All Prem clubs are taking pain but I’m sure all will survive

Q&A STEPHEN VAUGHAN ON THE RECORD Wasps group chief executive Stephen Vaughan provides NEALE HARVEY with an insight into how his...

Scarratt is star player

ENGLAND’S Emily Scarratt was named the women’s player of the Six Nations. Centre Scarratt, 30, starred for England in their second...

Scholtz on his way to plug gap at Scarlets

By ALEX BYWATER THE SCARLETS are set to bolster their front row resources with the signing of Southern Kings prop Pieter...

Cambridge get creative to build a brighter future

By JEREMY BLACKMORE Reset: Richie Williams CAMBRIDGE RUFC have adapted their entire strategy to ride the current storm and ensure they...

Lifeline at Quins helps Marc avoid hard labour

By JON NEWCOMBE Homecoming: George Merrick playing for Clermont Opportunity knocks: Marc Thomas playing for Harlequins against Wasps PICTURE: Getty Images...

Proud to play my part at Twickers

MY LIFE IN RUGBY HEAD COACH OF THE BRITISH ARMY SENIOR TEAM AND FORMER NEWBURY & LAUNCESTON FULL-BACK MAL ROBERTS In...

YOUNG GUNS

TOMMY MATHEWS NORTHAMPTON FLY-HALF Aspiring playmaker Tommy Mathews is living proof that perseverance can eventually pay off if you have the...

Covid forces Dragons to close shop for fortnight

By GAVIN HARPER Experienced head: Dragons centre Jamie Roberts DRAGONS have been shut down for two weeks and their next PRO14...

Boks’ ‘big four’ will provide much harder challenge, but is it fair?

DANIEL GALLAN finds the state of play in South African rugby is still far from equal Jettisoned: Cheetahs, left, and Southern...

Blues aim to buck the trend of losing top talent

NEWS EXTRA By STEFFAN THOMAS GRUFF Rees insists the future is bright for Cardiff Blues with the level of talent coming...

Johnny strop so unlike calm Eoin

JOHNNY Sexton has left himself with much to prove when Wales pitch up in Dublin on Friday night. His emotional suitability...

Jim made All Blacks masters of total rugby

ALMOST 60 years ago a chain-smoking footballer from the east end of Glasgow joined the exodus from the Clyde to the...

Zilocchi keeps Dillon off penalty naughty step

ACCORDING to official figures as declared by the Six Nations for their elongated tournament, Dillon Lewis did not concede more penalties...

Alun Wyn ‘not top lock’

In possession: Alun Wyn Jones with the 20017 Lions PICTURE: Getty Images ON THE grounds that it ought to take a...

Band aid for Wales in this RWC draw

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW For the World Cup draw at the Paris Stock Exchange next month, Wales...

Close and personal with the man behind the Boks

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

Struggling All Blacks seeking investment

NEW Zealand are in talks with private equity investors as they struggle with the financial impact of Covid-19. New Zealand Rugby...

RFU cutbacks could halt Cornish production line

By NEALE HARVEY Axed: Neil Smith CORNWALL’S renowned production line is in danger of grinding to a halt amid swingeing RFU...

Get real, we’ve had our fill of fake news

I’M all for sporting bodies vigorously fighting their corner in the PR and publicity stakes, accentuating the positive whenever possible, but...

All square for Uruguay and Spain

IT’S been a case of honours even in Montevideo with Uruguay and Spain sharing their quick-fire Test series with a win...

Rob backs Biden

JOE BIDEN’S slow motion ‘coronation’ as President of the USA will have been causing excitement to his extended family in Ireland...

Robinson’s Oaks can flourish in new home

Game changer: Romania’s new all-seater stadium in Bucharest COVID has been doing its worst all over the rugby world but the...

Higgins hopeful Rosslyn Park 7s will go ahead

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points IT’S looking bleaker and bleaker out there for...

Franco: Italy must fight with new pride

DANIEL GALLAN talks to Franco Smith the coach charged with making Italy competitive again Moment of hope: Jake Polledri scores against...

Doris has pressed his claim for Lions – Geech

NEWS EXTRA By GARY FITZGERALD CAELAN Doris is developing into a Lions contender according to Sir Ian McGeechan, who coached the...

