Wasps to explore merger with Irish

EXCLUSIVE By NEIL FISSLER Wasps could be set to leave Coventry and make a return to their traditional home in London...

Launchbury set to join Quins

Harlequins are understood to have come to the rescue of Wasps and England lock Joe Launchbury. Launchbury, 31, is one of...

Rowlands favourite for Wales captaincy

By PETER JACKSON Dan Biggar will miss next month’s autumn series leaving Wales to appoint a new captain for the four...

Melville: Game needs a re-set to move forward

By ADAM HATHAWAY Wasps legend Nigel Melville has revealed his heartache as he watches his former club descend into the abyss...

Nadolo keen to make a lasting impression

By JON NEWCOMBE As well as scoring tries, scaring the living daylights out of opponents and winning a Premiership title, powerhouse...

Lam: I’ve not yet been able to pick my strongest XV

By PAUL REES Bristol have three of the most exciting backs in the Premiership in Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra and Siva...

World Cup places are still up for grabs – Jones

By ADAM HATHAWAY Eddie Jones is still searching for a Tom Brady figure to take his England team to the next...

Lamb wants to get back in the thick of it for Harlequins

By PAUL REES Ready for action: Second row Dino Lamb DINO Lamb is putting the frustrations of last season behind him...

Lawrence on a mission to make most of life at Bath

By JON NEWCOMBE Having gone through “a rollercoaster of emotions”, Ollie Lawrence is determined to make the best of his good...

Schoeman happy to be back and set to inject some flair into the Falcons

By TOM BRADSHAW Fit-again fly-half Tian Schoeman is ready to get the Falcons flying high as he brings a self-confessed streak...

Sharks keen to lure more fans after good start

By PAUL REES Sale are looking at ways of filling the AJ Bell Stadium to capitalise on a strong start to...

Don’t hold club games on international days

SURELY there is a time to re-think Premiership rugby, with the disaster of mismanagement at Worcester and Wasps and falling gate...

Make sure the laws are applied fairly

BOTH Nick Cain and Paul Rees addressed (9/10/22) the high scoring nature of games so far this season which includes a...

Rob’s right – bring in a 10-team Prem

THE sad news that both Wasps and Worcester have been suspended from the Premiership is a sorry indictment of rugby union’s...

Shameful evidence of slow strangulation

MAY I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all the minor counties blazers on the RFU Council that have voted through the...

Allow the students to catch up

I WAS interested to read Jon Newcombe’s article last week about the state of leagues regarding walkovers. I can comment on...

Checking things out

ROB Andrew lays the fault for the parlous state of professional clubs’ finances at the door of the club owners and...

Dream Team with Gus Southon

The London Scottish and former London Irish and Hartpury loose forward, chooses the best XV he has played with or against......

Time to cut salary costs which are burying clubs

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK When Wasps went into self-administration some weeks ago, even from a distance you knew...

Late Hastings penalty swings derby thriller

By PAUL REES Gloucester ........31pts Tries: Reid 11, Ruskin 31, 58; Clarke 39 Conversions: Hastings 12, 32, 40, 59 Penalties: Hastings...

Sinckler back to his best – Lam

Pat Lam expects Kyle Sinckler to be named in the England squad tomorrow after the prop went on the rampage at...

Lawrence dazzles as Bath show real fight

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens ..........37pts Tries: Goode 2, Malins 41, Daly 51, Lewington 55 Conversions: Farrell 3, 42, 52, 56 Penalties:...

McCall: Defence not up to standard

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall rued his side’s ‘sloppy’ defence. “It’s not a performance we are happy with,” he said....

Saints hold on as epic fightback falls short

By GARY FITZGERALD Northampton....32pts Tries: Sleightholme 5, 53; Matavesi 12, Collins 43, Augustus 49 Conversions: Grayson 44, 50 Penalties: Grayson 24...

The boys lack confidence and belief to win, says Walder

Dave Walder was frustrated to lose after such a brave fightback and admitted his side lack the belief to win. “It...

