Pope built legacy on fast hands and fitness

LLANDOVERYmay have been a force in the Welsh game from the earliest of times but never more so than either side...

Llandovery’s supply line pre-dates WRU

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools Monkey fight: Llandovery do battle with Christ College Brecon in 1961...

YOUNG GUNS

EWANASHMAN SALE SHARKS HOOKER As aspiring hookers go, few can have benefitted from the wealth of expertise and knowledge Ewan Ashman...

We’ll ride out this storm but we need help from treasury

JASON WHITTINGHAM ON THE RECORD Q&A Worcester Warriors co-owner Jason Whittingham tells NEALE HARVEY why he and business partner Colin Goldring...

Nonu bids for unique hat-trick Brian got two passes, then was dropped!

MA’A NONU can claim a hat-trick on a global scale so vast that it has never been done before. His reintroduction...

Brian got two passes, then was dropped!

BRIAN Davies survived a stormy debut for Wales at Lansdowne Road in a draw against Ireland marred by an Arctic wind...

At long last, Billy will get his Cardiff statue

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Superstar: Billy Boston scores a typical try for Wigan PICTURE: Getty Images His...

Parisse defies the odds… and gravity

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

Early bath for Elia dampens Robshaw’s farewell party

By FRED LYONS @therugbypaper Sent off: Elia Elia ELIA ELIA’S red card allowed Wasps to fight back in the second half...

Creevy try settles see-saw struggle

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Interception: Curtis Rona scores London Irish’s second try PICTURE: Getty Images Power: Ollie Devoto LONDON Irish recorded their...

Sale hit six to remain in the hunt but Manu injury mars victory

By SAM JACKSON Hammer blow: Manu Tuilagi receives treatment SALE claimed the bonus point to stay in the race for the...

Lam: Job done but far too many errors

By TOM RILEY On the way: Ioan Lloyd of Bristol Bears touches down for their first try PICTURE: Getty Images BRISTOL...

Fast-starting Warriors bag bonus point by half-time

By ADAM THOMPSON Lethal: Francois Hougaard WORCESTER won their last home match of the season in style with a bonus point...

Tiger tamer Kacala flew the flag in European Cup

POWERHOUSE18-stone flanker Gregori Kacala remains the best known Polish rugby player in history, winning the MOM award in the 1997 Heineken...

Polish mining unearthing hidden gems in England

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Answering the call: Ed Krawecki, left, Ross Cooke,...

2020-21 PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES

FRIDAY 20TH NOVEMBER Harlequins v Exeter (7.45pm) Sale v Northampton (8pm) SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER Bath v Newcastle (12.30pm) Leicester v Gloucester...

Chiefs to kick-off new season at The Stoop

PREMIERSHIP leaders Exeter will travel to Harlequins on the opening night of the 2020-21 season. The sides meet at Twickenham Stoop...

Watkin won’t be satisfied until he hits Test century

By ALEX BYWATER Big shoes to fill: Owen Watkin PICTURES: Getty Images OWEN Watkin is eager to establish himself as a...

Griffiths recharges his battery doing car repairs

WILL Griffiths is the former Wales U20 hooker now working on car body repairs but refusing to give up his rugby...

Drop ‘Blues’ and make us one club say Cardiff

By ROB COLE CARDIFF RFC chairman Chris Norman believes the recent olive branch extended by his Cardiff Blues counterpart Alun Jones...

Bilbo next for Tigers?

WILL Harry Potter, the new bright spark in a gloomy Leicester back division, ever play a televised match without a commentator...

Money to be made in bad boys’ memoirs

Naughty boy: Joe Marler tampers with Alun Wyn Jones THE naughty step is fast turning into a bookcase. Dylan Hartley, James...

Robshaw took stick for being a team man

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST It has been widely and inaccurately reported that when W C Fields, master of the Jazz Age...

Tigers on lookout for Lavanini stand-in

Out: Tomas Lavanini LEICESTER have started the search for a lock after Tomas Lavanini was ruled out of action until the...

Brew completes Regions clean sweep

SCARLETS have signed Wales wing Aled Brew, 34, as short-term injury cover. Johnny McNicholl could be sidelined for eight weeks because...

