Points difference is best separator

WORLD Rugby should consider the criterion regarding separating teams which finish World Cup group games on equal points. Currently, if three...

Tier 2 teams need greater assistance

SO four years on, after all the rhetoric as to what needs to be done to bring Tier 2 standards up,...

French authorities failing spectators

I SEE there continues to be crowd issues at the RWC due to the inadequacies of the French Rugby authorities. It’s...

Winger Fricker flies in at Ospreys

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former Bristol Bears winger Toby Fricker, below, who left the Premiership side at the end...

Fighting Cocks line up O’Brien

Former Ireland and Lions star Sean O’Brien is swapping a rugby ball for a round one to turn out for his...

Webb’s fighting to save his career

Rhys Webb returned to Wales after being left in limbo after requesting a B-sample be tested after returning a positive result...

Faiva’s set to join Bath on 20-month deal

On the move: Italy’s Hame Faiva heading to Bath PICTURE: Alamy FORMER Worcester Warriors hooker Hame Faiva is heading back to...

Knights host county forum

Doncaster Knights hosted a conference at the end of last week to which they invited every club to discuss the future...

Move to Reds not great for Eastmond

Kyle Eastmond, above, six weeks into his first coaching gig at Jersey Reds when the club folded last week, turned down...

Farrell doesn’t get into my XV

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK AS England approach their last pool match against Samoa on Saturday, and the likelihood...

Feyi-Waboso determined to find his feet at Exeter

By PAUL REES Manny Feyi-Waboso is determined to establish himself at Exeter this season after a turbulent start to the 20-year-old’s...

The Tank ready to roll for Bath

By JON NEWCOMBE Thomas du Toit remains on standby for the Springboks but, for now, his focus is on quickly learning...

In Gats we trust! Old boss has new tricks

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND IF THE Wales win over Australia proved anything it is that in Gats we trust!...

Lam moves quickly to sign up Vakatawa

By PAUL REES Pat Lam has re-established the French connection to the Premiership by signing powerful centre Virimi Vakatawa following a...

Wiese backing Pollard to hit the right targets

By NICK POWELL KOBUS Wiese wants South Africa to pick a more adventurous backline as they progress in France. The 1995...

Dream Team with Ian Sanders

The former Bath, Gloucester, England 'A' and Barbarians scrum-half chooses the best XV he has played with or against... 1. Gareth...

Schism which is set to tear game apart

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There is a schism waiting to happen in the English game, and it...

For once, Erasmus makes the wrong call

Rassie Erasmus is not known for missing many tricks when it comes to tactical thinking, whether in selection or playing mind-games....

I’m going to give Sarries everything, says Willis

By PAUL REES Tom Willis aims to take the positives from his failed attempt to prove his World Cup credentials to...

Pepper: I like to cause some chaos

By JON NEWCOMBE Dominic Cummings would definitely have needed his eyes testing had he gone to Barnard Castle and not seen...

It wasn’t so easy back in Rory’s day

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED RORY Underwood. Remember him? You should. To this day, the Leicester wing stands tall – rather taller...

Time to take the show on the road, England

According to those who know their stuff when it comes to the scorched landscape of domestic politics, there is a prime...

Nottingham cash in on Coventry mistakes

By LUKE JARMYN Coventry...........33pts Tries: Anstey 13, Nkwocha 20, Mitchell 26, Kvesic 46, Martin 59 Conversions: Mitchell 14, 21, 27, 47...

Bears pacy attack proves too much for Knights

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster .........41pts Tries: Davey 13, 80; Holden 25, Doughty 40, Davidson 45, Ehizode 58 Conversions: Olver 13, 40,...

Powell runs the show for Tigers

■By ROB WILDMAN Leicester ........................ 60pts Newcastle.........................7pts Tries: Liebenberg 3, 58; Clare 9, 36; Powell 18, 39; Porter 25, van Wyk...

Barton in control as Gloucester find groove

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury............14pts Tries: Denty 1 Penalties: Bazalgette 56, 58 Drop Goals: Bazalgette 31 Gloucester .......40pts Tries: Blake 21, 37;...

