I’ll take victory over entertainment all day

AS a lifelong Northampton Saints supporter, I was intrigued by the media/supporter views on England’s win over France last Sunday…or to...

Stem Bok tide

S -outh A -fricans L -oving E -ngland R -aises U -underlying F -uture C -oncerns Why are foreign “stars” being...

It’s snore fest

WHILE I am no supporter of ring-fencing, having seen the opening rounds of this season’s Premiership and the Autumn Internationals I...

Is Farrell still untouchable?

I’M starting to question Owen Farrell’s place in the team. What does he bring that others do not? At flyhalf he...

End yellow bib brigade

I PLAYED rugby in the era that celebrated a player scoring by waiting until he reached the halfway line and then...

Was Eileen first Lady President?

WHILE reading England’s Hall of Fame listing on World Rugby’s website I came across the entry for Gillian Burns. Among the...

Predictably same old Scots story

I SHALL now predict the Six Nations for Scotland 2021, perhaps best to imagine it in Eddie Butler’s voice... Opening weekend...

Show some humility and stop playing on defensive

WHY are our rugby correspondents so restrained when interviewing Eddie Jones? He shows no respect to them and it is their...

Deacon takes reins but Nelson wants Sharks to pursue Lancaster

■By JON NEWCOMBE Developing: Paul Deacon INTERIM Sale Sharks head coach Paul Deacon says Steve Diamond’s “legacy at the club will...

Davies demands fair share of funding to save game

■By STEFFAN THOMAS PROFESSIONAL rugby in Wales is facing a fight for survival with the regions calling for a £30-40m injection...

Davies demands fair share of funding to save game

■By STEFFAN THOMAS PROFESSIONAL rugby in Wales is facing a fight for survival with the regions calling for a £30-40m injection...

Matera must face punishment insists horrified Hewitt

■By ALEX BYWATER ASHTON Hewitt has slammed World Rugby and the game in general for paying lip service to the issue...

NEWS EXTRA

Blues bring Peel back to Wales FORMER Wales scrumhalf Dwayne Peel will join the Cardiff Blues coaching staff next summer. The...

Amazon ‘relaxed about terrestrial coverage’

>continued from Front “You’ve got to balance that commercial value – and pay TV can pay more – against the game...

Blues fly-half Jarrod wanted at Kingsholm

■By STEFFAN THOMAS GLOUCESTER are weighing up a move for Wales and Cardiff Blues playmaker Jarrod Evans. The Cherry & Whites...

Wonderful to sign off as a winner at Twickenham

MY LIFEIN RUGBY CHARLIE AMESBURY THE FORMER HARLEQUINS, NEWCASTLE, SALE, BRISTOL AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY WINGER  Charlie Amesbury scores a try for...

Big guns heading to Twickenham

ENGLAND will host Australia and South Africa at Twickenham during November next year. The Autumn International series will start with England...

Verden parachutes in to aid Warriors crisis

WORCESTER have signed Bath tighthead prop Kieran Verden on a short-term loan deal. Verden, 22, was included in the squad to...

Stokes signs for Irish until summer

FULL-BACK James Stokes has agreed to rejoin London Irish on a deal until the end of the season. Stokes, 29, who...

Esterhuizen, Townsend banned until new year

 HARLEQUINS centre Andre Esterhuizen and Exeter scrum-half Stuart Townsend have both been banned until early 2021 after admitting acts of foul...

Quins sign Sevens ace De Carpentier

HARLEQUINS have signed flanker Richard de Carpentier on a three-month deal after a successful trial. The 30-year-old has spent the past...

Gregor extends deal until 2023 World Cup

HEAD coach Gregor Townsend is “honoured” to sign a two-year contract extension that will see him lead Scotland at the 2023...

Result

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Baa-Baas bad boys banned for breaching protocol

NEWS EXTRA THIRTEEN Barbarians players have been given bans by the RFU for their part in October’s game against England having to...

Ice-cool Nicholas condemns Bears to defeat

Bristol Bears ..12 Worcester ......15 By NATHAN ROCHE SARAH NICHOLAS’ penalty five minutes from time rescued victory for Worcester Warriors to...

