Michael Cheika: We can’t afford to be slow out of the blocks

Leicester boss Michael Cheika warned his side they cannot afford to be slow out of the blocks at the business end...

Northampton Saints 48-31 Bristol Bears: Alex Mitchell gets Saints in mood for Leinster

By Rob Wildman Northampton Saints ..... 48pts Tries: Mitchell 12, Langdon 19, Freeman 23, 36; Iyogun 46, Augustus 59, Pollock 76...

We’ll use whole squad, says Bath boss Johann van Graan

Bath boss Johann van Graan intends to use his mighty squad to the full as they look to add another two...

Bath 55-19 Newcastle Falcons: Ciaran Donoghue assures Bath of top billing

By Brendan Gallagher Bath .................................... 55pts Tries: Donoghue 2, Carr-Smith 32, Roux 44, Underhill 50, Emens 57, 59; Hennessy 67, Redpath...

Nick Cain: Invest in the Championship – as well as women’s game

The money cut from the funding to Championship clubs in the last five years is believed to be very close to...

Nick Cain: Bruce Craig’s protectionism is not what we want

The decision by Bath owner Bruce Craig to break cover by jumping on the franchise bandwagon this week is no revelation,...

George Ford sets his heart on Australia with British and Irish Lions

George Ford admitted he would “die” for a place on this summer’s Lions tour. The Sale fly-half produced another superb display...

Ford puts impressive case for a Lions spot

■By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Sale Sharks ..................... 25pts Tries: Ma’asi-White 2, Ford 17, Reed 27 Conversions: Ford 18, 28 Penalties: Ford 6,...

Clark: We won’t hit panic button

■By JON NEWCOMBE Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs PREVIEW... Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm Fighting fit: Arthur Clark in action for Gloucester against...

Baxter wants strong finish with eye on next season

■By PAUL REES EXETER may be out of the running for the play-offs but Rob Baxter is expecting a strong finish...

Ben Youngs – It’s been an awesome ride and I feel privileged

Paul Rees talks to Ben Youngs as he prepares to call time on his career after 18 years at Leicester and...

Chris Hewett: If there is any justice, George Ford will be a British and Irish Lion

By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed The difference between time and eternity? It’s all relative – get it? – but in...

Chris Hewett: Players moving north is no shock

If it takes at least seven years to train as an architect – and a minimum of 70 to negotiate the...

Ulster 19-22 Sharks: South Africans steal it at the death

By John Evans Sharks .............22 Ulster led until the 77th minute but were left heartbroken after Jordan Hendrikse kicked a penalty...

Taulupe Faletau leads the charge as Cardiff snatch fightback win

By Roger Panting Munster's winning run of 10 games against the Welsh regions came to a halt as Cardiff fought back...

United Rugby Championship: Nine-try Ospreys demolish Dragons

By Simon Thomas The Ospreys secured the bonus point win they needed to keep their URC play-off hopes alive as they...

Lions 26-7 Connacht: South African hosts in league of their own

By David John Lions ................26 Connacht........... 7 Connacht's play-off hopes were dealt a blow with a second consecutive defeat in South...

Warriors salvage a late bonus as Bulls power on

By BRYN PALMER BULLS flexed their muscles with a fourth straight URC win to turn up the heat on Glasgow in...

Scott on target to rescue a draw

By SAM JACKSON CAMMY Scott saved Edinburgh the ignominy of being doubled by Zebre with a difficult last-kick conversion to earn...

I’m free for Wales, says Gabriel Hamer-Webb

By Simon Thomas Ask Gabriel Hamer-Webb whether he is available for Wales this summer, and he delivers a telling answer. “I’ve...

Dan Lydiate is moving over to a coaching role at Dragons

By Sam Jackson Dan Lydiate will move into a coaching role at Dragons after yesterday playing his final game for the...

Dream Team – Jacob Fewtrell

JACOB FEWTRELL, THE BOURNVILLE AND FORMER LEICESTER TIGERS AND BIRMINGHAM MOSELEY FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

Mission Impossible: How Northampton Saints can beat Leinster

By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Phil Dowson only has to press a button anytime during the...

Rhys Litterick takes high road to Scotland

By Peter Jackson Rhys Litterick, a tight-head graduate from the Adam Jones school of scrummaging, joined Cardiff from Harlequins two years...

Peter Jackson: Pathetic Nolann Le Garrec stoops to a new low

By Peter Jackson Not since Andy Haden and Frank Oliver staged their amateurish theatrics against Wales at the Arms Park in...

Rugby’s Biggest Scandals: Desire to win can end in tears

Paul Rees on what connects bloodgate, a collapsed scrum, a backhander and the dives of Le Garrec and Haden Racing 92...

