Tom Cairns confident it will all come good at Exeter Chiefs

By Paul Rees Tom Cairns enjoyed a breakthrough year with Exeter last season but has had to be patient this campaign...

Park walk puts Arron Reed in right mood

By Luke Jarmyn Alex Sanderson has opened up on how an honest conversation while having a coffee and a walk around...

Phil Dowson: We need to be flexible over 30-match limit

By Paul Rees Phil Dowson has called for give-and-take in the management of England players who are near the 30-game limit...

Freddie Steward puts his heart into Leicester Tigers

By Paul Rees Freddie Steward is forgetting about England as he sets his mind on helping Leicester reach the Premiership playoffs....

Gloucester will keep on the attack whatever happens – Jake Morris

By Gary Fitzgerald Jake Morris insists the Cherry and Whites will not be applying the brakes and “playing it safe” in...

Johnny Sexton joins Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching team for Australia

Johnny Sexton will join Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching team for this summer’s tour of Australia. He joins Richard...

Time to show the right spirit, Henry Pollock

By Simon Walters No one can dispute the brilliance of England rugby’s new star, Henry Pollock of Northampton Saints. He scored...

Dream Team – Simon Linsell

SIMON LINSELL, THE BARNES AND FORMER GLOUCESTER & EALING TRAILFINDERS PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST... 1....

Jeremy Guscott: Johnny Sexton divisive for the British and Irish Lions? Not in my book

By Jeremy Guscott - Outspoken and unmissable every week Whatever conflicting views there are over the appointment of Johnny Sexton to...

Premiership: Saracens coming to the boil at right time after win over Gloucester

By Brendan Gallagher Saracens .......................... 36pts Tries: Segun 10, Tompkins 25, Dann 44, 51; Gonzales 69, George 74 Conversions: Burke 26,...

Elliot Daly: Saracens are ready for the final push

Elliot Daly feels Saracens have built throughout the season and are ready to push for Twickenham. He said: “This is a...

Premiership: Imposing Sale Sharks put Harlequins on the deck

By Gary Fitzgerald Harlequins ....................... 29pts Tries: Kenningham 6, Murley 23, Anderson 60, Jibulu 76 Conversions: Smith 7, 60, 76 Penalty:...

Sale Sharks still have four massive games to go, warns George Ford

George Ford is gearing himself up for a final huge play-off push as he helped guide Sharks to a bonus-point win...

Premiership: Leaders Bath pushed hard by resolute Exeter Chiefs

Exeter ................................ 24pts Tries: Yeandle 19, Brown-Bampoe 48, 58 Conversions: Slade 20, 49, 59 Penalty: Slade 5 Bath .................................... 26pts Tries:...

Rob Hunter: Exeter Chiefs gutted to fall short

Exeter head coach Rob Hunter admitted he and his team were left ‘gutted’ after a spirited second-half fightback saw them fall...

Nick Cain: Blueprint for the future lacks rational thinking with franchise idea

By Nick Cain - Read his expert opinion every week We are coming to the franchise crunch. Finally, after five years...

Nick Cain: Payments may not be swift for Worcester Warriors

The spin over substance element in the administration of the game in England has been highlighted by fears that Worcester’s undertaking...

Leinster are good … but they would not beat France

By Nick Cain The hype was in full flood after Leinster’s two-match 142-0 European Cup haul against Harlequins and Glasgow, when...

Newcastle Falcons 34-35 Northampton Saints: Fin Smith pulls strings to deny Newcastle

By Luke Jarmyn Newcastle Falcons ....... 34pts Tries: Blamire 5, Doherty 42, Hearle 60, Stevenson 67, Pepper 75 Conversions: Connon 6,...

Alan Dickens annoyed by sloppy Newcastle Falcons mistakes

Newcastle coach Alan Dickens admitted that conceding three tries in nine sloppy minutes before half-time cost Newcastle dear. Dickens said: “The...

Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers Preview: Rich Lane ready to go again after two-week gap

By Jon Newcombe PREVIEW... Bristol v Leicester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Ashton Gate Rich Lane believes a two-week break from fixtures has...

Micheal Cheika determined to leave Leicester Tigers on a high

By Paul Rees Michael Cheika will be moving on at the end of the season, but he is determined to leave...

Danny Wilson is backing Marcus Smith for a place in Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions squad

By Gary Fitzgerald Marcus Smith should remain a main course on the Lions' selection menu this summer, even if his latest...

Northampton Saints’ Emmanuel Iyogun is quick to thank Alex Waller

By Paul Rees Emmanuel Iyogun has become a regular starter in Northampton’s front row this season and credits his predecessor, Alex...

Chris Hewett: Geoff Parling is thriving as the quiet ‘Australian’

By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed Whatever lights might be hidden under rugby’s bushel, precious few of them belong to Australian...

Money or medals? A tough decision

DECISIONS, decisions. When it comes to playing rugby off-piste, so to speak, there are three popular destinations for front-line All Blacks:...

