Yes, play Six Nations in April and May

I HAVEread many suggestions in recent weeks about a global calendar and franchising in the Premiership. The global calendar is a...

Bring South Africa into the Champions Cup

World champions: South Africa should host the Rugby Championship every other year PICTURE: Getty Images I’VE spent plenty of time time...

Mefin ends wait

Honour: Mefin Davies RE BRENDAN Gallagher’s article about the last time Wales beat New Zealand back in 1953. I note that...

Jarrett was in Cardiff!

CONGRATULATIONS on your continued excellence with TRP – certainly one of the high spots of my week during lockdown. Terrific columnists...

How can clubs keep fans safe at lower levels?

I MISSmy live rugby and the time I typically spend at my club as much as anyone, but suggestions in last...

Eddie’s right, cut the subs to open up the game again

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK In the minority: Faf de Klerk is one of only two small Springboks PICTURE: Getty Images...

DREAMTEAM

CRAIG HAMPSON, EALING TRAILFINDERS AND FORMER YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE, BRISTOL AND WASPS No.9, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR...

Enforcing the breakdown laws should be automatic

COLIN BOAG Obsession: Australian Rugby League is envied by Rugby Australia World Rugby’s Covid-19 trial laws got pretty short shrift from...

Zebre star Maxime is honoured for Covid work

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Hero: Maxime Mbanda and, inset, in hospital mask MAXIMEMbanda, the Zebre and Italy back row forward, this week...

Best spots talent while he waits for Knights to kick off

By JON NEWCOMBE NEW Doncaster signing Mark Best is hoping to give promising young sports stars a leg-up while he waits...

Cult hero Marler signs on again for Harlequins

By ADAM ELLIS ENGLAND prop Joe Marler has ended rumours that he might quit the game by signing a contract extension...

Summer rugby would be a hit insists Gopperth

By NEALE HARVEY Masterclass: Jimmy Gopperth converts a try for Wasps PICTURES: Getty Images WASPS star Jimmy Gopperth has thrown his...

Missing you already, George, says Ewels!

By NEALE HARVEY Hard yards: Charlie Ewels is sandwiched between Frenchmen Paul Willemse, right, and Gael Fickou PICTURES: Getty Images ENGLAND...

Ford was ‘a snake’ to me at RWC says Burgess

SAM BURGESS has called his then-Bath coach Mike Ford “a snake” and accused him of using Burgess as a pawn to...

French cash crisis should halt Racing bid for Itoje

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Watch this space: Maro Itoje’s rumoured move to Racing looks doubtful PICTURE: Getty Images For some time,...

I’m one of Will’s old farts at the RFU these days

MY LIFEIN RUGBY PHIL DE GLANVILLE THE FORMER ENGLAND & BATH CAPTAIN AND CENTRE Proud days: England captain Phil de Glanville...

Carter joins the Blues, his hometown clu0062

ALL Blacks great Dan Carter will return to New Zealand to play for the Blues in Super Rugby, which starts next...

Spencer signs for 3-years at Bath

By SAMUEL JACKSON BATH have confirmed Saracens and England scrum-half Ben Spencer will join them next season. The 27-year-old will move...

Craftsman Tom nails down his new career

By NEALE HARVEY Back to nature: Tom Wood works out in his back garden using a home- made barbell Grinding it...

Tragedy after Munster’s greatest win0020

Munster 12 New Zealand 0 (Oct 31, 1978) Defence on top: Munster’s Donal Canniffe hacks away IT ALL started – in...

Golden Era ends with Welsh Slam but France are also formidable

Brendan Gallagher continues his expert and authorative look at the history of Rugby Union Power: France before their game against Wales...

Restarting season is rather ridiculous

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Why play on? Newcastle have been promoted. Here George Wacokecoke scores his...

Deacon joins Longlevens

FORMER Gloucester prop Andy Deacon has joined Longlevens as director of rugby. Deacon was previously at Cirencester where he headed up...

QUIZ ANSWERS from P24:

1. Mike Campbell-Lamerton - 1966 New Zealand; born in Valletta, Malta in 1933. 2. Serge Blanco 3. Ray Gravell (Llanelli, Wales...

