Bristol’s squad just gets better

BRISTOL will have a squad to rival the best in the Premiership next season with director of rugby Pat Lam signing...

Students deserve praise on their 100th

I READ with interest Brendon Gallagher’s article on Loughborough Students Centenary (November 24). I may be old-fashioned and, yes, I remember...

Cockerill: The PRO14 needs relegation to add an edge

Enjoying the challenge: Richard Cockerill RICHARD Cockerill believes a lack of relegation is holding back the PRO14. With the fear of...

Booth’s mission is to make Quins jump

By NEALE HARVEY REFRESHED after a summer mentoring NATO personnel and Premier League football coaches, Toby Booth aims to help Harlequins...

Future’s bright for Ireland insists Rory

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Combative: Rory Best on the charge against Scotland PICTURES: Getty Images RORY Best has hit back at Ireland’s...

Boudjellal is ready to sell up at Toulon

Reports from France that Toulon’s headline-grabbing owner Mourad Boudjellal could offload his controlling stake in the club as soon as tomorrow...

Bridgend keep pace with Bony

Welsh Division One round-up TREORCHY moved to the top of the Division 1 East Central table thanks to a 20-7 home...

Last-play winner for Llanelli with Edwards in sin-bin

By ROB COLE Welsh Premiership BRIDGEND skipper Nathan Edwards picked up a yellow card five minutes from time and then had...

Resilient Gopperth finally fit and eager for action at Wasps

NEALE HARVEY VETERAN Wasps playmaker Jimmy Gopperth says quitting never crossed his mind after a string of injuries wrecked his 2018/19...

Teen star Kitson keeps Kingdom on his toes

By NEALE HARVEY WHEN the guy trying to pinch your jersey is nearly half your age, you know you are getting...

Korea rule Asia to earn place in Tokyo

HOSTS Korea beat Hong Kong 12-7 in the final of the Asia rugby Olympic qualifier to secure their place in the...

Americans set the pace with first Series triumph

USA Women head to Dubai as early season pace-setters after their triumph in the opening leg in Glendale. They beat Australia...

Amor aims for Olympic gold – after claiming a first Sevens title in Dubai

By ADAM ELLIS OPPORTUNITY abounds for the England Men’s Sevens team heading into the New Year – the chance not only...

Friday has turned the Eagles into a major world force

By BEN JAYCOCK USA Sevens head coach Mike Friday believes the sky is the limit for his young, hungry and talented...

Crusaders keep their name but alter logo

NEWS EXTRA Dropped: Pre-game drama THE Crusaders have decided to keep their name after a review that began when 51 people...

Dickens takes the reins from Bates

NEWS EXTRA ALAN Dickens has named six Northampton players in his first squad since becoming England U20s coach. Dickens left his...

Ferguson’s mission is to make the Saints ruthless

By NEALE HARVEY HIGHLY-RATED Northampton scrum guru Matt Ferguson says he has no intention of following Alan Dickens to the RFU...

Schonert’s time may be coming round again

Impact: Nick Schonert charges into a tackle bag held by Charlie Ewels during England training PICTURE: Getty Images NICK SCHONERT, the...

O’Shea takes over at RFU as Melville moves on

CONOR O’SHEA will join the RFU as director of performance to replace Nigel Melville, who leaves his position as director of...

REGIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES ROUND-UP

BOURNVILLE took top spot in the Midlands Premier after beating Peterborough Lions 50-12. The Lions scored in the opening minute but...

Warriors retain top young forward duo

WORCESTER flanker Ted Hill and lock Andrew Kitchener have signed two-year contract extensions until 2022. Kitchener, 23, signed his first pro...

Scots ace Hutchinson extends stay at Saints

NORTHAMPTON and Scotland centre Rory Hutchinson has agreed to extend his contract with the Premiership club. The length of the deal...

Samoan stars join the Championship

JERSEY Reds have added Samoan international Rodney Iona to their squad. The 28-year-old, who can play fly-half, centre or full-back, arrived...

Launchbury commits his future to Wasps

WASPS Captain Joe Launchbury has signed a new undisclosed- length contract with the side. The England lock, 28, has made 142...

Banned Addison to miss Quins double

ULSTER’S Will Addison has been suspended for four weeks after being cited for his tackle on Paul Jedrasiak during the Champions...

Watson, Ewels add to Bath injury problems

RUGBY SHORTS ENGLAND and Bath back Anthony Watson will be out of action until at least Christmas after sustaining a knee...

