Les Bleus trust Ollivon has history on his side

WHO knows what lays in the future for new France captain Charles Ollivon, below, but France fans find it reassuring when...

England game provides Parisse with perfect exit

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Titan: Sergio Parisse is set to add to...

Rising Sun may cast shadow on SANZAR

MATT McILRAITH SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE EXPERT Lifting standards: Japan beat Scotland in World Cup PICTURE: Getty Images The party might be over,...

Give North a run out at 13 for Italy game

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Precedent: George North playing centre for Wales against South Africa PICTURE: Getty Images My 2020...

Hooper delight as Underhill commits future to Bath

BATH’S England flanker Sam Underhill has signed a new three-year contract with the Premiership club. Hooker Jack Walker and centre Max...

Warriors eye Spencer

WORCESTER WARRIORS are poised to swoop on relegation-threatened Leicester Tigers to take Will Spencer back to Sixways next season. Spencer, 27,...

Winger Lam on the list for Tigers

LEICESTER TIGERS are keen on landing Hurricanes winger Ben Lam, the nephew of Bristol Bears boss Pat. The Tigers have put...

Boyd keen for Brad to rejoin him at Saints

Reunion: Brad Shields NORTHAMPTON Saints boss Chris Boyd is planning a reunion with England flanker Brad Shields when his Wasps contract...

Bath want flanker Ellis to stay

BATH have opened talks with former England U20 flanker Tom Ellis, right, about extending his stay at the Rec beyond the...

Sarries set to offload Gallagher to Munster

Off: Matt Gallagher SARACENS’ desperate mass clear-out as they scramble to slash their wage bill is likely to see full-back Matt...

ROOM 101

JAKE PARKER THE RICHMOND NO.8 TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. My messy girlfriend...

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Lancaster: Davies right man to salvage Carnegie

By JON NEWCOMBE Mutual respect: Davies and Lancaster STUART Lancaster says Yorkshire Carnegie couldn’t have made a better appointment than bringing...

Tigers will go hunting for a home quarter-final

By NEALE HARVEY First appearance: Dillon Lewis Must-win game: Tommy Reffell PICTURES: Getty Images TOUGH-TACKLING Welsh flanker Tommy Reffell is ready...

Wasps sign off in France with eight-try salvo as Sopoaga weighs in with 12 points for the visitors

By SAM JACKSON Double: Jimmy Gopperth DAI Young’s men are clearly keen to end their dismal European crusade on a high...

Maestro Randall helps Bristol hit high notes

By NEALE HARVEY Nap hand: Luke Hamilton goes over to score Bristol’s fifth try PICTURE: Getty Images HARRY Randall underlined his...

Cockerill left chasing bonus point at Agen

By GARY HEATLY POOL 3 Bordeaux …….32 Edinburgh…….17 BORDEAUX-Begles progressed to the knock-out stages with victory over Edinburgh Rugby. And the...

Zebre shock Stade’s aristos

ROUND-UP ZEBRE produced the shock of the round with a dramatic 29-24 victory over Stade Francais – only their fourth-ever win...

Scarlets thumped by Toulon power game

By ALEX BYWATER Spirit: Uzair Cassiem tries to battle through for Scarlets PICTURES: Getty Images TEAMS SCARLETS: Halfpenny 4; Mc- Nicholl...

Sad Irish are thumped again after slow start leaves them playing catch-up

By GARY FITZGERALD IRISH are in danger of finishing bottom of their European pool after slumping to yet another dismal loss...

Not perfect, but Warriors still score dazzling ten

By ANDY MITCHELL Away: Scott van Breda breaks to score the first try Hat-trick: Ollie Lawrence lands his third try of...

Ryan dares to hope despite his Dragons’ six-try pasting

By TOM COLEMAN DEAN RYAN is refusing to give up on his side’s European dreams despite being hit for six in...

Keep the coaches off the pitch

THE dead rubber between Bath and Harlequins at the Rec was not just notable for another lamentable European Cup campaign by...

Memo to Carre: Go low or you will suffer

RHYS Carre’s sending-off just five minutes into Saracens visit to the Liberty Stadium suggests the message that tacklers have to go...

The Galthie guillotine could chop up rivals

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK ”Galthie has put his reputation on the line to bring an end to...