Exiles fail to contain deadly Shark attack

By BEN JAYCOCK Sale ....................37pts Tries: D du Preez 12, Carpenter 37, Roebuck 43, 55; Ashman 78 Conversions: R du Preez...

We lost gain-line battle – Kidney

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson was pleased with the performance and says things are coming together for his team, just...

Matson expecting a tough test from wounded Tigers

By PAUL REES PREVIEW... Harlequins v Leicester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Twickenham Stoop Harlequins are expecting a fierce response from Premiership champions Leicester...

We’re working hard on our game, insists Heyes

By JON NEWCOMBE JOE HEYES says complacency and the burden of expectation are not behind Leicester’s stuttering start to the season....

Spreading sense of anger and dislocation

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK It was always odds-on that Lawrence Dallaglio’s recent calls for Premiership clubs to...

Pumas will have inside track on England

NICK CAIN Argentina will know the England players they face at Twickenham three weeks from now better than any of the...

50/50 on Marchant joining Gustard

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER The chances of England centre Joe Marchant, above, moving to Stade Francais next season have...

Racing lead Biggar race

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Racing 92 have emerged as favourites to sign Wales star Dan Biggar when he leaves...

Langdon secures Montpellier deal

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Worcester Warriors hooker Curtis Langdon has secured a short-term move to French giants Montpellier on...

Huge prop Alo may hip-hop his way to France

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER In demand: Biyi Alo has had talks with Racing WASPS tight-head Biyi Alo could become...

‘Ashley will rip soul out of club’

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Wasps will become one big advertising board for the Mike Ashley empire if the former...

Easter in line for Seibold spot

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Anthony Seibold was putting the finishing touches to his return to Manly Sea Eagles before...

Kuridrani on Sale radar

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Sale have launched a bid to land former Wallaby ace Tevita Kuridrani after suffering an...

James stars as seven-try Saints surge to top of pool

By NICK POWELL Northampton ..49pts Tries: Sylvester 10, Scott-Young 14, Collins 18, 40; Hendy 25, Lockett 32, James 53 Conversions: Grayson...

How one coach cut through the silence

Saracens coach Joe Shaw back in his playing days at Newcastle in 2003 CHRIS HEWETT English club rugby at the top...

Why it’s time to prioritise the players

CHRIS HEWETT SO what does Jack Willis do now? And what control can Eddie Jones, the England coach, and his employers...

Myler keeps his nerve as Ospreys find late leveller

By ROGER PANTING Ospreys ............16pts Tries: Baldwin 75 Conversions: Myler 75 Penalties: Myler 35, 50, 68 Stormers ..........16pts Tries: De Wet...

Two-try Costelow puts his hand up for Wales

By STEFFAN THOMAS Scarlets ............36pts Tries: Costelow 7, 43; Lousi 29, Davies 40, Conbeer 79 Conversions: Halfpenny 8, 30, 40, 44,...

Cardiff hit 15 wins in a row over Dragons

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff ................31pts Tries: Adams 12, Carre 15, Botham 28, Young 73 Conversions: Evans 12, 15, 28, 73 Penalties:...

Duhan double as Scots run riot

Edinburgh ......53 Benetton ..........8 ■By BEN JAYCOCK DUHAN van der Merwe scored twice on his return as Edinburgh recorded a morale-boosting...

First home win for Rowntree

Munster ................31 Bulls ......................17 By JOHN FALLON GRAHAM Rowntree tasted victory in his first match in charge at Thomond Park as...

Ulster hold off fightback

Lions ......................37 Ulster ....................39 ■ By JOHN FALLON ULSTER full-back Michael Lowry said they had to use every ounce of energy...

Sharks enjoy feeding frenzy

Sharks ..................40 Glasgow ................12 ■By GARY HEATLY THE Sharks ran in 27 points in the last 28 minutes to stretch away...

Leinster dig in to win derby dogfight

Connacht ..........0 Leinster ..........10 ■By JOHN FALLON LEO Cullen aptly summed up how to approach a dogged derby clash in the...

Carreras can wing in again for Pumas

By PAUL REES Dave Walder expects Mateo Carreras’s fast start to the season to earn the 22-year-old wing a recall by...