Cole wants to be king at his third attempt

By ADAM HATHAWAY Paid price: Stuart Lancaster Last chance: Dan Cole has had two World Cup failures PICTURE: Getty Images VETERAN...

No joke, I’m deadly serious about this – Haskell

FORMER England flanker James Haskell insists his switch to become a heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter is no PR stunt. Haskell,...

Ford and Farrell look right call for England

JEFF PROBYN With the warm up games almost done and dusted and the team’s focus set on Japan, what did we...

Farming stock keep Wharfedale solvent

Threshfield legend:John Spencer PICTURE: John Ashton @ickledot MY CLUB WHARFEDALE JON NEWCOMBE SPEAKS WITH A NUMBER OF WELL-KNOWN RUGBY FIGURES ABOUT...

Controversial Te’o finds it tough going in Top 14 debut

FRENCH WRAP A WEEKLY ROUND-UP OF ALL THE ACTION FROM THE TOP 14 Axed England centre Ben Te’o was thrust straight...

Beware banana skins warns 2003 hero Robinson

By GARY FITZGERALD JASON Robinson has been highly impressed by England’s form in the build up to the World Cup and...

Canucks give Eddie Wiggle room in Japan

By JON NEWCOMBE Boss: Kingsley Jones Consultant: Graham Henry Primed and ready: Richard Wigglesworh playing for Saracens PICTURE: Getty Images RICHARD...

ROOM101

CHRIS WOLFE-ELDER THE CHINNOR FULL-BACK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Emails I hate...

Reds win earns Luc family bragging rights

By STEFFAN THOMAS GROWING up Luc Jones dreamed of emulating his father’s achievements on the rugby field and last Tuesday he...

Killer Dragons give Munster a roasting

SCARLETS ‘A’ were buried under an avalanche of eight tries in Dublin as they fell to their second successive defeat in...

Fined 50 for not speaking Italian!

MY LIFEIN RUGBY High point: Luke McLean playing for Italy against Ireland at RWC2015 PICTURE: Getty Images LUKE McLEAN THE FORMER...

Get consistent and Blues can win PRO14 says Mulvihill

By STEFFAN THOMAS JOHN Mulvihill insists the Cardiff Blues must be more consistent if they are to take a giant leap...

Hawks ready to pounce this time says boss Dudding

NATIONAL TWO SOUTH PREVIEW Boost for Titans: Dan Lee has returned to the club HENLEY rugby director Nigel Dudding says narrowly...

Huddersfield will bank on their squad strength to carry them through

NATIONAL TWO NORTH PREVIEW BUOYANT Huddersfield boss Gareth Lewis hopes his side can build on a record-breaking 2018/19 campaign to challenge...

Chinnor will set the pace warns new captain Carl

By NEALE HARVEY NATIONAL ONE PREVIEW Upbeat: Gareth Lewis FORMER Worcester flanker Carl Kirwan has unfinished business in higher level rugby...

PRE-SEASON FIXTURES

Premiership pedigree: Rosslyn Park lock signing Sam Twomey SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7 Scarlets v Jersey Reds, 3pm Ulster v Glasgow Warriors, 1.30pm...

Long-distance Joe gets close and personal for this season

By ADAM ELLIS Buzzing after promotion: Joe Rees BOURNEMOUTH kick off the season as the new boys in National Two South...

Hardy dares to take on SAS hero Paddy

TOM Hardy might or might not be the next James Bond when Daniel Craig steps down but the Mad Max and...

Carnival time calling as the Baa-Baas go to Brazil

The Barbarians famously enjoy a spot of relaxed team bonding before their big games and that approach could reach a new...

Pichot’s right to question his own world rankings!

RUGBY MATTERS Rout: Italy’s Luca Morisi and Michele Campagnaro celebrate a try against Russia BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the...

Vitalised Attwood comes full circle

NEALE HARVEY talks to Bristol’s new lock star Dave Attwood about his return home Renaissance man: Dave Attwood enjoyed a good...

YOUNGGUNS

MILES REID BATH FLANKER Miles Reid is learning lessons fast and will not be forgetting the one he was given last...

Exiles stay strong as Edinburgh run in nine

By GARY HEATLY EDINBURGHRugby ran in nine tries to see off English Championship outfit London Scottish in their first pre-season fixture...

Sutiashvili try topples the Kings

Georgia………24 Southern Kgs 20 SOUTHERN KINGSpushed Georgia close in their own back yard as the World Cup hopefuls had to scramble...

