Bath’s Zach Mercer adds on 6lbs to muscle his way into England fold

Conditioning is key at No.8 for Eddie Jones, that's why Mercer has bulked up to compete with Vunipola and Curry

Probyn column: Overseas players are both cheaper and always on call

Jeff Probyn analyses Chris Boyd's claim that England's senior Men's team should have more English coaches and how its relative to...

Will Hurrell targets Premiership return as skills coach

Jack Zorab finds out how the former Bristol Bears centre is progressing in his health after suffering a stroke that ended...

My Life in Rugby: Former Yorkshire Carnegie fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo

Former Cornish Pirates, Yorkshire Carnegie and Benetton back Di Bernardo reflects on his career

TEAMS: Malins, Earl and Sinckler all handed first Bristol starts in Round 15

Catch the teams for Friday's Premiership clashes at AJ Bell Stadium, Kingsholm and Ricoh Arena

Is record-setting Test prop Owen Franks off the pace in northern hemisphere scrums?

The Northampton Saints loosehead and All Blacks centurion Franks is operating at a '3 out of 10' by his admission

Cain column: Battered Dylan Hartley bitter ode to the dying of the light

Dylan Hartley's new book will detail the rigours of intense training under England head coach Eddie Jones

The Effects of Gambling on Rugby Union

The game of rugby originated in Warwickshire, England around 1823. It’s said that it began with a football match in which...

‘I know I can compete at Premiership level’ – Zac Guildford

Guildford's downfall has been well-documented, but he looks to the likes of Danny Cipriani and Kurtley Beale to know your past...

Canterbury want no part in shortened National League season

The RFU plans to have National League rugby back in November but with much fewer than 30 games to be played

Guscott column: Neal Hatley has the know-how to make Bath contenders

Jeremy Guscott responds to Bath's promotion of Neal Hatley to head coach

Harlequins back row Jack Clifford forced to retire at 27

A cruel blow to the former England U20s captain who claimed 10 caps for the senior side

‘This is my make or break year’ says Christian Wade of Buffalo Bills roster hopes

Wade is listed as the fifth-choice running back at the team who reached the NFL play-offs last season

Jackson column: Port Talbot wizardry fizzes on in Regan Grace

A hat-trick against Leeds Rhinos in SUper League has got everything talking about Regan Grace

PGB introduce player welfare measures for ‘most arduous playing schedule ever’

27 days will separate the end of the current season from 2020-21

St Helens sensation Regan Grace could be Eddie’s new Billy Whizz

A hat-trick to marvel at has got everyone talking about the Port Talbot native being a possible code convert

Rugby Matters: England Sevens scrapping sounds alarm bell for World Sevens Series

Brendan Gallagher believes the England Sevens programme did everyything for player development, but nothing for silverware on the Sevens circuit

Ben Earl and Max Malins frozen out of Saracens WhatsApp group while at Bristol

Earl and Malins are both on loan at the Premiership challengers

Dragons boss Dean Ryan won’t give up the ghost on Wasps’ Will Rowlands

A player the Dragons and WRU appear very keen on bringing to the PRO14

Tullow Tank backs Stuart Lancaster for Lions coaching gig in 2021

Sean O'Brien speaks of his first-hand experience of working with Stuart Lancaster at Leinster

England Sevens flyer Dan Norton becomes latest London Irish signing

The World Sevens Series tries record-holder has been on the circuit for the past 12 years

Virtual Gaming and iGaming

In this article, C.J Fisher partner of Gaming Practice Group discusses the role virtual sports could play in the future for...

John Inverdale and RFU director comment on plans to further regionalise grassroots

A vote will be held on October 2 to determine whether clubs reduce schedule demand in National League One and below

Young Guns: Leicester Tigers tighthead Jack Rowntree

There is another Rowntree coming through at the Tigers. Meet Jack, the son of Munster scrum coach Graham

Greatest UK rugby teams of all time

Rugby is one of the most popular professional and recreational team sports, which is ultimately appreciated in the UK and beyond...

Hogg try was the killer says Baxter

EXETER DoR Rob Baxter and his squad are looking forward to the hectic end of this season that could see them...

Business as usual for Chiefs after early Tigers roar

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Stand-out moment: Stuart Hogg goes over to score his side’s second try Battering ram: Dave Ewers powers over...

