Jonny’s try tops lot in Six Nations

THE try of the Six Nations? Unquestionably Jonny May’s stratospheric second in Paris. The England wing looked like a Formula 1...

Paywall could kill off rugby audience

THE government’s rejection of calls from the cross-party Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee to give the Six Nations a...

This rush to closure just creates more confusion

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THERE is a growing sense that some of those in key administrative roles...

DREAMTEAM

ETHAN WALLER, WORCESTER & FORMER NORTHAMPTON, PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Alex Waller –...

Ollie’s upping game for elusive first cap

By NEALE HARVEY Next in line: Gloucester wing Ollie Thorley PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER flyer Ollie Thorley has been given work-ons...

Powerhouse Kalamafoni all set to join the Scarlets

By STEFFAN THOMAS Tongan ace: Sione Kalamafoni THE Scarlets look set to strengthen their pack with the signing of Tongan international...

Why have flying 10s like Carter all disappeared?

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Rose to the challenge: Nick Tompkins has the right attitude PICTURE: Getty Images THE...

Chance for rugby to sort itself out

End of marquee players: Stars like Bristol’s Charles Piutau would be in the salary cap COLIN BOAG This is one of...

Don’t agree with early season end

I UNDERSTAND why the RFU have now cancelled the rest of this season – sadly, I didn't originally agree with the...

Replace Saracens with Newcastle then draw a line

THEperiod of ‘wait and see’ has passed and the RFU has made a decision regarding the future of their competitions. Now...

Could Champions escape relegation?

THEREare suggestions that there may be no relegation from football’s Premier League this spring, in the wake of coronavirus. With the...

Helping hands

SWING low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home. Swing low sweet chariot coming for to carry me home. If...

Use law of averages to settle it

SURELY the fairest way to extrapolate results for the rest of the season is to calculate the average return each team...

Foul play warrants the highest sanctions

AS A solicitor representing people in the Magistrates Court, I know how much fairer it is having guideline sentences for particular...

Ex-ace Richards picks the scrum-halves Eddie should be blooding for England

■ By NEALE HARVEY In possession: Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz. Inset, Peter Richards PICTURES: Getty Images PETER Richards says England’s...

Improving Tigers take down ‘For Sale’ sign

LEICESTER are no longer up for sale because of a lack of suitable investors and the financial uncertainty caused by Brexit...

Guscott’s right, it’s time to trim benches says Winterbottom

Questions: Winterbottom PETER Winterbottom has added his name to a lengthening list of people demanding drastic cuts in the number of...

Parry puts his faith in Ospreys

SAM Parry has turned down a move to Cardiff Blues by committing to Ospreys for another season. Hooker has been an...

Roberts targets swansong at hometown club Cardiff

By STEFFAN THOMAS JAMIE Roberts says he wants to end his career by giving back to Welsh rugby with Cardiff Blues...

Saint-Andre calls for cup shootout to decide title

In the current health crisis in France professional rugby has, like all sports, taken a large backward step. Clubs, coaches and...

Newark unite to tackle virus

NEWARK, with 500 players of all ages from minis to their 1st XV, have established a ‘buddy up’ club for all...

Niko gets the gloves on to battle for Rob and Mose

■ By JON NEWCOMBE AFTER Yorkshire Carnegie’s financial problems and the visa difficulties that led to his sudden departure from Ealing...

Jonny’s brewing up a storm for the Chiefs

■ By NEALE HARVEY Jonny Hill CIDER-making Exeter lock Jonny Hill aims to become the apple of Eddie Jones’ eye just...

The Welsh were no saints, I assure you

Match-winner: Scotland’s Tony Stanger makes his break against England in 1990 PICTURE: Getty Images Reading last week’s Sunday’s Times I was...

Frustrating to win only the one cap

MY LIFEIN RUGBY ROGER WILSON THE FORMER IRELAND, ULSTER AND NORTHAMPTON No.8 AS a Belfast schoolboy, going to Ulster matches at...

