Sotutu inspires Blues as Crusaders kick off in style

By SAM JACKSON BEAUDEN Barrett again played a key role for the Blues as they claimed a 24-12 win away at...

Evergreen Wig eyes European success

By NEALE HARVEY Passionate: Ben Ward Feeling fresh: Richard Wigglesworth PICTURE: Getty Images RICHARD Wigglesworth is targeting a remarkable Champions Cup...

Jones relishing chance to learn off ‘Pep’

By ROB COLE MARK Jones played for Wales under Sir Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland and is now learning...

Days when Goze really threw his weight around

THERE is rather a lot of Paul Goze, appropriately so given his status as one of the larger movers-and-shakers of the...

Can Robbo be crowd pleaser San Diego and USA need?

IT might not have been uppermost in his decision but social-distancing is unlikely to be an issue when Chris Robshaw joins...

Aled still hoping to brew up business

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Athletic: Aled Brew takes a high ball for Bath PICTURE: Getty Images “I...

Cotton and co wallow in not-so-glorious mud

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

Winning the World Cup made it right time to go

Q&A FRANCOIS LOUW ON THE RECORD Elation: Francois Louw with Prince Harry after winning the 2019 World Cup PICTURES: Getty Images...

Welsh players set for long-term pay cuts

By ALEX BYWATER Crisis talks: Martyn Phillips and Gareth Davies, right WALES’ leading players have been told long-term pay cuts will...

France set to launch their third pro league

WHILE all the talk in England is of contraction and putting the financial squeeze on the Championship, the French Federation have...

Islanders snub reeks of a new apartheid

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Shameful: Segregated crowds in South Africa The Lions...

Lions beware, thes Boks are strong

NICK CAIN PICKS HIS COMPOSITE TEAM FROM THESPRINGBOKS AND POTENTIAL LIONS Loose-head: Steven Kitshoff (SA) Hooker: Bongi Mbonambi (SA) Tight-head: Tadhg...

Kiwis prove derbies pull the crowds

CROWDS for the domestic Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament in New Zealand are more than 100 per cent up on those for...

Bradley gets out of Twitter cesspit

MOST of the rugby news on Twitter, the goto social media “platform” for anyone who enjoys flushing the English language down...

Forget protein, players need shrinking pills!

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Human Bowling Ball: England’s Manu Tuilagi PICTURE: Getty Images When it comes to progress, rugby stands on...

Hogg can finally show his Lions credentials

2021 LIONS A YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION THIS WEEK... FULL-BACKS Waiting his chance:...

Johnno played through pain to get Lions over the line

Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at the best rugby captains Inspiring: Martin Johnson led from the front during...

Spare a thought for the so-called pariahs of the game

I COULDN’T believe my eyes last week when I read that between them the two Welsh football clubs, Swansea and Cardiff...

Jones goes long way round to Wales job

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Pedigree: Crusaders coach Mark Jones reached the top level as a player PICTURE: Getty Images...

Mapimpi opts for Japan over Tigers

Wing ace: Mapimpi SPRINGBOK star Makazole Mapimpi is believed to have turned down a switch to the Premiership to move to...

Warriors enter the battle for Hastings

Offers: Hastings HARLEQUINS could miss out on signing Super League man of steel Jackson Hastings, who is starting to attract interest...

Leicester move for powerhouse Puma Montoya

Switch: Julian Montoya is heading to Welford Road LEICESTER Tigers have signed Argentina hooker Julian Montoya who will move to Welford...

Ambitious Beziers sound out England stars

BEZIERS have been busy seeing if England players are unhappy with their contract arrangements. The Pro D2 club are in the...

Dragons confirm deal for Tompkins

Loan deal: Tompkins WALES centre Nick Tompkins is spending next season at the Dragons, as we revealed on April 24, and...

ROOM 101

WILL GOODRICK-CLARKE THE LONDON IRISH PROP TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. People who...

