Russell left out as Ritchie takes charge

By BEN JAYCOCK FINN Russell is the surprise omission from Scotland’s autumn internationals squad, which also sees Stuart Hogg lose the...

Stockdale back as Farrell calls up six

By BEN JAYCOCK ULSTER winger Jacob Stockdale has returned to the Ireland squad after a 15-month absence as head coach Andy...

P share distribution would limit damage

NICK Cain suggests that other Premiership clubs would be ‘predatory’ and ‘rapacious’ if they took over the P shares of Worcester...

Stars must be on show

TWO Premiership teams unbeaten after six rounds scheduled by BT Sport on October 30, 2022 – how good that promises to...

Transparency essential

I READ with interest Jeremy Guscott’s article in last week’s edition, in particular his comment that, “As for the salary cap,...

My nine-point plan to rescue the game

SO the “old guard” merchants of gloom and doom or not appear to have been correct. Those who rued not professionalism...

All referees in the Prem apply laws correctly

I MUST take issue with Derek Gilbert’s assertion (letters 16/10/2022) that referees in the Premiership are abdicating in law and manufacturing...

Dream Team with Will Spencer

WILL SPENCER, THE BATH AND FORMER LONDON WELSH, WORCESTER & LEICESTER SECOND ROW, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

Not in the squad but Slade is still my 13

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK There have been some striking statements made by Eddie Jones going into the Autumn...

Goode steps up to seal it for Saracens

By PAUL REES Exeter..................................20pts Tries: Penalty 38, Vermeulen 71 Conversions: Slade 72 Penalties: Slade 22, 74 Saracens........................... 22pts Tries: McFarland 24...

Double injury blow for England

England head coach Eddie Jones is counting the cost of the latest round of Premiership matches after Owen Farrell joined the...

Bath give faithful reason to celebrate

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bath..................................... 27pts Tries: Reid 19, Dunn 36, Redpath 66 Conversions: Worboys 20, 37, 67 Penalties: Worboys 65, 73...

The city bleeds rugby-Graan

BATH’S Director of Rugby Johann van Graan was delighted with the result. He said: “I’m pretty ecstatic for the team, that’s...

Hastings’ monster drop goal swings it

By BEN JAYCOCK London Irish...................... 21pts Tries: Creevy 2, Loader 26 Conversions: Jackson 4 Penalties: Jackson 15, 34, 49 Gloucester........................ 22pts...

Kidney: It’s up to Eddie if he still takes Arundell to Jersey

LONDON Irish DoR Declan Kidney was disappointed to lose by such a fine margin. “You look how little the drop-goal went...

Ditch the skulduggery and dismantle the cartel

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The most critical element of any reorganisation of England’s professional club league structure...

Waltzing Dempsey’s false step

NICK CAIN Crash ball: Jack Dempsey playing for Australia against Fiji at 2019 World Cup PICTURE : Getty Images The last...

Sanderson sets sights on pina colada time

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Sale Sharks v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, AJ Bell Stadium With games against Saracens and Gloucester followed...

Veteran Care keen to extend his time at Harlequins

By PAUL REES HARLEQUINS are to hold talks with Danny Care about extending his career at the club which started 16...

Why Ford mustn’t be forgotten by England

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST The art of forgetting is as fundamental to rugby as the immeasurably finer art of goal-kicking in...

Which side will you back in this inquisition?

CHRIS HEWETT The two organisations at the heart of what is left of the professional club structure in England – the Rugby...

RFU chief puts central contracts on the agenda

By PAUL REES CENTRAL contracts are on the agenda after the collapse of Worcester and Wasps and a Department of Culture,...

‘It’s been a privilege’ – Robshaw retires

ON THE BLINDSIDE FORMER England captain Chris Robshaw has announced his retirement. Flanker Robshaw, right, played over 300 games for Harlequins,...

Suitors lining up to tempt McCallum

ON THE BLINDSIDE Scotland prop Murray McCallum is weighing up his next move after getting offers from clubs on either side...

Fury sets his sights Morecambe

Former Worcester Warriors owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham could be set to lose another sporting team after offering World heavyweight...

Prem clubs show interest in Rubiolo

ON THE BLINDSIDE Young Argentinean back row Pedro Rubiolo is attracting interest from Premiership clubs who are keen on signing him...

Agents are circling after Wasps demise

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wasps demise last week started a massive scramble for some of their best talent, just as it did...