YOUNG GUNS

TAREKHAFFAR LONDON IRISH LOOSEHEAD Modern rugby demands pace as well as power from its props so when Tarek Haffar scattered a...

How do All Blacks pick a team with no form guide?

Troubled times: New All Blacks head coach Ian Foster with his squad PICTURE: Getty Images The period following the 2019 Rugby...

Te’o’s season ends at Exiles before it starts

■ By JON NEWCOMBE New plan: Mike Te’o will go back to the USA. Inset: Paul Lasike HAVING represented his country...

Retiring Griffiths must bid farewell from afar

■ By GUY WILLIAMS CLIVE Griffiths, director of rugby at Doncaster Knights, won’t see the club again, or his players, before...

Controversy, as Scots claim victory after a knock-on

Brendan Gallagher sets the scene for the first ever Test – between Scotland and England Pioneers: Scotland’s squad for the first...

William Webb Ellis died without realising he invented rugby

Brendan Gallagher begins his expert and authorative look at the history of Rugby Union Beginnings: The young Webb Ellis runs with...

All Blacks B team? Marler’s got it right

IT WOULD seem that famous old All Blacks, or one at the very least, are acknowledging Joe Marler’s fondness for the...

Tomas and Wales can’t be reunited soon enough

Least surprising headline of the week: Ireland’s Australia tour in doubt. Big loss: Tomas Francis leaves the pitch injured during World...

All smiles, as PC Perry’s helmet stars at Twickers

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

Gareth gem for Baa-baas still sets the benchmark

Brendan Gallagher kicks off our sparkling TOP 20 series with his view of the best tries ever scored TOP 20 …TRIES...

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Premiership clubs order 25 per cent pay cuts

PREMIERSHIP sides Gloucester, Wasps and Worcester Warriors have all announced 25 per cent pay cuts because of the financial impact of...

Game will return in a nicer form

SO rugby players in all our professional leagues will have to take pay cuts as we look to navigate our way...

Teleni beat shoplifting rap to lead Fiji v Wales

ONE OF rugby’s more controversial characters has passed away. Former Fiji captain Esala Teleni, below, has died having first come to...

All our yesterdays come gloriously alive again

Party time: Peter O’Toole and Richard Harris get in the mood PICTURE: Phil Shepherd Lewis It’s amazing the rugby stuff there...

Willie John still can’t forgive ‘cowards’ who denied Irish

Peter Jackson remembers another chaotic season that scuppered Ireland’s chance of a Grand Slam Irish Lion: The great Mike Gibson Green...

My 15 Kings of the North

NICK CAIN PICKS HIS INTERNATIONAL TEAM FROM THE SIX NATIONS PERFORMANCES Joe Marler Julian Marchand Tadhg Furlong Best in world: Maro...

Investment? Not Maro!

TALKING of France, the glitzy Parisians of Racing 92 were willing to make a handsome investment in Maro Itoje before being...

Dupont was nobbled in anyone’s language

HAD THEY been thinking outside the box, Fabien Galthie and the rest of the French hierarchy could have argued that as...

Now, more than ever, game needs leadership

Accusation: Eddie Jones blasted referee Ben O’Keeffe for sending off Manu Tuilagi at Twickenham PICTURE: Getty Images Never let a good...

Griffiths pledges to save Championship

By NICK CAIN Main man: Saracens CEO Edward Griffiths arrives for the Premiership final between Saracens and Northampton at Twickenham in...

CVC cash may help struggling regions

By STEFFAN THOMAS and ROB COLE WELSH rugby’s four regions are set to call on government funding and will look to...

That Pumas try cost me dear but it was a beauty!

Nick Cain catches up with Exeter and England wing Jack Nowell as he relishes being fit again Dive and twist: Jack...

Jamie’s experience would be a major asset in Cardiff

JAMIE Roberts’ rugby experience is unparalleled in Welsh rugby. That is why it would be great to see him come back...

Lydiate is crucial to Ospreys’ revival

Key signing: Ospreys blindside Dan Lydiate PICTURE: Getty Images DAN Lydiate could prove to be the signing of next season for...