Kearney goes Down Under for a year

FORMER British & Irish Lions full-back Rob Kearney has joined Western Force on a oneyear contract. Kearney played 15 seasons for...

Quins ask RPA to help sort out pay agreement

Australiabound: Robert Kearney HARLEQUINS are having more talks with their squad in a bid to find a long-term plan to get...

Rugby has two in running with William Hill

FORMER Plymouth Albion player Ben Mercer has made the long list for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award...

Warriors sign Fotu

GLASGOW Warriors have signed Tongan back row Fotu Lokotui after a trial. The 28-year-old joins as a free agent after a...

Money man Gooley puts Ealing staff at ease

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Backer: Mike Gooley EALING Trailfinders owner Mike Gooley has assured...

ROOM 101

THE BLACKHEATH CENTRE TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND LUKE PETERS 1. Messy People I’ve...

CHRIS ROBSHAW ON…

…England’s back row choices The depth is phenomenal. There’s ten to 20 guys who could play for England. I’m quite happy...

How Millfield pals pulled Robbo back from despair

DAVID EMERY SPEAKS TO CHRIS ROBSHAW AS HPREPARES FOR HIS 300TH AND FINAL QUINS GAME TODAY Triumph: Chris Robshaw holds the...

Don’t kill Cheetahs off for the ‘Big Four’

SHANE WILLIAMs WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Facing extinction: Cheetahs, with Nico Lee on the charge, playing against Southern Kings PICTURE: Getty...

Comedy night offers key workers light relief

Joker: Stephen K Amos CRAWLEY Rugby Club said a big thnak you to the NHS by putting on a comedy night...

Biggest challenge of my 35 years in sport

Jeremy Blackmore talks to former RFU director Rob Andrew about rugby’s future Survival mode: Rob Andrew is fighting to safeguard the...

Borthwick: Tigers lost their way but we’re rebuilding

NEWS EXTRA By SAM JACKSON LEICESTER have won jus two games since Steve Borthwick arrived in July but the new head...

Leinster up and running but Sexton limps out

By DECLAN ROONEY DEAN Ryan’s Dragons got little change from a trip to face the PRO14 champions as Ashton Hewitt’s wonder...

Turnbull red card forces Blues to think on their feet

By ROB COLE JOSHAdams made it eight tries in nine appearances for Cardiff Blues with a first half score that allowed...

Aki exploits porous defence to leave Wilson frustrated

By JOHN FALLON GLASGOW Warriors coach Danny Wilson blamed illdiscipline and some poor defending for their opening round loss in Galway....

Scarlets sunk by late Healy howitzer

By ROGER PANTING Marksman: Leigh Halfpenny adds another three points PICTURE: Huw Evans LEIGH Halfpenny broke Scarlets’ points record but Ben...

Protheroe produces the goods with debut double

By BRYN PALMER MAT PROTHEROE grabbed two tries on his Ospreys debut as the Welsh region opened their PRO14 campaign by...

Coetzee’s key after Stockdale sin-bin

By DAVE MURPHY ULSTER edged an eight-try classic with a controlled second half display at Kingspan Stadium. Benetton tested the home...

How did a £91m sink hole open up to swallow the RFU?

NICH CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK HOW is it that the RFU, which has had the enviable reputation almost...

Simpson urges Gloucester to get smarter

By NEALE HARVEY Pragmatic: Joe Simpson GLOUCESTER No.9 Joe Simpson is confident that the building blocks put in place by their...

Tiger Reffell raring to rip into Robshaw

By NEALE HARVEY Fast learner: Tommy Reffell PICTURE: Getty Images RISING star Tommy Reffell goes into battle against Premiership legend Chris...

Saints call off match amid new covid crisis

Double delight: Matt Protheroe celebrates scoring Ospreys’ third try – and his second – against Edinburgh yesterday PICTURE: Getty Images NORTHAMPTONhave...

RFU plan National Leagues shake-up

By NEALE HARVEY RADICAL plans to salvage lower league rugby in the New Year could see National One and Two sides...

Ryan Lamb feature: Coffee empire can wait, I can’t wait to get coaching

Hartpury backs coach Ryan Lamb talks about almost signing for Exeter in his career and the No.10 he wants to see...

Room 101: Blackheath full-back Ben Ransom

Varsity Cup winner Ransom picks three of his biggest pet hates