DREAM TEAM

WILL CARRICK SMITH, BEDFORD AND FORMER NEWTON ABBOTT, EXETER, RANDWICK, CORNISH PIRATES AND LONDON SCOTTISH LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S...

Helping Islanders stay home will aid England

COLIN BOAG Banned: Mateo Carreras should have seen red for his eye gouge of Josh Bassett It has taken longenough, but it...

Freddie Burns knows what it means to be a Tiger says Neil Back

Neil Back has his say on what the signing of Freddie Burns can do for Steve Borthwick's plans at Leicester Tigers

Ospreys chasing Crusaders star Havili

Havili is not the only Crusaders player the Ospreys are exploring bringing to Wales

Joe Simmonds says Exeter Chiefs won’t freeze on the big stage

Exeter Chiefs fly-half Joe Simmonds says the reigning champions will draw on their experiences against Toulouse and Racing 92 ahead of...

Sky Sports pull plug on PRO16 deal

THE PRO14 looks set to remain on Premier Sports after Sky Sports pulled out of the race for the broadcasting rights....

Biljon: Feels like RFU are trying to grow the divide

Jersey Reds boss Harvey Biljon has something to say about clubs receiving almost £400,000 less this season from the RFU than...

Gregor: My Scots deserve Lions calls

By SAM JACKSON SCOTLAND players “have put their hands up” for Lions selection, says Gregor Townsend. Townsend’s Scots secured a late...

Racing snap up bargain of the season in Fickou | James Harrington

Racing 92 have signed Gael Fickou to form an all-France midfield with Virimi Vakatawa

I jumped in lineouts and out of planes!

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER ARMY PLAYER AND COACH AND HARLEQUINS, WORCESTER, LONDON SCOTTISH, LAUNCESTON AND CORNISH PIRATES BACK-ROW FORWARD LEE SOPER ITHINK I landed...

Argentina flyer Sebastian Cancelliere wings in without Zoom

Cancelliere is one of two Pumas players heading to Scotstoun in the summer, Gavin Harper meets the ten-cap wing

Sarries stars will be fresh for Gatland | Jeff Probyn

THE good news that the Lions will be going ahead as planned in South Africa is no surprise and despite those...

Club form too risky for Eddie this season

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME As Eddie Jones faces questions and thus an uncertain future, I am wondering...

Ford junior takes the reins at Bury

RUGBY SHORTS JACOB Ford has become head coach at Bury St Edmunds with Nick Wakley stepping up to the DoR role....

Tigers pounce for England prospect

RUGBY SHORTS LEICESTER have signed England U20 hooker Nic Dolly from Coventry on a “multi-year deal”. Dolly, 21, was released by...

Aki, Van Wyk hit for four, Banahan three

RUGBY SHORTS CENTRE Bundee Aki will serve a fourmatch suspension after his red card in Ireland’s Six Nations victory over England. Aki,...

Cipriani signs for a season with Bath

RUGBY SHORTS FORMER England fly-half Danny Cipriani has agreed a deal to join Bath on an “extended one-year contract” that begins in...

Eye contact costs Carreras nine weeks

RUGBY SHORTS NEWCASTLE winger Mateo Carreras, 21, has been banned for nine matches after admitting intentional contact with the eye of Wasps’...

Hat-trick for Mafi as Reds go top

AUSTRALIA ROUND-UP By ADAM ELLIS THE REDS regained top spot in Super Rugby AU with a 46-14 victory that condemned the Waratahs...

Smith’s Steelers extend their unbeaten run to 18

JAPAN ROUND-UP By MATT MCILRAITH THE Kobelco Steelers extended their unbeaten run to 18 games after outclassing Yamaha Jubilo 53-22. Wayne Smith’s...

Van der Merwe gets show on the road

MLR ROUND-UP By SAM JACKSON LA GILTINIS’ star-studded line-up tasted victory in their maiden match in Major League Rugby, beating New...

Griquas edge it by a single point

SOUTH AFARICA FRANCHISE CUP By GEORGE LAWRENCE GRIQUAS edged past the Pumas 23-22 in an ill-disciplined clash in Kimberley. While they had boasted much...

How the Crusaders built greatness to conquer Super Rugby

The Crusaders are approaching the 25th anniversary of their foundation, with silverware rarely eluding their grasp in their trials of combat...

Young Guns: Worcester Warriors fly-half Fin Smith

Name-checked by England head coach Eddie Jones earlier this month, we meet the young Warriors playmaker

Burns excited to reconnect with Tigers fans

FREDDIE Burns cannot wait to play in front of the Tigers faithful after agreeing a return to Welford Road for next...

