England’s Pool of Death suddenly carries a deadly threat

NICK CAIN VERDICT SINCE Eddie Jones took over as England coach, there has been an assumption that the ‘Pool of Death’...

Ledesma blames ref for French survival

From ADAM HATHAWAY Early promise: Gael Fikou scores the first French try PICTURES: Getty Images Fightback: Julian Montoya celebrates scoring Argentina’s...

Daniels building on Barcelona template

By STEFFAN THOMAS SCARLETS general manager Jon Daniels is confident the region’s ‘commitment culture’ with an emphasis on home grown talent...

St Ives on the rocks after Rowe resignation

THE immediate future of 130-year-old Cornish club St Ives is in jeopardy following a mass summer exodus of coaches and players...

Tigers get their mean streak back

By NEALE HARVEY Mentally strong: Calum Green is one of Leicester’s 14 new recruits PICTURE: Getty Images Winner: Brett Deacon LEICESTER...

Curran leads the charge for Green Stars

Welsh Bowl round-up By CARL FIELD DIVISION Three West Central A pace-setters Aberavon Green Stars continued their winning start to the...

Crockett crosses again as holders power on

Welsh Plate round-up By CARL FIELD JAKE Crockett picked up where he left off in last season’s final as holders Brecon...

Pooler’s day but the pack are still chasing

Welsh Championship round-up By CARL FIELD PONTYPOOL made it two bonus point wins out of two as they ran out 38-15...

Ponty up and running but Quins make it tough

By GUTO DAVIES Pontypridd ….20 C Quins …………17 PONTYPRIDD bagged their first win of the season but were run close. The...

Breakaway tries leave RGC on back foot

By ROB COLE Llandovery ….29 RGC 1404 ……20 LEE Rees raced away for two tries to steer the Drovers to an...

Llanelli crushed as Cardiff slip into overdrive

By STEFFAN THOMAS Llanelli …………10 Cardiff …………33 CARDIFF’s impressive start continued with a bonus-point 33-10 win at Parc y Scarlets. Barney...

Downes double eases champions’ nerves

By IAN GOLDEN Merthyr ……….42 Ebbw Vale ……21 CHAMPIONS Merthyr bounced back from their defeat at RGC with an emphatic home...

Thomas leads way as Wizards gain momentum

By PAUL HOPKINS Aberavon……24 Swansea ……14 ABERAVON made it two from two with victory over their regional rivals. The Wizards took...

Charteris: Cory’s quality, we need him back

LUKE Charteris is confident Wales can cope with their lock crisis but wants Cory Hill back in the mix for the...

All smiles as Irish see off Celtic cousins

Celtic Cup round-up By ROB COLE IRISH dominance continued in Round 5 as their four provinces produced another clean sweep against...

Mather’s looking to challenge the best at Wasps

By SAM BLITZ Brace: Hannah West Wasps…………47 Worcester……10 GISELLE Mather believes Wasps are getting better every year and aspire to be...

Waterloo graft not enough to halt flying Glos

By CHRIS HUGHES F’wd Wat’loo ….7 Gloucester H 48 FIRWOOD Waterloo were well beaten but not disgraced by an excellent Gloucester-Hartpury...

Chloe off to a flyer for rampant Quins

By MATT BANKS Harlequins…………101pts Richmond………………0pts Through the gap: Quins try-scorer Ellie Green on the attack DEBUTANT Chloe Rollie scored two tries...

Dashing Lloyd enjoys a spot of shark hunting

By ROB SARGENT L’boro L’ning 27 Darlington MP12 RHONA Lloyd was in scintillating form as Loughborough kicked off the campaign in...

Sarries in control to start title defence in fine style

By LAURA STONEHAM Bristol Bears22 Saracens ……35 Debut try: Keira Bevan SARACENS opened their season with maximum points at Bristol Bears....

England stars start long road to Tokyo

ENGLAND SEVENS ENGLAND 7s coach Simon Amor has finalised his squad for the new season which begins in Dubai on December...

Simon says it’s time to challenge for Top 4

NEWS EXTRA By JON NEWCOMBE SALE Sharks new signing Simon Hammersley says the time was right for him to move on...

Cips can’t hack biggame pressure, says Thompson

NEWS EXTRA WORLD Cup winner Steve Thompson thinks Eddie Jones was right to not include Danny Cipriani in his squad for...

Smart All Blacks kick the Springboks into disarray

JEREMY GUSCOTT Galloping in: Scott Barrett runs home from 30m to score the All Blacks second try PICTURES: Getty Images WHAT...

