prize

By BEN JAYCOCK PLYMOUTH Albion prop Dan Pullinger admits it feels odd seeing his beloved club sit top of National League...

Hull hold on to see off Fylde in a true nail-biter

Hull.....................27 Fylde..................26 By RICHARD GORE THIS was a close game which went down to the final seconds and won by a...

Caudle deserves defensive Oscar!

Tynedale.................14 Sheffield Tigers...... 7 By BRIAN TILLEY FREEZING conditions produced a treacherous surface and a slippery ball, but Tynedale somehow managed...

By George! Dale owe it to Hedgley

Wharfedale............32 Otley..........................14 By EDWIN WILLIAMS A LARGE crowd was treated to cracking, entertaining rugby, with the home team dominating for long...

Kieran is so cool as Dale edge key clash

Scunthorpe......... 7pts Rossendale......13pts By GARETH LYONS Well held: Jonny Leota is stopped short KIERAN Tyrer kept his nerve with two second-half...