We didn’t fire any shots – Diamond

STEVE Diamond summed up the difference between what his title-chasing Sale side had promised, and what they delivered, when asked for...

Smith takes control of scrappy affair at Stoop

By NICK CAIN Crash ball: Scott Baldwin scores from a lineout drive for Harlequins PICTURES: Getty Images Held: Manu Tuilagi tries...

Hatley has the know-how to make Bath contenders

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Promotion: New head coach Neal Hatley, here on England duty with Lewis Ludlam, is...

DREAMTEAM

NICK WILLIAMS, THE RETIRING CARDIFF BLUES AND FORMER NORTH HARBOUR, AUCKLAND BLUES, MUNSTER, AIRONI, ULSTER AND JUNIOR ALL BLACKS No.8, CHOOSES...

Now Premiership must get finances in order

COLIN BOAG Critical issue: Some Sale players take the knee while wearing ‘Rugby Against Racism’ t-shirts before their match with Harlequins...

Full-contact rugby carries significant risk of Covid

Steve Grainger of the RFU replies to last week’s letter, above. The community game remains a priority for the RFU and...

Blackett: Exciting time for young English hopefuls

■By NEALE HARVEY Fittest: Ben Velacott Talent: Charlie Atkinson WASPS head coach Lee Blackett believes a postlockdown surge of homegrown talent...

Don’t mess with scrum warns ‘old man’ Cole

■By JON NEWCOMBE New-age prop: Kyle Sinckler Warrior: Dan Cole gets on the ball for Leicester PICTURES: Getty Images HAVING been...

Irked Broad takes aim at WRU governance

WRU chairman Gareth Davies and chief executive Martyn Phillips are to blame for the problems the game is facing in Wales...

Zach hopes bigger will be even better

■By NEALE HARVEY Hard yards: Bath’s Zach Mercer is tackled by Worcester’s Scott Van Breda PICTURES: Getty Images STRONGER and fitter...

Socino: I’m here to give Barritt a run for his money!

Jon Newcombe talks to the Pumas centre who is joining Saracens JUAN Pablo Socino arrived in Hertfordshire in mid-June blinking into...

Covid spike puts Top 14 on high alert

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN An abundance of caution marked professional rugby’s preseason return on Friday, 166 days after Toulon beat Stade...

Crusaders let the trophy slip

SUPERRUGBY THECrusaders clinched the Super Rugby Aotearoa title last Sunday and promptly damaged the trophy. Their 32-22 victory over the Highlanders...

Hurrell targets Prem return as a skills coach

By JACK ZORAB Ambitious: Will Hurrell wants to pass on his expertise to the next generation PICTURE: Getty Images WILL Hurrell...

Extra sessions with Corbs cost us dear

MY LIFEIN RUGBY JON FISHER LONDON IRISH FORWARDS COACH AND FORMER IRISH, BEDFORD, NORTHAMPTON AND BRISTOL BACK ROW Dream start: Jon...

Petersfield assemble top brains trust after promotion

NEWS EXTRA By ADAM ELLIS HAMPSHIRE Premier champions Petersfield are gearing up to come flying out of the blocks when the...

Zac wants to make a late splash in England

Neale Harvey talks to former All Black wing Zac Guildford about a Premiership switch High point: Zac Guildford scores for the...

Foreign players are both cheaper and always on call

Gone to Premiership: Steve Borthwick, left, and Paul Gustard PICTURE: Getty Images Chris Boyd, a New Zealander, has questioned why England...

Burke’s law has turned Epsom into champions

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools Flyer: Kitan Ojo in action against Wellington Inset, below: Paul Burke...

YOUNG GUNS

OLLIEWYNN WORCESTER NO.9 Ask Ollie Wynn to reveal his scrumhalf role models and he reels off an impressive list of top...

Proud to see so many of my players step up to Premiership

Q&A HARVEY BILJON ON THE RECORD Proactive: Harvey Biljon Former Wasps No.9 Harvey Biljon has forged a successful career in coaching...

PRO14 restart preview

BENETTON Head coach: Kieran Crowley Captain: unconfirmed Stadium: Stadio Comunale di Monigo Current position: 5th (B) Last five games: WWLLW The...

Scarlets, Ospreys to win amid fireworks

SHANE WILLIAMS Wise piece of business: Stephen Myler has signed for Dragons The excitement is starting to build already Rugby is...