Christ Tshiunza keen to build for the future

By Mark Stevens For Christ Tshiunza, the past season has felt like somewhat of a blur of setbacks and stalled momentum...

Fred aiming to add to the Tuilagi legacy

By Chris Collyer Fred Tuilagi is eager to make a name for himself with club and country rather than just ‘live...

Brendan Gallagher: Little good news is coming out of Africa

By Brendan Gallagher - Rugby Matters Mention recently of the late Claude Saurel and his eclectic coaching career brought back memories...

Norman Mbiko – A Leopard who did change his spots

Norman Mbiko is probably not a name that resonates strongly here in Britain and Ireland, but the feisty scrum-half from the...

I’m glad to see the Lions will commemorate Swannell

THE exotic, slightly eccentric figure of Blair Swannell has appeared in this column on previous occasions and expect to hear the...

DMP get raided by Rams to inflict more woe

■By JEAN BULL IT was a sunny afternoon in the north east as Rams were the visitors for Darlington Mowden Park’s...

Moseley in control after first-half blitz

■By BAZ JOHNSON ON the final day of the season, Dings faced a powerful Birmingham Moseley side. The visitors started strongly,...

Esher show grit but it’s too little, too late

■By OLLIE AUST A RAMPANT Esher dispatched Sedgley Park in an attempt to avoid relegation. The hosts started rapidly, with Sam...

It’s a stroll in as Titans fall the Park to defeat

■By RHYS STRATTON ROSSLYN Park swept aside Rotherham Titans at The Rock yesterday to secure a second-place finish and end their...

Richmond toast their title-winning season in style

Richmond ...............40 Blackheath ............26 ■By TIMOTHY FORRESTER RICHMOND ended the season in champion style with a six-try victory, but Blackheath pushed...

Lions show heart to avoid the drop

Leicester Lions.....38 Bishop’s S................29 ■ By HOLLY DAISY LEICESTER Lions survived the drop on the final day of the season for...

Wigginton’s treble has Dogs on leash

Sale FC.....................26 Plymouth A.............46 ■ By GARETH DANIELS PLYMOUTH undertook the long journey to Cheshire to take on their nemeses from...

Henry Spencer enjoys fun in the Park as Rosslyn Park seal second place in National One

By Ben Jaycock Rosslyn Park have consistently been in National One’s top three for the best part of a decade, and...

It’s try trebles all round for happy Hoppers

By DESMOND HICKIE Chester..............21 Preston G..........41 PRESTON Grasshoppers fully deserved their bonus-point win at Chester as they looked for points to...

Burrows digs in for try hat-trick

Fylde......................... 21 Sheffield..................33 ■ By WILL JUDD A HAT-TRICK of tries by Ryan Burrows led Sheffield to victory at Fylde. Sheffield...

Ace Millachip puts icing on the cake

Lymm........................70 Hull Ionians............28 ■ By ETHAN BENTS LYMM ended the season in scintillating style to hammer Hull Ionians. An 11-try rout...

Thrilling win not enough to stay up

Harrogate......... 48pts Billingham........35pts ■ By MARK GARRETT A HUGELY anticipated game didn’t fail to deliver but ended in relegation for Harrogate...

Bairstow’s late score snatches dramatic wins

Otley..........................45 Hull............................48 ■ By NICK DOYLE sA CONVERTED try right at the end saw Hull snatch a narrow victory in an...

Tigers bare their teeth to sink Dale

Sheffield Tigers....38 Wharfedale............ 15 ■ By ANDREW SMITH SHEFFIELD Tigers ended their season in style with a convincing five-try victory over...

Champions slip up at the death

Tynedale................. 21 Leeds Tykes........... 12 ■ By BRIAN TILLEY NEWLY crowned champions Leeds Tykes were sent tumbling to only their second...

Callum Posa has Sheffield on the up – with Dad’s help

By Ben Jaycock Callum Posa has been one of National Two North’s best playmakers, continuing to upgrade his skills year on...

Hughes is hat-trick hero as Old Reds triumph

Cinderford........25 O Redcliffians.34 ■ By NIGEL WILCE OLD Redcliffians ran out deserved winners over Cinderford in a match played at Berry...

It’s a very sweet win for the visitors

Devonport S............29 Bournville...............47 ■ By JOSH THOMAS BOURNVILLE claimed their first away win of the season after a superb display at...

Watkins treated to a perfect send-off

Luctonians..............24 Hinckley.................. 12 ■ By GEOFF VICKRESS WITH this being Ryan Watkins last game as head coach for Luctonians, the hosts...