Italy make France fight all the way

■By SAM JACKSON Italy ....................21pts Tries: Vecchini 18, Muzzo 26, Turani 39 Conversions: Sillari 19, 26, 41 France............... 34pts Tries: Grisez...

That’s given me major selection problems, says coach Mitchell

■By BEN JAYCOCK England ........................... 59pts Tries: Clifford 6, M Packer 17, Aldcroft 21, MacDonald 27, 50; Ward 34, Atkin-Davies 41,...

Ireland will be missing King as they face up to Wales

■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Wales v Ireland Today. Kick-off 3pm, Rodney Parade IRELAND head to Wales today without star flanker Erin...

Munster 13-16 Bulls: Scrum controversy frustrates Munster

By John Fallon Munster .........13 Bulls ................16 The Bulls became the first South African side to win at Thomond Park and...

Leinster 41-17 Ulster: Dan Sheehan shows his worth

By Kevin Fallon Leinster ..........41 Ulster ...............17 Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan came off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick as...

Ospreys 19-36 Cardiff: Matt Sherratt’s side on the up as they down Ospreys

By Roger Panting Ospreys ...............19pts Tries: K Williams 10, Spencer 59, Hardy 76 Conversions: Edwards 10, 76 Tries: Mann 15, 34;...

Resolute Dragons can’t hold onto Scarlets

■By ROGER PANTING Dragons .............23pts Tries: J Rosser 24, 45, Hewitt 41 Conversions: O’Brien 41 Penalties: O’Brien 38, 57 Scarlets ............31pts Tries:...

Slack Glasgow do bare minimum

■By SAM JACKSON Zebre................... 6 Glasgow...........14 GLASGOW made it 25 wins from 25 against Zebre in the URC but it was...

Edinburgh push Sharks all the way

By BEN JAYCOCK Edinburgh........17 Sharks..............18 A SHARKS team laden with 12 Springboks required a Makazole Mapimpi last-gasp try to break Scottish...

Connacht let it slip away once again

■ By LUKE JARMYN Stormers......... 34 Connacht.........29 CONNACHT suffered last-minute heartache in a thrilling clash against Stormers – their fourth narrow...

Paul Rees: A brighter future for Wales lies in its past

PAUL REES SAYS IT WAS THE LOCAL RIVALRIES WHICH HELPED BUILD THE GAME IN WALES AND WHICH NEED TO BE REVIVED...

Will Hooley helping build interest in the game in America

By Mark Stevens From Premiership pitches to the production truck, Will Hooley has happily swapped the roar of the crowd for...

It’s been a challenge captaining Dragons, admits Aneurin Owen

By Simon Thomas Aneurin Owen is the first to admit it’s been a challenging time to be Dragons captain this season,...

Now Ioane signs up for Leinster

NEW Zealand centre Rieko Ioane says he is excited to grow his game at Leinster after agreeing to join the URC...

Peter Jackson: Where the ghosts of the greats still roam in Welsh Rugby

By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know In the golden days when the sun never set on Welsh...

Herbert’s now on the other side of the fence

RUGBY Australia had no option the other day but to reveal that they can get their knickers in as big a...

To be Saracens captain at 23 was a real honour

MY LIFEIN RUGBY FLOYD STEADMAN OBE DL THE FORMER SARACENS, LONDON, MIDDLESEX AND BARBARIANS SCRUM-HALF Leading the way: Floyd Steadman in...

Clifton aiming to cross the bridge

■By BEN JAYCOCK A FIRST taste of National One awaits Clifton, providing the table toppers beat Exeter University next weekend. Clifton...

Women’s British and Irish Lions won’t be an England-only affair, says Shaunagh Brown

By Ben Jaycock Shaunagh Brown is becoming increasingly frustrated when people claim the women’s British & Irish Lions squad will feature...

New man planning to put Plymouth Albion on the map

By Mark Stevens He was the driving force behind Plymouth Argyle’s commercial rise, a man who turned ambition into revenue and...

We were a bit clunky at times, says Cattle

■By MIKE SINCLAIR C Pirates ...........27pts Tries: Hocking 8, Hiscocks 44, Penalty 50, Everett 59 Conversions: Houston 44 Penalty: Jenkins 73...

Dolly on the money to whip up Knights

■By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster .........38pts Tries: Strong 21, Smeaton 28, Cross 41, Rokoduguni 49, Chapman 64 Conversions: Dolly: 21, 28, 41,...

Scottish left at the gates as Ampthill maintain run

■By BEN WHITE Ampthill ...........38pts Tries: Barton 14, Bracken 17, 37; Courtney 29, Jackson 42, Frostwick 76 Conversions: Barton 15, 30,...

Blues turn screw to give Ealing a surprise

■By GEOFF WILSON Ealing Trailfinders ........ 24pts Tries: Kernohan 1, Wilson 14, Reid 26, Collins 72 Conversions: Jones 27, Willis 73...