Leinster get back in the groove after Euro misery

By JOHN FALLON LEINSTER put the disappointment of last week’s Champions Cup final defeat behind them to oust arch rivals Munster....

Sarries would thrash best of the rest in England

NICK CAIN RATES THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS AGAINST THE REMAINDER OF THE PREMIERSHIP’S RED ROSE CONTINGENT SARACENS’ third European Cup final triumph...

Lam’s on lookout for front row cavalry

In market: Pat Lam BRISTOL BEARS boss Pat Lam is still targeting a couple of signings to bolster his squad for...

Falcons stars opt out to prolong life in top-flight

Joining Sale: Newcastle full-back Simon Hammersley NEWCASTLE Falcons are set for a double body blow following relegation to the Championship with...

McGuigan making his mind up

Choices: McGuigan GEORGE McGUIGAN is at the centre of a three way tug-of-war between Premiership rivals Leicester Tigers and Gloucester, and...

Begles sniffing around Brock

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler HARLEQUINS could suffer a setback in their move for Bordeaux Begles’...

ROOM 101

JAMES TYSON THE WHARFEDALE OPENSIDE TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Hopeless hair lines...

Lam vow: Top six for us next season

PAT LAM called the win a “perfect send-off ” for several departing players and staff, including retiring 38-year-old former Wallaby George...

Bears have come out of the woods to stay

By LUKE JARMYN Man of the match: Charles Piutau goes over for the Bears’ opening try PICTURES: Getty Images Collision: Falcons’...

Refreshing that Baxter and Cohen stand by principles

ROB Baxter’s trenchant statement in favour of promotion and relegation this week shows that not all Premiership clubs are convinced that...

Release the Tier 2 brake or game will go in reverse

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Dream killers: Lucas Rumball scores for Canada as they beat Germany in the...

McCall: Tough for us to lose like that

SARACENS’ director of rugby Mark McCall was disappointed to lose in the last minute. He said: “It was a very valuable...

Nerveless Weir lands a photo-finish victory

By ROGER PANTING Last hurrah: Wing Josh Adams scores in the corner in his final game for Worcester PICTURES: Getty Images...

Ewels: We did it for boss Todd

CHARLIE Ewels admitted the Bath players were desperate to ensure Todd Blackadder left on a positive note. Bath captain Ewels, who...

Blackadder goes forth with a proud farewell

By GARY FITZGERALD Making it his: Bath try scorer Joe Cokanasiga catches a high ball Over: Brendan O’Connor scores for Tigers...

Denny’s one of a kind for Diamond

STEVE Diamond made another push for England to recall Denny Solomona after the wing scored Sale’s winning try. “The selectors (England)...

Bath’s late win leaves Sharks lying in wait

By ROB WILDMAN Impact from the bench: Dom Coetzer scores for Gloucester SALE summoned their best at the death in a...

Welfare worries hit 13-club proposal

By NEALE HARVEY PREMIERSHIP Rugby proposals for a 13-team league from season 2020/21 may be scuppered because of concerns over player...

Saracens ask: What more can Goode do?

By NEALE HARVEY Out in front: Henry Slade runs in a try for Exeter in their big win over Northampton SARACENS...

Williams column: British & Irish Lions call will prove Gatland as one of the best

Shane Williams says there's no better man for the job of leading the Lions to South Africa in 2021

Rob ‘The Butcher’ Buchanan reveals how close he came to calling it quits

The Harlequins hooker damaged nerves in his neck but has made an astonishing comeback

“The board have learnt lessons, we need coaching stability,” says Leicester Tigers chief executive

Simon Cohen reflects on Leicester's down season and vows wholesale changes would damage Tigers

TRP’s National One Dream Team 2018-19

The Rugby Paper picks its XV of top performers in one of English rugby's most competition leagues

No space for Johnny Sexton in Leinster’s semi-final showdown with Munster

Cullen and Lancaster prefer Byrne for Leinster's game versus Munster, with Sexton missing out.

