New Zealand 24-17 South Africa: All Blacks hold off Springbok comeback

New Zealand ................... 24pts Tries: Narawa 2, Jordan 17, Tupaea 67 Conversions: B Barrett 3; McKenzie 18, 68 Penalty: McKenzie 51...

I just had to stand up for the brothers, says 100-cap Ardie Savea

Ardie Savea revelled in becoming New Zealand’s 23rd 100-cap Test player. Savea was honoured with a silver cap and dedicated the...

Bell keeps his cool to steal it at the death

■By BEN JAYCOCK Australia .................. 28pts Tries: White 23, Suaalii 47, 63; Bell 86 Conversions: Lynagh 24, 48; O’Connor 64, 87...

Harry Wilson: We knew we could finish job against Los Pumas

Australia captain Harry Wilson hailed his comeback kings but recognised his side’s performance levels were far from their best. “Full credit...

Fiji too good for Samoa as they look to retain Pacific Nations Cup crown

Fiji underlined their tournament dominance with a commanding 29-15 victory over Samoa in Rotorua, securing back-to-back wins and tightening their grip...

Stylish Saints up and running

■By MARK DOCHERTY Bedford ..........28 Northampton .40 NORTHAMPTON Saints kicked off their 2025/26 campaign in style, running in seven tries to...

New signings give Baxter a bounce

■By MARK STEVENS Ospreys .............. 26pts Tries: Deaves 22, Moriarty 45, Cokanasiga 76, Evans 79 Conversions: Walsh 23, Erasmus 77, 79...

Grady injury casts shadow over romp

■By SIMON THOMAS Cardiff .............71 Richmond ....... 10 WALES star Mason Grady suffered a worrying shoulder injury on his first appearance...

Quins get an Italian lesson

■By MIKE REYNOLDS Harlequins ....19 Benetton .........33 A YOUTHFUL Harlequins side fell to Benetton at The Stoop despite racing into a...

Nick Cain: Steve Borthwick snared in unworkable fudge with new player welfare stipulation

If international rugby union is the “shop window of the game”, the part that fires the imaginations and ambitions of young...

British and Irish Lions cash may tempt Mark Nawaqanitawase back to rugby union

The £60m windfall to Rugby Australia from the Lions tour has started the wheel turning for the return to rugby union...

RFU still not doing enough for state schools despite ACE Boys League remodelling

One of the stranger emails in the inbox this week was an RFU press release heralding 22 state schools and colleges...

Barton steals bruising contest

■By RICHARD PHELPS Gloucester ....14 Munster ..........12 GLOUCESTER opened their pre-season campaign with a morale-boosting win at Kingsholm thanks to a...

Arundell leads from the front

■By ROGER PANTING Bath ..................... 47pts Tries: Cuckson 6, Cowan 27, Arundell 43, 48; Butt 51, Roux 70, Carr-Smith 78 Conversions:...

Blamire off to a flyer at Tigers

■By BILL HASTINGS Leicester ........76 Nottingham ....26 DEBUTANT Jamie Blamire scored a hat-trick as Leicester began their pre-season action in style...

Connacht give Sale runaround

■By DAN ANJOS Sale Sharks ..... 5 Connacht ........40 A YOUTHFUL Sale Sharks side endured a tough evening at Heywood Road...

Young forced off with leg injury

■By DAN LYONS Hartpury ..........12 Dragons .......... 45 DRAGONS cruised to a seven-try win but worrying saw new signing flanker Thomas...

Chris Hewett: Captains need the consent of others

There are almost as many good jokes about leadership as there are leaders who fall into the “bad joke” category. Here’s...

Freddie Burns is on a rugby journey we should all admire

  Rugby nomads are a tribe unto themselves, pitching up in all manner of out-of-the-way places for reasons best known to...

Stephen Varney out to build on Italy connections at Exeter Chiefs

It appears Stephen Varney has a plan – and it’s nothing short of a Premiership heist. The Italian international has set...

Bath looking to defend Prem Rugby Cup title in Premiership-only contest

The Premiership Rugby Cup kicks off next weekend, with holders Bath aiming to defend their title in a restructured format that...

Peter Jackson: Four famous names facing firing squad

Only four clubs ever beat the All Blacks during their 15 European tours throughout the 20th century. How ironic that all...

Tom Pittman’s long route to American dream

Tom Pittman landed in the Test arena on the Canadian prairie the other week at the end of a leap which...

FANTASY RUGBY 2025/26

PRIZE MONEY WINNER £500 SECOND £250 THIRD £125 LAST £250 MONTH £25 SECOND £10 THIRD £5 LAST £10 Do you fancy...

What if England had won the Rugby World Cup back in 2015?

It comes as a surprise – shock almost – to realise that it’s ten years give or take that Rugby World...

A midweek game would improve this brilliant Women’s World Cup

I’m enjoying just about everything to do with the Women’s World Cup thus far from the big enthusiastic crowds, the excellent...

