Launchbury fuelled by pain of 2017 final defeat

By TOM VALE Leader: Joe Launchbury wants to end Wasps fans’ long wait for silverware PICTURES: Getty Images CLUB captain Joe...

Shields: It’s time to bring the trophy home

By JON NEWCOMBE WASPS will need to rein in the excitement of playing in the Premiership Final if they are to...

Haskell: Shake up TV panels

JAMES Haskell claims it is time for some of the game’s old guard to be kicked into touch from their prime...

Moriarty determined to put smiles back on Welsh faces

By ALEX BYWATER ROSS Moriarty has urged Wales to lift the spirits of a nation this autumn as Wayne Pivac’s side...

Los Lelos bolster coaching team for Cup run

FORMER Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys will take on a high performance consultant role with Georgia for the Autumn Nations...

Go-ahead for six Tests but under restrictions

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Weeks of posturing, fingerpointing and metaphorical chest-beating ended with something approaching a temporary detente earlier this week,...

Ten of the best from Warriors

By AMY FULGHAM DMP Sharks ……5 Worcester ……58 WORCESTER Warriors produced a dominant display to notch their first win of the...

Quins power home in second half

By HOLLY FOSKETT Wasps …………..12 Harlequins ……31 DESPITE a close opening first half, the dominance of Harlequins’ pack came to the...

Ella sparks Lightning attack

By BEN COUSINS Loughboro’ L ..32 Glo-Hartpury ..26 TWO standout tries by Ella Wyrwas ensured Loughborough Lightning maintained their unbeaten start...

Super Sarries enjoy a seven up

By JAMAL NIAZ Sale Sharks ….10 Saracens ……..40 SARACENS’ experience proved too much for the newly-formed Sharks in a seven-try win...

Bears cling on as Chiefs’ late shot falls short

By HARRY SCOTT-MUNRO Exeter Chiefs..22 Bristol Bears..24 BRISTOL held the edge in a classic encounter with Exeter at Sandy Park. A...

Spencer snub a mystery

NICK CAIN COMMENT The most vexing aspect of the England training squads that have been announced over the last fortnight in...

Ollie gets a chance to replace Manu

EDDIE Jones has called-up Worcester’s uncapped centre Ollie Lawrence, below, to England’s training squad to help fill the void left by...

Bristol dynasty starts now says delighted Booy

By NEALE HARVEY First of many? Chris Booy and hooker Harry Thacker admire the trophy PICTURE: Getty Images BULLISH Bristol chairman...

Autumn Cup could dilute real Six Nations

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME US TV highlight: Bryce Campbell goes over to score for America against...

Bedford were original ‘Red Army’ of rugby

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby”s great schools BEFORE Munster started making a name for themselves, the “Red Machine”...

Knights preparing for league restart in January

By JON NEWCOMBE IN a show of faith that the RFU Championship season will start early next year, Doncaster are planning...

We’re proud of our production line for players and coaches

JOHN BARNES Q&A ON THE RECORD As Hartpury’s reputation grows, director of rugby John Barnes tells NEALE HARVEY why their programme...

Olympic heavyweight Coker was box office

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Handy: JohnCoker sparredwith the bestheavyweights inthe 60s Inset,...

Crossing bridge for Bristol paid off

MY LIFEIN RUGBY ROSS JOHNSTON THE FORMER CARDIFF BLUES AND BRISTOL HOOKER Eye for the line: Ross Johnston on his way...

YOUNG GUNS

LEWISPEARSON EXETER LOCK/BACK ROW As a schoolboy swimming protégé, Lewis Pearson dreamed of emulating his illustrious coach, the 2002 Commonwealth Games...

Josh keeps Crymych on the world map

THE Pembrokeshire village of Crymych will have more than a passing interest in Saturday’s scheduled resumption of the Six Nations. Ireland’s...

Hooper’s whirlwind ton proves Test glut

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Centurion: Michael Hooper takes on the All Blacks last Sunday PICTURE: Getty Images...

