Scotland captaincy eases pain for Jamie Ritchie

After missing out on Lions selection, flanker Jamie Ritchie has found inspiration from NRL coach Frank Ponissi to lead Scotlan

Harlequins ace Alex Dombrandt steps up defence for Eddie

Dombrandt isn't interested in resting up from Harlequins' play-off run as he goes in search of a first England Test cap

New ‘boss’ at Harlequins told: We don’t need another shake-up

HARLEQUINS expect to announce Paul Gustard’s replacement by the end of the month and captain Stephan Lewies believes there will be...

URC will reshape the global game, says Rudolf Straeuli

Daniel Gallan talks to Rudolf Straeuli about his expectations of the league replacing PRO14

Sale Sharks keep their eye on Callum Chick

A player contracted to Newcastle Falcons for the next two years

George Ford ponders future as Mike leaves Leicester

GEORGE Ford’s long-term future at Leicester Tigers was last week thrown into debut when his father Mike parted company with the...

Bears’ writing their own ‘living history’ under visionary Pat

■By PAUL REES So close: Bren Earl scores Bristol’s first try in yesterday’s 12-try thriller PAT LAM has used his love...

Bristol 36-43 Harlequins (AET): Breathtaking as Quins hit back to leave Bears bereft

BOTH sides take a breathless bow. In one of the greatest Premiership games ever staged, Harlequins produced an extraordinary rally to...

Sky talent dodge SA

WORD is that although Sky have the broadcasting rights to the 2021 Lions tour, none of their main pundits or commentators will...

Players driven by their own motivation

ONE ring-fencing argument put forward was that the Premiership had remained highly competitive despite the jeopardy of relegation being removed by...

Car crash European Cup rules will wreck a great Cup | Nick Cain

THE European Cup is on a slippery slope. It is rapidly being downgraded from a competition which was about becoming champions...

DREAM TEAM

SAM OLVER, THE DONCASTER AND FORMER ENGLAND U20, NORTHAMPTON, WORCESTER AND MOSELEY FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

If Ealing are the best, what are the others like?

COLIN BOAG Let’s hope that themembers of the RFU Council were watching Saracens annihilate Ealing Trailfinders in the first leg of...

Stay true to ethos that game is for all

DO WE keep grassroots principles of promoting the game for all, at all levels – therein supporting ambitious clubs to succeed...

Irish-Wasps was compelling, keep up the good work!

I AM sorry that Jeff Probyn did not enjoy the recent London Irish v Wasps encounter; he was probably the only...

Only snag is money

DEAN Richards is right to want a professional second tier in England, the snag is only a few of the teams...

Expansion plan is best way forward

RECENT TRP issues have contained some good opinions on the ring-fencing question. I liked the idea from Kevin Higginson (June 6)...

WRU could raid Premiership Rugby for performance executive

WALES could be set for a raid on English rugby with Gallagher Premiership supremo Phil Winstanley emerging as a serious contender...

World Cup guru Larder expects Sinfield to be a huge hit with Tigers

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL League legend: Kevin Sinfeld playing for Rhinos PHIL LARDER believes Rugby League legend Kevin Sinfield will prove a...

Undercooked Wales set for gruelling week of fitness work

By ALEX BYWATER Experienced head: Wales captain Jonathan Davies WALES head coach Wayne Pivac admits he fears his team will be...

Pennell: I’ve never felt so fresh, I’d love to carry on

CHRIS Pennell insists he is fit enough to carry on playing after parting company with Worcester age 34. The once-capped England...

WRU to aid grassroots

RUGBY SHORTS THE WRU has pledged £1m to help the community game return safely in Wales after Covid-19. The money is designed...

Pack change at Kingsholm

RUGBY SHORTS GLOUCESTER forwards Matt Garvey, Jamie Gibson and Ollie Atkins have left the club. Matt Banahan has retired, while scrum-half Willi...

Swansong for Rhodes

RUGBY SHORTS SARACENS back row Mike Rhodes will leave the club after today’s Championship final. The South Africa-born 33-year-old has made 106...

Tyro White exits Tigers

RUGBY SHORTS LEICESTER have released scrum-half Ben White, 23, the youngest player to appear for the club in the Premiership. White was...

Fans frozen out of final

RUGBY SHORTS THOUSANDS of supporters have had their tickets cancelled for Saturday’s Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham after the government capped the...

