North has become a wasteland

INTRP on May 26, Jeff Probyn bemoaned the fact that the pathway which enabled him to reach the top was no...

Tyro Smith unfazed by facing the world’s best

■By NEALE HARVEY Ready for the call: Marcus Smith GIFTED fly-half Marcus Smith says he is primed and ready to accept...

Interview with Eddie started Long’s road to Twickenham

■By JON NEWCOMBE SEAN Long has revealed how he could have ended up in Twickenham 18 months before his appointment with...

Huget at the double as Toulouse claim title

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Toulouse……24pts Clermont ……18pts Marksman: Greg Laidlaw kept Clermont in the contest with five penalties TEAMS TOULOUSE: Kolbe;...

Grand Slammers bid for world domination

■By SAM JACKSON Conquering Europe: Kelly Smith scores England’s fifth try during the Six Nations match against Scotland PICTURE: Getty Images...

YOUNG GUNS

REON JOSEPH EALING TRAILFINDERS WINGER Ask Reon Joseph who his role model is and the answer is unequivocal. “Joe Cokanasiga, just...

League ace joins Wasps

WASPS are set to bolster their coaching group with the addition of Martin Gleeson from Super League outfit Salford City Reds....

Versatile Venter to Ospreys

■By STEFFAN THOMAS THE Ospreys are set to sign South African scrum-half Shaun Venter from PRO14 rivals Cheetahs. Venter, 32, will...

Come back Joe, your country needs you!

■ By GARY FITZGERALD Fan: Lawrence Dallaglio JOE Marler must consider doing an England u-turn and make himself available for Japan...

McCrory steps down

WORCESTERco-owner Jed McCrory has left Sixways, eight and a half months after leading a consortium that took control of club in...

Scarlets part ways with Sam

SCOTLANDNo.9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne has left the Scarlets. The 25-year-old signed from Edinburgh last summer and made 18 appearances for the side....

World Cup ticket touts face jail time in Japan

RUGBY SHORTS UNDER new Japanese laws aimed at clamping down on ticket touts, those caught selling tickets for profit can face...

’Coakroach’ blast from coach after Am nicks it

■By ADAM ELLIS Rapid: Lukhanyo Am breaks through for Sharks’ winner PICTURE: Getty Images Aussie champs: Brumbies will face the Sharks...

Folau junior set for Tongan bow … Israel may follow

Tongan blood: John Folau, left, and brother Israel TONGAcoach Toutai Kefu has been in contact with Israel Folau’s camp about enticing...

Blues enter the bidding for star man Beauden

■By SAM JACKSON Tug-of-war: Beauden Barrett is wanted by the Auckland Blues PICTURE: Getty Images THE WELLINGTON Hurricanes face a battle...

Retallick to take All Black breather ahead of 2023

■By GEORGE LAWRENCE Rest: Brodie Retallick BRODIERetallick will take a two-year sabbatical from New Zealand rugby following this autumn’s World Cup...

Crusaders coach Ronan returning to France

Move: Ronan O’Gara RONAN O’Gara has confirmed the 2019 season will be his last with the Crusaders having accepted a coaching...

Win or lose in Japan, RFU have right men at the top

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Second chance: Sir Clive Woodward is the only coach to lead England...

Toulon’s rapid decline sinks to new depths

PETER JACKSON reveals his exclusive table of Europe’s best and worst disciplined Worst offenders: Toulon back row Liam Messame is sent...

Solomons staying on

WORCESTER DoR Alan Solomons has committed himself to the club until the end of the 2021/22 season. Solomons’ existing contract expires...

Blues return for Tovey

JASONTovey will return to Cardiff Arms Park for a second stint after signing a two-year deal with Cardiff Blues. The 30-year-old...

Pirates sign two more

SCRUM-HALF Jean-Baptist Bruzulier, 26, has joined Cornish Pirates. He is the third player to join from Yorkshire Carnegie. Pirates have also...

Zach’s deal at Wasps confirmed

RUGBY SHORTS WASPS have announced the signing of winger Zach Kibirige from relegated Newcastle Falcons, as revealed in Blindside last weekend....

Outcast Ford finds his rightful place in Hall of Fame

THE Coal Exchange in Cardiff Docks has long been renowned as the setting for the first seven- figure deal of the...

