George Ford returns at fly-half for England to face New Zealand

George Ford will direct England’s quest for a first victory over New Zealand in six years after being named in a...

England sweating on fitness of Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum ahead of All Blacks test

England are sweating on the fitness of Tommy Freeman and Ollie Chessum after the British and Irish Lions duo emerged as...

Isaac Marsh: From Gloucester to Cardiff Met – chasing the next chapter

“I heard life is what passes when you're too busy living.” The opening line of Zach Bryan’s “Late July” makes you...

South Africa and France deliver rugby at its finest as Springboks triumph in Paris

Saturday’s blockbuster clash between the World Champions South Africa and Six Nations 2025 Champions France was, in my opinion, the most...

Wales suffer heavy defeat to Argentina in Steve Tandy’s first match as head coach

Wales began the Steve Tandy era with an emphatic defeat as Argentina claimed a record 52-28 victory in Cardiff.

Our minds are on the job in hand, insists Wales second row Dafydd Jenkins

Dafydd Jenkins insists there are no excuses for Wales in terms of preparation as they head into their autumn opener against...

England prop Ellis Genge is raring to take on the All Blacks

Ellis Genge helped England to a 38-18 win over Fiji at Twickenham, then turned his eyes on gaining revenge over the...

Michael Cheika restored my belief, says England prop Joe Heyes

Prop Joe Heyes admits he was not head over heels in love with rugby a year ago – but credits Michael...

Golfer Shane Lowry happy to give England’s Ben Earl a few tips

Ben Earl has played in plenty of high-octane rugby games but reckons he has it easy compared to one of his...

I’m loving my time at Northampton Saints – Anthony Belleau

Back in the days when the spending taps in the Premierships were running hot, English rugby’s top flight had a distinct...

Samoa looking good for RWC ’27

SAMOA breezed past Brazil 48-10 in the opening round of final World Cup qualifying in Dubai as they strive to keep...

England 38-18 Fiji: Battling Fijians give Steve Borthwick’s side plenty to work on

By the time Maro Itoje dived over the top of the tiring Fijian forwards from close range to score England’s sixth...

Paul Rees: Buoyant England are ready to sink All Blacks

Fiji blew up after England deployed their bomb squad after 53 minutes, but not before giving a side chasing 10 successive...

Jeremy Guscott: Look at that lineup and you have to say: ‘Wow!’

England’s performance against Australia in the first of their four home Autumn Series Tests was rusty, which was only to be...

Osborne injury adds to the problems for coach Farrell

IRELAND head coach Andy Farrell was left with an injury headache at full-back for this week’s game against Australia after a...

Ireland 41-10 Japan: Irish take their time to get into right gear

Ireland’s power off the bench saw them home against a spirited Japanese side, but this was not a performance to put...

That was hard one to take -Tuipulotu

CAPTAIN Sione Tuipulotu admitted Scotland’s failure to go on and earn a first win over New Zealand was “a tough pill...

Scotland 17-25 New Zealand: All Blacks snuff out Scots’ revival

The agony for Scotland goes on. It is now 33 matches since 1905, and a first-ever victory over New Zealand continues...

France 17-32 South Africa: Springboks too smart for Les Bleus

A Herculean effort with 14 men saw South Africa complete a remarkable second-half comeback in Paris against France.

Italy 26-19 Australia: Italians’ ‘Aussies’ put one across the land of their fathers

Italy appear to have Australia’s number as the Azzurri secured back-to-back wins over the Wallabies for the first time in their...

Georgia prove too strong for USA

International round-up GEORGIA defeated the USA 43-30 in an entertaining contest in Batumi. USA bounced back from their 85-0 humbling by...

Nick Cain: Fault-lines show cracks in the All Black armour

Jordie Barrett’s tour-ending ankle injury against Ireland in Chicago last weekend plays into the hands of an England team hunting their...

Richard Sharp, ever the gentleman player

Hero: Richard Sharp in action and, top right, after his starring role against Scotland in 1963 PICTURES: Alamy RICHARD Sharp, who...

Wales vs Argentina: Ben Thomas – I’ve never enjoyed rugby so much

Wales regular Ben Thomas says he has grown up a lot over the past couple of years – both on and...

Bristol cubs show fight against experienced tourists

■By BEN JAYCOCK Bristol ................14pts Tries: Wornsip 28, Harris 72 Conversions: Protheroe 29, 73 Argentina XV ...38pts Tries: Pérez Rachel 17,...

