Bid to cut National 1 salary cap hits strong opposition

By NEALE HARVEY CONTROVERSIAL proposals by Chinnor and Old Elthamians to have the National One salary cap slashed by 40 per...

Vast majority of clubs have welcomed RFU support

THE RFU REPLY… Is it good financial management for the RFU to become so dependent on financing from debt lending, which...

Question time at Twickenham

SPECIAL REPORT by NICK CAIN GRAEME Cattermole, the former chairman of the RFU, has written an explosive letter to a member...

Step up for James at Saints

NORTHAMPTON Saints have signed Doncaster scrum-half Tom James for next season. The 26-year-old was the Knights’ top scorer in 2018- 19...

Bennett fears shorter tour will lead to Lions slaughter

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE BRITISH & Irish Lions have been told eight games will not be enough to topple world champions...

Australia chief exec resigns

NEWS EXTRA RUGBY Australia chief executive Raelene Castle has resigned after tenformer Wallabies captains signed a letter demanding a change in...

Presidents scrap over playoffs principle

Breaking ranks: Toulouse president Didier Lacroix If a week is currently a long time in everyday pandemic-era politics, it’s an aeon...

Hogg is loving life after Jack’s warm welcome

Scotland star Stuart Hogg tells Neale Harvey how West Country life is exceeding expectations Scotland’s Chief: Stuart Hogg breaks past Alex...

Exeter will be boost for women’s game says Jo

WORCESTER Women director of rugby Jo Yapp believes the addition of Exeter and Sale into the Tyrells Premier 15s next season...

It’s the good life now for the family Yapp

On a sheep farm in Shropshire, NEALE HARVEY talks to Tony Yapp and his sister Jo about their careers in men’s...

Flying start grinds to halt after Lions refuse to field a replacement

Wild spirit: Blair Mayne was a Lion and a founding father of the SAS THE British Lions staged two major tours...

Au revoir France as Home Unions assert their power

Brendan Gallagher continues his expert and authorative look at the history of Rugby Union Hired hands: The Quillan rugby team made...

Brave new world after lockdown? I doubt it

Old style: Rob Andrew playing for Yorkshire in 1987 County Championship Another week of lockdown and, with no rugby to write...

Cross Green’s home to generations of Melvilles

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

Chester’s online aid helps fight cost of lockdown

NEWS EXTRA By JON NEWCOMBE A FRIEND of former England international Tom May has come to the aid of the business...

YOUNG GUNS

TOMMYFREEMAN NORTHAMPTON FULL-BACK Rejected by Leicester at 16, Tommy Freeman might have been lost to rugby had he not made the...

DREAMTEAM

ELLIOTT STOOKE, ENGLAND, BATH AND FORMER GLOUCESTER, LONDON IRISH AND ENGLAND U20s LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

Wales cap Will owes so much to Boden

By NEALE HARVEY Reaching the top: Will Rowlands making his debut for Wales against France PICTURES: Getty Images NEWLY-capped Wales and...

RUGBY QUIZ

FORMER LEADING WELSH REFEREE ALUN WYN BEVAN TESTS YOUR KNOWLEDGE Q7: Frank Hayes playing cricket for England 1. On October 24,...

Age 30, I felt ready for the ‘real world’

MY LIFEIN RUGBY DAVE LEWIS THE FORMER GLOUCESTER, EXETER AND HARLEQUINS SCRUM-HALF Big break: Dave Lewis playing for Gloucester against Australia...

WRU hard ball killed Shingler’s big dream

Eligibility row: Steven Shingler playing for Cardiff Blues PICTURE: Getty Images Sir Bill Beaumont’s proposal that a host of South Pacific...

A sea of people hailed Carling like a Messiah

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

Global season must happen to make rugby a world sport

Q&A ALAN SOLOMONS ON THE RECORD Stifled: World Cup quarter-finalists Japan need more top level games to progress PICTURES: Getty Images...