Retallick chooses Land of Sun rather than rain

BRODIE Retallick’s explanation for his next career move post-World Cup amounted to an admission that playing in Japan is a piece...

World Cup hat-trick – yet Webbe had no idea

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Unknowing hero: Glen Webbe in action for Wales Glen Webbe will forever be...

Honoured to jog behind the greats

MY LIFEIN RUGBY PHIL BLAKEWAY THE FORMER BRITISH & IRISH LIONS , ENGLAND AND GLOUCESTER PROP Front row club: England prop...

Whiffen steps up from U20s to work with Scarlets’ elite

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Opportunity: Richard Whiffen coaching the U2 RICHARD Whiffin will swap the development of Gloucester and England’s best young...

Boyd’s building an arsenal for all-out attack on the top two

Q&A MATT FERGUSON ON THE RECORD Game-changer: Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd imparts his wisdom PICTURES: Getty Images Predicting big...

All Blacks jeers gave RFU boss his mission

NICK CAIN talks to the RFU’s new chief excecutive Bill Sweeney about his vision for the English game BILL Sweeney says...

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EQP rate proves our deal is working – Winstanley

By NEALE HARVEY English core: Saracens lead the way in Premiership. Phil Winstanley PREMIERSHIP Rugby has shot down suggestions that its...

World Cup is the start of properly taking the game global

I’VE spent the last week or so in Japan as there are now less than 100 days to go until the...

Remove this loophole allowing players to switch allegiance

ISRAEL Folau’s sacking by Rugby Australia has been one of our sport’s biggest controversies this year. I don’t want to get...

Welshmen will play key role in South Africa

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND One club man: Alun Wyn Jones PICTURE: Getty Images THERE is no rest in rugby...

Hill’s enjoying high life again after painful axe

NEALE HARVEY talks to former England star Richard Hill about his success in France Building a legacy in Normandy: Richard Hill...

Scarlets upgrade

PARC y Scarlets is to have a new state-of-the-art playing surface in time for the start of the 2019-20 season. The...

Gale quits Warriors to run the Quins academy

■By SAM JACKSON NEWS EXTRA CHIM Gale is reportedly set to become academy manager at Harlequins after leaving Worcester Warriors. Gale...

GATLAND ON….

…Lost 2009 series, Altitude wars…and England “For me it is unfinished business. We have to get the scheduling right. I was...

Gatland will need all his steel to take on the Boks

NICK CAIN ON THE DEBT THE LIONS OWE THEIR NEWLY-APPOINTED 2021 HEAD COACH Pilloried in 2005: Clive Woodward Mission accomplished: Warren...

DREAMTEAM

TRP’s NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR BILLY JOHNSON, THE AMPTHILL, ENGLAND COUNTIES AND FORMER HERTFORD, OLD ALBANIANS AND BEDFORD LOCK/FLANKER,...

Cueto tips Curry to fill Warburton gap at No7

■By GARY FITZGERALD Skipper: Alun Wyn Jones MARK Cueto would love Warren Gatland to serve up a red hot Curry when...

Tuilagi left clubless after axe by Tigers

FRED TUILAGI Jnr is still looking for a club after being told by Leicester Tigers that he won’t be getting a...

O’Connor could go south to gain World Cup spot

Wanted in Australia: James O’Connor WESTERN FORCE are keen to re-sign Sale Sharks utility back James O’Connor who has another year...

Lansdown tops rugby rich list of owners

Richest: Steve Lansdown BRISTOL BEARS owner Steve Lansdown has retained his place as the richest owner in the Premiership. Lansdown and...

Dragons boss Ryan swoops for Griffiths

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler NEWPORT DRAGONS have made a last minute swoop to tempt Saracens former England U20...

ROOM 101

DAN PRESTONROUTLEDGE THE ROTHERHAM LOCK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. The phrase ‘As...

Eddie’s new contract is a thorn amid the Roses

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THERE have been more U-bends in the Eddie Jones succession saga than then...

Townsend: Hogg has found new dimension to his play

■By GARY HEATLY NEWS EXTRA STUART Hogg turns 27 later this month and Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is certain the...

XV of the best set for Test stardom

Big impacts: Left to right, Louis Carbonel, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Will Capon, Jaden Hendrikse and Isaac Lucas England may have to settle...