Owen Farrell’s fiery Racing 92 send-off is par for the course

A case of sour grapes? Jacky Lorenzetti, the owner of Racing 92 since 2006 as well as four Bordeaux wine chateaux,...

Nostalgia isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

IN THE past the future lies, so the saying goes. Yet everything changes, from politics to sport, as time marches remorselessly...

Osborne leads his pack to top Heath triumph

Clifton ...............17 Blackheath .... 34 ■By ROGER OPIE WITH two points separating the teams at half-time, it was Blackheath’s consistency in...

Strong Titans start sets up success

Sale FC.....................28 Rotherham T .........43 ■By GARETH DANIELS ROTHERHAM took the honours with a solid opening-day display. The visitors started strongly...

Tigers trapped by last-gasp Clow try

Sedgley Park ........ 18 Rams ........................24 ■By TOM MARKHAM RAMS remained resilient to snatch a late win from the claws of...

Day of joy for Juddians as new boys impress

■By MALCOLM WRIGHT Leicester L .......14pts Tries: Britton 17, Burrows 38 Conversions: Bouchier 18, 39 Tonbridge J .... 46pts Tries: Gjaltema...

Centurion Rayment finds perfect way to celebrate

Bishop’s S ...............26 B Moseley .............. 12 ■By JOHN ALLANSON ALEX Rayment celebrated his 100th game for his club by scoring...

Moa is inspiration as Albion shine

Leeds Tykes........... 12 Plymouth A.............45 By ANGELA RIMMINGTON PLYMOUTH Albion opened their National One campaign with an emphatic away victory over...

Johnston puts the boot into visitors

Rosslyn Park..........45 Dings Crusaders... 10 By LUKE JARMYN EX-Harlequins fly-half Bill Johnston mastered the south-west London wind to perfection, kicking five...

Will brothers in arms hold the key to success for Stortford?

By BEN JAYCOCK New recruit: Bishop’s Stortford fly-half Jai Johal BISHOP’S Stortford signing Jai Johal says he’s ready to embrace the...

Fontaine flies high to secure late glory for Dale

Hull..................... 18 Rossendale.....22 By RICHARD GORE NEWLY-promoted Rossendale’s ability to use turnover ball to release their pacy backs proved decisive in...

Hunt keeps cool to earn late draw

Fylde.........................22 Hull Ionians............22 By ALLAN FOSTER DESPITE having a decisive 19-7 lead at half-time, Fylde yielded to a gutsy second-half display...

Oliver hat-trick is perfect opening

Macclesfield..........46 Sheffield Tigers....26 By MATT COLERIDGE MACCLESFIELD were delighted to be back in the North Division of National Two, and celebrated...

Hoppers helped by hooker Holden

Preston G.......... 46pts Billingham....... 24pts By MIKE BROWN PRESTON Grasshoppers’ blend of experience and finishing power proved too much for Billingham,...

Visitors hand Scunthorpe a very rude awakening

Scunthorpe.............22 Darlington MP........42 By TONY WILKINSON SCUNTHORPE made a return to level 4 rugby and were brought down to earth with...

Hooper puts icing on the Posa cake

By LYDIA HASTINGS Sheffield .................43 Otley .........................14 SHEFFIELD celebrated head coach Anthony Posa’s 100th game in charge in style in an...

Tynedale break a habit to start well

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale ................50 Wharfedale ............ 19 NOTORIOUSLY-SLOW starters Tynedale enjoyed their best opening day for years with a seven-try...

Darlington’s battle plans are to bounce straight back

By BEN JAYCOCK DARLINGTON Mowden Park board member Neil Morris is hoping to welcome fresh faces to his side’s state-of-the-art arena...

Students hold off last-gasp fightback by Titans

By MIKE AMOS Taunton T.........35 Exeter Uni.........37 POSSESSION, pace and penalties gave Exeter University the edge over a Taunton side who...

Pack power gives Barnstaple edge

By BOB COLLINS Barnstaple..............24 Old Redcliffians.... 17 BARNSTAPLE marked their long-awaited return to National Two with a hard-fought victory over Old...

Perfect McMahon steers Cinderford

By NIGEL WILCE Cinderford...............48 Syston...................... 19 PLAYING their first league match on their new 3G pitch at the renamed Bell Sports...

Opening promise for Cherry & Whites

By DESMOND HICKIE Chester...............25pts Camborne......... 45pts FOR the spectators, this was an engaging 11-try match to start the season. While Camborne...

Hornets provide a late sting in the tail for visitors

By BEN MORRIS Hornets..................... 21 Hinckley.................. 18 HORNETS kicked off the new season with an exciting match against a strong Hinckley...

Defensive solidarity key to Lymm’s joy

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians.............. 13 Lymm........................24 AN organised and defensively superb performance from Lymm saw them take the early honours at...