Shame not all star names are aligned

THE World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport but I can’t remember a tournament where so many stars were missing...

Parachute money drives the yo-yo

COLIN Boag was at it again defending ring fencing the Premiership and parachute payments for relegated teams. Of course the club...

Let ‘minnows’ have moment of fame

BRENDAN Gallagher wrote that his two most excruciating sporting experiences were when watching Namibia and Japan being crushed at the World...

Fijian giant Ratuva is on his way to join the Scarlets

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE Scarlets are set to sign Fiji World Cup lock Tevita Ratuva from Bordeaux- Begles. Ratuva is a...

Goode: Sarries can be history makers

By GARY FITZGERALD One club man: Alex Goode has signed a new deal ALEX Goode has shrugged off his World Cup...

Alfie will be ‘allright, butt’

Leading Lion: Gareth Thomas in action against New Zealand in 2005 PICTURE: Getty Images SURVIVING mankind’s longest test of endurance and...

Davies is admired as a glutton for punishment

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PETER JACKSON Over a bacon sandwich and pot of tea one Friday morning last winter,...

All Blacks give proof they’re still the boss

By NICK CAIN Leap: Pieter-Steph du Toit scores for South Africa Scintillating: New Zealand’s George Bridge scores their first try after...

Dragons ready for lift off

SteffanThomas looks at the Welsh challenge as the PRO14 nears kick-off time With all eyes in the rugby world fixed on...

Private Ratu goes on manouvres

In the army: Ratu Naulago FIJIAN flyer Ratu Naulago is eying a cross-code switch from Super League side Hull FC to...

Tigers man sent shopping in Oz

BY NEILFISSLER LEICESTER look set to spend some Aussie dollars in a bid to improve their squad ahead of the 2020-21...

Betting warning sent to all

WORLD Rugby posted a stark ‘you’ll-be-caught’ warning to coaches and players before Wales sent Rob Howley home over alleged illegal betting....

Farrell can be the star attraction in Japan – Robshaw

By GARY FITZGERALD CHRIS Robshaw has tipped Owen Farrell to be “the biggest star in Japan” and believes the current England...

Woodman: Mako is key to success

By NEALE HARVEY Crucial he’s fit: Mako Vunipola. Right: Trevor Woodman TREVOR Woodman says the fitness of powerhouse loosehead Mako Vunipola...

Expect a reaction after Rob’s departure

Leader: Jonathan Davies has stepped up to help shape the attack in Rob Howley’s absence PICTURE: Getty Images THIS Welsh squad...

Come on Samoa, let’s have one big upset!

BRENDAN GALLAGHER recalls the glory of Samoa and asks when will it return at the World Cup? Talent: Chris Vui Right:...

Pressure got to us–Joseph

JAPANare targeting a firstever quarter-final but coach Jamie Joseph knows their aerial weakness must be addressed ahead of their match against...

It’s party time as Japan tame the growly Bear

By NICK CAIN Hero: Kotaro Matsushima completes his hat-trick for Japan A HAT-TRICK of tries by dashing wing Kotaro Matsushima put...

These Georgians are powerful men warns Tipuric

Game plan: Justin Tipuric JUSTIN Tipuric insists Wales will have to find a middle ground between playing too loosely and getting...

Alun Wyn: We’re like athletes on the blocks

By ALEX BYWATER Controversy: Rob Howley Best of all time in Welsh colours? Alun Wyn Jones PICTURE: Getty Images IN WHAT...

Proud Parisse hopes for the best

SERGIO Parisse will start his record-equaling fifth World Cup by leading Italy out against Namibia. The 36-year-old No.8 will join his...

Robinson: This is how England can win the trophy

By EUAN REEDIE Excited: Andy Robinson ANDY ROBINSON has backed England for 2019 Rugby World Cup glory – as long as...

Sleeping giants? We’re wide awake

Captain: Blane Scully THE Yanks are coming! That is the message being broadcast from the USA camp ahead of their clash...

It’s going to get physical against Island warrior kings

Nick Cain previews England’s confrontation with Tonga in Sapporo today, kick off 11.15 Tongan heritage: Billy Vunipola. Below, Manu Tuilagi PICTURES:...