Halliday: World Club Cup won’t harm Euros

By PETER JACKSON EUROPEAN Club Rugby chairman Simon Halliday today dismisses fears of the Heineken Champions Cup being sacrificed on the...

Wales look to play their matches at Twickenham

By PETER JACKSON Options: Gareth Davies WALES are looking at Twickenham as a temporary venue for their home matches in a...

Q&A – John Inverdale: We must make NCA clubs more user-friendly to local fans

The new chairman of NCA Rugby talks about the areas where National League clubs require immediate attention

Ex-Ospreys coach Allen Clarke joins the cast in Dallas MLR adventure

Six months on from leaving Ospreys, Allen Clarke talks Alex Bywater through his decision to head for Texas

Kristian Phillips wants rebirth of Ospreys galacticos

The Rugby Paper talks to the Wales winger tipped for the big time at Ospreys when called up by Warren Gatland

The four biggest rugby events for betting

Rugby is one of the most popular sports around and there are dozens of events for you to enjoy. Rugby is...

Saracens veteran Richard Wigglesworth agrees extension to finish Premiership campaign

The scrum-half will be able to see out the domestic and European season at Allianz Park

Lewis Ludlam interview – I was called some bad names but it never held me back

The England and Northampton flanker talks in-depth about his experience as a mixed-race British man and his education at St Joseph's

Jackson column: Leinster were breaking new ground in unprecedented season

Forget Liverpool, Leinster's 2019-20 season should be considered remarkable in any team sport

Ieuan Evans states his case for a seat on WRU Council

The former Lions winger believes he can help contribute a positive impact to the governance of rugby in Wales

Leicester Tigers ace Telusa Veainu weighing up future

The Tonga international is interesting clubs in France and Japan

Dates for Champions Cup and Challenge Cup confirmed by EPCR

Picture of 2019-20 season resumption now clear for Premiership, PRO14 and Top 14 clubs

Williams column: New Zealand crowds show they back the players

Shane Williams is pleased to see barely any empty seats in the crowds in Super Rugby Aotearoa

Cain column: Tell the south to keep their hands off our jewels

Moving the Six Nations and domestic leagues towards the summer would see rugby's exposure diminish, not be enhanced, writes Nick Cain

Mark Lambert retires after almost two decades with Harlequins

After 17 years in the Harlequins front row, RPA chairman Lambert is calling it a day

Exclusive: Marland Yarde re-signs with Sale and wants Premiership to show solidarity with black community

QPR fan Yarde has been watching on as the Premier League supports the Black Lives Matter movement

Bernard Laporte’s new World Club Cup would not see Wales represented currently

The World Rugby vice-chairman has spoken about his plans for a replacement competition for the Champions Cup

Harrington column: Mayor bid by Mohed Altrad hit by third cap scandal

Montpellier are being investigated for potentially breaching the Top 14's €11.3m salary cap threshold

Global season talks hit stumbling block as Premiership and Top 14 oppose summer shift

LNR president Paul Goze believes summer rugby would be a sacrifice made to satisfy the southern hemisphere nations

Hewett column: Dan Leo is the Rashford figurehead rugby needs

Leo's examinations of World Rugby's governance, or lack thereof, can create pertinent change

Ellis Jenkins on verge of return to full fitness for Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues head coach John Mulvihill provides an update on the recovery of Ellis Jenkins from a severe knee injury

Guscott column: Super Rugby Aotearoa must not go soft on true red cards

Jeremy Guscott has been keeping a close eye on the changes around the breakdown exhibited in Super Rugby Aotearoa

Saracens sign fly-half Will Hooley after leaving Bedford Blues

15-cap USA international says it was an 'easy decision' to join Saracens

England lock Maro Itoje pledges his future to Saracens

The Saracens lock has been widely tipped to captain the British & Irish Lions next summer in South Africa

Gloucester to name George Skivington as their new head coach

London Irish forwards coach set for top job at Premiership rivals