Kyle Evans is on rampage at Doncaster Knights after Rhinos blow

Jon Newcombe meets the Doncaster Knights who has hit the ground running in the Championship this season

St Peter’s learned how to take on the big boys

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby‘s great schools NO sooner had I mentioned recently that Campion were the only...

Dad’s Army given the hurry up in America

RUGBY MATTERS IS it me or is there a delicious irony over in the USA where the always innovative MLR has...

Lions need jokers to entertain the pack | Brendan Gallagher

This summer's Lions tour looks set to miss out of its traditions of old – so what will remain?

Lydia Thompson’s return is boost for Worcester

WORCESTER have been buoyed by the return of former Women’s World Rugby player of the year nominee Lydia Thompson to their...

DMP 7-38 Glo-Hartpury: Ellena Perry marks England call up with early try

  GLOUCESTER-Hartpury recorded their third-successive win in the Premier 15s by taking away the maximum number of points from their trip...

Wasps 50-0 Sale: Front row idols Crake and Muir get Wasps buzzing

SALE SHARKS were blown away by five second-half tries to fall to a heavy defeat against Wasps. The two sides were...

Exeter 17-12 Loughborough: Chiefs fear injury to Rachel Johnson

By NATHAN ROCHE SUSIE APPLEBY fears Rachel Johnson could face time on the sidelines after exiting the Chiefs’ win over Loughborough...

Saracens 17-17 Harlequins: Zoe Harrison penalty keeps Big Two all square

HONOURS were even between the Premier 15s two juggernauts as Zoe Harrison’s late penalty undid all of Harlequins’ backs-to-the-walldefence to snatch...

Women’s Game in Focus: Exeter Chiefs back row Ebony Jefferies

The Exeter flanker discusses the Chiefs' desire to reach the Premier 15s semi-finals in their first season in the competition

Richmond v Saracens: Student Torpey set for big test with Jamie George

RICHMOND hooker Callum Torpey is relishing the prospect of going head to head with England and Lions star Jamie George when...

Bedford 20-25 Jersey: Blues’ yellow fever sets up Reds first win of the season

A DOMINANT display by the Jersey forwards saw the islanders end their nine-game winless drought in style against ill-disciplined Bedford. A...

Nottingham 24-36 Coventry: Nayalo’s quickfire double gets Coventry off to flier

    COVENTRY shrugged off two enforced changes in the warm-up to just about retain control of this ninetry thriller at...

Doncaster 17-15 Cornish Pirates: Knights go top with fourth win on the spin

DONCASTER’S stellar start to this Championship campaign gathered pace at Castle Park with their fourth successive victory – and their first...

Preview: Ben Ward wants big response after first-half failings at Coventry

EALING Trailfinders are looking to end the first block of league matches on a high and continue their fine start to...

Uninsured Unions to lose big money if tour folds

NEWS EXTRA By SAM JACKSON THE home unions will be uninsured for any financial losses if the British and Irish Lions tour...

Les is still waiting for his ticket offer from WRU | Peter Jackson

A FORTNIGHT ago this column highlighted the plight of Wales supporters whose 50-year debentures expired at the start of this month...

Carnage for England the last time they achieved the Triple Frown | Peter Jackson

THOSE England players bruised by their beatings at the hands and feet of the Celts, the first such triple whammy since...

Adrian can’t believe the Wales’ Euro wait goes on | Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson meets the fly-half who was key to Cardiff's Heineken Cup push in 1996, the only Welsh region to reach...

Text-book Worsley, the tackle machine

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

Glasgow 46-25 Benetton: Warriors hit six to secure top four

GEORGE Horne scored a try on his return to action after injury as Glasgow all but secured fourth place in Conference...

Ryan fears Dragons will flop without extra funding

By ALEX BYWATER PREVIEW... Dragons v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 2pm, Principality Stadium DRAGONS director of rugby Dean Ryan has called on the...

Devin takes Darcy’s record

DEVIN Toner said it was particularly special to become Leinster’s most capped player in a game where they captured their fourth...

Leinster 16-6 Munster: All-powerful Leinster seal fourth straight title

Leinster rule the roost to keep Munster waiting for their first taste of silverware in over a decade

Avoid a pig’s ear, Danny

CHRIS HEWETT GAVIN Henson, the last celebrity outside-half to sign for Bath, did not have the easiest time of it on arrival....