Let’s blood wannabees and see if they cope

NICK CAIN SUGGESTS THE LINE-UP EDDIE JONES SHOULD PICK TO PLAY GEORGIA Roll dice: Eddie Jones No.8: Alex Dombrandt “Georgian rugby...

By Dickens! Something is about to turn up for the Islands

IT IS difficult to know how many copies of David Copperfield are bought by members of the South Seas rugby community...

Jamie is a classic competitor

WHENit comes to the Premiership’s G-men, the flanker Jamie Gibson - newly signed by Gloucester after spells with London Irish, Leicester...

He’s Dunn waiting for now but will he return?

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Cameo: Tom Dunn takes a break in his 64 seconds of action PICTURE: Getty Images Tom Dunn...

Wallabies rally for Rennie’s first win

By SAM JACKSON Match winner: Taniela Tupou seals the deal for Australia PICTURE: Getty Images AUSTRALIA bounced back from their record...

Welshman behind the Australian resurgence

Steffan Thomas talks to Wallabies’ match analyst Craig Whelan GROWING up as a huge rugby fan near Port Talbot, Craig Whelan...

Jason’s out to make Britain’s kids healthier

Jon Newcombe talks to World Cup-winning hero Jason Robinson about his latest call to arms Mission: Jason Robinson talks to youngsters...

Sione: Youth gets chance

By STEFFAN THOMAS Opportunity: Sione Kalamafoni says younger players must put their hands up SIONE Kalamafoni has urged a youthful Scarlets...

Max determined to build on that close encounter with Baabaas

By ALEX BYWATER Experience: Max Llewellyn enjoyed mixing with stars MAX Llewellyn hopes his all-too-brief but “crazy” experience with the Barbarians...

Protheroe has belief in new-look Ospreys

By ROB COLE Honest: Toby Booth Ospreys fan: Mat Protheroe is back home PICTURE: Getty Images THE all-conquering Leinster machine will...

Cooney on hand to keep Ulster on track

ULSTER skills coach Dan Soper believes the advantage lies with Glasgow Warriors ahead of their clash at the Kingspan tomorrow evening,...

Sexton’s so inspirational – but let’s hope to spoil his 100th cap

THE one key man Wales must close down on Friday night is Johnny Sexton. It will be his 100th Test match...

Man up, or Wales will get a Dublin thrashing

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND No way through: Chris Harris of Scotland tackles Liam Williams PICTURE: Getty Images As I...

Hamish eyes up France

SCOTLAND flanker Hamish Watson is looking at his options in France as he weighs up a move away from PRO14 outfit...

Skivington chases an extra No.10

GLOUCESTER boss George Skivington is still looking to improve his squad with the new season less than two weeks away from...

Pay-per-view Ealing

EALING TRAILFINDERS jumped onto the pay-perview bandwagon this weekend, charging £10 for their friendly against Newcastle Falcons. The Championship club, who...

Wainwright may stay

THE DRAGONS look to be winning their battle with Cardiff Blues to retain the services of Wales flanker Aaron Wainwright beyond...

Murphy’s future at Tigers hangs in the balance

Under threat: Geordan Murphy GEORDAN MURPHY is battling for his future as Leicester Tigers director of rugby with his contract due...

Baa-baas bad boys must wait to hear fate

THE Barbarians bubble breakers may have to wait another couple of weeks to discover their fate after charged by the RFU...

Yashenkov promises cash boost to Europe

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler KIRILL YASHENKOV, who is bidding to become president of Rugby...

ROOM 101

THE COVENTRY FLY-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND DAN LEWIS 1. Being pigeon-holed Bit...

Tipuric to return as Pivac finds support

WALES will be reunited with their supreme oneman breakdown service against Ireland in Dublin on Friday night. Justin Tipuric is set...

Trailfinders on right track

PICTURE: Getty Images Ealing Trailfinders showed they are becoming worthy of serious consideration as a potential Premiership team by beating newly-promoted...

Eddie flies to defence of ‘Manu sub’ Ollie

By NICK CAIN Exams: Ollie Lawrence OLLIE Lawrence, the Worcester centre who made his debut in England’s Six Nations title grab...

Leicester Tigers welcome Richard Wigglesworth to Welford Road

A surprise signing by Leicester Tigers as the new Premiership campaign draws closer