My Life in Rugby – Craig Hammond: ‘Robin Hood’ rides to Nottingham’s call

I ONLY ever intended to go to Nottingham for six months back in 2001 and I ended up staying for a...

Thomas’ rapid rise can inspire Cardiff lads says Law

NEWS EXTRA By ROB COLE NEW Wales squad member Ben Thomas is set to become the pin-up boy at Cardiff Arms Park...

Whirlwind year for ex-Quin Harry Barlow, now starting anew with the Free Jacks

HARRY Barlow thought his rugby career was over last season following his release from Harlequins, with the country in lockdown. So...

Eddie calls back as Josh Bassett hits 150 for Wasps

JOSH BASSETT is set to become the oldest England winger to make his Test debut for 70 years after getting a...

So many reasons why game is less competitive

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Iseriously wonder if the effect of lockdown has dramatically changed our perception of...

Women’s Game in Focus: DMP Sharks fly-half Jess Dadds

DMP Sharks fly-half Jess Dadds says her first season in the Premier 15s has been a huge step up from university rugby....

Du Preez ruled out of Sale’s season run-in

SALE lock JP du Preez will miss the rest of the season after being banned for three weeks. The 27-year-old, who...

‘Little fellow’ Bleddyn gets giant farewell from Tigers | Peter Jackson

THEY sat alone with their memories in Leicester Cathedral as the St Anne’s church choir brought Cwm Rhondda to a crescendo,...

Chris Pennell deserved send-off | Peter Jackson

SET against the Covid cruelty suffered by untold millions on a global scale, Gloucester’s inability to fulfill their fixture at Worcester...

Rhys Webb counts cost of that Toulon pay-day | Peter Jackson

At the end of the last Lions tour when the entire cast posed for a team photograph, Rhys Webb appeared to...

Mount are on the climb again under Campbell

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools THE influence of the big rugby playing Catholic schools in England...

Warriors could have done a lot worse!

RUGBY MATTERS THOUGHT for the day. In the 19 Premiership matches Worcester played this season they accrued a disappointing 15 league...

Belgium win leads to Dutch enquiries

RUGBY MATTERS IT’S amazing what a breakthrough season and a famous win can do. Netherlands coach Zane Gardiner reports that his...

Rugby Matters: Malakai Fekitoa sprinkles his stardust on Monaco

WHAT with Covid doing its worst for the last 15 months or so, Sevens has rather disappeared off the radar with...

George prepares like it’s a Euro final

Pressure: Jamie George SARACENS hooker Jamie George says the play-off final could prove to be one of the most important matches...

Championship final 1st leg preview: Pack must peak for miracle challenge

DANIEL GALLAN talks to Ben Ward ahead of Ealing Trailfinders’ battle with Goliath Today. Kick-off 4.30pm, Trailfinders Sportsground In any other...

Dave Rennie may find principles changing | Chris Hewett

DAVE RENNIE is a New Zealander from the Tana Umaga corner of Wellington’s metropolitan area and like virtually ever other Kiwi...

European Boks have inside gen on the Lions | Chris Hewett

  Modern Springbok coaches fall into two camps: far-sighted progressives like Kitch Christie, Jake White and Rassie Erasmus – people who...

Inspirational Bentos puts Lions on road to glory

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

Super Rugby TT: Blues and Highlanders book final showdown

THE Blues and the Highlanders secured their places in next Saturday’s showpiece final with victories in another week dominated by New...

Young Gun: Saracens tighthead Harvey Kindell-Beaton

Highly-rated England tighthead Harvey Kindell-Beaton is ready to wreak havoc at scrum-time in the Six Nations after leaning on the expertise...

Azzurrini include Garbisi junior at 9

ITALY ITALY have named a 32- man squad ahead of their opening round match against tournament hosts Wales. Alessandro Garbisi, the...

Captain Samuel excites Lineen

SCOTLAND SEAN Lineen is confident his novice lock pairing of Alex Samuel and Max Williamson will get the job done for...

Kendellen leads new-look Ireland

IRELAND COACH Richie Murphy has only six players from last year’s squad that helped put Ireland U20 in pole position until...

France unleash Top 14 talent

FRANCE ENGLAND’S opening round opponents have retained 2019 World U20 Championship winners Matthias Haddad and Paul Mallez as Les Bleuets bid...