Scotland and Harlequins star Tim Visser calls it a day

Former Scotland and Quins ace Tim Visser has announced his retirement from rugby

Israel Folau £2.15m contract with Australia terminated after panel backs union’s decision

Wallabies superstar won't be heading to the World Cup, but has 72 hours to lodge appeal and continue legal battle

France full-back Scott Spedding to retire from rugby at 33

Castres full-back Scott Spedding has announced he will retire from all rugby at the end of the season. Capped 23 times...

Jackson column: Champions Cup hasn’t spread rugby beyond Six Nations unions

Bilbao stands alone as the only time the European Cup finals have been spread further than London, Paris, Newcastle or Marseille,...

Mako Vunipola to miss Saracens title tilt but should be fit for World Cup, says McCall

Mako's Champions Cup final injury keeps him out of remaining Premiership games, but not World Cup

Dream Team: Northampton Saints and England centre Luther Burrell

Northampton Saints centre Luther Burrell will bring to a close a 13-year love affair with rugby union to switch codes and...

Pat Lam opens the door for Genge to return home

Pat Lam would like to have Ellis Genge return to the Bristol Bears, three years after the forward left his hometown...

London Scottish confirm Nic Rouse to leave, Graham Steadman named head coach

London Scottish backs and attack coach Graham Steadman will assume first-team duties for the 2019-20 season, replacing current head coach Nic...

Jacob Stockdale shifted to full-back for PRO14 semi-final

On his return to the Scotstoun stadium, McFarland selects Stockdale to start at 15, in what could be Hogg's last game...

Wallabies name Christian Lealiifano in training squad ahead of World Cup two years after cancer remission

Lealiifano's renewed hope of making the Wallabies squad heading to Japan

Guscott column: Tom Curry or Sam Underhill? Who should start at 7 for England

Jeremy Guscott envisages a great rivalry forming between the two flankers who are the solution to England's run of using 6-and-a-halves

Sam Cane back for the Chiefs after severe neck break

The All Black has been named on the Chiefs' bench for the trip to play the Blues in Auckland

Five defining moments of the 2018/19 Champions Cup

Saracens wrapped up a third Champions Cup title in four years when they powered to a 20-10 victory over Leinster at...

Cain column: Galacticos at London Irish need a general like Jonny

Nick Cain questions whether Paddy Jackson will be able to unify an Exiles dressing room packed with southern hemisphere stars

Leicester Tigers announce player exodus following disappointing season

Leicester Tigers look to start a squad overhaul and rejuvenation after releasing a number of key men

World Rugby to offer Six Nations a compromise with ‘World League’ plans

World Rugby trying to keep order with Six Nations over promotion and relegation system, amid £5bn investment in proposed World League

Shaun Edwards hits back at Wayne Pivac for ‘financial’ jibe

The coach set to succeed Warren Gatland said Edwards' decision to leave for France was 'probably a financial one'

Baxter and McCall shortlisted for director of rugby award, but no space for Paul Gustard

Five coaches have been shortlisted for the Premiership Director of Rugby of the Season award

Dave Ellis turns Kenilworth RFC into triple kings at HQ

Ellis hopes to continue coaching next season at Kenilworth after clinching historic treble at Twickenham

Dragons give Dean Ryan the reins to rule at Rodney Parade

Dean Ryan unveiled as Director of Rugby at Welsh side Dragons, after leaving his position as the RFU's head of international...

Ulster turn heads with ‘significant’ addition from Highlanders

Ulster add to an already versatile backline with signing of Matt Faddes

For Ruck Sake: Hear what tours are REALLY like!

Iconic names in British rugby will be live on stage with tales from their decorated careers at the UK & Ireland's...

Sharks Sharks bring Jean-Luc du Preez back for second loan stint along with twin brother Dan

Three Du Preez brothers will play for Sale Sharks next season

Conor O’Shea’s standing with Italy unclear as Franco Smith confirmed as head coach

No official word from the Italian Rugby Federation, as Cheetahs confirm Franco Smith will depart

Handre Pollard out, Morne Steyn in at the Bulls

Bulls star fly-half destined to move north from Super Rugby home, while Steyn gets homecoming

Rugby demands careful preparation of body and mind

Rugby players need a combination of speed, power, endurance, and explosiveness to excel in this most demanding sport. You don’t need...