Harlequins shot down by Parling’s young guns

■By BEN JAYCOCK Harlequins .....17pts Tries: Els 4, Walker 44, 50 Conversion: Evans 50 Leicester ....... 25pts Tries: Pearson 13, Clare...

Chris Hewett: The pantomime villain who stole the show

It seems we must bid another fond farewell to Nic White, a modern master of scrum-half jiggery-pokery who first called it...

South are showing the north how it’s done

DECISIVE? Indisputable? Unequivocal? South Africa’s triumph over New Zealand last weekend was all these things with knobs on, but it still...

Adams urges fans to get behind Cardiff

■By SIMON THOMAS WALES star Josh Adams says it is more important than ever that people get behind Cardiff as he...

Ulster will be a tough opener, admits Tiatia

■By SIMON THOMAS DRAGONS coach Filo Tiatia admits he faces some welcome selection headaches going into the new season. There are...

Sellout at Sixways but Warriors lose

Pre-season wrap ■By BEN JAYCOCK A SOLD-OUT crowd of 12,067 witnessed Worcester Warriors’ first match at Sixways in almost three years,...

Fiji and Japan in final face-off

Pacific Nations Cup FIJI and Japan won their semi-finals convincingly to secure a place in today’s Pacific Nations Cup title decider...

Rassie’s new show: Beauty and the beast

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW NINE TESTS OF TWO HALVES Sep 2025: Rugby Championship, Wellington: New Zealand 10...

At 98, Roy signs off from his column

FOR Roy Lewis, Ebbw Vale’s home match against Aberavon last weekend marked the end of perhaps the longest road ever travelled...

Talking the talk: Prem looking to drive growth

League rugby returns this week, on a Thursday to avoid a clash with the Women’s World Cup Final, in a sign...

Prem preview: Johann van Graan knows that Bath need to reset

The champions start the defence of their title at Harlequins but they will be without their Scotland outside-half Finn Russell who,...

Prem preview: Louis Rees-Zammit will take centre-stage for Bristol Bears

Bristol Bears may have one of the smallest squads in the Prem, but they pulled off arguably the signing of the...

Prem preview: Exeter Chiefs looking to get back on the right track

There is a mood of cautious optimism at Sandy Park after a season which started badly and ended with long-serving coaches...

Prem preview: Tomos Williams honoured to have Gloucester captaincy

Gloucester just missed out on the play-offs last season after honing an attacking game that took them up the table but...

Prem preview: Clarity in attack is key for Harlequins, says Nick Evans

Harlequins have focused on resilience in preseason training after poor finishes dampened their last three league campaigns.

Prem preview: Leicester Tigers’ Geoff Parling sets sights on the long term

It will be a strange start to the campaign for Leicester Tigers with the names Dan Cole and Ben Youngs missing...

Prem preview: Newcastle Red Bulls want to be world-beaters

Newcastle have spent the decade looking inwards, cutting costs to remain afloat, but the summer takeover by Red Bull has given...

Prem preview: Northampton Saints aiming to get back in old routine

Northampton's lowly league position last season after winning the title in 2024 was less of a crash landing than an underpowered...

Prem preview: Alex Sanderson on Sale Sharks’ “Dynamic pack”

Sale Sharks have been the Premiership’s nearly men this decade, finishing the top half of the table in all six years,...

Prem preview: Owen Farrell back home at Saracens and ready to roar

Saracens started this month in the heat of Durban, training with and playing against the Sharks.

Ioane aims to light up Leinster

Ben Jaycock looks ahead to the 16-team URC season and highlights the players who will be out to make a difference...

2025/26 SQUADS

Benetton Forwards: Destiny Aminu, Simone Ferrari, Thomas Gallo, Marcos Gallorini, Ivan Nemer, Tiziano Pasquali, Mirco Spagnolo, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Giosuè Zilocchi,...

FIXTURES

ROUND 1 Friday, September 26 Stormers v Leinster 6pm Ulster v Dragons 8.05pm Glasgow Warriors v Sharks 8.05pm Saturday, September 27...

Twickenham finale will be a rare treat

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER NARRATIVES can move very quickly in sport, and...

Pollock and Pepper are at the top of my hit parade

THE Premiership proper is hoving into view and it’s time to check up on my 15 to follow from last season,...

Heath turn up the heat to tame the Lions

■By JEAN BULL Leicester L ........ 5 Blackheath .... 47 BLACKHEATH kept up their unbeaten league record with a dominant demolition...

Plymouth give Stortford a lesson

■ By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S ............... 15 Plymouth A ............ 31 BISHOP’S STORTFORD gave themselves far too much defending to...