Gatland: Let’s make the country proud of us

WARREN Gatland declared Wales battle hardened and ready to bid for World Cup glory after a week of hell dominated by...

We’ll fight Tongan fire with fire says Eddie

By SAM JACKSON Upbeat: Eddie Jones EDDIE Jones wants to send a clear message to England’s World Cup rivals that they...

Rugby World Cup facts you must know

Rugby World Cup records billions of viewership every time it is held. The upcoming Rugby World Cup is set to be...

Probyn column: World Cup is the ultimate test of mental toughness

Jeff Probyn shares how the 1987 Rugby World Cup still rankles with him to this day

England name team for Rugby World Cup opener

Eddie Jones chooses to go with Ford, Farrell and 'kamikaze kids' Tom Curry and Sam Underhill

Italy can shock the world, warns Conor O’Shea

Can Italy give Sergio Parisse the fairytale farewell he deserves before retiring?

What you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2019

The Rugby World Cup 2019 is slated to kick off from September 20, and will last till November 2. This is...

Darcy Graham can prove small is dangerous for Scotland and Townsend

The Edinburgh wing has high hopes for Scotland in a Pool where Ireland, Japan and Samoa are their rivals

Cain column: Japan needs sumos who can play in the front row

Nick Cain questions whether have kept pace with the bulk and physicality of other Tier 2 nations

Cross-coder Curtis Rona aims to excite London Irish fans

Rona spoke to Sekope Kepu and a number of League players about life in England

Hard graft paying off as Marland Yarde nears comeback for Sale Sharks

Yarde is making tremendous progress on his way back from a catastrophic knee injury

Guscott column: Springboks are my pick, but only if Handre Pollard can stay fit

Handre Pollard was in dominant form during the Rugby Championship, as South Africa lifted the trophy

Gatland: Rob Howley is devastated by the allegations

Wales coach Warren Gatland has for the first time after Rob Howley's betting allegations went public

Jackson column: French refs see red more often than most

Peter Jackson analyses the tendency of French officials to dig out the red card

Wales coach Rob Howley sent home on the eve of the Rugby World Cup

A huge bombshell for Warren Gatland and the Wales camp to deal with

I’ll prove Eddie was wrong to drop me, says Nathan Hughes

“You train all your life for a big goal like the World Cup and sometimes you have obstacles put in your...

Williams column: Hadleigh Parkes will know when the time is right to by risky

Shane Williams pinpoints Hadleigh Parkes as the man central to Wales' backline

Profile – Russia: How the Bear came in from the cold at last

Brendan Gallagher charts Russia's tortuous path to the World Cup

Japan will go ballistic if Blossoms bloom at Rugby World Cup

Nick Cain sets out the teams who are likely to be in the quarter-finals, and pegs Japan and Fiji to be...

Room 101: Cornish Pirates hooker Tom Channon

It's safe to say, the Cornish Pirates hooker hits the nail on the head with these selections for Room 101

Nicol try swings it way of the Warriors

Glasgow ..........36 Ulster................33 A LATE Adam Nicol effort ensured victory for Glasgow but head coach Dave Rennie demands the team’s defensive...

Dependable Evans holds his nerve to claw Ospreys back

By GARY HEATLY REPLACEMENT Cai Evans kicked a late penalty to clinch victory for the Ospreys as they warmed up for...

Hewitt back with a bang as Dragons get off to a flyer

By ROGER PANTING ASHTON Hewitt made a sparkling return as Dragons began their season preparations impressively by winning a full-blooded Welsh...

Kidney’s new-look Irish given a teaching

By JOHN FALLON Breakthrough: Dan Goggin scores the opening try for Munster DECLAN Kidney said that London Irish will use their...

Young guns lead Saints fightback but fall just short

By GEORGE LAWRENCE NORTHAMPTON produced a storming second-half comeback but Leinster held on to make it three pre-season wins from three...

Cardiff prove to be best of Blues

By SAM ROBERTS Bedford Blues… 14 Cardiff Blues… 39 IT WAS billed as a battle of the Blues but as the...