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Reward for Knoyle

SCRUM-HALF Tavis Knoyle has become the latest player to commit his future to Dragons. Director of rugby at Dragons, Dean Ryan,...

Rohan banned for two-timing

CENTRE Rohan Janse van Rensburg has been fined £32,500 and handed a twoweek ban for signing contracts with Sale and Gloucester....

Bargain buys from abroad will stymie English talent

By NEALE HARVEY AN already shrinking jobs market will become even tougher for aspiring young English players as more overseas stars...

CVC to re-evaluate investment in PRO14

By ROB COLE THE future financial stability of the PRO14 and the four Welsh regions will be on the line this...

Don’t mess up this crucial changeover

Different eras: Bill Beaumont, and Agustin Pichot in their playing days PICTURE: Gettty Images As everybody in sport, and in particular...

Itoje can compete with the Bok giants

2021 LIONS A YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION THIS WEEK… LOCKS Outstanding: Maro Itoje...

The best England team in the world

Jonny Wilkinson Phil Vickery Steve Thompson Jason Leonard Martin Johnson Maro Itoje Mike Teague Peter Winterbottom ENGLAND have had four teams...

Good news for Boris, the right is might again

Best wing in the world? Cheslin Kolbe PICTURE: Getty Images The Prime Minister rather enjoys his rugger: indeed, he attended last...

Holmes calls halt to become a city slicker

By JEREMY BLACKMORE NOTTINGHAM skipper Tom Holmes has called time on a 13-year career in the wake of the Championship funding...

ON THE BLINDSIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Tompkins is new target for Dragons THE Dragons appear to be nowhere close to...

ROOM 101

LOUIS GRIMOLDBY AMPTHILL FLY-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES 1. Airport security slackers People at airport security who only begin...

The Principality pointed way perfectly for the new millennium

Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at rugby’s best grounds TOP 20 …RUGBY GROUNDS NEXT WEEK Rugby Scandals Sheer...

Easy does it when we finally get green light

I can almost hear the twang of hamstrings as we contemplate the return to action of our professional players. Everyone is...

Billy gets backing of Six Nations

By PETER JACKSON THE SIX Nations claim they stand united in their support for Sir Bill Beaumont’s re-election as chairman of...

Toomua may take Bath to dodge cuts

PICTURE: Getty Images FORMER Leicester playmaker Matt Toomua could make a return to the Premiership following pay-cuts to all professional players...

Clubs plan breakaway the same as football

By NICK CAIN A GROUP of six English Premiership clubs are planning to breakaway from PRL, the administrative arm which represents...

Top 20 rugby hard cases countdown: No 5-1

The hard men who wouldn't take a step back on the rugby pitch

10 great coaching minds currently ‘lost’ on rugby

Martin Johnson had his career in coaching blighted by England's 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign

Lions tour contenders RANKED – test of strength at tighthead could sway series

Nick Cain looks at the depth available to Warren Gatland at tighthead for the Lions

Sale Sharks and Rohan Janse van Rensburg sanctioned after Gloucester raise dispute

Premiership club given suspended points deduction for illegal approach for centre in 2018

Probyn column: Big guns will back Bill Beaumont to save them cash

Jeff Probyn contemplates what Bernard Laporte's running for World Rugby vice-chairman means for Bill Beaumont's bid to be re-elected

Kpoku brothers pose twin threat in Saracens engine room

Neale Harvey talks to Joel and Jon Kpoku on their rise through Saracens' player pathway to the first team

All you need to know about rugby betting strategies

Even though football, tennis, and horse racing are still the most popular betting sports, rugby is slowly making its way to...

RFU column: We’re here to help and will do all we can

Direct from the RFU, director Steve Grainger outlines the work they are doing to prevent clubs from going to the wall

Will Hurrell harbours dreams of being defence commander after stroke ends playing career

The Bristol Bears centre talks to TRP's Neale Harvey after his retirement announcement last week

Q&A – Lee Blackett: Wasps can show the director of rugby role isn’t essential

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett wants his squad to play to his philosophy of 'attacking fear'