Middleton: Change at the top is needed for Red Roses

England women’s head coach Simon Middleton admitted a ‘different feeling’ following last year’s World Cup led to his decision to step...

Improving England ease past Italy

By Nick Powell, Online Editor England…………………….31 Tries: Willis 13, Chessum 28, George 37, Penalty 50, Arundell 72 Conversions: Farrell 14, 29...

Van Poortvliet relishing Six Nations chance

Playing in his first Six Nations tournament has brought back fond memories of boyhood rugby days for Jack van Poortvliet.  The...

All set for Arundell to explode

By GART FITZGERALD Italy will feel the full, devastating force of “special” Henry Arundell when England unleash him at Twickenham. Attack...

Gatland’s desperate to stop the rot

By ROB COLE Wales have suddenly turned into a penalty machine and Warren Gatland says he has got to find a...

Anger as new owners close down Warriors

By BEN JAYCOCK Worcester Warriors will rebrand as Sixways Rugby next season and merge with National Two West side Stourbridge after...

Haag joins Scotland set-up with eye on England

By JON NEWCOMBE EXCLUSIVE Junior World Cup-winning coach Martin Haag is poised to join the Scotland Women’s team as an assistant...

Genge: We’re going to make Italy suffer

By GARY FITZGERALD Ellis Genge insists England are in mean and hungry mood to make Italy suffer for their latest Calcutta...

Borthwick criticism was dig at Eddie – Marler

By GARY FITZGERALD Joe Marler has backed Steve Borthwick over his forthright condemnation of England’s Calcutta Cup flops. But even the...

Outstanding Ireland come out on top in battle of the best

By PAUL REES Ireland............................... 32pts Tries: Keenan 9, Lowe 21, Porter 26, Ringrose 72 Conversions: Sexton 11, 27; Byrne 74 Penalties:...

Fighting spirit was good to see, says Farrell

Ireland coach Andy Farrell hailed his side’s fighting spirit as they confirmed their status as tournament favourites. “It was a huge...

Ireland’s passion play in classic confrontation

BRENDAN GALLAGHER Touts were reportedly asking €1,000 for a ticket outside the Aviva yesterday morning ahead of kick off and frankly,...

England need to find some collective drive

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE pressure is on England because Italy started the Six Nations very competitively against...

Russell puts on a show as Scots run riot

By PETER JACKSON Scotland ........................... 35pts Tries: Turner 30, Steyn 51, 58; Kinghorn 71, M Fagerson 79 Conversions: Russell 32, 53...

Time for real honesty within Welsh set-up

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Returning Wales coach Warren Gatland really knows now the size of the job on his...

Urgent problems that RFU needs to address

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK England go into the second round of this Six Nations as the only...

Borthwick right to give Farrell chance at 10

NICK CAIN Steve Borthwick is paid to make tough calls, and credit to him for grasping the Marcus Smith-Owen Farrell nettle...

Clubs are forced to travel too far

THE crowd figure for Old Albanians’ game at Barnes last weekend in Nat 2 East was 169. Yet under the RFU’s...

Youngs is just too slow

ENGLAND’S game under Steve Borthwick against Scotland, even in defeat, was a vast improvement on Eddie Jones’ management schism. Unfortunately, when...

Graham enjoys serving up the goods for Saints

By PAUL REES Impact: Saints back rower Sam Graham in action Sam Graham worked as a chef in a Michelin starred...

Farrell doesn’t work at 10

AT last a writer (Nick Cain) has said what I’ve said for the past year: England can’t win with Farrell at...

Dream Team with Tom Bristow

Tom Bristow, the former Hong Kong, Leicester, London Welsh, Narbonne & Sale prop chooses the best XV he has played with...

Lyon are yet to give up on Adams

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon haven’t given up hope that they will be able to tempt Wales and Lions...

Sutherland eyes Japan

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Scotland and Lions loosehead prop Rory Sutherland is talking to Kobelco Kobe Steelers about a...

Diamond still in the running

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Steve Diamond is still willing to discuss a potential rescue bid for Worcester Warriors if...

French clubs tracking lively Frisch

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER FORMER Bristol Bears centre Antoine Frisch could be moving back to France next season...

