THE FLOOD FAMILY OF THESPIANS

Toby Flood was born in Frimley, Surrey. Both of his grandfathers were actors. His paternal grandfather, Gerald Flood, voiced the robot...

Ears and eyebrows marked out young Toby

Adam Hathaway talks to teammates about Toby Flood who retired this week Toby Flood was a skinny teenager when he was...

Scarratt surgery strikes Lightning plans

By ADAM ELLIS Preview Loughborough v Wasps Today, Kick-off 2pm LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning will attempt to get their season up and running...

Saracens run riot to thump plucky Sharks

By TOM BULMER DMP Sharks ......5  Saracens ........75 SARACENS notched their second win of the Allianz Premier 15s season with a...

Kildunne hat-trick sparks Harlequins

By STEWART MCCULLOUGH Worcester ........31pts  Harlequins ........66pts HARLEQUINS Women made it two wins out of two with a bonuspoint victory over...

Marston’s late try gives Bears the edge

By CARL LEE Glo-Hartpury ..17  Bristol ..............24 ROWNITA MARSTON’S try in the final five minutes proved to be the differencein a...

Hayes: Johnson can give Chiefs lift-off

By NATHAN ROCHE Preview Exeter v Sale Today, Kick-off 2pm EXETER assistant coach Tom Hayes has backed Rachel Johnson to give...

I fear these World 12s are only about making money | Shane Williams

The new World 12s proposal has been the talk of rugby and while we must reserve a bit of judgement until...

This will be toughest season ever says Joyce

JOE Joyce is adamant Bristol Bears can make it third time lucky and exorcise their play-off demons. Two successive playoff defeats...

Matt still hopes for an England call

By GARY FITZGERALD All-action: Matt Rogerson’s energy as captain can help galvanise London Irish PICTURES: Getty Images MATT Rogerson still harbours...

Tabai aims to mix Quins stardust with dose of reality

TABAI Matson labels his Harlequins stars “a shining light” on the rugby stage but admits they will need to be pragmatic...

Latest twist in Sam Burgess saga can’t be ignored

THE controversy surrounding Sam Burgess, the Rugby League maestro who took to Rugby Union like a fish to concrete but still...

Welcome to mad, mad world of modern rugby | Chris Hewett

A single English Premiership campaign is an interesting bunch of competitions. We’ve been treated to old-style fights for the title in...

Josh Matavesi all set for switch to Japan

JOSH Matavesi is set to complete a move to Japan to join Freddie Burns' former club Shokki Shuttles as The Rugby Paper...

Okafor ready to mingle on the tele

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER UGO MONYE isn’t the only former rugby player taking part on a reality tv...

French keep an eye on Slade and Simmonds

HENRY Slade’s name is appearing on the long term shopping lists of several French clubs that are also keeping tabs on...

Standoff goes on

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER THE standoff between agents and clubs couldn't have come at a worse time for...

Sale Sharks on look-out for prop in Russia

ALEX Sanderson is looking to bolster his options in the front row with a move for a Russian prop just a...

Monye gets set for his Strictly debut

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler UGO Monye next weekend launch’s his bid to become...

RALPH APPLEBY

ROOM 101 THE DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK FRONT-ROWER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Over-familiar...

Pirates hit back after left reeling 24-0 down

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish Pirates.....21pts Worcester ........24pts Opening try: Alex Hearle CORNISH Pirates, trailing 24-0 after conceding four high-speed tries in...

Saracens end warm up with five-try bloody nose

By GARY FITZGERALD Saracens ............3pts Ulster ................33pts ENGLAND flanker Ben Earl claimed it was not “all doom and gloom” despite Saracens...

Tigers missing their big four as Scarlets rally for victory

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester ..........24pts Scarlets ............29pts LEICESTER Tigers boss Steve Borthwick conceded after this defeat that there were “good elements,...

The long wait ends at last for happy Anscombe

By ALEX BYWATER Northampton....31pts Ospreys ............26pts GARETH Anscombe ended more than two years of injury misery and told of his relief...

Deano delight after Falcons stick to the game script

By GARY HEATLY Edinburgh ........10pts Newcastle........26pts NEWCASTLE Falcons will head into the Premiership campaign on the back of an unbeaten pre-season...

Blues on way with Garside double

By RYAN ROBINSON Bedford ..........38 Ampthill ..........35 BEDFORD Blues reclaimed local bragging rights as Will Maisey’s late penalty edged proceedings at...