Sanderson happy to see Sharks turn screw

By JOHN LYON Caldy.................... 7pts Connor Wilkinson 45 Conversions: Barker 45 Sale ................... 24pts Tries: JL Du Preez 5, 35; Dugdale...

Grimoldby on target to guide Blues past Ampthill

By BEN WHITE Ampthill............19pts Tries: Bacon 8, Bracken 23, Morris 43 Conversions: Parks 24, 44 Bedford ............ 24pts Tries: Conway 38,...

Freeman finds his form to lead the Saints fightback

■By TOM VICKERS Northampton................... 43pts Tries: Freeman 20, 47, 68, E Waller 28, Davison 35, Langdon 55, Seabrook 66 Conversions: Smith...

Ealing prove too much for Cambridge to handle

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge ....... 17pts Tries: Hanks 23, Veness 47 Conversions: James 24, 48 Penalty: James 36 E Trailfinders ..52pts...

Anyanwu: Joseph will be a big star at The Stoop

■By PAUL REES PREVIEW... Quins v Saracens Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, The Stoop WILL Joseph makes his second appearance for Harlequins at...

Vintcent looking good for Exeter

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ..........................47pts Tries: Vintcent 16, 42, 56; Relton 24, Armstrong 40, Snow 72, Burrows 78 Conversions: Haydon-Wood 18,...

Cabango on song to help Cardiff see off Scarlets

URC Friendlies THEO Cabango scored two tries as Cardiff beat Scarlets 21-12. In front of 4,289 fans, new head coach Matt...

Warrior spirit at heart of the game

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points I’VE been surprised that some have been surprised...

Shame of the RFU blazers

It's funny what tugs at your emotions and I was caught unaware last week by the traditional pre-season picture of the...

Northern stars enjoying life in the new order

Paul Rees sees the wheel turn, proof of how despair for some teams can quickly turn into dreams Was it only...

Gatland right to put his faith in Tompkins

After Wales’s home defeat to England in the Six Nations, a match which went ahead after their players backed down from...

Adam Hathaway’s World Cup Diary: Week Four

TRP reporter Adam Hathaway gives the lowdown on the latest inside stories at Rugby World Cup 2023 Chabal still French enforcer...

Red Roses: Claudia MacDonald

WINGER Birthplace: Epsom, Surrey, DOB: 04/01/96, Community Club: Durham University, Club: Exeter Chiefs, Red Roses Debut: USA, November 2018 Caps: 30...

Demolition job as Wales cut loose

Wales ..............38 USA ................... 18 Wales beat USA for the first time ever with a powerful six-try demolition job in preparation...

Six-try Scotland waltz past Spain

Scotland ........36 Spain ................. 5 SCOTLAND Women triumphed against Spain at Hive Stadium in an ideal preparation for the WXV tournament,...

England battle hard to find way past Canada

By SAM JACKSON England ..........................................29pts Tries: Packer 5, Kildunne 13, Muir 40, Reed 50, Breach 69 Conversions: Jones 40, 51 Canada...

Allianz Cup round-up

Leicester ................20 Warriors..................45 By DAVID BALLHEIMER WARRIORS scored early against Leicester Tigers and never looked back, racking up a seven-try victory....

Hastings back in the swing to sink Baa-Baas

GLOUCESTER celebrated their 150th year in style with a 35-19 win over the Barbarians at Kingsholm. The Baa-Baas opened the scoring...

De Beer keen to drive Cardiff forward

By SIMON THOMAS Tinus de Beer is relishing being out of his comfort zone as he looks to make his mark...

Lloyd: I’m here to get back into Wales squad

By SIMON THOMAS Ioan Lloyd has arrived at the Scarlets with two big targets – playing No.10 and forcing his way...

Battling North has history in his sights

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW REAL champions get back up even when (they think) they can’t – the...

Cardiff can celebrate the colossal legacy of Glanmor

IN the late spring of 1999, Glanmor Griffiths stood amid the noise and dust of a building site in downtown Cardiff...

Whitelock glad to keep it in the family

THERE have been some towering rugby dynasties down the decades but perhaps none compared to the one founded by a farmer...

Richmond escape Lions’ den with five points

■By BEN MORRIS Leicester L ......22 Richmond ........35 RICHMOND made it three wins in a row edging Leicester Lions in an...