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...

Franks cut by All Blacks

NEW Zealand have left Northampton-bound prop Owen Franks out of their 31-man World Cup squad. Franks, 31, has won 108 caps...

No moping, I need to keep mentally steady

Neil Fissler finds Harry Williams in work mode after a disappointing end to his summer Combative: Harry Williams in World Cup...

Top four finish is a must says Bath prop Obano

By STEFFAN THOMAS NEWS EXTRA BENO Obano has warned Bath anything other than a Premiership semi-final place would constitute failure this...

Pack display was almost poetry, now ramp it up

Killer pass: Kyle Sinckler combined power in the set piece with subtlety in attack PICTURE: Getty Images ENGLAND’S performance against Ireland...

Big names won’t block the kids vows Davis

LONDON Irish coach Brad Davis insists the club’s band of promising youngsters will not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency...

Calum can give Tigers new lift-off in lineout

By NEALE HARVEY Colleague: Tomas Lavanini High riser: Calum Green wins a lineout for Newcastle PICTURES: Getty Images LINEOUT king Calum...

Glen’s aiming to punch his weight after joining Quins

Fighting fit: Glen Young’s dad was a boxer HARLEQUINS second row signing Glen Young hopes his pugilistic pedigree will come to...

All Blacks back on top as Wales flop

By SAM JACKSON NEW Zealand are back on top of the world rankings following Ireland’s win in Cardiff, with former No.1...

Ireland hit back after Red Rose humiliation

By STEFFAN EVANS Decision: Warren Gatland IRELAND responded to their bashing at Twickenham with an impressive 22-17 win in Warren Gatland’s...

Father figure Ackermann can bring best out of Jaco Kriel at Gloucester

Jaco Kriel has more going on in his life than you may see on the surface

Probyn column: This Italy warm-up game should be in Yorkshire

Jeff Probyn shares his view on Newcastle United's St James' Park hosting England's match against Italy

Jackson column: The day the floodgates opened on the pro rugby era

Peter Jackson digs deep into the story of how rugby turned professional 25 years ago

Guscott column: Manu Tuilagi must be wearing the 12 shirt for the big Pool games

Jeremy Guscott shares his thoughts on when it would be best for England to deplot the Ford-Farrell combination

Young Guns: Saracens wing Elliott Obatoyinbo

Elliott Obatoyinbo is a man in a hurry, metaphorically as well as physically, and a big season lies ahead for the...

Rhys Carre one of two uncapped players in Wales’ team to face Ireland

Josh Navidi will captain Wales in Cardiff, as revealed by TRP last week

Mennaye Field remains at the heart of Cornish Pirates plans

The Championship club don't plan on abandoning their current home when the Stadium for Cornwall is completed

Spencer column: Equality is what the women’s game wants not ‘neutrality’

Catherine Spencer writes on World Rugby's branding change for the Women's Rugby World Cup and Rocky Clark's new career move

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen drops star centre from World Cup squad

New Zealand have named their 31 players to travel to Japan

Cain column: Sorry, Bill but men and women are different

Have World Rugby blurred the lines in the pursuit of gender neutrality?

Scotland lock Sam Skinner out of 2019 Rugby World Cup

The Exeter Chiefs lock limped off at Murrayfield with a hamstring injury at the weekend

Exclusive: Axed England star Ben Te’o makes overseas move

Te'o has found a permanent home once his term as a medical joker at Toulon expires

At least there’s no home bias in the World Cup

ONE of the best aspects of World Cups is that, the host nation apart, there is no home side. The reason...

Sorry, Bill but men and women are different!

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE problem with some organisations is that they mistake the current trend for...

Kinghorn: We had to show our critics

BLAIR Kinghorn believes those who were quick to write off Scotland’s World Cup chances after their Nice nightmare may have second...

Character shone through says happy Townsend

By GARY FITZGERALD GREGOR Townsend admitted it was a “far from perfect” performance but he was full of praise for his...