Wood’s snarl wins first battle for Telfer’s pack

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

Russell returns to spearhead Scotland attack

FINN Russell returns to a 40-man Scotland squad after missing the Six Nations matches in February and March for a breach...

Dai’s glad he skipped class for the Scarlets

By ALEX BYWATER DAI FLANAGAN’S career has skyrocketed since he swapped coaching children in a Newport school for tutoring Wales and...

Boks back out of Rugby Championship

Lucky escape: Jordie Barrett scored a last minute penalty to earn the All Blacks a draw PICTURES: Getty Images WORLD champions...

Bledisloe Cup in front of near capacity crowd

By SAM JACKSON EDEN Park was expecting to host a “near capacity” crowd of 47,000 for this morning’s second Bledisloe Cup...

Exiles backline suffers double injury whammy

LONDON Irish wing Matt Williams and centre Terrence Hepetema will miss the start of next season with long-term injuries. Williams, 22,...

Costly cameo for Owens

WALES hooker Ken Owens will miss the autumn internationals after injuring his shoulder while playing for Scarlets against Glasgow. Uncapped flanker...

Tyro Italy scrum-half Varney self-isolating

GLLUCESTER’S uncapped Italy scrum-half Stephen Varney is isolating having tested positive for Covid-19. Welsh-born Varney, 19, who is asymptomatic, joined the...

Niall targets first Irish ton at Warriors

TOM VALE talks to Worcester Warriors’ multi-talented hooker Niall Annett Niall Annett must be one of the most respected and admired...

Thomas fears for ‘lost’ generation

By GARY FITZGERALD GARETH Thomas fears the strict government stance over Covid may cost the game many of its potential future...

Blair’s battled his dark times

By GARY HEATLY Recall: Blair Cowan SCOTLAND back row Blair Cowan has battled through the “dark times” and is now on...

Blind Pugh was TMO

ONCE again we must ask: what is the point of rugby technology, and the people employed to use it? Television match...

Brad proves Gopperth still has years to go

BRAD Thorn, who won a World Cup with New Zealand more than a decade after trousering an Australian Sports Medal for...

Ten years of failure are Craig’s sad legacy

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST When Bruce Craig completed his purchase of the Bath club a decade ago, the supersized scale of...

Lousi gets four weeks

SCARLETSlock Sam Lousi has been banned for four weeks after his red card for a high tackle against Glasgow. The Tonga...

WRU lose over £5m

THEWRU have announced a loss of £5.3m in their annual report, which they say is a result of the Covid- 19...

Red card rules out Irish lock

IAIN Henderson will miss the remainder of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign after receiving a three-match ban for his red card against...

Lee’s restored Wasps sting

TOM VALE TALKS TO LEE BLACKETT, THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR WASPS’ DRAMATIC CHANGE IN FORTUNES Lee Blackett remembers the morning after...

Safety first but losing Boks is a huge blow

SOUTH Africa v New Zealand has always been the heavyweight clash in world rugby and the decision taken by the Boks...

I’ve got a mad month ahead

I’M not sure if my recent bout of running madness has been brought on by lockdown or just the desire to...

Gethin’s a great fit for Sam’s sizeable shoes

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND It was a bit of a shock reading the news about Sam Warburton stepping down...

Turnover king Willis wins RPA crown

WASPS flanker Jack Willis has been voted players’ player of the year at the Rugby Players’ Association awards. The 23-year-old, right,...

Melissa’s in RFU Press mix

THE RFU, set to lose £107m and making over 120 redundant, have so far reprieved their Press office. The RFU have...

Kitshoff looks to France

Montpellier? Kitshoff SPRINGBOK loosehead Steven Kitshoff could be off to Europe a couple of years after he rejected a switch to...

Tigers will face rebels in court

LEICESTER TIGERS are gearing up for a massive legal battle which could cost them £1 million after telling five former players...

Exiles send an SOS to Meakes

LONDON Irish are urgently working to ease the loss of centres Terrence Hepetema and Matt Williams to injuries by making contact...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Prem return? Santiago Cordero ■FORMER Exeter Chiefs winger Santiago Cordero is looking to make...