Robinson: Grace can be a star in 15-a-side

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Jason Robinson was one of the greatest ever cross-code players – and reckons St Helens star Regan Grace...

‘Get Farrell & Edwards together for England’

Jason Robinson would love to see both Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards brought back into the Twickenham fold. The former England...

Ampthill looking to learn from Worsley’s French nous

By JON NEWCOMBE Joe Worsley has already started putting Ampthill’s players through their paces as the latest member of an impressive...

Lawes the enforcer as England take series

By NICK CAIN Australia............17pts Tries: Wright 25, Fainga’a 66 Conversions: Lolesio 26, 67 England ..............21pts Penalties: Lolesio 31 Tries: Steward 40+1,...

Brilliant to win series but far from perfect

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK England are clearly in a better place now than they were when they started...

Courtney’s calm head steers England home

PAUL REES Men of the series: Courtney Lawes, left, and Wallaby danger man Marika Koroibete PICTURES: Getty Images When Marika Koroibete...

A veil of secrecy which keeps us all in the dark

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There is a complete contradiction at the heart of the English Premiership having...

Wales fall at the last but head for home with pride restored

By PETER JACKSON South Africa ....30pts Tries: Pollard 14, Mbonambi 38, Kolisi 53 Conversions: Pollard 16, 39, 54 Penalties: Pollard 5,...

Lam’s double edges Samoa to glory

PACIFIC NATIONS CUP Seilala Lam scored two tries as Samoa produced a dramatic 23-20 comeback victory over Fiji to win the...

Return of the old guard should drive Wales on

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND In the end, Cape Town was a step too far but, for a team so...

It’s time we made the players the main event

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST The sagacious lexicographer Dr Johnson – we’re talking Samuel here, not Martin – famously caused a ruckus...

Bossing line-outs is still the key skill

Chris Hewett Rugby has always had its share of brass necks, but did the Wales U20 lock Dafydd Jenkins abuse the...

Boffelli’s last minute try wins series for Argentina

By BEN JAYCOCK Argentina ........34pts Tries: Carreras 20, Tetaz Chaparro 51, Bertranou 67, Boffelli 80 Conversions: Boffelli 21, 53, 68, 80...

A night for heroes as Irish crush All Blacks

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER They've only gone and done it! After losing the First Test 42-19, Ireland went to work like never...

Farrell: Without doubt, this is the proudest I’ve been as part of a group

Ireland coach Andy Farrell thinks a subtle change of mindset contributed to Ireland’s historic series win.  “We talked about this being...

On the road to celebrate this great sport of ours

Paul Rees finds out about Martin Bayfield’s plans to tour Britain’s theatres with his rugby show Martin Bayfield has been on...

Steward contract talks stall at Tigers

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Off? Freddie Steward Freddie Steward could become the next big name to quit Premiership champions...

Lewis ready to head abroad

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER DESPITE being one of the best uncapped back rows in the game, Sam Lewis is...

Saints lead hunt for Worcester’s wonderkid Fin

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Northampton Saints are the early front runners to sign Worcester’s highly-rated fly half Fin Smith...

Ashley set for new challenge in France

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER PROP Ashley Challenger is set to drop into the third tier of French rugby after...

Wales Sevens call for Ospreys silver star Cross

Olympic silver medallist Sam Cross has been included in Wales Sevens’ 13-man squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The Sevens will...

Quins return for Turner

England women U20s head coach Amy Turner has become Harlequins head coach. Turner, who returns to The Stoop having retired as...

Big man Smith earns contract at Coventry

Coventry have signed second row George Smith ahead of next season. The 6ft 9ins, 19st 8lbs lock joined at the start...

Roberts calls it a day

Wales and British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts has retired at the age of 35. Roberts won 94 Wales caps...

Brown waits for his phone to ring

ON THE BLINDSIDE - BY NEIL FISSLER Former England full-back Mike Brown looks unlikely to be turning out for either Sale...

