Bath 40-14 Munster: Johann van Graan’s side issue a warning to Europe elite

Bath issued a thunderous statement to Europe’s elite as they ruthlessly swept Munster aside at a rain-soaked Rec.

Gloucester v Castres: George Skivington – Nine-week block key to season

Gloucester launch their Champions Cup campaign today aiming to build on their recent revival against Castres.

Nick Cain: Selection skills key to delivering big prizes for Steve Borthwick’s England

Where does England’s 4-0 Autumn Series success over southern hemisphere opposition leave them? The answer is having to take the next...

Nick Cain: Recruiting Benhard Janse van Rensburg sends out the wrong message

The decision by the RFU to petition World Rugby for Bristol’s South African-born-and-bred centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg to be granted...

Leinster 45-28 Harlequins: Leo Cullen’s side find strong finish to quell plucky Quins

Despite falling short of a statement victory, Jason Gilmore’s Harlequins can hold their heads high after a commendable display against Leinster.

Stormers survive Smith red card with powerful late surge

By BEN JAYCOCK Bayonne ............17pts Tries: Mori 16, Erbinartegaray 53, Paulos 61 Conversions: Spring 62 Stormers ...........26pts Tries: Khan 2, de...

La Rochelle 39-20 Leicester Tigers: Fearless Tiger cubs go down fighting

Leicester Tigers were more cubs than tigers with youth given its head, but they pushed the former champions La Rochelle hard...

Pau v Northampton Saints: Phil Dowson’s side ready for rumble with French high-flyers

Last season’s finalists Northampton Saints begin their campaign with a daunting trip to high-flying Section Paloise today and Phil Dowson is...

Scarlets 16-17 Bristol Bears: Pat Lam’s men hold firm for gritty opening win

Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears slugged out a narrow victory across the border against Scarlets to get their latest European campaign up...

Champions fight back to tame Bulls

■By SAM JACKSON Bulls ...................33pts Tries: de Klerk 8, Ludwig 20, van der Merwe 25, Moodie 37, Rudolph 39 Conversions: Pollard...

Chris Hewett: Eben Etzebeth top billing in Springboks rogues’ gallery

Clint Eastwood knows a thing or two about cinema, but if anyone is to make a sequel to his Springbok-inspired Invictus...

Expansion theory has killed pool jeopardy

IT’S official: the “pool of death” is dead. Daisy-pushing, maker-meeting, Python-parroting dead. When the newly expanded World Cup group stage unfolds...

Nine-try Ulster destroy Racing

■By SAM JACKSON Ulster ..............61 Racing 92 ......... 7 ULSTER launched their campaign in emphatic fashion as they ran riot against...

New full-back Young shows his class in Cardiff defeat

■By SIMON THOMAS S Francais .......38pts Tries: Ibo 17, 50; Halaifonua 42, Scelzo 60, Foursans-Bourdette 64, Laloi 73 Conversion: Foursans-Bourdette 43,...

Lyon 14-23 Newcastle Red Bulls: Oli Spencer’s late score seals Red Bulls win

Winger Oli Spencer scored in the final minutes to ensure Newcastle Red Bulls started their European campaign with a famous victory...

Exeter Chiefs v Cheetahs: In-form Chiefs hungry for more European silverware

Exeter Chiefs and the Cheetahs meet for the first time today as the South African invitational side, who are based in...

Prop star Botha brings up his 150 for Ospreys

■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Ospreys v Connacht Today. Kick-off 3.15pm TOM Botha will make his 150th Ospreys appearance today when his...

Wales stars return as Dragons hunt first win

■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Perpignan v Dragons Today. Kick-off 1pm WINLESS Dragons are desperate to secure their first triumph of the...

Benetton fightback stuns Lions in Jo’burg

Round-up ■By BEN JAYCOCK BENETTON staged a composed second-half comeback to open their campaign with an impressive 26-28 away victory against...

Double for Sullivan as Scottish put to the sword

■By PAUL SMITH Coventry ...........61pts Tries: Shine 10, Strong 13, Green 14, Sullivan 38, 55; Penalty 50, Nayagi 65, Adderly-Jones 73,...

Trailfinders smash six to extend their winning start

■By JOSEPH TERRY Trailfinders ....38pts Tries: Gwynn 6, de Wee 27, Cornish 36, Wilson 41, Dykes 58, Buckley 72 Conversions: Jones...

Bench men turn tide to seal Blues derby win

■By SAM WORTH Bedford Blues ................. 29pts Tries: Benson 11, Lennon 25, Uru 52, Herman 70, Tuilagi 78 Conversions: Maisey 53,...

Classy Kareem helps Worcester march on

■By JEAN BULL Worcester ........40pts Tries: Trewin 17, Gonzalez 21, Kareem 26, 57; Anstee 32, Reed 50 Conversions: Reed 22, 26,...

Ampthill claim points with Isaacs’ last minute score

■By TIM FORRESTER Richmond ........20pts Tries: Goffey 5, Obonna 17, Litchfield 64 Conversions: Grieve 6 Penalties: Grieve 77 Ampthill ...........25pts Tries:...