Stortford suffer from yellow fever

Bishop’s S……12 Hertford………12 STORTFORD fielded a much-changed squad from last Saturday’s encounter at Ealing – including just seven players with National...

Students rally to tame Lions

Loughborough…40 Leicester L……29 KIERAN Curran helped Loughborough Students start the seven-day countdown to the new season on a winning note. The...

Electric Luke lights up the show forOspreys

By ROGER PANTING LUKE Morgan’s try was the highlight as Ospreys began their season with a convincing win at the Gnoll....

Jack nicks it with late howitzer

Wharfedale …22 Rotherham T …19 FOR the second year running Rotherham fell short in their pre-season clash with Wharfedale. Three first...

Wimbledon clinch early silverware

Wimbledon …12 Barnes …………7 TWO first-half tries were enough for London & SW Premier side Wimbledon to secure the win against...

Rampant Pooler turn on the style

Pontypool ……54 Canterbury……14 DANNY Hodge drew first blood for a ferocious Pontypool attack which crossed for eight tries in a big...

This is my last contract at Wasps then I want Test side

Q&ADAI YOUNG ON THE RECORD Wasps supremo Dai Young tells NEALE HARVEY how he aims to take Wasps back to the...

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Chiefs enter the race

By NEIL FISSLER EXETER CHIEFS are set to announce that they are forming a professional women’s team to play in the...

Victory in Russia ‘shows quality of Championship’

By JON NEWCOMBE JERSEY head coach Harvey Biljon has made a renewed call for fresh investment in the Championship after his...

Why Teo’s Toulon bunk will bug Irish

BEN Te’o has had a varied career, never staying too long in one place as can be gauged from his various...

WRU dish out ‘confetti’ caps to their reserve team

THERE was a time when the Welsh Rugby Union went to elaborate lengths to avoid awarding caps, almost as if it...

Schalk set for swan song on grand stage

PETER JACKSON The distinction of being the Grand Old Man at the World Cup will almost certainly go to a hooker...

Irish bolster back row with tyro Shark Nott

LONDONIrish have signed versatile forward George Nott from Sale Sharks. The Wales-born 23-yearold made 36 appearances for Sale, including 14 in...

Barritt: World Cup is opportunity to evolve

SARACENS skipper Brad Barritt has thrown down the gauntlet to his young guns by urging them to improve standards and lay...

Stirling aims to make Pirates ‘world class’

Back at the helm: Pirates DoR Chris Stirling By MIKE SINCLAIR BACK as director of rugby seven years after leaving Cornwall...

Survivors from 2015 ‘have learned from their mistakes’

BEN Youngs is England’s senior player, and, as a veteran of the 2011 and 2015 World Cup disappointments, the 88-cap scrum-half...

Ashes hero Ben shows Youngs how to improve

On stand by: Richard Wigglesworth, Dan Robson, Danny Care ENGLAND’S stand-by No.9s like the Saracens duo Ben Spencer and Richard Wigglesworth,...

Jarrod has the ability to be a star in Japan

Self-belief: Jarrod Evans has that little bit of arrogance that’s priceless in a No.10 PICTURE: Getty Images WARREN Gatland names his...

DREAMTEAM

FRASER BALMAIN, THE GLOUCESTER AND FORMER LEICESTER PROP, CHOOSES HIS BEST XV PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Boris Stankovich – Never...

Only the word Yorkshire saved Carnegie’s bacon

COLIN BOAG Struggling: Yorkshire Carnegie have become the Championship’s problem child In his column last weekend, Jeff Probyn made the case...

Premiership needs more local players

COMPLETELY agree with Steve Hill, the money the RFU give to the Premiership should be directed at developing English players, coaches...

Well said, Steve, hopefully RFU will get the message

CONGRATULATIONS to Richmond’s Steve Hill for his very frank, openminded and perceptive comments on the state of rugby in England. What...

Newcastle is ideal venue for Italy Test

JEFF Probyn is a absolutely right that internationals played around the country can build enthusiasm for the game, but it doesn’t...

Mercenary Te’o puts cash before country

Mercenary Te’o puts cash before country PICTURE: Getty Images BEN TE’O’S decision to turn his back on England during the World...

At last, the Tier Two clubs come out fighting

THERE was a three-pronged attack this week which culminated in a significant victory for the English Championship clubs, and a bloody...