Kiss: We have to protect league rugby

By NEALE HARVEY LONDON Irish head coach Les Kiss says World Rugby must not sacrifice league rugby on the altar of...

PRL have strung us along says players’ chief Hopley

By COLIN BOAG Concern: Damian Hopley RPA chief executive Damien Hopley has accused PRL of taking them for a ride as...

Cotterill’s Aussie strategy expands Shelford horizons

By JEREMY BLACKMORE SHELFORD boss Will Cotterill credits a new expansive style of rugby with the transformation which brought the Peacocks...

It’s time to get real and ring-fence Premiership – Bentley

By NEALE HARVEY Realist: Chris Bentley Reaching the top: Chris Bentley was part of the Exeter side promoted in 2010 PICTURE:...

Scapegoat Botica left Llanelli having lost money

Steffan Thomas talks to Frano Botica about his time in Wales FRANO Botica is remembered as one of New Zealand’s best...

Ashley aims to help Wales live healthier

By ALEX BYWATER Man on a mission: Lloyd Ashley PICTURES: Getty Images WHILE most rugby players have tried as best they...

Sarries committed to lifting community spirit

BEHIND THE SCENES Inspiring: Sarries RFC kids in kicking practice PICTURES: Matt Impey - Wired Photos/Saracens Sport What does a Premiership...

Fight the good fight but beware disaster

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Unflinching: RPA chairman Mark Lambert has threatened legal action PICTURE: Getty Images...

WHY EDWARDS CHOSE ROSSLYN PARK SEVENS OVER WALES

Great: Gareth Edwards SOME Sevens tournaments are more significant than others and there is no doubt that the 1966 Rosslyn Park...

Gareth’s team start Millfield’s 7s dynasty

Brendan Gallagher begins a new series looking at rugby’s great schools Carrying the torch: Callum Sheedy lifts the 2014 Rosslyn Park...

Blues face crippling £6,000,000 black hole

By PETER JACKSON CARDIFF Blues are in danger of losing up to £6m amid fears of Welsh rugby being stuck behind...

Clubs rage as lost TV deal costs them £Ms

By NEALE HARVEY Pressure: Darren Childs PREMIERSHIP clubs and players face further financial meltdown after it emerged that the offer of...

Five Nations free-for-all after Welsh dominance

THE 1980s, with Wales no longer on their lofty perch of the 70s, was an unpredictable decade in the Five Nations...

Dawn of new age as Captain Kirk’s All Blacks boldly go to world glory

Brendan Gallagher continues his expert and authorative look at the history of Rugby Union The History of rugby: PART 13 1980s...

Tough-guy Des was scourge of All Blacks

Des Seabrook 1941 – 2020 By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Top of the tree: Coach Martin Green, right, and his assistant Des Seabrook...

I was unbeaten in a Scotland jersey!

MY LIFEIN RUGBY TOM RYDER FORMER SCOTLAND, SARACENS, GLASGOW, LEEDS, LEICESTER AND NORTHAMPTON LOCK Victory march: Tom Ryder on the charge...

YOUNG GUNS

CHRIST TSHIUNZA EXETER BACK ROW/LOCK From war-torn Congo to the top of international rugby, that’s the dream of 18-year-old back row-cum-lock...

We will not be silenced in our fight to weed out corruption

Q&A DAN LEO ON THE RECORD Regret: Dan Leo says Samoa should not have played against England in 2014 PICTURES: Getty...

Lion-heart Lyons was coach guru to the best

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Golden oldie: Dan Carter runs through drills during a Blues training session PICTURE:...

Little Jonny’s huge hits were game changers

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring photographs, and explains the story behind the iconic image Iconic Rugby Pictures:...

Winless Namibia escape the repechage

WORLD Rugby have finalised the qualifying procedure for RWC2023 and although the dislocation of Covid-19 means it must remain a little...

Rugby has benefitted from ill-gotten gains

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Uprise: Edward Colston’s statue is ripped down in...

This Fox can still ruffle Bok feathers

2021 LIONSA YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION THIS WEEK... OUTSIDE-CENTRES Powerful: Wales’ Jonathan Davies...