Cameron’s late snipe earns draw for Knights

By LUKE JARMYN Hartpury ............33pts Tries: Denty 31, Hart 40, Morgan 50 Conversions: Bazalgette 32, 40+1, 50+1 Penalties: Bazalgette 53, 57,...

Dickinson try makes difference for Archers

■By ALEX GREGGOR Chinnor ................ 6pts Penalties: Worboys 42, 71 Nottingham ...... 11pts Tries: Dickinson 46 Penalties: Parks 15, 56 NOTTINGHAM...

Allen stars as Chiefs turn screw on Bears

■By BLUEBELL NICHOLLS Exeter Chiefs ...........41 Bristol Bears ............10 A CLINICAL Exeter exposed all the weaknesses in an unsure Bristol Bears...

Trailfinders show grit against champs

■By COILIN DUFFY Gloucester-H ........... 29 Trailfinders ............. 28 GLOUCESTER-Hartpury preserved their perfect record but were pushed all the way, before...

Phillips hat-trick as Quins turn on the power

■By THOMAS SCOTT Leicester Tigers .... 28 Harlequins ............... 56 HARLEQUINS eventually claimed a high-scoring bonus-point victory against a determined Leicester...

PREVIEW Saracens v Loughborough Today. 3pm

KELSEY Clifford makes her 100th appearance for Saracens today against inform Loughborough Lightning at the StoneX. Clifford shifts across to tighthead...

Peter Jackson: When Dafydd James asked ref to end the misery

When the roof caved in on Wales and their predicament cried out for someone to put a humane end to the...

Wait for R360 will go on a lot longer

MIKE Tindall and his crew have been saying for a while now that they ‘can’t wait’ to float their boat, the...

Paul Rees: R360 threat can force change

Paul Rees on how the proposed breakaway league could revamp rugby amid increasing stresses on top players

No refrain from Park with King finishing Lions off

■By MALCOM WRIGHT Leicester L ......13 Rosslyn Park ..26 ROSSLYN PARK kept up the pressure on table-toppers Rotherham Titans, with a...

Mose’s sea of tries splits rocked Tykes

■By ANGELA RIMMINGTON Leeds Tykes .......... 17 B Moseley ..............42 SUPERB BIRMINGHAM Moseley sailed to a convincing triumph with a six-try...

Perfectly done for presentable Albion

■By JOE BARNES TAYLOR Sedgley Park ........26 Plymouth A ............50 PLYMOUTH ALBION opened up a 50-point presentation to give Sedgley Park...

Christmas is early with bonus Sale to celebrate!

■By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC...............26pts Tries: Mintern 17, Thunder 26, Dixon 51, Birchall 73 Conversions: Green 27, 52, 74 Blackheath ......21pts...

Chess-like strategy sees Bishops overthrow Dings

■By ROB WALKER Bishop’s S ...............33 Dings C.....................26 BISHOP’S STORTFORD did just enough for the victory, after battling through a feisty...

Rams pull a cracker in crack of the Titans

■By RICHARD ASHTON Rams ........................ 31 Rotherham T .........35 RAMS presented table-topping Rotherham Titans with a late fright, before ultimately being...

Juddians juggling act is just enough

■By ROGER OPIE Clifton ...................... 12 Tonbridge J ...........28 VISITORS Tonbridge Juddians’ hard fight saw them hold on for a deserved-win,...

Titans Rich in form yet points machine won’t let vision haze

■By BEN JAYCOCK ROTHERHAM versatile back Richard Hayes insists the Titans will not get ahead of themselves despite sitting top of...

Dean is the hero as Hull secure win No.2

By RICHARD GORE Hull.................... 24 Otley...................18 HULL won a game that saw the lead change hands several times to secure just...

Oscar’s on song as Dale dominate

By AVUYILE SAWULA Scunthorpe............... 5 Tynedale.................47 TYNEDALE got back to winning ways yesterday after dominating Scunthorpe at Heslam Park. The visitors...

Hosts humbled by hat-trick man Sam

By MIKE BROWN Billingham.............. 12 Hull Ionians............39 BILLINGHAM were left to rue a promising start as Hull Ionians produced a ruthless...

Will helps to Hunt Tigers on the prowl

By ALLAN FOSTER Fylde...................36pts Sheffield T........12pts FYLDE outscored Sheffield Tigers by six tries to two and deserved their maximum league points....

Sheffield singing in the rain with another success

By STEPHEN BULL Sheffield..................38 Wharfedale............ 13 SHEFFIELD continued their unbeaten season with another bonus-point victory over a gallant Wharfedale. The visitors...

Elliott taking nothing for Granted in bid to avoid drop

■By BEN JAYCOCK Upbeat: Scunthorpe captain Grant Elliott SCUNTHORPE captain Grant Elliott insists his side can still beat the drop despite...

Late Owain brace seals the spoils…

■By LOUIS JEFFERSON Preston G ................32 Rossendale ............20 PRESTON edged out fellow Lancashire side Rossendale despite being reduced to 13 men....

Leake leads way for big Macc win

■By TOM BARRY Macclesfield .........38 Darlington MP .......24 THIS was the big clash of the weekend, with second and third coming...

No gentle let down as good Lucs lose their calm

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians.......26 Loughboro S....17 SPIRITED Loughborough Students fought from 26 points down, though lucky Luctonians held out to win...