Will RFU scrap rules if Sarries go down?

So it’s back to the real business of club rugby this week as we return to the Premiership and the serious...

Woosey’s treble is just the tonic for Lightning

By TOM SOULSBY ON A cold evening at the Athletic Ground, Richmond struggled to find any momentum as they fell to...

Oliver orders her Bears to stay on their toes

PREVIEW… Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears By PETER WHITE Sunday, December 1. Kick-off 2pm BRISTOLBears head coach Kim Oliver insists her...

Catlin hat-trick as lethal Quins run riot

By NICK REWCASTLE Try double: Heather Cowell goes over for Harlequins Women HARLEQUINS remain at the top of the table following...

Rocky lands killer blow on former club Wasps

By WILL JENNINGS ROCKY CLARK came back to haunt her old club as her try helped Saracens continue their unbeaten start...

A perfect ten sees Cherry & Whites run red hot

By DUNCAN WOOD IN BITTERLY cold conditions at the Alpas Arena, Gloucester-Hartpury Women scored ten tries against Darlington Mowden Park Sharks...

YOUNG GUNS

NEALE HARVEY THIBAUD FLAMENT WASPS FLANKER/LOCK At 22, Thibaud Flament would not normally fall into young gun territory. However, the story...

OAs succumb to gentlest of touch

By MATT BALDWIN A LATE surge in the second half saw Esher come from behind to beat Old Albanian in a...

Power cuts short relegation battle

By JOHN CROYSDILL SUTTON toppled Bournemouth in bizarre circumstances after a local power cut in Cheam saw referee Calum Howard with...

Hawks soaring high after Fenley hits four

Dings …………..27 Henley ……….36 By JOHN WHITE THREE tries in five secondhalf minutes secured a hard-fought away victory for a jubilant...

Henderson the hero to keep Lions in the hunt

Leicester L ……..12pts Taunton …………….6pts Roaring: Kaz Henderson scores for Leicester Lions On target: Gary Kingdom PICTURES: Phil Hutchinson By MIKE...

Rory and Ryan run riot as TJs hit super six

Barnes …………..12 Tonbridge ……32 By TOM DEAN TONBRIDGE Juddians proved too much for Barnes as the visitors continued their fine form...

Wolfpack howl to maintain run

Bury St Edmund..36 Worthing…………….31 By SIMON LORD BURY’S unbeaten home record remained intact but it could have been so different after...

Lavenders love a nine-try blitz

Clifton…………..59 Westcliff ……..14 By ROGER OPIE DOUBLES from Chris Levesley and Henry Harper helped Clifton continue their impressive start to the...

Superb Shepherd leads flock to victory

Redruth…………..13 O Redcliffians….0 By BILL HOOPER REDRUTH battled to a hard-fought win over Old Redcliffians in a game the visitors will...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

TOM FRENCH THE FORMER WASPS, NOTTINGHAM, LONDON WELSH & ENGLAND SAXONS PROP THE 2007 Heineken Cup Final was probably my 50th...

Chester make it four in Dale defeat

Chester …………36 Tynedale ……..17 By STEVE SMITH CHESTER Rugby stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a bonus-point victory against...

Hinckley turn on the after-burners

Hinckley ……….32 Stourbridge ……3 By BARBARA MEEKINS MITCHELL Lamb helped Hinckley to a bonus-point triumph as his double against Stourbridge secured...

Heard leads the way as Hull win again

Hull …………….34 Scunthorpe ..16 By RICHARD GORE HULL won back-to-back games for the second time this season as they ran in...

Park back pack to put Tigers in a cage

Sheffield T ……..19pts Sedgley Park….29pts By ANDREW SMITH SEDGLEY Park head coach Matt Bebbington heaped praise on his dominant pack as...

Fylde fight back on the road as Otley fold

Otley …………….14 Fylde …………….23 By NICK DOYLE FYLDE emerged victorious but were denied a bonus point on their travels by a...

Caldy grind out 13th on spin

By JOHN LYON HUDDERSFIELD came to Paton Field with the singular objective of upsetting Caldy’s perfect record, but the hosts answered...

Students down Dale in style

Loughborough.48 Wharfedale ….12 By JONATHAN BUSH NOTHING was left on the field by the Students as Loughborough fought hard for a...

Lucs take the edge in battle down the bottom

Luctonians……29 Preston …………..3 By GEOFF VICKRESS LUCTONIANS secured a valuable home victory against fellow strugglers Preston Grasshoppers with an emphatic 29-3...