Gallagher column: Agustin Pichot is right to question his own world rankings

Brendan Gallagher looks at where the World Rugby rankings model is weakest

Cain column: At last, the Tier Two clubs come out fighting

Nick Cain writes about the latest efforts by the Premiership to payoff the Championship into accepting ring-fencing

Big signings won’t hinder London Irish young guns, says Davis

Could the young crop coming through at London Irish be held back by the likes of Waisake Naholo and Sean O'Brien?

Now I can try to follow my hero Thompson, says Jack Singleton

"You only find out you're in the England squad when you get added to the WhatsApp group" - Singleton

All Blacks talk motivation with AIG Life

Six of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team have opened up about their innermost motivations as part of an advertising...

Joe Schmidt takes shot at Agustin Pichot after World Rugby vice-chairman makes Devin Toner comment

Pichot questioned the inclusion of Jean Kleyn over Devin Toner in Ireland's World Cup squad

Ashes hero Ben Stokes shows Ben Youngs how to hit peak

Ben Stokes produced heroics at Headingley when the England cricket team needed it - and the same might be for Ben...

France name World Cup squad with Picamoles and Penaud set to dazzle

Jacques Brunel names a team for Japan boasting eight Toulouse players

Bored on the terraces at half time? Ways to stay entertained

With the adrenaline of the first half put on pause for 20 minutes, half time for a sports fan can seem...

Williams column: Jarrod Evans has the ability to be a star in Japan

Shane Williams spells the attributes which make Jarrod Evans an able back-up to Dan Biggar

Rhys Patchell to back-up Biggar as Wales name 31-man squad

Warren Gatland shows his hand for his final tournament as Wales head coach

Guscott column: Pack display was poetry

Jeremy Guscott's verdict on England's barnstorming performance from the pack against Ireland

Huget try catches Italy cold in their warm-up for England

By SAM JACKSON FRANCE got their rugby World Cup preparations back on track with a powerful seven-try win at the Stade...

Patchell has last word but is it enough?

PETER JACKSON VERDICT The Welsh scrum had splintered like a trunk of rotting balsa wood when Romain Poite stepped aside from...

Hutchinson stakes claim with classy try-double

By GARY FITZGERALD RORY Hutchinson swept over for his first Test tries to throw down his challenge for a place to...

Stockdale’s try-double spoils Gats’ farewell party

By NICK CAIN Step up: Owen Lane cuts in to score for Wales THIS rough old sport does not have a...

Care ruled out until November

HARLEQUINS scrum-half Danny Care will undergo surgery on an ankle injury sustained during preseason training, ruling him out for eight weeks....

Now I can try to follow my hooker hero Thompson

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND hooker Jack Singleton says he owes Worcester a huge debt of gratitude for rescuing his career and...

Launchbury: It’s not been easy to get in this squad

By NEALE HARVEY JOE Launchbury believes fierce competition within England’s vastly experienced, power-packed second row unit is boosting their World Cup...

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...