Leigh to miss next nine Tests for Wales

By PETER JACKSON All smiles: Tom Litchfield scores for Northampton PICTURE: Getty Images LEIGH Halfpenny will miss Wales’ entire season of...

Sanderson: Saracens are favourites for Premiership title

ALEX Sanderson has piled the pressure on his old Saracens pals by labelling them firm favourites to lift the title again....

Will you Bet on Saracens Winning the Premiership?

The wait is nearly over, and the 2021/22 Premiership season begins on September 17. A glance at the latest betting odds...

3 quick tips for increasing your chances of winning at rugby betting

Rugby is a sport that has been around for centuries, and it’s one of the most popular sports in the world....

Which Sports Offers The Best Online Entertainment Today?

When talking about “online entertainment” we should always be precise on what we are looking for. The online entertainment we seek...

Saints hit big six but Blues pose problems

■By SAM JACKSON Bedford ............21 Northampton ..40 NORTHAMPTON ran in six tries to see off Bedford on Friday night. An early...

Coventry 21-52 Wasps: Thomas Young puts his toe down for Wasps in 11-try thriller

A SCINTILLATING 90-metre sprint to the line by Thomas Young was the pick of the 11 tries served up by Wasps...

Cornish Pirates 55-3 Royal Navy: Blackmore injury leaves Pirates light at hooker

NEW recruits Carwyn Penny, Callum Sirker and Caleb Montgomery made impressive debuts as the Pirates sunk the Royal Navy with an...

Scarlets 55-21 Nottingham: Nine-try Scarlets wow the crowd to kick-off Peel era

DWAYNE Peel’s first game as Scarlets head coach ended in a romp against Championship side Nottingham as 22-year-old winger Ryan Conbeer...

Harlequins 45-33 Cardiff Blues: Quins put on show for their new boss

TABAI Matson smiled broadly after seeing for himself the kind of fighting spirit, character and skill which helped enabled Harlequins to...

Worcester 52-39 Connacht: New-look Warriors get monkey off their back

IT MAY have been only a pre-season friendly but Worcester recorded their first win since November 21. Since then they have...

Jersey 0-19 Sale: Quickfire treble puts Sharks in open water

SALE’S first pre-season match, and their first trip to the Channel Islands to play Championship side Jersey Reds ended in a...

Maro Itoje has the credentials to be England captain | Jeremy Guscott

INTERNATIONAL rugby these days is talked about in terms of World Cup four-year rotations, with every coach building towards the next...

DREAM TEAM

TOM PALMER, THE FORMER ENGLAND, LEEDS, WASPS & GLOUCESTER LOCK AND CURRENT VANNES FORWARDS COACH CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS...

Islanders’ flair can give Super Rugby real boost

COLIN BOAG If it’s hyperbole you’re after, then Rugby Australia’s CEO, Andy Marinos, is your man. Formerly at SANZAAR for five...

What about Sarries fans’ headgear?

AS an Exeter supporter I was interested to read Colin Boag’s piece on the Chiefs name and the relationship to Native...

Effectiveness of RFU incentives needs scrutiny

THANK you, Jeff Probyn for again highlighting the duty on the RFU to support all club rugby by distributing the revenue...

Cut player numbers or modify the laws

THE problem with the size of players colliding at speed only appears to be an issue for the professional men’s game....

Twice-retired Swinson sets his sights on silverware

■By GARY FITZGERALD TIM Swinson has twice changed his mind about hanging up his boots due to the strong lure and...

Running man John chases elusive first Wales cap

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Fighting fit: WillGriff John WILLGRIFF John believes a combination of working with double All Blacks World Cup-winner Ben...

Wasps ace Gopperth gunning to join golden oldies club

■By JON NEWCOMBE JIMMY GOPPERTH hasn’t ruled out the possibility of becoming the first back to play Premiership rugby past the...

Zero tolerance is still way forward insists Blackett

■By PAUL REES LEE Blackett believes there should be no let-up in the drive to eliminate dangerous challenges after referees showed...

Forthcoming fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs Weekend beginning Friday September 10, 2021 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10...

Scots snap up Zondagh

TOULOUSE coach Alan- Basson Zondagh has joined Gregor Townsend’s Scotland coaching team, focusing on attack. The 35-year-old South African replaces Mike...