Ealing show top-flight credentials with big six against Zebre

Ealing T ............42pts Zebre ..................12pts By DAVE MORRIS Ealing Trailfinders ran out comfortable winners scoring six tries to win against URC...

Wasps see off resilient Dragons

Dragons ..........12 Wasps ..............28 By BOBBY BRIDGE Wasps withheld a spirited Dragons fightback to finish their two-game preseason campaign undefeated heading...

Radwan to the rescue for sloppy Newcastle

Doncaster ........29pts Newcastle........33pts By GUY WILLIAMS A last minute try by speedster Adam Radwan clinched a fortunate win for Newcastle at...

Morgan snatches win for Ospreys as Tipuric returns

Ospreys ..........31 Northampton 24 By SAM JACKSON Luke Morgan’s 77th minute try proved the difference as Northampton Saints ended their preseason...

Hughes heading to Japan

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Fol low me on Twitter: @neilfissler Former England No.8 Nathan Hughes has secured a move to...

La Rochelle keen on Warrior Hatherell

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler La Rochelle are lining up a move for Worcester lock Kyle...

French clubs on alert as Sinckler CV goes round

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler French target: Kyle Sinckler Kyle Sinckler is a target for a...

Quins are NOT after Steward

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler One of the most laughable ill-informed clickbait links of a move...

Racing 92 to offer Wade new deal

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Impressive: Wade Racing 92 are offering former England international winger Christian...

Red Roses make it 24 wins in a row

England ............52pts USA ......................14pts By MARK DOCHERTY Flyer: Ellie Kildunne on her way to the try-line The Red Roses put 50...

Grand plan which just makes it all murkier

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Rugby used to be a simple affair: you played, you lost, you pretended to the media that...

Matawalu magic is set to light up Ponty

By Chris Hewett They were the best of days. Time and again, a Heineken Cup trip to Pontypridd delivered on the...

Kolisi takes charge as Springboks win at last

By GARY FITZGERALD Australia ............8pts Tries: Samu 79 Penalties: Lolesio 31 South Africa ....24pts Tries: de Allende 8, Moodie 39, Mostert...

Pumped-up Kiwis back in the groove

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER New Zealand ..53pts Tries: De Groot 10, Clarke 18, Ioane 37, B Barrett 60, 80+1; Savea 66, Retallick...

This could be the most defining season – ever

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Here we are at the start of September anticipating what could be...

Time for stars to shine at World Cup Sevens

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points The Rugby World Cup Sevens is upon us...

Richmond back from voyage of discovery

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW A famous old club sets sail from London this week on a south-westerly...

Elvis still has a few more hits left in him

By Peter Jackson Old rock ‘n’ rollers dusting down their blue suede shoes for the new season will rejoice at the...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Bath

Head coach: Johann van Graan Captain: Ben Spencer Ground: The Recreation Ground Capacity: 14,509 PREDICTED FINISH: 11TH Johann van Graan, Bath‘s...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Bristol

Director of Rugby: Pat Lam Captain: Steven Luatua Ground: Ashton Gate Capacity: 27,000 PREDICTED FINISH: 8TH Pat Lam’s glass is always...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Exeter

Director of Rugby: Rob Baxter Captains: Jack Yeandle/Joe Simmonds Ground: Sandy Park Capacity: 14,100 PREDICTED FINISH: 6TH The Chiefs missed out...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Gloucester

Head Coach: George Skivington Captain: Lewis Ludlow Ground: Kingsholm Capacity: 16,115 PREDICTED FINISH: 3RD When George Skivington arrived at Gloucester during...

Dombrandt urges Quins to aim high

By ADAM HATHAWAY No.8 Alex Dombrandt admits Harlequins did not set the bar high enough last season and got trapped into...

Polledri confident he’ll be better than ever

Gloucester flanker Jake Polledri is confident he can perform “even better” than before after returning from almost two years out with...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Harlequins

Team-by-team guide by Paul Rees Head Coach: Tabai Matson Captain: Stephan Lewies Ground: Twickenham Stoop Capacity: 14,816 PREDICTED FINISH: 2ND Quins...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Leicester

Head Coach: Steve Borthwick Captain: Hanro Liebenberg Ground: Welford Road Capacity: 25,849 PREDICTED FINISH: 4TH The Tigers clawed their way from...

‘We must build on what we achieved’

By GARY FITZGERALD Dan Cole dismisses suggestions Tigers enter the new season as favourites in the same manner he deals with...