SHAUN EDWARDS ON…

...Rob Howley’s potential return to the game after his ban I’m totally pleased. I keep coming back to Dean Richards, who...

Edwards: I talk to them with body language

NICK CAIN CALLS A VILLAGE IN FRANCE TO TALK TO THE MAN HELPING FIRE LES BLUES Off: Mohammed Haouas punches Scotland’s...

A fitting reward for Robshaw

BY extending Chris Robshaw’s contract to cover the remaining weeks of the suspended Premiership season, Quins have done their best to...

Truculent props? We have bigger problems!

IT’S official: the props are revolting. As the coronavirus- driven realities of wage restraint and salary cap reduction kick in, it...

It’s heresy, but 71 Lions were fairly ordinary

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Not at his best: Gareth Edwards in the third Test in 1971 PICTURE: Getty Images “Barry John,...

4-year doping ban

HAYWARDS Heath player Max Drage has been banned from all sport for four years until January 9, 2024 for steroid abuse....

Poirot calls time on France

FORMER France captain Jefferson Poirot has retired from international rugby at the age 27 because of a lack of motivation. The...

Gill’s off-field venture brings in extra green

By ROB COLE Lawn maker: Blues prop Rhys Gill Partner: Ross Johnson RHYS Gill hasn’t had a chance to miss the...

AJ Bell was wrong move for Sale says Kennedy

By JON NEWCOMBE Money man: Kennedy Hopeful: Diamond Unloved: AJ Bell Stadium failed to hit expectations AS SALE Sharks announce plans...

Green’s witty classic stays the course as rugby’s bible

Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at the best rugby books and DVDs TOP 20 ...RUGBY BOOKS AND DVDS...

I applaud Ashton for speaking out

Strong message: Ashton Hewitt with Newport Gwent Dragons PICTURE: Getty Images WRU chairman Gareth Davies wrote to clubs last week to...

I shudder at way Carter destroyed the Lions

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND You can’t keep a good man down – and Dan Carter is one of the...

Robshaw agrees to stay until season end

TRANSFER WRAP CHRIS Robshaw will finish the remainder of the postponed Premiership season with Harlequins after agreeing a contract extension. The...

Sharks set their sights on Eddie

Target: Eddie Jones ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones has been mentioned Down Under as a potential shock candidate for a crosscode switch...

Cheika among candidates for Gloucester job

New name in the frame: Michael Cheika FORMER Wallaby coach Michael Cheika is the surprise name being linked with an interview...

Hooker Hansen joins Bristol

BRISTOL are set to raid West Country rivals Gloucester to strengthen their squad for next season with hooker James Hanson in...

Yarde to be offered one-year Sale deal

Extension: Marland Yarde SALE are close to agreeing an extension with former England winger Marland Yarde who is out of contract...

ROOM 101

DICKIE PIPER THE HUDDERSFIELD CAPTAIN AND NO.8 TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Drink-shy...

Kiwis give the crowds what they want

NOW for the good news. While PRL’s beleaguered chief executive Darren Childs broadcast that he wanted the Premiership to lead the...

World Cup draw cannot be held amid the chaos

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK This was the week in which the lockdown looked as if it was...

Short change for centres

A CORRECTION to Nick Cain’s inside-centre analysis in last week’s paper. Robbie Henshaw is not 6’1. He’s 1.91m or just over...

Insulting to offer Tier 2 teams their stars back

IN THE lead up to the vote for the election of the head of World Rugby it was announced that the...

Global calendar may increase workload

WORLD Rugby are keen to produce a coordinated international calendar, and have managed to make the discussion centre on North/South amendments....

Clear out flankers to improve flow of game

Turnover kings: England flankers Tom Curry and Sam Underhill suffocated New Zealand at RWC2019 PICTURE: Getty Images THE CALLS for law...

Gwilliam also skipper for two Grand Slams

I READ with interest Lloyd D. Parry’s letter last week regarding Mefin Davies and in particular the last time Wales beat...

All Blacks fired blanks

THE account of Munster’s historic win against the All Blacks in 1978 suggests it was one of those ‘I was there’...

Burgess can’t play the blame game forever

I QUITE enjoyed the Sam Burgess interview last week. I found him to be a very honest and frank speaking individual....