Newcastle Falcons sign Coventry scrum-half Josh Barton

Coventry scrum-half Josh Barton will make the step up to the Premiership after signing a two-year deal with Newcastle Falcons. Having...

Northampton looking to put Leicester hidings firmly behind them – Phil Dowson

Phil Dowson admits that Northampton endured two “chastening experiences” against East Midlands rivals Leicester in the Gallagher Premiership this season. But...

Wales name uncapped prop Sam Wainwright as Leon Brown’s replacement

Uncapped Saracens prop Sam Wainwright has been called into Wales‘ South Africa tour squad as replacement for Leon Brown. The Welsh...

‘Owen’s everything’ – Jamie George compares Farrell to NBA great Michael Jordan

Jamie George says Saracens are being inspired in their Gallagher Premiership title quest by their own version of Michael Jordan. George...

Glasgow Warriors sack head coach Danny Wilson

Glasgow Warriors have sacked head coach Danny Wilson in the wake of their 76-14 United Rugby Championship quarter-final defeat to Leinster....

Steve Borthwick not getting ahead of himself in Leicester’s title bid

Steve Borthwick insists Leicester are “still very early in the journey” as his table-topping side seek to cap a remarkable turnaround...

Big-game experience invaluable for Saracens – Andy Christie

Andy Christie feels Saracens‘ big-game experience is invaluable ahead of Harlequins‘ visit in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final. Speaking to The Rugby...

Jonny May returns to 35-player England training squad

Jonny May returns to the England set-up as Eddie Jones names a 35-player training squad for a three-day camp in Teddington....

“Turning Japanese!” Five Reasons Why Rugby Players Are Moving To Japan

Japan is known for its rich culture, unique cuisine, and rugby, a full-contact sport popular in many western countries. Though baseball...

Top medic demands stronger leadership

By PETER JACKSON WORLD Rugby has reacted to renewed medical criticism over the alarming issue of brain injuries by claiming to...

Best yet to come for Saracens – Malins

By ADAM HATHAWAY MAX Malins rapped out a warning to the Premiership, claiming the best is yet to come from fallen...

Diamond insists player welfare was his priority

By PAUL REES STEVE Diamond is unrepentant about Worcester’s decision to cancel the Premiership match against Gloucester at Kingsholm in March...

Free agent Wade says rugby’s lost its ‘buzz’

By BOBBY BRIDGE FORMER Wasps winger Christian Wade believes drastic changes need to be made to rugby union to bring its...

Kruis calls time as a winner in Japan

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER ENGLAND lock George Kruis has bowed out with another winner’s medal after helping Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights...

Kiwi spell was key in educating wily Wood

By PAUL REES Learning curve: Stalwart Tom Wood benefitted from a spell playing academy playing in New Zealand PICTURE: Getty Images...

‘Don’t rule out a return’ hints Richards

By JON NEWCOMBE NEWCASTLE’s outgoing director of rugby Dean Richards hasn’t ruled out a return to rugby’s frontline in the future....

Ford: Tiger cub Jack has a big future ahead

By JON NEWCOMBE GEORGE Ford sees a bright future for half-back partner Jack van Poortvliet after the young Tigers ace was...

What is the point of having a TMO?

WHEN the pundits for BT Sport can spot a cheap-shot tackle, by a world renowned second row, but the TMO can’t,...

Sorry Brendan but I don’t share the same optimism

SO Brendan Gallagher “smells stifling fear” in the reduced Premiership salary cap, but I disagree with his belief that the removal...

Not so local derby

I WAS pleased to see that the new set up for National 2 West enables the resumption of, perhaps or perhaps...

Championship just isn’t comparable with ProD2

COLIN BOAG Controversial: Sharks and Lions, along with the Bulls, Stormers and Cheetahs, have been added to next season’s European Cups...

Quins have a chance with Danny in the driving seat

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK DANNY Care has always attracted attention as an attacking scrumhalf who can shred defences...

Ten-try Saints have Tigers in their sights

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Northampton ..65pts Tries: Matavesi 9, 23; Cole 18, Mitchell 32, Freeman 40+1, 63, 68; Hutchinson 59, Skosan 73,...

Boyd so proud of battling players

NORTHAMPTON director of rugby Chris Boyd is proud of how players turned their poor season around. “A couple of months ago...