ROOM 101

DARRYL VEENENDAAL THE AMPTHILL PLAYER-COACH TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Spider’s webs As...

Eddie will find Tonga give focus to his men

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Physical: Tonga’s bruising Castres No.8 Ma’ama Vaipulu England play their first match...

Billingham come on strong to scale peak

Northern Premier BILLINGHAM move to the top of the table after beating Rossendale 43-22 away at Marl Pits. It was close,...

Exmouth triumph in heavyweight battle

South West Premier EXMOUTHran out winners by two points over Maidenhead as the inform sides went head to head in this...

Salop remain at summit with maximum

Midlands Premier BOURNVILLE and Newport Salop both made it three wins from three, by beating Broadstreet and Nuneaton respectively. Bournville had...

Raiders rise to top but miss out on bonus

London & South East Premier GUERNSEYRaiders move to the top of the table on points difference following a 21-17 win away...

Line-out king Lewies looks to give Quins tactical edge

By NEALE HARVEY Set-piece specialist: Stephan Lewies Mentor: Victor Matfield SOUTHAfrican lineout specialist Stephan Lewies aims to provide Harlequins with the...

YOUNG GUNS

REUBEN BIRD-TULLOCH NORTHAMPTON CENTRE Being released by Saracens might not be deemed the best career move. However, Reuben Bird-Tulloch aims to...

Worthing raided by Popham grab

By WILL JENNINGS Worthing ……42 Taunton ……….46 TOM Popham was the hero as his late try for Taunton sealed victory for...

Second-half Lions surge downs Cliff

By NICK CROWE Westcliff ……12 Leics Lions……19 WESTCLIFF were frustrated for the second time at home this season as their visitors’...

Crusaders get Dinged up by brilliant Esher

By MATT BALDWIN Esher …………54 Dings …………26 A PULSATING attacking display and clinical finishing set the stage for a convincing Esher...

Harrison is the hero as Clifton set a marker

By ROGER OPIE Clifton………………18pts Bury St Ed ……….14pts Delight: Sam Harrison scores the second try Held: No way through for Matthew...

Lunnon hat-trick as Hawks grab ten

By ALISTAIR BEYNON Henley…………66 Bournemouth 24 HENLEY Hawks made it three from three with an emphatic ten-try triumph over Bournemouth at...

TJs stay perfect as Watson strikes

By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J….46 Old Redcliffs 17 TONBRIDGE Juddians ran in seven tries, including a hat-trick for Hugo Watsons to...

Barnes on board at third attempt

By BILL HOOPER Redruth …………10 Barnes …………12 FOURfirst-half penalties from Barnes fly-half Josh Hammett were enough to see the visitors home...

Ruthless Albanian hit Sutton for six

Old Albanian 43 Sutton & Eps 18 By BRANDON HOWLETT OLD ALBANIAN racked up another win in Nat 2 South after...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

NICK STRINGER THE FORMER WASPS AND ENGLAND FULL-BACK ONE day when I was on the tube going to work, I couldn’t...

Defensive errors prove very costly

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale ……34 Otley …………….34 POWERFUL attacking combined with calamitous defending resulted in the points being shared, with both...

Fab five for Caldy at Dore Moor

By STEFFAN JAMES Sheffield T ……7 Caldy …………….37 A DOMINANT display from start to finish ensured Caldy came away from Dore...

Park showcase flair after battling display

By ANDREW SMITH H’dersfield ….10 Sedgley P ….27 SECOND-HALF tries from Will Lees and Liam Simpson ensured Sedgley Park maintained their...

Powerful pack the difference for visitors

By RICHARD GORE Stourbridge ……14pts Hull……………………19pts HULL recorded their first away win of the season against a powerful, well-organised Stourbidge side....

Fast start maintains unbeaten record

By JOHN CLARK Wharfedale ….19 Fylde …………….32 FYLDE maintained their unbeaten start to the new season after blowing away Wharfedale with...

Fightback secures valuable victory

By STEFFAN JAMES Hinckley ……….23 Luctonians……17 HICKLEY overcame a first-half deficit as they secured their first win of the season at...

Hoppers up and running with win

By JOHN LE PAGE Preston G’s ….48 Scunthorpe ….24 NEWLY-PROMOTED Scunthorpe came to Lightfoot Green on the back of two losses...

Thriller ends in narrow triumph

By GEOFF LIGHTFOOT Chester …………29 L’borough……23 CHESTER came from behind to record their first win of the season as they overcame...

Te’o exit will make us more cohesive says Mills

NEWS EXTRA By NEALE HARVEY RYAN Mills believes the departure of Ben Te’o will bring clarity to Worcester’s midfield operation as...