Why mess with this great Heineken Cup format?

The word “aggregate” has secured its own place in the darkest corner of the rugby lexicon, along with “biting”, “gouging”, “match-day...

Another bashing for battered Dylan

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST IF, FOR some peculiar reason, you ever wondered how to sound like an irritable magistrate of the...

Play-offs are long shot now – Boyd

CHRIS Boyd admitted Northampton’s play-off chances were left shattered and scattered all over Franklin’s Gardens by Exeter’s ‘B’ team. He said:...

Saints unravelled by Chiefs second-string

By GARY FITZGERALD Crash ball: Sean Lonsdale smashes George Furbank to score Exeter’s first try PICTURES: Getty Images ROB Baxter admits...

Jimmy gets job done for Blackett

JIMMY Gopperth tweeted: “Such a proud moment to lead the lads on my 100th game for Wasps. What a win! The...

Wllis try caps fine win for makeshift Wasps

By MIKE SINCLAIR OWEN Farrell’s red card – and the inevitable consequences – should not take the gloss off an inspired...

Set-piece tries disappointed me, admits frustrated Kidney

Concern: Declan Kidney IRISH’S director of rugby Declan Kidney was frustrated with his side’s inability to take advantage of key moments...

Gloucester rally to put Europe in their grasp

By ROGER PANTING Over: Ollie Hassell-Collins scores for London Irish Corner ball: Louis Rees-Zammit goes over for Gloucester GLOUCESTER virtually sealed...

Red-card Farrell set to miss Leinster

By MIKE SINCLAIR Crunch: Owen Farrell catches Charlie Atkinson on the head ENGLAND captain Owen Farrell looks certain to be banned...

Boks given full backing to play in 8 Nations

By PETER JACKSON THE Six Nations have joined forces in a united attempt to bring South Africa into the European fold...

Q&A – Mark Jones: Razor’s the best coach I’ve seen

Another great year for Welsh coach Mark Jones in New Zealand with the Crusaders

Ex-AFL ace Kurt Heatherley hopes to lift Jersey Reds

6'4" Heatherley played at Hawthorn in the AFL, but was brought up in New Zraland loving rugby

TEAMS: Alex Goode reaches major milestone for Saracens

Ever-present Goode will reach 300 appearances in this weekend's clash with Wasps

TEAMS: Edinburgh make eight changes for play-off bow

The PRO14 reaches the knockout stages of its 2019-20 season this weekend in Dublin and Edinburgh

Leicester lock Blake Enever reflects on uncertainty of Australian rugby at start of outbreak

Enever had been in prime position to represent the Wallabies before Rugby Australia finances cracked

Rebels coach Geoff Parling zooms in to help hometown club Stockton

The Melbourne-based former England lock has been calling in to Stockton RFC while coaching the Rebels in Super Rugby AU

Saracens sign prop Robin Hislop on loan from Doncaster Knights

Hislop joins as injury cover at loosehead for the rest of Saracens' Prmeiership campaign

‘With every try I score I honour my best mate who died’ – Stuart Hogg

The Scotland captain was involved in a car accident which he was fortunate to escape from a decade ago

Yorkshire Carnegie renamed and pledge to get ‘back to roots’

Carnegie will become Leeds Tykes once again, says new chairman

Tackling Radradra? I used to face Billy Vunipola in training, says Nick Tompkins

Dragons centre Nick Tompkins is already looking forward to the Challenge Cup quarter-final against Bristol Bears

Jackson column: James Whitcombe keeping the great prop dynasty alive

Four generations of Whitcombes that are steeped in history and, in young Leicester prop James' case, promise

Ex-Leicester Tigers head coach Aaron Mauger leaves Highlanders

Only the Chiefs laid behind the Highlanders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa standings

Could Sonny Bill Williams Return to Rugby Union?

Things haven’t looked rosy of late for dual-code megastar Sonny Bill Williams. The All Black veteran of 58 caps crossed codes once...