Williams agrees deal to join his Montpellier mates

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER New deal: Harry Williams is on his way to France PICTURE: Getty Images TIGHTHEAD Harry...

Springbok Erasmus on Tigers’ shortlist

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Leicester have sounded out Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus about taking over at Welford Road. Blindside...

Bears may turn to Blackett if Lam fails

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Pat Lam is under pressure to turn around Bristol Bears fortunes between now and the...

Russell not a good signing for Bath, says Abendanon

By TOM BRADSHAW Bath‘s decision to splash out on signing Scotland playmaker Finn Russell could turn out to be an expensive...

King keeps his cool to seal it for Scotland

By CAMERON STEPHENS Scotland ......................... 18pts Tries: Brown 10, Penalty 50 Penalties: Afshar 31, King 70 Wales ............................... 17pts Tries: Morse...

England have to work hard to overcome battling Italians

By BEN JAYCOCK England ................ 32pts Tries: Harris 8, Ma’asi-White 12, Elliott 38, Cunningham-South 55, Fasogbon 75 Conversions: Harris 13, 57...

Ireland keep on right track thanks to Prendergast

By SAM JACKSON Ireland...............33pts Tries: McCarthy 12, Gavin 29, Gleeson 69 Conversions: Prendergast 13, 30, 70 Penalties: Prendergast 10, 24, 42,...

Irish get their mojo back to sink Saints

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER London Irish .....................30pts Tries: Cinti 13, Basham 45, Poolman 79 Conversions: Jennings 14, 47, 79 Penalties: Jennings 36,...

Caulfield: We need to keep pushing

Man of the match Josh Caulfield urged his Irish side to go one better than last season and clinch the title....

Parisse, a tower of strength at No.8

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST It stank to high heaven at the time, as sins against sporting justice always do, and the...

Why Coles deserves place at top table

CHRIS HEWETT ON the subject of retirements, the All Blacks hooker Dane Coles says he will call it quits after this...

Curtis keen to make a difference for Sharks

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Exeter v Sale Today. Kick-off 1pm, Sandy Park VERSATILE back Tom Curtis is hoping it will be...

We have some good young talent coming through -Cairns

By PAUL REES THE ravages of the salary cap mean Exeter will be losing more of the players who were part...

Italy benefit from the brotherhood

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER I have a half-baked theory that the comparative...

Gone too soon, a young man destined to be England’s No 1

RUGBY MATTERS Can it really be 20 years since young Harlequins and England scrum-half Nick Duncombe passed away – Friday, February...

Scotland’s ‘complete’ display delights Hastings

By CAMERON STEPHENS Scott Hastings classed Scotland’s win over England last weekend as their most complete performance in a long time....

Danaher: I saw Ollie’s power from Day One

By JON NEWCOMBE London Irish assistant coach Declan Danaher admits he was taken aback by England new boy Ollie Hassell-Collins’ raw...

National One standard is rising all the time -Rossiter

By BEN JAYCOCK Jak Rossiter believes the standard of National One is increasing so much that any of the current top...

Charlie’s move to roll back the years

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Charlie Faulkner will be remembered for his many achievements; from judo black belt...

Pilgrimage to Murrayfield which is still going after 60 years

PETER JACKSON At six o’clock last Wednesday morning a bus pulled away from the Miners Arms out into Lewis Street on...

Borthwick puts faith in blitz squad

PREVIEW England v Italy PAUL REES SOUTH Africa have the bomb squad but Steve Borthwick has opted for the blitz squad...

We should have been out of sight says Rae

By DAVID LAWRENCE Coventry ...........33pts Tries: Ma’asi 9, 20; Wilson 33, Ball 40, Penalty 56 Conversions: Mitchell 9, 20, 33 Bedford...

Richmond fight back to push Ampthill all the way

BY TIM FORRESTER Richmond ........ 19pts Tries: Spring 19, Monson 55, Caddy 67 Conversions: Johnston 20, 68 Ampthill ...........26pts Tries: Blackmore...

Doncaster power is too much for Scots

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster Knights ........ 66pts Tries: Ehizode 2, Dolly 5, Spittle 15, 23, Edgson 49, 57, Holden 51, 63,...