Wood calls on Saints to end ‘transition’ talk …and deliver

By GARY FITZGERALD Veteran: Northampton flanker Tom Wood TOM Wood claims Northampton can take a leaf out of Harlequins’ title-winning book...

Bernard’s living the dream in Brentford

Danial Gallan talks to leading Exiles about their goal to become top four regulars Apalpable sense of anticipation greets you as...

Kelly subs for Oskar

NEWS EXTRA BEDFORD have signed centre Frank Kelly from Luctonians after Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas suffered a potential season-ending Achilles injury. Kelly, 25,...

Navy set course for Cornwall

NEWS EXTRA CORNISH Pirates are gearing up for their visit from the Royal Navy on Friday night. Various representative service teams...

Jennings avoids jail

FORMER Sale and England U20s centre Mark Jennings has been given a suspended sentence after fleeing police under suspicion of drinking...

Rassie Erasmus set to get date for misconduct hearing

World Rugby will discern if Rassie Erasmus used the right channels to air criticisms of officials after the first Lions Test

Voters ‘No’ to Dexter and Carwyn | Peter Jackson

TED DEXTER would have been amused to be classed in the same bracket as Carwyn James and Clem Thomas. By standing...

Georgians dominate Top 14 pack | Peter Jackson

SHOULD a strange sound be heard in the Kremlin, it will probably be Stalin spinning in his grave. The brutal Soviet...

Sean Fitzpatrick raises key question for regions | Peter Jackson

The role of central contracts and players actually playing for their region has been an issue that has long negated the...

The prince has his eyes on the prize as usual

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

Davies back to help club that launched his coaching career

LEEDS are the one club in National 1 to have played in the Premiership and they have turned to the man...

After 18 months away, we just can’t wait to get started again!

PAUL REES TALKS TO SOME OF THE LEADING NATIONAL ONE COACHES AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON The long wait is over....

Defibrillators are essential, every club should have one | Shane Williams

An issue that is personal for Shane Williams that has raised awareness once again after the passing of Alex Evans at...

Andy Titterrell swots up on the new England U20s crop

Andy Titterrell took all of two days off to unwind from the scenes of England’s U20 Six Nations glory this summer,...

Tigers call for Evans

RUGBY SHORTS LEICESTER have signed back row forward Gareth Evans, 29, on a short-term contract from Ospreys. Evans, who started his...

One more for Swinson

RUGBY SHORTS TIM Swinson has signed a contract extension with Saracens to stay to the end of the 2021-22 season. The...

Irish boost prop stock

RUGBY SHORTS LONDON Irish have signed props Ryan Bower and Jamie Dever on shortterm contracts. Bower, 30, joins following stints with...

Saints sign Springbok flier Skosan

RUGBY SHORTS NORTHAMPTON have made their fourth summer signing by bringing in South Africa wing Courtnall Skosan. The 30-year-old, who has...

Italy show strength of their youth set-ups

THERE is a common misconception that Italy rugby consists only of Benetton and Zebre, understandable given they are the only fully...

Superpowers take showdown to tropics

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER THIS cursed Pandemic has taken us down some...

Munster coach Stephen Larkham is wanted back by Brumbies

Larkham is under contract at Thomond Park until the end of the coming season

Sharks move closer to AJ Bell deal

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER SALE Sharks are just ironing out the last few details of the £17m deal...

Saracens prop Mako Vunipola in new contract talks as Top 14 watch

Saracens are set to ask England prop Mako Vunipola to take a salary cut, TRP understands

Kolbe’s tax bill set to rocket at Toulon

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER CHESLIN Kolbe, below, could find himself worse off following his recordbreaking move to Toulon...

Premiership clubs like look of Ospreys lock Rhys Davies

'Several' Premiership clubs are interested in young Ospreys lock Rhys Davies

Room 101: Harrogate head coach Sam Cox

Harrogate head coach Sam Cox takes us through his pet hates from the rugby world and beyond

Morgan opts for Warriors coaching gig

LONG-SERVING Cornish Pirates player and coach Chris Morgan is leaving the Championship club to take a coaching role at Worcester’s academy....