Aussies still in market for Eddie

ON THE BLINDSIDE Under fire: Rennie Eddie Jones is winning support Down Under to make a dramatic return to the Wallabies...

Not sure if old guard will make World Cup

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WAYNE Pivac named his Wales squad to take on New Zealand, Argentina, Georgia and Australia...

Johnson shows his bottle to kill off Tigers

By NICK POWELL Try time: Alex Tait crossed twice for Falcons LOUIE Johnson’s late conversion earned Newcastle Falcons a first away...

Dragon Lloyd brings up 150

Preview Dragons v Ospreys Today. 3pm PROP Lloyd Fairbrother makes his 150th Dragons appearance today – only the 11th player to...

Priestland cuts down champions

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff................. 30pts Tries: Cabango 16, Harries 43 Conversions: Priestland 43 Penalties: Priestland 9, 15, 33, 52, 69, 80...

Relief for Friend as Mack grabs a try double

By JOHN FALLON Connacht...........36pts Tries: Murray 1, Hansen 35, 78; Aungier 54, Penalty 75 Penalties: Carty 8, 28, Hawkshaw 61 Scarlets................

Sexton: There’s more to come

By JOHN FALLON Leinster ............... 27 Tries: Penny 27, Sheehan 49, McGrath 62, Russell 77. Conversions: Sexton 28, 50 Munster............... 13...

First away win for Edinburgh

By BRYN PALMER Zebre .................... 19 Tries: Fusco 50, Rizzoli 67, Trulla 77 Conversions: Prisciantelli 68, 78 Edinburgh............ 38 Tries: McBurney...

Bulls charge clear in second half

Benetton ............. 22 Bulls..................44 THE Bulls banished their bad memories from the last time they were in Treviso – their Rainbow...

USA in the last chance saloon

Preview Canada v USA Sunday 3.15am USA head coach Rob Cain has made three changes for this morning’s game against unbeaten...

Dominant Black Ferns dump Scots out of Cup

By BEN JAYCOCK Scotland............. 0pts New Zealand...57pts Tries: Holmes 2, 72, Leti-I’iga 10, Goss 12, Mikaele-Tu’u 17, Fitzpatrick 30, Holmes 34,...

Wales’ losing bonus enough to set up Black Ferns quarter-final

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales..................... 7pts Australia............. 13pts Tries: Harries 23 Conversions: Snowsill 24 Tries: Batibasaga 5 Conversions: Cramer 6 Penalties: Cramer...

Fiji destroyed by French set-piece

France............... 44pts Fiji.......................... 0pts By MARK DOCHERTY FRANCE emphatically booked a quarter-final spot with a seven try to nil victory over...

Italians looking to make quarters

Preview Italy v Japan Today 12.45 am ITALY will be looking to cement their place in the quarter-finals with a win...

Packer to lead Red Roses for first time

Preview England v South Africa By BEN JAYCOCK Today 5.45 am Force: Marlie Packer takes the captain’s armband PICTURE: Getty Images...

Pivac: A win against All Blacks is overdue

Paul Rees talks to the Wales coach ahead of their clash with New Zealand at the Principality Stadium A rivalry lost...

Flexibility key if we want to keep playing

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER It's funny how sport and life often come...

Reasons why we will miss Wasps

RUGBY MATTERS SO farewell Wasps, at least the club we knew. Who can forget those misty afternoons at Sudbury sheltering in...

A day in history which will never be repeated

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A dwindling band of noble old-age pensioners will be reunited next week for...

Wasps play their part and then disappear

PETER JACKSON THE numbers - 70, 71, 76, 80, 85 - could be misconstrued as a rising tide of support for...

Baron puts it on the line: You will not get out of this mess without radical change

NICK CAIN TALKS TO FRANCIS BARON, THE FORMER RFU CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ABOUT HOW HE WOULD FIX ENGLISH RUGBY Francis Baron has...

Reds hold on as Olver fires wide at the death

■ By TIM PRYOR Jersey Reds..... 19pts Tries: Harris 15, Van Breda 25, Brown 40 Conversions: Bennett 15, 25 Doncaster K.........

Turner’s blast sparks Amps second half comeback

By MO SHER Ampthill............26pts Tries: Rankin 9, Cambriani 44, Bacon 46, Parks 62 Conversions: Parks 10, 45, 47 Caldy................. 24pts Tries:...