MacDonald puts her Wasps on right track

Sale Sharks..............8pts Wasps ......................30pts By ADAM ELLIS WASPS moved to within a point of Saracens with a third successive victory in...

Crunch-tackling Katoh sets the defensive tone

Loughboro’ L ..14 Exeter Chiefs ..7 By HARRY SCOTT-MUNRO LOUGHBOROUGH edged past a determined Exeter Chiefs in a physical and highly...

Wales ace Davies backs call to kill the caterpillar

NEWS EXTRA By ALEX BYWATER GARETH Davies has thrown his support behind the idea of rugby quickening the tempo and banning the...

YOUNG GUNS

ETHAN STADDON BATH BACK ROW Ethan Staddon could not have wished for a finer moment than last weekend when, at 18 years...

Reigate’s renowned 56 club were unbeatable with 15 on the pitch

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools UNLIKE some of their opponents these days, Reigate GS cannot claim...

Lipman’s concussion diary shows the problem

JACKSON PETER THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW By his own admission, Michael Lipman estimates to have been knocked out 30 times...

I’d love to play for Tonga with my brother Charlie

Daniel Gallan talks to Bristol Bears star Siale Piutau about passion and punch-ups There are few professions where a punch-up between...

North v South games have set us up well for Six Nations

Q&A ALAN DICKENS ON THE RECORD  Former Sale, Leeds, Saracens and Northampton scrum-half Alan Dickens has been head coach of England U20s...

Whatever the criteria, Maro Itoje makes my best XV

Brendan Gallagher analyses the World Rugby Team of the Decade and argues Maro Itoje was a glaring omission

Oti inspires victory…and a new England tradition

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

Dream Team: Richmond scrum-half Luc Jones

Jones, formerly of Neath, Dragons and Harlequins, chooses a best XV based on those he has played alongside or faced as...

Pumas pair set to switch clubs

LEICESTER Tigers fly-half Joaquin Diaz Bonilla is set to leave the club after only one season and join the Top 14....

Centurion Nigel bows out on top

■By SAM JACKSON NIGEL Owens, the referee with the most appearances in international matches, has brought an end to his Test...

Saracens smash six past tyro Tigers

■By DANIEL GALLAN THERE were only a thousand fans in attendance at the rebranded Copthall Stadium, but they found a familiar...

Friendly

Saracens ................45pts Tries: Segun 6, Morris 22; Pifeleti 31, 69; Whitely 61, 73 Conversions: Hooley 6, 22, 31, 61, 69, 73...

Artist Paolo proud to pin colours to his boots

Daniel Gallan finds Wasps flyer Paulo Odogwu has lots to offer on and off-field With thighs the size of beer kegs...

Hewett column: Guscott’s Lions plea resonates so strongly

Chris Hewett laments the focus on defence by England against France, asking where the free reign in attack is for players...

Jackals can swing series Lions’ way

Steffan Thomas talks to former Springbok coach Gary Gold about the Lions tour and PRO14 expansion NO one is more qualified...

Carreras joins Glos

GLOUCESTER have signed Argentina back Santiago Carreras on a deal that runs until the end of the current season. The 22-year-old...

Groups revealed for new NCA cup

THE NATIONAL Clubs Association has announced the groupings for the 44-team cup competition as clubs aim to make a return to...

Luther’s arrival has boosted confidence – Walder

■By JON NEWCOMBE DAVE WALDER has paid tribute to the old hands in the backline who have helped Newcastle get off...

Fletcher: Lack of 12s is long-standing concern

By NEALE HARVEY FORMER RFU player development manager John Fletcher says the lack of homegrown No.12s playing in Premiership rugby has been...

Stick with Ollie for Six Nations – Greenwood

■By GARY FITZGERALD OLLIE Lawrence must get a “good long run” in the England side and show he can become the...

Gloucs like look of Scots No.10 Jaco

GLOUCESTER have sounded out Scotland new boy Jaco van der Walt about making a move to Kingsholm next season. Edinburgh took...

Exclusive: Duhan van der Merwe hits six-figure jackpot with Premiership club

Scotland and Edinburgh wing Duhan van der Merwe has agreed terms with a Premiership club