Jonny’s glowing again in Mediterranean sun

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

Drunken yobs end Craig’s 50-year Wales love affair

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Craig James has been watching Wales since his father took him at the...

Winstanley’s guidance got me ready for Premiership

MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE FORMER SALE SHARKS, WORCESTER, ROTHERHAM, LEEDS AND ROUEN PROP ROB O’DONNELL BIG tall props were fashionable...

Blackie went into battle with programme notes!

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER THE irony will not be lost on Wasps legend Alan Black, who passed away this week, but...

Scots pioneers took the game global, now it’s rewards time

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER The eclectic nature of Scotland’s teams these days...

Wardle gets Sarries armband

PREVIEW... Saracens v Sale Today, Kick-off 1pm CARA Wardle captains Saracens as they look to back up their win at Loughbrough....

First start for wing Mackinder

PREVIEW... Exeter v Worcester Today, Kick-off 1pm AFTER victory at Sale in the opening round last weekend, Exeter coach Susie Appleby...

Fletcher stars as Quins continue perfect cup run

By MATT MERRITT Wasps ....................19 Harlequins ..........39 HARLEQUINS finished off the first stretch of Allianz Cup games with a perfect three...

Patchell makes his return for Scarlets

By SAM JACKSON WALES fly-half Rhys Patchell returned after more than a year as Scarlets development side took on Dragons A...

Howieson using League wisdom to spur Tigers

By JON NEWCOMBE SHEFFIELD Tigers DoR Jack Howieson is trying to implement a hybrid brand of rugby that takes the best...

WOMEN’S GAME IN FOCUS

Sarah Rendell takes a weekly look at some important women players SONIA GREEN - SARACENS FLANKER Saracens forward Sonia Green got...

Glouc pull men out

RUGBY SHORTS GLOUCESTERSHIRE will not be entering this season’s men’s or U20’s County Championship but will be participating in the women’s...

Dorking sitting pretty on top after more joy

London & South East Premier DORKING remain in pole position beating Sutton & Epsom 43-28. Jonny Aiken and Ryan Jeffrey bagged...

Murphy to Knights

RUGBY SHORTS DONCASTER Knights have signed Cardiff lock Ben Murphy until the end of the season to cover the departure of...

Thrilling climax as OAs clinch points

By BRIAN QUINN Old Albanian...........45 Barnstaple.............. 21 OLD Albanian came out on top against Barnstaple in a slow-burner of a game...

Esher down West with 12-try romp

By NICK CROWE Westcliff................... 7 Esher......................... 80 WESTCLIFF succumbed to another heavy defeat in their nightmare season, but they can take...

Barnes bounce back in solid win over Rochford

By MIKE McDERMOTT Barnes......................23 Rochford H.............. 15 BARNES were always in control as they secured victory over Rochford Hundred in a...

Hambly hails patience as Reds oust Bury boys

By BILL HOOPER Redruth.............. 31pts Bury St Edm...... 18pts Final flourish: Luke Barnes dives over for Redruth’s bonus point try THREE...

Simmers is on boil for Clifton

By ROGER OPIE Clifton.......................40 Guernsey................. 17 CLIFTON turned in arguably their best performance of the season to defeat Guernsey. The Channel...

Fast start fires Lions to victory

By MICHAEL HOWKINS Leicester Lions.....32 Dings......................... 15 AN ELECTRIC start helped put Leicester on course for victory over Dings Crusaders. Lions...

Hawks hit peak form to topple the leaders

By NICK PITSON Henley................. 43 Worthing.............26 HENLEY Hawks scored six tries to topple league leaders Worthing in a pulsating and open...

Atkinson feared he had thrown away Test chance

By ADAM HATHAWAY GLOUCESTER centre Mark Atkinson admits he nearly chucked away his chance of Test recognition because of his amateur...

Sharks pursue Ford to replace Bristol-bound AJ

SALE Sharks are chasing Leicester fly-half George Ford following AJ MacGinty’s decision to join Bristol next season. Ford, right, is the...

Code-hopper Tiger Joe pushing for more caps

By PAUL REES RUGBY careers tend to be forged in academies, but not many players in the oval code have emerged...

Festival at Dorking

RUGBY SHORTS DORKING RFC celebrated their 100th birthday this weekend with festivities on and off the pitch. The club played its...

Zebras stay perfect after Marl Pits rout

Northern Premier OTLEY remain the only unbeaten side in the competition and top the table after beating Rossendale 16-43 at Marl...

