French kickers like their noisy support

DAVID James (letters July 3) wants Sir to be able to award an unkicked penalty if the crowd make a noise!...

Time the laws applied to New Zealand as well

COLIN BOAG It’s quite possible that Saturday’s Test between New Zealand and Ireland will turn out to be hugely significant for...

DREAM TEAM

SIMON HUMBERSTONE, THE FORMER CARDIFF, PONTYPRIDD, DONCASTER & HULL FLY-HALF CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST 1.Gethin...

What price for a jersey famous the world over?

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW One of the game’s most treasured jerseys has reappeared alongside its revered owner...

Tonga get a tonking as Fiji rain on Folau’s parade

SOME 10,000 miles away in the South Sea Islands, the second coming of Israel Folau has turned out to be the...

Ferocious Baby Boks book place in the final

France ..............27pts Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 19, 58; Sa 39, Coulon 78 Conversions: Barré 21, 59 Penalties: Barré 42 South Africa ....42pts Tries:...

Sam’s the man with late winner for Ireland

By NICK POWELL Ireland ..............37pts Tries: Gibbons 10, McCormick 17, Penalty 23, McLoughlin 36 Conversions: Prendergast 11, 18, 37 Penalties: Prendergast...

Deadeye Hawkins delivers killer blow

Wales ................23pts Tries: Evans 33, Thsinzua 40+2 Conversions: Hawkins 34, 40+3 Penalties: Hawkins 4, 19, 76 Italy ....................20pts Tries: Passerella 15,...

Humiliation as Georgia put Scotland to the sword

Scotland ............17pts Tries: Townsend 10, Stirrat 15, Munn 64 Conversions: Townsend 16 Georgia ..............55pts Tries: Zazadze 20, 53; Shvangiradze 27, 66;...

Pumitas run out of puff as Kiwis stroll on

OCEANIA U20s WRAP NEW Zealand held Argentina scoreless in the second-half to earn their second win of the tournament, 32-9. Argentina,...

Jack’s living the dream at Harlequins

YOUNG GUNS JACK DOOREY-PALMER HARLEQUINS HOOKER Jack Doorey-Palmer is aiming high at Harlequins after receiving some special online tuition from England...

Sharks star Georgie says USA can rule the world

■By BEN JAYCOCK Standout season: Georgie Perris-Redding SALE flanker Georgie Perris-Redding claims there is nothing stopping the USA from winning the...

Baby Boks hold no fear for Wales

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Rising star: Dafydd Jenkins DAFYDD Jenkins is confident Wales U20s can upset the formbook by beating South Africa...

More Wales women players turn professional

WALES women have added more professional players to their ranks in the build up to the World Cup in September while...

Welsh resurgence all about mindset

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER My experience over many decades is that Welsh rugby is rarely in as bad a state as...

Namibia lead chase but no sign of breakthrough

Unless the earth shifts on its axis or Namibia manage to get three forwards sent off in the first half the...

Abe key to RWC success

RUGBY has good reason to join the mourning for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was assassinated in Japan earlier...

Proud to be a foot soldier among the superstars

MY LIFEIN RUGBY BEN BROSTER THE FORMER WALES, SARACENS, WASPS, NORTHAMPTON, SCARLETS, BIARRITZ & BAYONNE TIGHT-HEAD I’M from Haywards Heath in...

England undone by childish behaviour

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Despite the fact that they were the first games of the tours,...

Heady days at Falmouth when Jackett boys wore the jersey

CORNWALL has always been a rugby stronghold in England and Falmouth – now Falmouth Eagles – have been part of that...

Thomas was master in charge of a modern day golden age in Cornish rugby

Master: Dave Benji Thomas ONE of the most revered figures at the Falmouth club was Dave Benji Thomas who died this...

London-born Grandidier now loving life in France

■By BEN JAYCOCK A LATE bloomer having joined his first rugby club at 17, London-born Aaron Grandidier has gone on to...

When a millionaire sparked the biggest spending spree in rugby

MOMENT IN TIME RICHMOND COURAGE DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONS 1997 NEIL FISSLER TALKS TO JOHN KINGSTON AND SIMON MASON JUST before rugby...