Grace looking to make most of return journey

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW One hundred summers ago, Johnny Ring left Port Talbot on a journey of...

Ken Kennedy, a Lion whose impact on top sport lasted a lifetime

Peter Jackson The Lions have lost another of their Invincibles in former Ireland hooker Ken Kennedy. His sudden death at the...

Red cards are now haunting All Blacks

Peter Jackson In their first 112 years of Test rugby, the All Blacks got by without any more than three players...

The one that got away for Roberts

Peter Jackson If Jamie Roberts could only be granted the wish of playing one match over again, he would name the...

Baby Boks overpower Wales to clinch title

■By BEN JAYCOCK Wales ................27pts Tries: Grady 45, Westwood 63, Fackrell 73, Jones 77 Conversions: Hawkins 64, 78 Penalties: Hawkins 9...

Young Guns – Bristol Lock Charlie Rice

Bristol Bears second row Charlie Rice is living the dream playing for the club he supported as a boy and is...

Simple way to avoid cards, obey the laws

IT IS a sad day for rugby union when a leading coach criticises referees for strictly penalising players cynically ignoring the...

Lower tackle height

LIKE many others, I’ ve become increasingly concerned by the number of head injuries and concussions in our great game. Surely...

More balance please

WHAT a pity Colin Boag should spoil an otherwise well argued piece on how the All Blacks tend to be treated...

Better to be safe than sorry with concussion

COLIN BOAG Recently, World Rugby issued a statement designed ‘to help fans better understand the process of identifying and managing concussion...

Dream Team with Carl Fearns

Carl Fearns, the Newcastle Falcons and former Sale, Bath and Lyon no.8, chooses the best XV he has played with or...

Euro Super League is the way forward

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER All hail the Lelos for recording a famous 28-19 win over Italy last Sunday in a feisty...

Italians lift mood with double over England

Brendan Gallagher Italy’s disappointment at losing away to Georgia at senior level on Sunday will be slightly offset by a strong...

Rylands delight as he heads home to Bedford

NEWS EXTRA CARDIFF Met graduate Charlie Rylands will be living his childhood dream next season having signed for his boyhood club...

Rob’s faith inspired a decade of dreams

MY LIFEIN RUGBY PHIL DOLLMAN THE FORMER DRAGONS AND EXETER CHIEFS FULL-BACK/CENTRE ISUPPOSE my claim to fame is that I was...

How TMO helps and hinders referees

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Okay, I admit it. I got it wrong, I predicted another lesson...

Convert Will has appetite for return to union

NEWS EXTRA ■By BEN JAYCOCK Inspired by former cross-code stars, hard hitting rugby league convert Will Blakemore has his sights set...

Coastal pride and bursting with history

Brendan Gallagher Fylde have been producing significant players on the northern circuit for many decades and if big time honours have...

Fabulous Fylde consistently churned out some legendary performers, irrespective of code

As a prominent Lancashire club, Fylde have always co-existed with a number of Rugby League giants providing at least three players...

Contracts alone will not plug the gap – McMahon

■By BEN JAYCOCK The IRFU have promised to have women’s contracts in place in time for next year’s Six Nations, but...

RUGBY SHORTS

World Cup gets smart PLAYERS at this year’s women’s World Cup will be offered the opportunity to wear ‘smart’ mouthguards –...

Hughes the key as Hong Kong close in on their first World Cup

Five years on from leaving the carnage of London Welsh behind him, Glyn Hughes is an altogether happier place in his...

Sutherland heads for Kowloon after ‘an amazing time’ playing for Cardiff Met

HARRY Sutherland is looking forward to going outside his comfort zone after it was confirmed the Cardiff Met graduate will be...

Rock ‘n’ roll rugby as Wales fly north

Iconic Rugby Pictures: PART 119 - Wales board plane for epic Five Nations match against Scotland, February 4, 1971 Brendan Gallagher...

Top eight to follow in Spring’s footsteps

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Young Racing 92 fullback Max Spring earned careful praise from France head coach Fabien Galthie after a...