Not all rosy in Rainbow nation

Decision: Aphiwe Dyantyi and Chiliboy Ralepelle THESE are heady days for South African rugby but there is one very dark cloud...

All Blacks of the year all come from Fiji!

Swapped allegiance: Sevu Reece PICTURE: Getty Images I OCCASIONALLY get taken to task – I’m being as polite as possible –...

No more false starts, cull the scrum cheats

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER I suspect I’m about to hack off all front rowers past and present but hopefully they will...

Gatland’s high praise means so much to me

I WAS hugely honoured to be name checked by Warren Gatland as the best player he coached during his time with...

Real blow to Scarlets if Mooar heads home

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Inspirational: Brad Mooar coaching Scarlets PICTURE: Huw Evans EARLIER this season I headed down to...

Balmain wanted as cover for Williams

Off? Fraser Balmain Suitors: England’s Harry Williams EXETER Chiefs are among a clutch of clubs interested in signing Gloucester prop Fraser...

Bidding war begins for Nakarawa

PREMIERSHIP rivals Harlequins and Bath are set to go head to head later this year in the race to land Fijian...

Tipuric top of Lyon’s hit list to replace Fearns

Wanted man: Justin Tipuric Return: Carl Fearns LYON are lining up a surprise move for Wales openside flanker Justin Tipuric to...

Saracens reel in young Sharks ace Wiese

SARACENS have agreed a five-year deal to lure Sharks star Cobus Wiese from Super Rugby next season. The Premiership champions have...

Leicester dig deep to keep Genge

Staying: George Ford LEICESTER Tig ers have been forced to dig deep to keep Ellis Geng e out of the clutches...

ROOM 101

JOSH CLARK THE ABERAVON HOOKER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. People who buy...

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Black Ferns wait for England

WOMEN’S REIGNING world champions New Zealand await England in the Cup quarterfinals of the Women’s 7s Series in Cape Town. A...

Amor linked with Eddie as team flop

MEN’S By ADAM ELLIS ENGLAND missed out on the quarter-finals of the Cape Town Sevens for the first time in four...

Unbeaten Tigers line up their place in quarter finals

By SAM JACKSON Try time: Andy Forsyth scored Tigers’ second GEORDAN Murphy believes the best is yet to come from his...

Tovey’s late penalty keeps Cardiff alive and kicking

By JAMES CANDY JASON Tovey slotted a last gasp penalty to secure a pair of losing bonus-pointsfor Cardiff Blues following a...

Jaco puts the boot into Wasps’ Euro hopes

By ROB WILDMAN DAI Young urged his faltering Wasps squad to “stay strong together” after losing for the second week running...

Thacker’s final flourish maintains Bears’ perfect record

By JACK WILLIS Big impact: Toby Fricker makes yards for Bristol BRISTOL’S pursuit of European glory stepped up a gear as...

Begles sniff out another victory

ROUND-UP BORDEAUX Begles remain unbeaten in Pool 3 after a bonus-point victory over winless Agen. After an early Agen penalty, Seta...

Kidney raps ref penalty count against the Exiles

By NEALE HARVEY Touchdown: Albert Tuisue scores London Irish’s first try PICTURE: Getty Images TEAMS LONDON IRISH: Brophy-Clews 6 (Brand 65,...

Scarlets hit Bayonne for six to keep heat on Pool pace-setters Toulon

By ALEX BYWATER SCARLETS put the distraction of New Zealand’s interest in head coach Brad Mooar to one side as they...

Davies on target as Dragons defy rain

By ROGER PANTING Threat: Sam Davies takes on the Warriors’ defence Fast start: Adam Warren dives in to score for Dragons...

If black wall topples on Foster, Warren is waiting

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK IAN Foster, New Zealand’s newly appointed head coach, cannot break-dance like his Crusaders...

Cook eyes French finishing school

Up for the challenge: Bath scrum-half Chris Cook OUTER-EDGE finishing is high on Bath’s agenda as they attempt to breathe life...

Chiefs going full-throttle for the knockouts

By NEALE HARVEY Sandy Park favourite: Ben Moon PICTURE: Getty Images Passed fit: Stuart Hogg SELF-CONFESSED “old bugger” Ben Moon is...