Titans show might to battling newbies

■ By ROGER OPIE Clifton ...................... 15 Rotherham T .........40 ROTHERHAM Titans’ victory over Clifton was inspired by a powerful pack...

Dogged Dogs dismantle Rams pack in big victory

■ By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC...............31pts Tries: Langdon 12, Mintern 19, Wilson 42, Longstaff 58 Conversions: Green 13, 20, 43, 59...

Juddians keep up the tone with a war-like display

■ By NEIL DIPPLE Dings Crusaders .. 21 Tonbridge J ...........34 TONBRIDGE Juddians continued their strong start to the National League...

Tykes taken for a walk by the Park

By BEN CROPPER Leeds Tykes............. 8 Sedgley Park.........20 SEDGLEY Park saw off a combination of Leeds Tykes and a wet, windswept...

Park pack a punch as Moseley beaten

By CHARLIE WHITE Rosslyn Park..........47 B Moseley...............24 ROSSLYN Park claimed another National League 1 triumph, with a commanding display against Birmingham...

Gjaltema feels revitalised by his off-season move to TJs

By BEN JAYCOCK AFTER four years at Harlequins, Lewis Gjaltema has landed at Tonbridge Juddians and the move has reignited his...

Browne sinks the hosts in a war of attrition

By RICHARD GORE Hull....................... 3 Preston G.......... 10 HULL slipped to defeat in a game they could have won, having three...

Douglas hat-trick makes difference

By EDWIN WILLIAMS Wharfedale............28 Darlington MP....... 31 THIS was a ding-dong battle, with Darlington Mowden Park taking the honours at the...

Olivers’ army are on song for Macc

By HOLLY DAISY Macclesfield.......... 31 Hull Ionians............28 MACCLESFIELD edged out Hull Ionians in a close encounter. The hosts went into the...

It’s the magic of Maguire that settles it for Fylde

By WILL JUDD Fylde...................37pts Billingham........ 11pts FYLDE secured a comfortable victory in a game which was largely overshadowed by horrible weather...

Late Talbot try spoils a big day for Mowbray

By JACK TREGONNING Scunthorpe............. 18 Sheffield Tigers.... 19 THERE was no dream 100th appearance for Joey Mowbray as Scunthorpe were narrowly...

Callum’s no Posa in the starring role

By IAN ROBSON Sheffield..................45 Rossendale............ 10 SHEFFIELD kept their impressive home record from last season going with a dominant performance over...

Cameron takes kicks for Granted

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale.................34 Otley............................ 8 DRIVING rain failed to prevent Tynedale maintaining their 100 per cent start with a hard-earned...

There’s more Sheffield steel than ever – Fisher

By BEN JAYCOCK Taking aim: Sheffield scrum-half Elliot Fisher SHEFFIELD scrum-half Elliot Fisher believes the club are reaping the rewards of...

Rovery helps Redruth pack a punch

By BILL HOOPER Redruth.............26 Lymm.................22 IT was the Redruth pack that laid the foundations for this win on a heavy pitch...

It’s six of the best from Barnstaple

By COILIN DUFFY Barnstaple..............40 Hornets..................... 17 BARNSTAPLE stormed to a six-try home win over Hornets, having established a commanding 28-5 half-time...

Camborne keep up winning streak

By FYNLEE HATELEY Loughborough S....14 Camborne................43 CAMBORNE continued their unbeaten start start to the to the season season with a with...

Jones on song to kick Lucs to victory

By GEOFF VICKRESS Flying in: Owen Randell scores for Luctonians and, below, Jack Goodwin crashes over for a try PICTURES: Dennis...

Jones in at double as hosts beat all the elements

By DESMOND HICKIE Chester.....................20 Syston........................ 7 THE weather, which was pouring with rain throughout the contest, proved the winner. The wet...

Magic Johnson is major inspiration

By JACK BEARD Cinderford...............25 Exeter Uni................ 12 EXETER were unable to overcome a strong Cinderford side at Bell Sports and Rugby...

Teenager Rogers star of the show

By MIKE AMOS Taunton Titans.....41 Hinckley..................26 THE Titans had just a bit too much for Hinck-ley in a high-scoring encounter. The...

Ward wants Hornets to have a sting in their tail

By BEN JAYCOCK Confident: Hornets captain Kieran Ward NEW Hornets captain Kieran Ward believes his side can upset the odds and...

Dunne’s hat-trick proves in vain for Welsh

By PETER CROOT Oundle...............50 L Welsh..............38 THE battle of the promoted teams proved a tight affair before Oundle came out on...