Teenage flyer Cusick cruises in for first-touch try

By TOM INNES Jersey ..................7pts Leicester ..........17pts A TRY from 18-year-old wing Jacob Cusick with his first touch in senior rugby...

Ealing Trailfinders 34-29 Gloucester: Uzokwe at the double to down Gloucester

First blood to Ealing ahead of their reverse fixture with Gloucester next week at Kingsholm

Amps turn set-piece power into points to clinch win

By KEVIN MILLER Ampthill ..........40 Bedford ............38 AMPTHILL recovered from a first quarter bashing to clinch this keenly contested derby between...

Pre-season friendlies

Coventry ................60 Nottingham............10 By CHRIS WEARMOUTH COVENTRY put Nottingham to the sword in perfect conditions at Butts Park Arena. Cov’s intent...

Exclusive: Premiership players urged to take the Covid vaccine

PREMIERSHIP Rugby have asked clubs to take a hard-line approach with players who refuse a Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the new...

Surgeon warns: Act on head peril NOW

■By PETER JACKSON Risk: Prof Fairclough AN eminent surgeon has sent World Rugby a grim warning over the brain-bashing controversy: “Act...

URC fixtures 2021-22: Leinster face Bulls first up

CHAMPIONS Leinster welcome the Bulls in Round 1 of the new United Rugby Champiosnhip which kicks off on September 24. Dates...

3 Brand Merchandising Lessons to Learn from Rugby World Cup Tournaments

Organised sports and competitions are an integral part of human civilisation. From the time of the earliest Olympics, men, women, and...

Super Hooper deserves to stand with greats

THIRTY years ago, Bishop Wordsworth’s of Salisbury lost a national schools cup final to King Edward VI of Stratfordupon-Avon by the...

Joke isn’t on fun figure Cockerill any more | Chris Hewett

Richard Cockerill in as England's forwards coach? Chris Hewett on a bullish Midlander transitioning into coaching

Dave Rennie blazing over NZ snub

AUSTRALIA coach Dave Rennie says he is “bloody angry” about New Zealand cancelling the teams’ Bledisloe Cup match without telling the...

Argentina 10-29 South Africa: Handre Pollard puts boot into the misfiring Pumas telling

A penalty-ridden affair sees the Springboks beat the Pumas for the second-straight week

Cipriani magic can get Bath back in the title mix | Jeremy Guscott

Can Danny Cipriani marshal Bath's backline to its potential and a top-four finish in the Premiership?

Dream Team: Doncaster Knights centre Mark Best

MARK BEST, THE DONCASTER, ULSTER &, JERSEY CENTRE CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST... 1. Logovi’i Mulipola...

Let stars go abroad AND play for their countries

COLIN BOAG It seems to be part of rugby’s culture that the Unions like to flaunt their muscle and tell players...

Olympian Ollie back in XVs at Falcons

■By SAM JACKSON NEWCASTLE Falcons have signed another former Harlequins back with Olympic Sevens player Ollie Lindsay- Hague joining on a...

Maitland is chasing a flyer for Scotland

■By GARY FITZGERALD SEAN Maitland will leave it up to Gregor Townsend to decide when the curtain should fall on his...

Lang relishing life at Edinburgh after early agitation following Cockerill’s exit

Goals: James Lang NEW Edinburgh centre James Lang may describe his decision to quit Premiership champions Harlequins and move north to...

Lewies wants more of Quins factor 500

■By ADAM HATHAWAY Driven: Stephan Lewies is hungry for more success with Quins PICTURES: Getty Images HARLEQUINS captain Stephan Lewies has...

Kefu ‘doing well’ after knife attack

TONGA coach and Australia rugby great Toutai Kefu says he is out of hospital and “doing well” after a violent attack...

Quins aiming to conquer Europe next says Murley

By GARY FITZGERALD CADAN Murley sees no reason why Harlequins cannot be a major force in Europe this season as well...

Threat to pro rugby in Biarritz is very real | James Harrington

On paper, there was little out of the ordinary about Friday’s preseason friendly between impending Top 14 rivals Biarritz and Bordeaux....

When we lost in France the butcher blanked me

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER ROTHERHAM, SALE, BOURGOIN, LONDON WELSH AND LEICESTER HOOKER NEIL BRIGGS When you think about the carefully...