England U20s: Alan Dickens challenges squad to emulate last year’s top trio

ENGLAND coach Alan Dickens believes the rise of Max Ojomoh, Freddie Steward and Chunya Munga is a clear indicator that rugby...

Wales U20: Forward will pack punch with heavyweight Carwyn upfront

WALES will unleash the cousin of Taulupe Faletau and Mako and Billy Vunipola in the U20 Six Nations which begins this...

Tom Wood expects reaction after disappointing Saints season

VETERAN flanker Tom Wood says tough times at Northampton can get the Saints marching in again like they did in the...

Beware social media blunders, England told

WHEN the newly minted England squad gathers tomorrow for a five-day training camp ahead of the summer internationals, players will be...

Wayne’s got a way to put Wales out in front | Shane Williams

IN the northern hemisphere we have always been one or two steps behind teams in the south. That’s just a fact...

Dai ‘years away’ from being a head coach

Preview... Scarlets v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 1pm INTERIM head coach Dai Flanagan will take charge of Scarlets for the final time...

Leinster 38-7 Dragons: Doris catches eye in Dragons slaying

DRAGONS have been told they must learn how to deal with the intense heat that quality sides such as champions Leinster...

Steyn kicks Bulls into Rainbow Cup final

Sharks ....................22  Bulls........................34 MORNE Steyn celebrated his recall to the Springboks squad with a faultless kicking performance to help book Bulls’...

Coombes states case for Ireland with four-try haul

By JOHN FALLON Zebre ......................11  Munster ................54 GAVIN Coombes sent out another signal that he’s ready to take over from the...

Eddie Jones interview: England captain’s role for ‘other’ Curry?

EVER since Eddie Jones became England head coach the question of leadership among the country’s elite players – or the lack...

One more signing expected by Rob Baxter

EXETER Chiefs boss Rob Baxter is after one more player for next season. He has recently signed Highlanders prop Josh Iosefa-Scott...

Leicester’s Zack Henry is off to Pau

ZACK Henry is set to make a quick return to France next season after being released from the final year of...

Newcastle Falcons swoop for Harlequins winger Nathan Earle

NATHAN Earle is poised to follow teammate Mike Brown out of Harlequins and up to Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons. Quins last...

Simon McIntyre’s on his way back to the Sharks

    SALE Sharks have agreed a deal that will see Wasps prop Simon McIntyre, 30, return to the club he...

Tabai Matson emerges as the man for The Stoop

HARLEQUINS are looking to complete a deal for Kiwi Tabai Matson to move to the Twickenham Stoop this summer amid late...

Room 101: Leeds Tykes captain Jake Brady

ROOM 101 LEEDS TYKES CAPTAIN TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Wireless phone charging Millions...

Springboks have electric backs, it won’t all be route one – Sean O’Brien

DON’T be surprised if this summer’s Lions series against South Africa turns into something more captivating than an uncompromising, physical slog....

Wake-up call will be good for Kyle Sinckler says Eddie

KYLE Sinckler’s late call up for the Lions tour after the injury to Irish tighthead Andrew Porter has been give the...

Touchline fiasco should never have happened

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE touchline row between Steve Borthwick and Pat Lam in the clash between Leicester...

Influencer Craig White’s got Sale in rhythm

SALE SHARKS are enjoying a ‘drum roll’ end to the season, with a first Premiership title in 16 years in their...

Siale Piutau hopes Bears’ love will conquer all in Premiership

“LOVE” is the answer to Bristol’s prayers to be crowned English champions for the first time. And departing centre Siale Piutau...

That was such a buzz says happy Tom de Glanville

FULL-BACK Tom de Glanville, delighted to give Bath’s departing contingent a winning farewell, said: “It was a big emotional feeling and...

Bath 30-24 Northampton: Bath stars take final curtain in real style

    RHYS Priestland delivered his parting gift to Bath by inspiring the victory which ensures European Champions Cup rugby at...

We learned a lot from Ricoh thrashing says Borthwick

BOSS Lee Blackett praised Wasps for how they had “scrapped and worked” to salvage their season. After reaching the Premiership final...

Wasps 31-38 Leicester: Wasps pay for their spirit of adventure

LEICESTER outstayed Wasps in an all-action finale to clinch a European Champions Cup place next season and reward Steve Borthwick’s squad...