Final offer from RFU would see Championship clubs receive £4.3m backing

Championship clubs are close to agreeing a funding deal for the next four seasons after receiving what has been described by...

Peter Jackson: Welsh try to cash in but end up with loose change

Agrand total of ten props, enough to put a small theatrical group out of business, will be missing when Wales finish...

Ben Ryan asks: Can Ashton adapt to Sevens in time?

Chris Ashton and Alex Goode’s interest in being included in Great Britain’s Sevens squad for the 2016 Olympics Sevens has been...

Saracens talisman Schalk Brits is hooked on helping talented young guns

Saracens hooker Schalk Brits says he expects to take an occasional     backseat at the club this season to accommodate the development...

Long wait is over for new Gloucester prop Huia Edmonds

Hedging his bets in trying to reach the Premiership and play for Australia in the World Cup almost scuppered Gloucester hooker...

Jeff Probyn: Like Jonny, these kids need time before going for Gold

Nick Cain: Lion king of Leeds will ride to the rescue

When it comes to understanding the importance of nurturing and building a brand, Sir Ian McGeechan’s track-record with the Lions takes...

Meyer names five new caps for the Boks

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has included five uncapped players in his 30-man squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship. Stormers loose forward...

Moment in Time: Northampton Saints and the 2000 Heineken Cup final

Few people had rated Northampton’s chances of lifting the Heineken Cup. Still fewer gave them a prayer after they had lost...

Rugby League ace Martin Gleeson ready to switch to Rugby Union

Great Britain Rugby League centre Martin Gleeson is ready to switch codes and follow the Union trail blazed by Jason Robinson...

George Ford has the attitude to be a truly great No10 says Dave Alred

In just under 18 months Dave Alred had transformed golfer Luke Donald from world No 32 in the rankings to world...

Bath call in Jason Robinson to mentor Kyle Eastmond

Cross-code legend Jason Robinson is mentoring Kyle Eastmond in a bid to help the former St Helens and England RL man...

Saracens pair will push for role in Rio 2016 Olympics

England duo Chris Ashton and Alex Goode are prepared to put their Premiership careers on hold when Sevens makes its inaugural...

I was fed up facing the same teams all the time says Jersey new boy Richard Haughton

Richard Haughton has revealed how he turned down offers to remain in the Premiership in favour of a move to Championship...

New captain Declan Danaher reveals six players will run the London Irish ship

Declan Danaher, after 13 years at Irish, was the obvious choice to captain the Exiles next term but the flanker has...

New Leeds boss Ian McGeechan keen to embrace Leeds Rhinos

John Bentley has hailed the appointment of Sir Ian McGeechan as being massive for the profile of Leeds Carnegie. Bentley, selected...

Kick-chase will destroy the game warns London Irish new boss Brian Smith

Brian Smith has blasted South African-style ‘kick-chase’ rugby, insisting it is killing the game and that English teams should instead look...

Northampton captain Dylan Hartley urges Saints to shake off that losers’ tag

Saints captain Dylan Hartley has demanded his side shake off their tag as the nearly men of English rugby. While Northampton...

Exeter winger Matt Jess: “Team ethic is only concern for Chiefs”

When Bath chairman Bruce Craig told the club’s end-of-season dinner that there wasn’t a single player in his  side whom he...

It’s time for Nathan Catt to sparkle says Bath new boss Gary Gold

This is the season that loosehead Nathan Catt will stop being talked of as a potential talent and start becoming a...

Leicester Jordan Crane looking for Leicester Tigers and England place

Jordan Crane is itching to put a season-long absence behind him and challenge Thomas Waldrom for his place in the Leicester...

Coventry Nathan Jones: “Some Championship players earn no more than minimum-wage”

Coventry‘s new signing Nathan Jones has hit out at Championship clubs’ pay structures, revealing some of his former Nottingham teammates earn...

Why those gentlemen of league are on the defensive

While rugby league’s national standing has waned as union’s has risen since the introduction of professionalism, its influence on the XV...

Cornish Pirates Aaron Penberthy ready to unleash full range of skills

Cornish Pirates supporters might have thought they had seen Aaron Penberthy’s full range last season, but the 20-year-old fly-half has said...

We’re doing things even better than the Natal Sharks says Bristol head coach Liam Middleton

Bristol head coach Liam Middleton hopes a recent fact-finding mission to South Africa will make the difference as his side targets...

