Irish high-ball bombardment will test out the fumblers

Keeping your nerve: George Furbank is challenged for the high ball by France centre Gael Fickou ENGLAND’S Six Nations campaign is...

Uruguayan rugby pay respects to hero Catalan

Saviour: Sergio Catalan, top, with Old Christians players Nando Parrado and Robert Canessa THE death of Sergio Catalan this week at...

2020 is no comparison to the thuggery of 1980!

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Clash: Wales lock Geoff Wheel, left, and England...

Pulis put on spot by England

ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones was quick to embrace football soon after taking over the national team five years ago. He has...

Chiefs get their men

EXETER CHIEFS are set to confirm that they are keeping a host of big-name players at Sandy Park next season. England...

Lozowski closes on his move to Bath

West country recruit: Alex Lozowski SARACENS centre Alex Lozowski was last week spotted in Bath ahead of a potential move to...

Worsley in the frame for Wasps return

JOE WORSLEY could make a return to Wasps who are set to confirm they are parting company with Dai Young. Young...

Solomons must find Kolpak replacements

ON THE BLING SIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Back: Matt Kvesic WORCESTER Warriors’ boss Alan Solomons is desperately...

ROOM 101

THE SEDGLEY PARK LOCK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND BOB BIRTWELL 1 A prop’s...

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Dallaglio: You must walk the walk if you talk the talk

EDDIE Jones needs to focus on whipping his team into a Twickenham frenzy rather than continually attempting to wind up opponents...

Callard fears rugby may be losing its core value

By JON NEWCOMBE Concern: Jon Callard RUGBY must clamp down on the growing lack of respect for officials or risk losing...

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Dragons postponed

STORM Dennis forced Dragons to postpone yesterday’s game with Benetton. PRO14 organisers said the decision to call off the Dragons game...

Tompkins talking to all regions

NEWS EXTRA ALL four Welsh rugby regions want to sign Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, say Cardiff Blues boss John Mulvihill and...

Hodnett shines in record 10-try win

Munster ……….68 Kings ………………3 YOUNG gun John Hodnett scored a try on debut as Munster recorded their biggest ever win in...

Connors double helps seal bonus win

Leinster ……….36 Cheetahs …….12 LEINSTER openside Will Connors praised his side’s hunger for victory as the reigning PRO14 champions showed they...

Blues draw Connacht blank for the first time

By DECLAN ROONEY CARDIFF Blues failed to score against Connacht for the first time in their history as Andy Friend’s side...

Scarlets foiled by powerful defence

By STEFFAN THOMAS Marksman: Dan Jones kicks one of his three penalties for Scarlets PICTURE: Huw Evans THE Scarlets let slip...

Price is right to provide a much-needed morale boost

By ALEX BYWATER IN A dogfight at the Liberty Stadium it was the hosts who came out on top thanks to...

Horne’s double inspires Warriors

Glasgow ……….56 Zebre…………….24 GLASGOW head coach Dave Rennie believes there a lot more to come from his side after they kept...

Stick with George, he’ll come good against France

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Unfair criticism: George North in action against Italy PICTURE: Getty Images IN WALES we don’t...

Shields at the ready after stop-start six months

Fit and firing: Wasps back rower Brad Shields BRAD Shields has warned England’s incumbent back rowers not to get comfortable in...

Louw eyes last hurrah in America after Bath

By NEALE HARVEY World Cup hero: Francois Louw in action against Wales PICTURE: Getty Images WORLD Cup-winning back rower Francois Louw...

Gustard: Crucial areas let us down

HARLEQUINS boss Paul Gustard acknowledged his side had come off second best in two key areas. “The long and the short...

Exiles back up Saints win with Stoop bonus

By ADAM ELLIS Powerplay: Oli Hoskins crashes over for the Exiles’ bonus point try PICTURES: Getty Images Consolation: Cadan Murley scores...