Borthwick left with questions to answer

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester ..........20pts Tries: G Porter 2, Steward 61 Conversions: Ford 2, 61 Penalties: Ford 67, 73 Wasps ................10pts...

Blackett: We had chances to win

WASPS boss Lee Blackett admitted his team had missed out on a chance of victory. “We just had to find a...

Gloucester left to rue what might have been

By PAUL REES Gloucester........54pts Tries: Singleton 8, 44; Reid 18, Carreras 34, Thorley 49, Socino 57, Rees-Zammit 68, Clement 71 Conversions:...

Sorry to miss out on top 4 -Skiv

GEORGE Skivington welcomed back England wing Jonny May after five months out with injury and believes more of his players are...

Eddie beware! This beast holds all the keys

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK IN the last fortnight Eddie Jones and his England squad have had a...

France are the giants, Prem just sleeping

NICK CAIN THE English Premiership has just been described as a “sleeping giant” of sport by Simon Massie-Taylor, its chief executive....

Plan for life without Manu

NICK CAIN MANU Tuilagi’s latest knee operation, which rules him out of England’s summer tour to Australia, shows just how precarious...

Simmonds in charge as Chiefs snatch it

By ROGER PANTING Exeter ................47pts Tries: Gray 19, Hogg 24, Simmonds 38, Whitten 47, Nowell 55, Street 69, Maunder 79 Conversions:...

Chuffed we fought right to the end, says coach Hepher

EXETER head coach Ali Hepher offered an explanation as to why Chiefs have missed out on a play-off for the first...

De Klerk bows out with a final flourish

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Sale ....................42pts Tries: Roebuck 7, Van der Merwe 15, Wiese 22, 40, D Du Preez 63, Reed 69...

Injury to Rodd ‘is not serious’

BEVAN Rodd was replaced as a “precaution” during half-time but boss Alex Sanderson dismissed fears of a serious injury. The highly-rated...

Horror show for Bath as they finish bottom

By TOM BRADSHAW Worcester ........43pts Tries: Hatherell 4, Simpson 44, Shillcock 52, 55, 76; Batley 61 Conversions: Smith 5, 45, 53,...

Diamond delight after fightback

STEVE Diamond hailed his Worcester side’s resolve having been on the ropes at the break. “We had a chat at halftime...

Ealing in talks with Wallaby prop Sio

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER EALING Trailfinders appear not to be letting their snub from the Premiership stunt their plans...

Bears fly-half Eden off to join Zebre

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER BRISTOL Bears fly-half Tiff Eden is set to ply his trade in Italy next season...

Wade weighs up his options

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER CHRISTIAN Wade has claimed that teams in the Premiership, France, Australia, South Africa and the...

Saints eager to strike a deal for Sale lock Wiese

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Wanted man: Cobus Wiese NORTHAMPTON Saints are interested in signing...

Salvi set to replace Gustard in Treviso

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER JULIAN Salvi is making a quick return to rugby after becoming Paul Gustard’s replacement at...

Flyer Yarde might look Down Under

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER FORMER England winger Marland Yarde has hooked up with an Australian-based agent, which could be...

DREAM TEAM

LEWIS BARKER, THE CALDY AND FORMER MOLD, RGC AND MACCLESFIELD FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST...

Romance alive and kicking in France

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Hot news! Manchester City won the Premier League. Again. Didn’t see that one coming. And Bayern Munich...

Diamond knows the principles of winning

CHRIS HEWETT AT a rough guess, the number of times Steve Diamond has been mistaken for Aristotle can be counted on...

Long list of contenders but will the best man say yes?

PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE RUNNERS AND RIDERS WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING OVER FROM EDDIE JONES If Eddie Jones takes...

Ruthless Saracens reign supreme again

By HARRY LATHAM-COYLE Saracens ..........43pts Tries: Packer 7, 40; Fleetwood 22, Carson 42, Campbell 61, Corrigan 65 Conversions: Kelter 7, 22,...

Aitchison showed her class at No.10

SARACENS fly-half Holly Aitchison, who is usually found at centre but was at 10 for the injured Zoe Harrison, had a...

Tyro Chief Jenkins hungry for more after stellar debut season

By PAUL REES EXETER Chiefs may have failed to qualify for the Premiership play-offs for the first time in seven seasons,...