New Nottingham boss Marting Haag can make the step up says Ian McGeechan

Sir Ian McGeechan has backed Martin Haag to be a big hit in his first head coach role after Nottingham appointed...

England Ben Morgan’s advance no shock to Brad Harrington

Brad Harrington has not been surprised by the impact Ben Morgan has had in an England shirt. Gloucester‘s new No.8 has...

Newcastle Falcons revival will be key for Jon Golding’s England call

A Newcastle pack getting the better of their Wasps counterparts at Adams Park sounds a familiar tale but this scene took...

Moment in Time: London Wasps and 2004 Heineken Cup Semi Final

Stunning game. Truly stunning result. Quite simply, this Anglo-Irish showdown in Dublin was one of the greatest, if not THE greatest,...

I’m now tougher and smarter, says returning golden boy Danny Cipriani

Danny Cipriani says the defensive frailties which have blighted his career  have been sorted out and that his critics will see...

Newcastle Falcons wanted to swoop on Gavin Henson

Newcastle made a bid to sign Gavin Henson before the RFU reversed their decision barring London Welsh from promotion to the...

Ryan Walkinshaw: “I aim to make Gloucester a flagship club in Europe”

Ryan Walkinshaw is a remarkable young man. Thrust into the cut-throat world of global business at the age of 23 following...

Promising London Wasps back row Sam Jones happy to learn from Haskell

Sam Jones was just a schoolboy apprentice the last time James Haskell was playing in a Wasps shirt – now the...

Diccon Edwards ‘got it wrong’ with Leeds’ youth policy says departing Lee Blackett

Lee Blackett has  revealed his anger at the way senior players were jettisoned at Leeds by Diccon Edwards’ youth-based policy. The...

New Bristol signing James Grindal gears up for big time again

James Grindal ended a 13-year consecutive run in the top flight when he swapped Leicester for Bristol this summer, but such...

Bath winger Tom Biggs has still got that blond ambition

Winger Tom Biggs believes his England ambitions will remain on the backburner while Bath are languishing in the lower reaches of...

Jeremy Guscott: Quins have the players to create their own dynasty

Harlquins deserve a round of applause. I like the way they play the game. Being prepared to play an attacking game...

Jeff Probyn: Plastic may not be all that fantastic for Saracens

Isn’t it strange with all the fuss re London Welsh not having a stadium that reached the minimum criteria and whether...

Peter Jackson: Even Rocky couldn’t put a dent in Dr Marvel

They called Rocky Marciano the ‘greatest slugger in boxing history,’ a fitting description for a world heavyweight champion unbeatable over his...

Nick Cain: Robbo’s lumbered with Scotland’s Brave boasts

Disney are about to release Brave, an Asterix-clone feelgood fairytale about the ancient Scots. Perhaps Mark Dodson, the Scottish Rugby Union’s chief...

Jeremy Guscott: Cowan’s arrival can help put Burns in England shirt

Jimmy Cowan’s arrival at Gloucester could be part of the breakthrough that the club has been waiting for. Cowan is a...

Peter Jackson: Silent Henson has last chance to be big noise

Gavin Henson made a smart decision the other day, one which suggested that the penny might have dropped at long last....

Jeff Probyn: In rugby, country should always come before club

The announcements of the elite player squad for the first half of this season should be a time of excitement and...

Nick Cain: Fixture list gives Lions a mauling for starters

The Lions are the biggest brand in rugby alongside the All Blacks. The Lions generate huge interest, lining the coffers of...

Dominic Waldouck: I need a new challenge

Wasps centre Dom Waldouck is leaving to join Northampton Saints. Waldouck, who had a year to run on his contract at...

Charlie Sharples : “Ducking out on England was my best career move”

Charlie Sharples insists it was a simple decision to miss England‘s summer tour, even if he concedes he admits he has...

It’s our fairytale and we aim to slay those giants says London Welsh

London Welsh face the toughest possible start to life in the Premiership with opening games against Leicester and champions Harlequins. But...

Stuart Lancaster locates a drop of Southern comfort

Stuart Lancaster insists the ‘‘gap is closing” between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres despite another summer series wipe-out. England, Wales and...

Josh Matavesi magic means attack, attack for Worcester Warriors

After playing alongside Frans Steyn and Juan Martin Hernandez in the Racing Metro midfield, Worcester new boy Josh Matavesi is keen...

Sarecens out to take the JP Morgan’s trophy back says Jackson Wray

One of the many consequences of London Welsh‘s elevation into the top flight is that there will be a new champion...