Gleave off to Dallas

RUGBY SHORTS HOOKER Todd Gleave has left Gloucester to join American Major League Rugby side Dallas Jackals. Gleave, 26, joined Gloucester...

Lightning start sets tone for Harrogate

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale.......... 31 Harrogate.........38 ROCK-BOTTOM Harrogate stunned Tynedale when a scintillating start saw the visitors have the four-try-bonus point...

Carleton heroics tames the Tigers

By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield Tigers.... 12 Fylde.........................43 FOUR second-half tries from Tom Carleton helped high-flying Fylde to their eighth win of...

Morell sparkles as Bournville tumble

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians.............. 17 Bournville................11 LUCTONIANS picked up a well-deserved first home victory of the season in front of a...

Jakobsen strikes at the death to deny the Field

By WILL TRINDER Loughborough.......33 Huddersfield..........29 LOUGHBOROUGH hosted Huddersfield with both sides eagerly searching for a win to swing their season’s momentum....

Heaney stays calm as Stour hit the top

By NICK PULLEN Stourbridge......32pts Sedgley Park... 31pts SUPER Stourbridge pulled off a prized victory over top-ofthe-table Sedgley Park after scrumhalf Michael...

Hull run riot with second-half blitz

By BRUCE WILKIE Hull............................ 41 Wharfedale.............. 8 HULL produced a scintillating second-half showing to blow Wharfedale away. Playing with the wind,...

Ionians cut loose to see off Blaydon

By BRIAN NORMAN Hull Ionians............ 51 Blaydon.................... 19 HULL IONIANS overcame a spirited Blaydon to record a comfortable win, scoring nine...

Raiders insist more to come as they target top six finish

By WARREN MUGGLETON GUERNSEY’S return to National 2 South has seen them surprise many teams – but they are still waiting...

Sale hit the max in Mowden win

By TOM BULMER Darlington MP....... 15 Sale...........................32 SALE FC extended their recent run of good form with a bonus-point win over...

Dancer waltzes in for a vital hat-trick

By SAM JESS Cinderford...............55  Bishop’s Stort........39 JOE Dancer grabbed a hat-trick of tries as Cinderford were forced to come from behind...

Trio of late Albion tries snatches dramatic victory

By JACK JOHNSON Chinnor ....................36 Plymouth Albion .. 41 PLYMOUTH Albion scored three tries in the final six minutes to stun...

Austin makes Hay with a brace as Park march on

By DAVID LAWRENCE Moseley .............. 8pts Tries: McNulty 28 Penalties: O’Brien 7 Rosslyn Park ...29pts Tries: Ellis 13, Saunders 34, Hay...

Titans hit for six in Blackheath blitz

By GRAHAM COX Blackheath ............42 Taunton Titans .... 19 A VASTLY improved performance saw Blackheath bag six tries against Taunton to...

Juddians bow to four-try Brownlie

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge .............45 Tonbridge Jud ...... 21 CAMBRIDGE stretched their unbeaten run to six games with a wellworked win...

Tykes are downed by Royle double

By JOHN LYON Caldy ................. 31 Leeds Tykes ...28 CALDY edged a thrilling see-saw game, but only after they were given...

England’s chance of payback for Bok agony

NICK CAIN ON THE MIGHTY TASK FACING EDDIE JONES’ PACK ON SATURDAY IF there is one team on the planet with...

Bennett shirt goes to auction

A RARE Phil Bennett match-worn, No.10 Wales shirt will be put up for auction in Bristol on Thursday. Bennett wore the...

Skivington is happier, but still not satisfied

By PAUL REES GLOUCESTER went into the Premiership break in the top half of the table having spent most of last...

DREAM TEAM

WILL HOMER, THE RICHMOND AND FORMER BATH, YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE, JERSEY & SCARLETS SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

Roberts’ book revives club v country issues

COLIN BOAG Split loyalties: Jamie Roberts playing for Harlequins J amie Roberts’ comments in his autobiography, describing how he was caught...

Clubs may struggle if loans are recalled

THERE’S an interesting scenario going on in Premiership over the next couple of weeks. With international players away and clubs wanting...

Alarming increase of walk-overs in grassroots game

I AM an avid reader of your weekly paper which is the only way that rugby enthusiasts can keep abreast of...

Need more selfless flankers at top level

CHRIS Hewett’s column last week on flankers seeing the world from different angles was a reminder of the travesties of life...