This test of strength can sway the series

2021 LIONS A YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION THIS WEEK... TIGHTHEAD Rock of ages:...

Axed star Larter still doesn’t know why

Even now after all these years Peter Larter still stands alone, the one English Lion who took a stand against terrorism...

Shy schoolboys whose talent shook the world

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

Wasps must play without fear to get the fans behind us

Q&A LEE BLACKETT ON THE RECORD New head coach Lee Blackett tells NEALE HARVEY how he intends rising to the challenge...

National One in conflict over salary cap reduction

By NEALE HARVEY BATTLE lines are being drawn among National League One clubs after Chinnor chairman Simon Vickers demanded a swingeing...

NEXT WEEK …Don’t miss

Lock stars in contention for Lions 2021 Gallagher’s Top 20: World’s best rugby gounds History of Rugby: Tumultuous Thirties ... Continue...

Rugby must speak with one voice -like Apollo 13

For the space buffs among you rugby aficionados, this last week has been an extraordinary trip down memory lane as we...

Pichot has visions of changing the world

I’VE always looked at Gus Pichot, especially when he was in his hirsute phase a few years back, below, as something...

Tigers’ Cup winners produced a brains trust of talent

THERE was more retro heaven recently with BT Sport replaying Leicester’s 34-30 Heineken Cup final win over Stade Francais in 2001....

Ellis is living proof of the old 80-minute rule

By PETER JACKS0N Going the distance: Ellis Genge played the full 80 for England against Wales during the World Cup warm-up...

Poles call for more ranking events

By ADAM ELLIS POLAND head coach Duaine Lindsay has called on World Rugby to increase the number of fixtures Europe’s emerging...

So how do you fix this mess called the scrum?

NICK CAIN TALKS TO SCRUM GURU PHIL KEITH-ROACH ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE GAME’S GREATEST SET-PIECE THE scrum has collapsed. That...

Video nasty for the Scots

ACCORDING to Agustin Pichot, candidate for the World Rugby chairmanship, the sport is in dire need of…wait for it…a video game....

World Rugby’s hustings are flannel

AND they’re off, predictable as night following day. The runners and riders chasing high office at World Rugby are suddenly saying...

GUEST COLUMNIST

Cooch not on toughie list? It may get nasty! Jacques Burger? No arguments there. Colin Meads? Wayne Shelford? Bang on. In...

Coaches/Managers ‘lost’ to the game

MARTIN JOHNSON Vowed never to become involved in rugby management again following the 2011 World Cup campaign blighted by off-field misdemeanours....

Haag hankers for return to pro game

JON NEWCOMBE talks to Martin Haag, one of rugby’s very best ‘lost’ coaches DEAN RYAN’s tenure at the RFU was a...

Steyn in PRO14 at Cheetahs

SPRINGBOK utility back Frans Steyn is thrilled to be back in Bloemfontein having signed from the Cheetahs from French outfit Montpellier....

Narraway to boss Dragons forwards

FORMER England No.8 Luke Narraway and ex-Edinburgh captain Simon Cross have been appointed to Dean Ryan’s Dragons coaching team on a...

Day the Old Boys’ drinking club beat the mighty Sarries

Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at rugby’s biggest upsets 1= Old Reigatians 12 Saracens 10 (John Player Cup, 1987)...

Takeaway driver Gav epitomises the spirit we all need

I’VE been amazed by the collective spirit shown by Welsh rugby in the midst of coronavirus – so much so I’ve...

Gareth’s right to call a halt to brown envelopes in grassroots

I WAS pleased to see Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies urge grassroots clubs in Wales to stop paying their players....

WALES AND LIONS LEGEND

Riches on offer in Far East spell big trouble THE growing emergence of Japanese rugby at both Test and club level...

Adendorff is almost a Saint

Talks: Adendorff NORTHAMPTON Saints are closing in on a deal to land South African flanker Shaun Adendorff who has been playing...