Young gun Coles aims to make a statement against experienced Bristol pack

By NEALE HARVEY TYRO lock Alex Coles is relishing his chance to shine against a gnarly Bristol pack as Northampton aim...

We have to keep the faith, say Glos

GLOUCESTER head coach Johan Ackermann accepted that his side were their own worst enemies. “The stats will show that we had...

Hogg holds tight to add finishing touch

By ROGER PANTING No mistakes: Stuart Hogg holds on tight to score for Exeter PICTURES: Getty Images TEAMS GLOUCESTER: Banahan 6,...

Championship should go legal in this bloody battle

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE only conclusion that can be drawn from the cynical slashing of Championship...

Penalties cost us laments Solomons

WORCESTER boss Alan Solomons lamented his side’s soft penalties. “Penalties were the key and they played a massive role in us...

The Lego-loving Mercer builds a case for Eddie

By TOM BRADSHAW Delight: Bath’s Josh McNally scores their third try Debut score: Nick David goes over for Worcester Hill was...

McCall: Young gun Manu done great

SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall praised young guns Manu Vunipola and Joel Kpoku after watching them overturn Sale. England U20...

Sale find there’s still life in these committed Saracens

By ADAM HATHAWAY Fast start: Rhys Carre scores Saracens’ opening try after a minute PICTURES: Getty Images Late hope: Rob du...

Blackett: I won’t blame the ref

LEE BLACKETT, Wasps’ interim head coach, refused to blame referee Karl Dickson for failing to penalise the flying Leicester scrum-half Ben...

White’s diving tackle saves day for Tigers

By ROB WILDMAN Breakaway: Telusa Veainu sprints in to score Leicester’s second try PICTURES: Getty Images AN 80-METRE dash by full-back...

WRU may break cap rule for Priestland

By PETER JACKSON Comeback: The returning Zach Mercer celebrates scoring Bath’s first try PICTURE: Getty Images WALES took urgent steps yesterday...

Williams: Cuts will hit players like me

By NEALE HARVEY Fear: Harry Williams ENGLAND prop star Harry Williams fears funding cuts in the Championship could hinder the progress...

Young Guns: Sale Sharks scrum-half Raphael Quirke

Learning off former scrum-half and England Under-20s head coach Alan Dickens

Harlequins hunt Ealing Trailfinders front-row trio

Harlequins scrum coach Adam Jones set to have more than just Wilco Louw coming into the front row

Rugby Matters: Game in Spain flying high after Rugby World Cup anguish

Brendan Gallagher insists Spain shouldn't be disappointed by their defeat to Georgia last weekend, as they close the gap in the...

World Cup man Mark Wilson back on track with Sale Sharks

Wilson knows there's plenty of work to be done to add to his 18 England caps

Ben Youngs told to take pay cut if he wants to stay at Leicester

The scrum-half is out of contract at Welford Road at the end of the season

Jamie George to stay at Saracens when club is relegated to Championship

George signals his intention to stay put with GK IPA Championship-bound Saracens, even with 2021 being a Lions year

Harrington column: Fabien Galthie and the new-look France set to maximise potential

France have a rich depth of talent to pick from in the Top 14. James Harrington examines JIFF rules and Galthie's...

Harlequins announce signing of Stormers tighthead Wilco Louw

Quins have found their replacement in the pack when Kyle Sinckler heads to Bristol

Vickery: Embrace being England and show what you are made of

"I am still excited by this team, and also by the talent coming through in English rugby" - Phil Vickery

Harlequins line up Springboks star Pieter-Steph du Toit to replace Robshaw

Also, Simon Zebo appears to be on his way out of France but an Ireland homecoming might not be on the...

Jersey Reds typify Championship disbelief with damning condemnation of RFU

Jersey Reds chairman Mark Morgan criticises Bill Sweeney for ill-thought actions and lack of clarity given to Championship clubs by RFU

Jackson column: Lions eye 2021 tour warm-up in Cardiff

The Lions plan on facing the Barbarians on home soil before jetting off to South Africa in 2021