We need fast start now says Johan

AFTER similar poor performances in the first half of their last two home league games against Worcester and Bath, Gloucester’s director...

Mighty Toulouse stand in way for Gloucester

By ROGER PANTING Pile up: Gloucester celebrate as referee Frank Murphy awards their fourth try scored by Todd Gleave PICTURES: Getty...

Kaino: Now we’re ready for Gloucester

By JOHN FALLON Grounded: Toulouse’s Pita Ahki scores with the help of Antoine Dupont PICTURE: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy TOULOUSE captain Jerome Kaino...

Van Graan sweats on Hanrahan hamstring

By ADAM ELLIS Doubt: JJ Hanrahan Chance: Ben Healy MUNSTER head coach Johann van Graan has urged his side to move...

That was a golden chance missed laments coach Hogg

Soft points: Carl Hogg CARL Hogg said the Ospreys let victory slip from their grasp as their horror season continued. The...

Red card, but Sarries still find the way to win

By ALEX BYWATER Early hope: Dan Evans scores Ospreys’ first try Comeback: Alex Lewington, left, celebrates with Manu Vunipola after scoring...

McFarland: We needed tries, not penalties

ULSTER head coach Dan McFarland defended his side’s decisions to kick for the corner in the first half rather than go...

Ulster miss chance as Clermont put on style

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER ULSTER, not making the best of a dominant first half, felt the full force of Clermont after the...

Marler is an ugly star says Gustard

HARLEQUINS prop Joe Marler celebrated his 200th appearance for the club by earning praise from director of rugby Paul Gustard. Gustard...

Watson’s off as Bath face Euro whitewash

By ROGER PANTING Going in: Alex Dombrandt breaks away to score for Harlequins PICTURES: Getty Images Touchdown: Jackson Willison dives over...

Pick Louis now to foil England, Wales told

By PETER JACKSON WALES are being urged to pick Louis Rees-Zammit for the Six Nations this week to avert any danger...

Saracens judge says: Lift cloak of privacy

By DAVID EMERY Open justice: Lord Dyson THE senior judge who presided over the Saracens salary cap inquiry has urged Premiership...

Room 101: England Sevens captain Tom Mitchell

A phobia we don't think we've had proposed to Room 101 before...

Northampton’s restoration under Chris Boyd owes much to freedom of youth

The Northampton Saints director of rugby hasn't been afraid to offer opportunity to the club's brighest academy prospects

Classy Jacob Umaga has the genes to succeed, says Wasps teammate Fekitoa

Wasps centre Malakai Fekitoa sees a bright future for starlet fly-half Jacob Umaga

Gloucester whizz-kid Louis Rees-Zammit can speed into Six Nations

Like many others at Gloucester, their rise gathered pace at Hartpury College

Saracens appoint new chairman with legal expertise

Premiership club appoint experienced lawyer as successor to Nigel Wray

Cain column: Wray leaving could see salary cap storm linger

Nick Cain shares his views on what the retirement of Nigel Wray as chairman means for Saracens

Wasps fly-half Billy Searle to switch to Worcester Warriors

"I'll continue to give my all to the jersey till the end of the season" - Billy Searle

Williams column: Top signing for Ospreys by Rhys Webb must earn Wales spot

Rhys Webb's availability for Wales is welcome but shouldn't threaten Gareth or Aled Davies, writes Shane Williams

England World Cup star George Kruis set to exit Saracens

A big name departure could be on the cards for Saracens and the England lock department

Jordan Taufua urges Crusaders boss to follow him north

The Leicester Tigers flanker believes head coach Scott Robertson can boost his All Blacks aspirations by gracing the Premiership

Happier times for Northampton’s Haywood after ACL, MCL and PCL injury nightmare

Saints hooker Mikey Haywood talks to Neale Harvey about his comeback from a severe knee injury

Jackson column: Champions will be wary of wounded Ospreys

Peter Jackson previews how the Ospreys will be seeking to ignite their season against Saracens this weekend

The four players set to leave Saracens early as club seeks to balance up the books – reports

After the retirement of Nigel Wray, the reality of Saracens' £5.36m fine for breaching the salary cap appears to be taking...