Tuilagi must be wearing 12 for the big Pool games

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE beauty of warm-up games is that you can mix and match and see...

Imperious Itoje steps into Johnno’s giant shoes

PETER JACKSON VERDICT Not since the glory days of the old Red Rose empire can an England player have lorded it...

More of this and England will be lifting golden Cup

From NICK CAIN at Twickenham ENGLAND turned up the heat at the right time in their World Cup warm-up preparations, producing...

This Italy warm-up should be in Yorkshire

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME As the England team head towards their last warm-up game against Italy...

Spurrell saved me from a real kicking

MY CLUB BATH WE SPEAK WITH A NUMBER OF WELL-KNOWN RUGBY FIGURES ABOUT THE CLUB THEY CALL THEIR OWN. THIS WEEK...

Cruden fails with last-gasp kick to hand Castres win

Seventy days after Toulouse lifted the Boucliers de Brennus for the first time in nine years, the new Top 14 season...

Ruddock: My cash is on Wales all the way in RWC

By PETER JACKSON MIKE Ruddock is backing Wales to win the World Cup and end the debate over their elevation to...

Priestland rubbishes Welsh criticism

By ALEX BYWATER RHYS Priestland has told critics of Wales’ attacking game they don’t know what they’re talking about and has...

Te’o off to Japan after his pit stop in France

By NEIL FISSLER EXCLUSIVE BEN TE’O will be heading to Japan despite England coach Eddie Jones leaving him out of his...

Carnegie? It’s frustrating and a dark time for RFU

STEVE HILL Q&A ON THE RECORD Richmond rugby director Steve Hill tells NEALE HARVEY why the fallout from the Yorkshire Carnegie...

Equality is what we want, not neutrality

CATHERINE SPENCER FORMER ENGLAND WOMEN’S CAPTAIN What’s in a name? Or, to be more relevant, what’s not in a name? World...

Police escort put us on glory road

MY LIFEIN RUGBY NIGEL POMPHREY THE FORMER BRISTOL AND ENGLAND XV LOCK ALL three of our Cup Finals appearances in the...

Stresses and strains have never been higher in sport

RICHARD CRAMER SPORTS LAWYER We are now less than a month from the start of the Rugby Union World Cup. Every...

Extreme analysis paralysis will be too much

RUGBY World Cup have been boasting this week that the semi-finals and final of the forthcoming tournament will be covered by...

Spare a thought for speedsters who will miss World Cup

THERE is no question that some bright new shiny stars on the wing will announce themselves in Japan next month so...

Italy must show steel to make RWC impact

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points IT’s difficult to think of any nation that...

Mennaye remains at heart of Pirates plans

By MIKE SINCLAIR CORNISH Pirates are going full steam ahead to be playing at the new Stadium for Cornwall in Truro...

Painter brushing up on his eye for detail

By NEALE HARVEY Big talent: Saints prop Ehren Painter PICTURES: Getty Images NORTHAMPTONtighthead Ehren Painter believes learning from the best New...

YOUNGGUNS

ELLIOTTOBATOYINBO SARACENS WING/FULL-BACK Elliott Obatoyinbo is a man in a hurry, metaphorically as well as physically, and a big season lies...

ROOM101

HENRI PACKARD THE SHEFFIELD TIGERS WINGER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Fake influencers...

Nanai aims to fill Heem’s shoes at Worcester

By NEALE HARVEY MELANI Nanai has revealed how Auckland’s tardiness in offering him a new contract enabled Worcester to enlist his...

Prop star Cooper denies Scarlets

By ROB COLE By ROB COLE ULSTER A came back from the dead to win a thriller at Llandovery with a...

Coventry land Toby

LOOSE-head Toby Trinder will be dual registered with Northampton and Coventry this season. The 21-year-old has come through the Saints Academy...

Welsh final in PRO14

CARDIFF City Stadium will be the venue for the 2020 PRO14 final on June 20. The last four finals have been...