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

BACK ROW John Kingston: Coached at Harlequins and is now a partner of sports consultancy Taylor- Woodcock-Kingston. Matt Yeldham: Prop, went...

‘Piranhas looking to take our players’

IF the way that Ashley Levett pulled the plug on Richmond was brutal, it was nothing compared to the bloodletting they...

Despair as England hit rock bottom in Brisbane

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful Iconic Rugby...

Clash of the champions will open new season

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Two blockbuster matches are scheduled for the opening weekend of the 2022/23 Top 14 season as European...

Financial incentive for picking French players

FROM September, Top 14 clubs that average a minimum 17 JIFF players in their matchday squads will be eligible for a...

Summer Tours Week 3 Preview: Home Nations look to bounce back

Last week’s Summer Tests saw the end of two long losing head-to-head runs, a last-gasp victory and a 17-minute period of...

Rugby Teams as Part of Online Casino Promotions

Source: Unsplash Online gambling companies are known for their close collaboration with sports teams. The first ones that come to mind...

England hand out two debuts as Underhill returns

Eddie Jones has handed England debuts to Guy Porter and Tommy Freeman, as Sam Underhill comes in for concussed Tom Curry...

Springboks change 14 as Wales bring in Cuthbert

South Africa have changed all-but one of the starting XV who beat Wales last week, with the visitors making just one...

Coventry Stadium set to welcome the Rugby Sevens spirit for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

We might be biased, but here at Birmingham 2022 we firmly feel that rugby is best enjoyed in the sunshine. Get...

Curry tour over after concussion blow

Tom Curry is heading home from Australia due to a concussion sustained in England‘s first test defeat in Perth. Curry suffered...

Jones: We blew our chances to win it

■From ADAM HATHAWAY in Perth England boss Eddie Jones accused referee James Doleman of favouring the Wallabies after they had a...

So close! Last-kick heartache for Wales

Wayne Pivac was left frustrated by Wales’ discipline after a last-gasp Damian Willemse penalty broke Welsh hearts and denied them an...

Chief Kirsten relishing his return to Pretoria

■By PAUL REES When Jannes Kirsten left the Bulls five years ago, he never imagined he would be facing his former...

Newcastle to investigate after Burrell racist claims

Newcastle Falcons have launched an internal investigation to determine if any of the racism that Luther Burrell experienced happened while at...

I’m enjoying this crazy journey, says Ashton

By GARY FITZGERALD Chris Ashton has described his latest title-winning journey as “crazy” and insists it has merely fuelled his desire...

Eales urges England to stick with Jones

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Eddie Jones’ position as England head coach may be under scrutiny but Australian legend John Eales insists the...

England welcome Claudia return

Claudia MacDonald has returned to the England squad after a neck injury forced her to miss the Six Nations and final...

Witty joins Perpignan

Exeter have granted lock Will Witty early release from his existing deal to join Top 14 club Perpignan. The 27-year-old moved...

Triple-try Aussie blitz too much for England

■By NICK CAIN Australia ……….30pts Tries: Petaia 63, Fainga’a 69, Samu 76 Conversions: Lolesio 64, 70, 77 Penalties: Lolesio 23, 40,...

England must play smarter if they are to turn things around – Guscott

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK A big part of playing the game at the highest level is rugby intelligence,...

England have the talent but they lack direction

PAUL REES Right, Henry Arundell made the most metres of any Red Rose player despite only having two touches England packed...

We must protect this jewel in club rugby

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is common-sense wisdom that should apply...

Funding plans for women just bizarre

NICK CAIN The RFU revealed a bizarre £220 million 10-year plan for professional women’s rugby that appears to be based more...

Courageous Wales go so close to beating world champs in a thriller

■By PETER JACKSON South Africa ....32pts Tries: Mbonambi 46, Marx 51, Kolbe 65, Penalty 74 Conversions: Willemse 48, 67 Penalties: Jantjies...

Penaud double as France race clear

■By BEN JAYCOCK Japan ..............23 France ............42 Damian Penaud scored a brace as France put together a strong second-half performance to...

Biggar’s boys show how good they are

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Driving force: Taulupe Faletau was back to his magnificent best Sometimes you just have to...