Johan blames a late panic

JOHAN Ackermann admits his side panicked under the Irish onlsaught but praised their bravery. “We put ourselves in a position to...

Gloucester toppled by Connacht tenacity at the death

By JOHN FALLON Away: Robin Copeland on his way to scoring Connacht’s third try PICTURES: Getty Images Held: Connacht’s Caolin Blade...

McCall: We may lodge protest

SARACENS rugby director Mark McCall said the club could lodge a protest following allegations that a derogatory comment by a member...

Jamie’s weight insult spurs Sarries retaliation

By NICK CAIN Skill: Sean Maitland scores the first Saracens try from Billy Vunipola’s basketball pass PICTURES: Getty Images Hanging on:...

Future is bright, insists Hogg

CARL Hogg refused to comment on whether he wants to take charge of the Ospreys on a full-time basis, but the...

Ospreys kids spread their wings in Paris

By ALEX BYWATER Can’t hold him: Racing captain Henry Chavancy breaks a tackle to score TEAMS RACING 92: Zebo 6; Dupichot...

Arnold double extends Toulouse’s winning run after Picamoles stretched off

By SAM JACKSON TOULOUSE made it four wins from four but had to wait until the dying seconds to clinch a...

Landajo: We must be ready for Wasps

DAN McFarland hailed scrum-half sensation John Cooney after another heroic display helped Ulster move within touching distance of the Champions Cup...

Cut-throat Cooney puts Quins to sword

By GARY FITZGERALD Winning the race: Luke Marshall scores Ulster’s second try PICTURES: Getty Images Quins highlight: Stephan Lewies celebrates his...

Sarries in Euro punch-up

Flashpoint: The trouble erupts between Saracens and Munster PICTURE: Getty Images A MUNSTER medic’s jibe about Jamie George’s weight sparked a...

Players will fight to keep Lions alive roars Nowell

By NEALE HARVEY JACK Nowell insists the ‘old school’ ethos of the British & Irish Lions will survive no matter what...

TEAMS: Saracens bring in the big guns for Munster rematch

Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell among international crop recalled by Mark McCall

Dream Team: Moseley and ex-Coventry and Boland back Cliffie Hodgson

Willie le Roux features along with some old teammates at Coventry

Young Guns: Bath winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb

The Bath speedster talks working with Anthony Watson, Semesa Rokoduguni and Tom Homer

Leicester Tigers seek to sign Argentina lock and keep hold of George Ford

Movement at Leicester Tigers...

Exeter Chiefs agree new contracts with Rob Baxter and coaching staff

New long-term contracts for key figureheads in the Exeter Chiefs coaching department

Piutau: Radradra will make us a dangerous prospect

The Bristol Bears full-back talks to Neale Harvey about his desire to win championships at Ashton Gate by agreeing an extension

Williams column: Mike Ruddock can revive ailing Ospreys

Shane Williams believes the addition of Mike Ruddock is just one of the key changes needed at his old club Ospreys

World Cup final frustration still eats at ex-England scrum coach Neal Hatley

Neal Hatley is trying to put the loss of the final behind him by throwing himself into the revamp of Bath

Gallagher column: Root of Israel Folau case grew from shame of apartheid

Brendan Gallagher examines the vitriol espoused by sacked Wallabies star Israel Folau and how it correlates with attitudes during the apartheid...

Nick Abendanon drawing interest from home as Clermont stay nears end

Nick Abendanon is keen on a return to the UK after five years in France

Cain column: PRL secrecy is an insult to club rugby fans

Nick Cain explains why the drip-drip of information issued by Premiership Rugby on Saracens' salary cap breach is riling fans up

Probyn column: Dan Cole will carry the can just like Paul Rendall

Jeff Probyn sympathises with Dan Cole for being made a scapegoat for England's capitulation at the scrum in the World Cup...

Varsity match: Light Blues’ mighty duo may be godsend or curse

Cambridge have a Test-experience second row ready to take on rivals Oxford in the 138th Varsity match

Exclusive: Fire to play for England still burns bright for Joe Launchbury

The England and Wasps lock shares his reasons for staying loyal to Dai Young