England A 14-31 New Zealand XV: Josh Hodge and Tom Pearson stand out in crowd

England A were their own worst enemies as mistakes and inaccuracies gifted their opponents an ultimately comfortable victory.

We were sluggish, admits Mapletoft

ENGLAND A coach Mark Mapletoft believed his side didn’t capitalise on their aerial superiority. He said: “With the players we had...

David Norrie: 40 years on, and still stuck in the dark ages

The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again – and expect a different result.

Chris Hewett: I’d stick with Ben Earl in the back row, Steve Borthwick

Welcome to the “Yeti Syndrome”, a vivid way of categorising the many things we seek in rugby but no longer expect...

Keystone Cops are still calling the shots

YOU can understand why rugby’s lords and masters are chasing the US dollar, but doing it in the way the Keystone...

Abandon fully professional rugby in Wales – it is not working

WELSH rugby is in dire straits. I believe it is a position that is irrecoverable with the current regional model and...

Richard Sharp, the pride of Cornwall

ON a damp Thursday afternoon in January 1960 with a Cornish mist hiding Carn Brae, a small group of local Redruth...

Let’s send Baa-Baas to Paraguay

I AM a long time Rugby League fan who has, in recent years, become a convert to Union too. I am...

Newcastle relegation question

IN last week’s letters Jeff Gage states that Newcastle should have been relegated last season. That would almost certainly have led...

‘Away ends’ not for me

LAST season the idea of “away ends” was tested but I haven’t heard if this will be trialled again – or...

DREAM TEAM

KEVIN SORRELL, THE FORMER SARACENS CENTRE AND COACH, WHO IS NOW ENGLAND U20S BACKS COACH, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS...

Peter Jackson: Fearless Fred Howard calls Henry Pollock to account

A retired referee of global renown called the other day to pose a rhetorical question about the legality of Henry Pollock’s...

‘Shunto’ spent his career on the bench

THE village of Penclawwd, renowned for its cockles and for sending a pair of schoolboy half backs to run rings round...

No stopping Trailfinders as they go on rampage

■By BEN WHITE Ampthill .............. 0pts E Trailfinders ..71pts Tries: De Wee 9, Wilson 19, 80; Hatherwell 31, Collins 40, 63;...

Hartpury hold on to deny Cov in thriller

■By OLLY DARCY Hartpury .......................... 36pts Coventry ..........................31pts Tries: Lemon 18, Morgan 20, 30; Lennon 28, Holiday 51 Conversions: Bazalgette 18,...

Garside on hand to come to rescue

By LUKE JARMYN Caldy ..................15pts Tries: Tudor 6, Hyde 24 Conversion: K Wilkinson 7 Penalty: K Wilkinson 16 Worcester ........17pts Tries:...

for Worcester

san Wilkinson’s conversion. A messy attempt by Worcester when trying to play out from their own 22 was capitalised upon by...

Bedford take control to put Scots in rear view mirror

■By BLUEBELL NICHOLLS L Scottish ........... 7pts Try: Clayton 12 Conversion: Wilstead 13 Bedford .............26pts Tries: Hutler 4, Herman 46, Ward...

Basement battle is no problem for Richmond

■By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge ......... 5pts Try: Thorne 38 Richmond ........ 54pts Tries: Obonna 4, Pim 14, 18; Baggott 33 Nugent...

Knights crash again as Chinnor cash in

■ By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster .........21pts Tries: McNab 40, Margetts 52 Conversion: Bennett 40 Penalties: Bennett 5, 12, 24 Chinnor ..............23pts...

Pirates enjoy smash and grab

■By WILL PERRINGWOOD Nottingham ......28pts Tries: Dickinson 17, 33; Thomas 37, Cherry 60 Conversions: Parks 17, 33, 37, 60 C Pirates...

Api Bavadra’s switch into the big time

After years of globe-trotting with Great Britain Sevens, Api Bavadra admits stepping into the Champ with Coventry has been a steep...

Brendan Gallagher: When Pumas gave Wales a tough time

The record books tell us that Wales and today’s opponents, Argentina, have contested 22 Tests since their first official meeting in...

TV deals don’t look so good for Prem

I WAS struck recently by some authoritative-looking data on social media about comparative TV deals between Prem Rugby and the Top...

Paul Rees: England are now able to turn up the heat

What a difference a year makes. England’s victory over Australia last weekend was their eighth in a row since losing to...