Big brother Creevy happy to claim Irish can be champions

Agustin Creevy is as bullish with his predictions for London Irish’s title chances as he is when taking the field, claiming:...

Team-by-team Premiership previews: London Irish

Director of Rugby: Declan Kidney Captain: Matt Rogerson Ground: Gtech Community Stadium Capacity: 17,250 PREDICTED FINISH: 7TH The Exiles were involved...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Newcastle

Head Coach: Dave Walder Captain: Will Welch Ground: Kingston Park Capacity: 10,200 PREDICTED FINISH: 12TH The Falcons are getting used to...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Northampton

Director of Rugby: Phil Dowson Captain: Lewis Ludlam Ground: Franklin’s Gardens Capacity: 15,200 PREDICTED FINISH: 5TH Northampton have tended to yo-yo...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Sale Sharks

Director of Rugby: Alex Sanderson Captain: Jono Ross Ground: AJ Bell Stadium Capacity: 12,000 PREDICTED FINISH: 9th Salfrord is no longer...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Saracens

Director of Rugby: Mark McCall Captain: Owen Farrell Ground: StoneX Stadium Capacity: 10,500 PREDICTED FINISH: 1ST Saracens returned to the Premiership...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Wasps

Head coach: Lee Blackett Captain: Joe Launchbury Ground: Coventry Building Society Arena Capacity: 32,753 PREDICTED FINISH: 10TH Recruitment was put on...

Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Worcester Warriors

Director of Rugby: Steve Diamond Captain: Ted Hill Ground: Sixways Stadium Capacity: 11,499 PREDICTED FINISH: 13TH Steve Diamond’s bid to become...

Pollard the man to help Tigers retain their title

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK Steve Borthwick has proved himself to be a tremendous operator who never leaves a...

Salary cap is forcing clubs to invest in youth policy

PAUL REES Worcester’s plight at a time when the salary cap has been reduced by some 20 per cent to £5m...

Genge on mission to get Bristol roaring

Ellis Genge wants to help Bristol be the “best” team they can be after re-joining his hometown club from Premiership champions...

Saints agree new deal with Freeman

England wing Tommy Freeman, 21, has signed a new “long-term” contract at Northampton Saints. Freeman, who can also operate at full-back,...

Leinster to edge it over SA new boys

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Back with Cardiff: Taulupe Faletau is a world class player A brand-new United Rugby Championship...

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2022-23 SQUADS

BENETTON Captains: Michele Lamaro/Dewaldt Duvenage Head coach: Marco Bortolami Squad: Matteo Drudi, Simone Ferrari, Thomas Gallo, Ivan Nemer, Tiziano Pasquali, Nahuel...

Time for RFU to pull its finger out

Record six-time Championship Dream Team inductee and former Leeds legend Ryan Burrows casts his eye over this season’s contenders and fears...

CHAMPIONSHIP 2022-23 SQUADS

AMPTHILL Captain: Charlie Beckett Head coach: Paul Turner Squad: Syd Blackmore, Matt Gallagher, Aleki Lutui, Jake Elwood, Dom Hardman, Griff Phillipson,...

Sale late fireworks see off Moseley

By DAVID LAWRENCE Moseley............ 13 Sale FC..............32 Sale produced a scintillating second-half display to storm to an opening day victory in...

Morris double has Hull on defensive

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S............... 44 Hull............................ 20 A scrappy start to the game saw Stortford concede a penalty under their...

DMP edge battle of the conditions

By BEN JAYCOCK Darlington MP.......23 Chinnor..................... 16 Darlington opened the season with a hard-fought win in torrential rain in the North-East....

James on the money to halt Plymouth fightback

By DANIEL ROWLANDS Cambridge....... 34pts Tries: Frost 5, James 8, Green 15, Asiedu 63, Priestley 74 Conversions: James 6, 9, 75...

Jordan has Gott the form to deny the Tykes victory

By BEN CROPPER Leeds Tykes...........24 Taunton T................28 Taunton began their season with a bonus-point victory in Yorkshire, thanks to a converted...

Esher fail in bid to raid the Rams

By RICHARD GEORGE ASHTON Rams.........................38 Esher......................... 21 Rams started with a five-try flourish against a game Esher side. The hosts made...

It’s no stroll in the Park for the Stags

By RHYS STRATTON Rosslyn Park..........46 Cinderford...............26 A resilient Rosslyn Park emerged victorious against Cinderford, despite three yellows. Cinderford scored early, before...