Brutality in Argentina

A GANG of young rugby players have been found guilty of murder in Buenos Aires. Law student Fernando Baez, 19, was...

Sharks snare Daley-Mclean

WORLD Cup-winning captain Katy Daley-Mclean has signed for Premier 15s newcomers Sale Sharks Women as a player-coach. The 34-year-old fly-half, who...

Prop Heffernan keen to stay in England

NOTTINGHAM prop Oisin Heffernan, right, is back on the market after the Championship side hit financial problems. The former Ireland U20...

Tigers must repel raiders for Jonah

Wanted: Jonah Holmes THE DRAGONS are keen on making a cross border raid on Leicester Tigers to sign Wales international winger...

Hooley on his way to new-look Saracens

SARACENS have been busys napping up Championship players ahead of spending next season in the second tier. Blind side understands they...

Denman and Burrows hit the trail to Ealing

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler EALING TRAILFINDERS have snapped up former Yorkshire Carnegie, Rotherham Titans, Northampton...

ROOM 101

THE ENGLAND SEVENS INTERNATIONAL TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND RICHARD DE CARPENTIER 1. Poor...

Salary cap cuts are thrown out by big three

Billy’s boost from Italy By NEIL FISSLER Young: He’s set to stay with Wasps Wales’ flanker Thomas Young seems certain to stay...

Plan to hold Six Nations in full again in autumn

Compensation issue By PETER JACKSON THE Six Nations are in the process of finalising contingency plans for an emergency tournament to...

Top 20 wasted rugby talents countdown: No 5-1

Out countdown reaches its conclusion...

What’s in Sunday’s Rugby Paper?

Plenty of good reading in Sunday’s paper so be sure you get a copy! Struggling to get to the shops? You...

Premiership could bring down £7m salary cap limit to help clubs

The rigidity of the salary cap stands to put Premiership clubs deeper into trouble unless it adapts

Lions Tour contenders RANKED – Jamie George faces challenge from bolters

Nick Cain ranks the five hookers leading the way to start for the Lions against the Springboks in 2021

The RFU have treated the Championship disgracefully, Nottingham’s chairman explains

'Everyone below the Premiership has been left to fend for themselves', says Alistair Bow

Head coach Wayne Pivac confirms three Wales players contracted Covid-19

Pivac reveals a small number of the Wales squad have been affected by the virus

Dream Team: Exeter Chiefs flanker Dave Ewers

Fresh from signing a new deal at Sandy Park, we asked Dave Ewers to pick a Dream Team

Rugby in sportsbooks goes down as event cancellations due to coronavirus continues

Earlier this year all sports events were cancelled or postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus spreading around the globe. One month...

England’s battle at No.9 – Alex Mitchell ready to run with big dogs

Training and playing with Cobus Reinach has pushed Mitchell to challenge Youngs and Heinz

Gareth Davies is losing three-way race for Wales No.9 shirt, says Rob Jones

Two-time Lions tourist Robert Jones weighs in on who can rudder Wales' backline under Wayne Pivac

Probyn column: Now Eddie Jones can make up for mistakes at the World Cup

Well I guess it was no surprise that Eddie Jones got his contract extension even if he and many others thought...

Top 20 wasted rugby talents countdown: No 10-6

An All Blacks career derailed and the Caribbean-English trailblazer born in the wrong era

World Rugby announces eight-figure global relief fund for unions

Together with the Six Nations and Sanzaar, World Rugby are examining the rugby calendar

Top 20 wasted rugby talents countdown: No 15-11

Brendan Gallagher rankings of talents who didn't fulfil their potential continues...

Q&A: Ben Smith – All Blacks would be wrong to start selecting Europe-based players

Legendary All Blacks full-back Ben Smith talks at length about his New Zealand career and time in France with Pau

Rugby Matters: The past was a different country for rugby thrills

Brendan Gallagher believes conservative play has etched into modern rugby

Shining star Lewis Jones still beams bright at 89

The 19-year-old Test Lion would become the subject of rugby's record transfer fee, and played at Lord's