Kettering get ready

MARK Byers has been appointed Kettering Rugby Club’s coronavirus manager as they look to be ready to open the bar and...

Moving Six Nations will work – Conrad

By NEALE HARVEY World champ: Conrad Smith playing for the All Blacks PICTURES: Getty Images DOUBLE World Cupwinning ex-All Black Conrad...

YOUNG GUNS

MORGANSTRONG OSPREYS NO.8 Morgan Strong was 14 when he heard the immortal words that changed his life. “You’re not good enough,”said...

Coster leaves Old Reds

OLD Redcliffians director of rugby Kevin Coster agrees it was time for a change at the relegated National Two South club...

Sam set to face Chiefs pals in Sale’s title bid

By NEALE HARVEY SALE-bound Exeter centre Sam Hill admits swapping one title-contending club for another midway through the season has left...

I’m now Granny to boys I saw grow up

MY CLUB RICHMOND WE SPEAK TO A NUMBER OF WELL-KNOWN RUGBY FIGURES ABOUT THE CLUB THEY CALL THEIR OWN, THIS WEEK...

RUGBY QUIZ

FORMER LEADING WELSH REFEREE ALUN WYN BEVAN TESTS YOUR KNOWLEDGE Q14: Cardiff Blues win the 2018 Challenge Cup 1. Which post...

Press box pros were Wales’ other stars

WHENWales shared the Five Nations title in 1964, they had an unbeaten team on the field and another one off it....

New rule gives spirit of the game a red card

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Deserved: Sebastien Vahaamahina is sent off against Wales PICTURE: Getty Images As from...

Campo, the maverick, about to break loose

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

Dec and I have come a long way since our days in an Airbnb

Q&A LES KISS ON THE RECORD Building: Les Kiss London Irish head coach, former Ireland assistant and proud Aussie Les Kiss...

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One metre change worth £3m per game

CHANGINGsocial distancing from two metres to one metre would increase the potential crowd at Twickenham from 9,000 to 40,000. Bill Sweeney,...

Save the red cards for real villains

THERE are many contenders for Rugby’s worst law. The accidental offside law is one and my personal bete noire is allowing...

One venue for Rugby Championship makes sense for all time

UNIONS around the world are scrambling to devise short term measures to save competitions and generate much needed cash and the...

So just who WAS in charge at Gloucester?

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Reshuffle: David Humphreys, celebrating a win with Ross...

Tuilagi has the power to trouble De Allende

2021 LIONSA YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION THIS WEEK... INSIDE-CENTRES Line-breaker: Manu Tuilagi hands...

A different Call of Duty put him on top of the world

LUKE Cowan-Dickie once occupied top spot in the Call of Duty war-based video game’s global rankings, and his interest in gaming...

Luke’s hooked on being best

NICK CAIN TALKS TO EXETER’S LUKE COWAN-DICKIE ABOUT HIS IMPRESSIVE TRY-SCORING RECORD Try-time: The headbanded Luke Cowan-Dickie is buried as he...

Barriere was Beziers pussycat!

BRENDANGallagher’s piece about Beziers in last week’s issue, accompanied by a mugshot of the formidable coach Raoul Barriere, called to mind...

I wouldn’t call Lions draw in NZ boring

NEW Zealand have a long history as market leaders in rugby’s “bright ideas” department. Sadly, their latest brainwave is of a...

In a galaxy far, far way lives World Rugby men

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST In search of intelligent life: Elon Musk’s rocket takes off Now that Elon Musk has ushered in...

Blaze: Young guns can get Wasps firing

Neale Harvey talks to Wasps new forwards coach Richard Blaze about his return to the club scene Exciting: Hooker Gabriel Oghre...

Gatland can enhance that amazing CV further in 2021

Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at the most impressive rugby coaches TOP 20 ...COACHES NEXT WEEK rugby books...

Players need to know truth about cuts

IF I WAS still playing I’d be equally alarmed and concerned at having to take a 25 per cent pay cut...

So Super that rugby is back on the box!

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Back on home soil: New Blues signing Dan Carter PICTURE: Getty Images Forget about the...