Motu leads Irish exodus

RUGBY SHORTS SAMOA hooker Motu Matu’u and ex-All Black winger Waisake Naholo are two of ten players leaving London Irish. Harry Elrington,...

Toulouse keep their‘ double’ dream alive with La Rochelle rematch | James Harrington

Friday’s 2020/21 season Top 14 final will be a repeat of last month’s blood-and-thunder Champions Cup showpiece, after both La Rochelle...

As a No.8 and wing I was called McLomu

MY LIFEIN RUGBY ROLAND REID THE FORMER SCOTLAND, GOLDEN LIONS, GLASGOW, LONDON IRISH,LEEDS AND EDINBURGH BACK ROW/WING Versatile: Roland Reid in action for...

Matt Challinor joins the Knights exodus to Titans

ROTHERHAM’S rapidly expanding group of ex-Doncaster players will include Knights legend Matt Challinor next season. Challinor has retired from full-time rugby...

John eyes U20s springboard

By ALEX BYWATER EXETER Chiefs and Wales tyro Dan John plans on proving a point to Rob Baxter in the U20...

Surely Robson’s ready for a first start now, Eddie

By NEIL FISSLER Pushing for his first start: Dan Robson takes on Paolo Garbisi during the Six Nations PICTURE: Getty Images...

Ealing’s drubbing should not open ring-fence door | Jeff Probyn

Ealing Trailfinders’ dream didn’t so much fade away last week as completely collapse against the might of a fullstrength Saracens team, revealing...

Lions pride runs deep in this Belfast powerhouse

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools ANY discussion on the best rugby schools in the UK and...

Ben Tameifuna is man with the golden tum | Peter Jackson

BEN Tameifuna, a big old unit if ever there was one, threw his weight around to jarring effect during Bordeaux’s barrage...

Milkman delivers a dynasty | Peter Jackson

WHEN Trevor Brennan landed in Toulouse shortly after the turn of the century, the former Dublin milkman hardly imagined he had...

Townies are the tops in this unique world XV

PETER JACKSON Double act: There are two famous Hastings, of course, but we’ve gone for centre Scott as we already have...

Jerry Flannery knows the sad side of the Lions | Peter Jackson

The last time the Lions took off for South Africa, Jerry Flannery had been booked into business class for the overnight...

England’s attack stats: Eddie Jones must add sparkle

PAUL REES crunches the numbers to find out where it all went wrong for England Eddie Jones is taking charge of...

Tributes to Jack, a top player and great man

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER THE tragic death of Jack Adams at just 34 from cancer has been felt in many rugby...

Lions aside, rugby has no place in sport’s silly season

THE rugby in recent weeks has been generally splendid and, until this weekend sun kissed, but perversely more than ever I...

Rugby Matters: Chiefs duo deserve bans… and sympathy

THE question of tackle heights and what constitutes a legal tackle continues to vex the game, myself included. For example I...

Room 101: Sheffield Tigers centre Tom Hart

1. Fake exercise gurus  With gyms being closed, lockdown spawned a rise in so-called online fitness experts; everyone on social media...

Young Gun: Cornish Pirates fly-half Harry Bazalgette

Harry Bazalgette has championed BUCS Super Rugby for putting him on the path to the top level of the game after the conclusion...

Italy 8-25 Wales: Sam Costelow kicks Wales U20 off to big win in Cardiff

    A KICKING masterclass from Sam Costelow ensured Wales U20s coasted to a comfortable opening Six Nations victory over Italy....

Harri’s rush of blood opens door for 6-try Irish clobbering

By STEFFAN THOMAS Scotland ....7pts Tries: Gourlay 21  Conversions: Scott 22 Ireland ....38pts Tries: Soroka 4, Penalty 36, Illo 42, Kendellen...

England 38-22 France: Benchmen kick-start England U20 comeback

    ENGLAND produced a stunning secondhalf display to overpower France and kick off their Six Nations campaign with a bonus-point...

Gibson’s late try puts end to Blues 18-year trophy drought

By BEN JAYCOCK TRANS-TASMAN FINAL  Blues ................23 Highlanders ....15 THE BLUES’ 18-year wait for a Super Rugby triumph is over after...

Wales fear more will follow Cory Hill to Japan

WALES run the risk of more senior players sacrificing their Test careers for pots of Japanese gold. Cory Hill’s abrupt removal...

Steffon Armitage still having his go in France | Chris Hewett

  BACK in 2010, when one or two suckers for journalistic punishment were huddled together on a God-forsaken touchline in Hamilton...