Former Gloucester coach linked with Georgia role

Georgia are being lined up to replace Japan in the Eight Nations tournament this autumn

Rugby Matters: Double helping of the Curry twins may be on Eddie’s menu

Ben Curry is closing the gap on his Test brother after starring for Sale on the Premiership's restart

Cain column: Flattery can even help you win the Rugby World Cup

Nick Cain shares his view on the report highlighting how the Springboks got on the right side of World Cup final...

What is required from Ben Spencer to be England’s regular No.9?

Scrum-half Ben Spencer is looking to find his voice at Bath now he is out of the shadow at Saracens, a...

Guscott column: Title race is done, no-one will get near Exeter

All bets are off for the Premiership race in the eyes of Jeremy Guscott after watching Exeter's win over Bristol

Frustrated Blackheath director of rugby James Shanahan calls for 2020-21 start

Shanahan wants the governing bodies involved in sport's return to take the brakes off rugby

RFU pushes to have 20,000 fans permitted to attend October clash with Barbarians

Fans wishing to buy tickets can only do so for themselves and others in their household

Revealed: Champions Cup and Challenge Cup to undergo radical format change

EPCR confirm big shake-up to European format for 2020-21

Free agent Greg Bateman joins Dragons after Leicester exit

Only Kyle Eastmond remains unsigned out of the five Leicester players who rejected new contract terms in July

Three Premiership clubs eye demolition man Virimi Vakatawa

France centre Vakatawa has been on form for Racing 92 this season in the Champions Cup

Dual-role Alex Brown shares his blueprint for Gloucester success

Brown is tasked with the smooth running of the Gloucester team under its new coaching heads, while keeping things tight off...

Young Guns: Leicester Tigers centre Dan Kelly

Kelly fielded a call from an unknown number last year where Geordan Murphy was on the other end when he picked...

Prop Logovi’i Mulipola to re-join Newcastle Falcons at end of Gloucester stint

The Samoan international will move back to Kingston Park for the 2020-21 Premiership season

My Life in Rugby: Former England flanker Mickey Skinner

A deeper look at the career of the iconic back row, revered for more than just the Cecillon tackle in '91

What to expect for the 2020-2021 rugby season?

Stemming from the greatest disregard of football rules that happened back in 1823, rugby is one of the most beloved sports...

Harrington column: LNR chief warns Top 14 may need state aid

James Harrington reports on the situation facing French clubs, with COVID cases propping up in the player pool and TV rights...

Bill Sweeney urged to take the axe to untouched RFU-Premiership fund

Is the RFU chief executive keeping Premiership clubs happy so they release England players this autumn?

World Rugby announce £1.86m lifeline for sevens as more tournaments canned

Support for unions that have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics

Williams column: Steff Evans has the talent to back up the mullet hair choice

Steff Evans has hit the ground running for the Scarlets after the return of the PRO14

No let-up… increasing momentum key for Sam

■ By NEALE HARVEY EXETER No.9 Sam Hidalgo- Clyne says there will be no complacency against Worcester as the leagueleaders seek...

Scott’s excited to develop his all-court game under Flannery

■ By JON NWCOMBE Evolving: Harlequins hooker Scott Baldwin WALES hooker Scott Baldwin is embracing the all-court game he is being...

De Klerk: We’ve got few more gears to go

SALE scrum-half and manof- the-match Faf de Klerk said after showing his world-class credentials by scoring a try and helping to...

Alex committed to helping Sarries return to conquer

■ By NEALE HARVEY Faithful: Alex Lewington ACE finisher Alex Lewington aims to be part of a Saracens rebirth having turned...

No contest as Bristol 2nds are thrashed

■ By NICK CAIN Rout: Sam James scores Sharks’ fifth try THIS may have begun as third versus second in the...

Turnover king Willis wants a response after Sharks mauling

■ By NEALE HARVEY Hard edge: Jack Willis wants gainline dominance WASPS back rower Jack Willis cites improved discipline and increased...

Title race is done, no-one will get near the Chiefs

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK EXETER have blown me away since the restart, because it appears already that the...

DREAMTEAM

JACK ROBERTS, THE JERSEY AND FORMER LLANDOVERY, ROTHERHAM, LEICESTER, CARDIFF AND DONCASTER CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR...