Bath gunned down by Leinster’s six-shooters

■By RONAN O’BRIEN Jamie Roberts of Bath is tackled by Dan Leavy, left, and Ed Byrne HOLDERS Leinster began this game...

Chiefs’ European problems raise questions for Baxter

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Too many mistakes: Exeter were well beaten by Gloucester at Sandy Park PICTURE: Getty Images...

It’s not boring Ugo, it’s called winning

Tough conditions: Exeter v Gloucester last week COLIN BOAG Last week I commented on BT Sports’ attitude towards the fare served...

Remarkable job to stay under the cap

SHOCK horror! UEFA suspect Manchester City FC have been contraventing their rules on the amount they spend on players’ salaries. The...

Rugby must rediscover its identity

RUGBY needs to look seriously at its reason for being. We are not soccer (now resembles contactless sport) or American Football...

Stance on recruitment smacks of hypocrisy

SOUNDS like sour grapes to me in Nick Cain’s piece entitled “Schools in moral row” in which he described how a...

Grassroots need you!

GREAT letter from Chris Taylor last week, proposing a “Community Game Arrangement” to provide central funding to clubs according to what...

Duncan calls on Te’o to play big role over Xmas

Adapting: Rory Duncan BEN Te’o’s value to Worcester will be apparent over the forthcoming block of Premiership matches, insists head coach...

Ospreys striving to reclaim No.1 spot

Target: Brad Davis OSPREYS are preparing for a season-defining Christmas period as they look to reassert themselves as the strongest Welsh...

Sharks show bite against Bears in tight win

■By TOM BULMER DMP Sharks …7 Bristol Bears …5 Flyer: Georgina Roberts DARLINGTON Mowden Park Sharks recorded their third win of...

Winless Valkyries call new recruits into action

■By MATTHEW LONG PREVIEW Worcester Valkyries v Wasps Today. Kick-off 2pm, Sixways WORCESTER Valkyries will be hoping they can end their...

Hat-trick heroes help leaders maintain pace

■By SARAH GWYNN Saracens…48pts Richmond …0pts Round the corner: Bryony Cleall scored for Saracens LEAGUE leaders Saracens maintained their imperious form...

Waterloo crushed at home by rampant Quins

■By DANIEL MATTHEWS Waterloo…0 Harlequins…65 HARLEQUINS made it an impressive nine wins in a row as they produced a brilliant display...

O’Donnell double delivers victory for Lightning

■By HANNAH THOMPSON Loughboro’ …29 Glos-Hartpury 10 Try double: O’Donnell CATHERINE O’Donnell bagged a brace for Loughborough Lightning as they bounced...

Tackle law review as more die in France

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Concerns: Giant prop Jefferson Poirot PICTURE: Getty Images Jefferson Poirot, the France international prop, has most things...

Glynn’s go top thanks to terrific Tennant

■By MARTYN DANIELS SWALEC Division One round-up GLYNNEATH went top of One West Central after a 31-0 bonus-point win over KenfigHill....

Warlow demands response to heavy defeat

■By ANDREW REYNOLDS PREVIEW Newport v Carmarthen Quins Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, Rodney Parade NEWPORT head coach Craig Warlow will be hoping...

Fricker brace guides Steelmen to win

■By GEOFF CHAMPION Ebbw Vale…20 Llanelli …7 FLANKER Lloyd Evans pounced for a crucial 70th try to earn Ebbw Vale victory...

Title race back in the ballance after try-fest

■By ROB COLE Merthyr …28 Cardiff …34 WALES under-20 centre Max Llewellyn and Ben Thomas both scored tries, and had a...

Pack power gets Drovers over the line

■By JAMES SMITH Llandovery …21 Bargoed …11 LLANDOVERY came out on top in a mudfest at Church Bank to move up...

Ponty pile on the pressure with heavy victory

■By TIM LEWIS Pontypridd …54 Bedwas …17 Principality Premiership PONTYPRIDD moved to within two points of Principality Premiership leaders Merthyr with...

Pooler too good as they run riot at home

■By THOMAS ROBERTS SWALEC Championship round-up PONTYPOOL powered to a 12th win from as many games in the WRU National Championship,...

Russian strong man joins Sale

Sale have signed loosehead Valery Morozov from Enisei- STM. The 24-year-old Russia international has won 15 caps and will join the...

Injury-hit Exiles sign up reinforcements

LONDON Scottish have signed former Scotland 7s flyer Robert Beattie until the end of the season from Glasgow Hawks to ease...

Cokanasiga waits on knee verdict

BATH wing Joe Cokanasiga is a doubt for the Six Nations after injuring knee ligaments against Leinster last weekend. The 21-year-old...

Smith still dreams of calling the big one at St James’

■By JON NEWCOMBE BBC RADIO Newcastle rugby commentator Ian Smith celebrates a milestone today that modern-day professional players can only dream...

Cheeseman loan deal

HARLEQUINS centre Henry Cheeseman has joined Richmond for the rest of the season. Josh McNulty has also gone on loan to...

Jackson, Olding bid for costs rejected

THE two Irish players who were acquitted of rape have lost a court bid to recoup legal costs. Ex-Ulster players Paddy...

Diamond: Bad cop, bad cop working at Sharks

SALE supremo Steve Diamond says his relationship with forwards coach Dorian West is a match made in heaven. Former Saints man...

Kyle is becoming the all-court prop England need – Jones

One of the best: Quins star Kyle Sinckler KYLE Sinckler’s stock is rising but mentor-in-chief Adam Jones has challenged his protégé...

Ever-improving Mako’s back to show he’s still England’s No.1

■By NEALE HARVEY Loosehead pecking order: Ben Moon, Ellis Genge and Alec Hepburn MAKO Vunipola believes England are genuine World Cup...

Selfless Slater has new lease of life after Tigers exit

GLOUCESTER lock Ed Slater appeared to be on the scrapheap 18 months ago after being sent on his way by Leicester...

Why does no Englishman want to lead national team?

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Settled: Stuart Lancaster trains his Leinster team. Would he come back for...

Top dogs Bournemouth get early fright

South West Premier BOURNEMOUTH top the table at Christmas by seven points after getting the better of title rivals Barnstaple with...

Leaders Hull still running away with it

Northern Premier HULLmaintain their ninepoint lead following a 3-40 win at Wirral. Their pack dominated throughout, forcing Wirral to concede two...

Mighty scare before Scunthorpe revive

Midlands Premier IT’S as you were at the top as the leading four sides all won, although Scunthorpe saw their lead...

Sutton closing in after bonus-point win

London & South East Premier THOUGH failing to take the bonus try point, Wimbledon keep their noses ahead after beating Tunbridge...

Ward leads Met boys to big derby win in the capital

■By JOE BYRNES BUCS ROUND-UP CARDIFFMet were crowned the kings of the Welsh capital by completing the double over city rivals...

YOUNG GUNS

KAI OWEN WORCESTER LOOSEHEAD In 2016, Kai Owen suffered the heartbreaking experience of being summoned into the academy office at Worcester...

Relentless Titans destroy Islanders

■By DICK MACEY Taunton …60 Guernsey …14 THE TITANS extended a warm welcome to the Channel Islanders on their first visit...

Rare win for Bury as Irish see red

■By MAX MATHEWS LI Wild Geese …5 Bury St Eds …26 BURY St Edmunds ground out an attritional bonus-point victory over...

Mackintosh can’t stop rain for Barnes

■By MATT LONG CANTERBURY took another big step towards their promotion target with a comfortable 38-5 bonus point victory over Barnes...

Hawks roll on thanks to second-half blitz

■By ALISTAIR BEYNON Henley …33pts Old Albanian …12pts Driving through: Xavier Andre scores Henley’s second try, left A superb second-half performance...

Juddians exploit sin-bins in six-try victory

■By WYN TINGLEY A BITTERLY cold and windy day at Station Road saw Clifton fail to build on the momentum from...

Bees no match for ruthless Rams

■By NICK PULLEN B’ham & Soli …0 Rams …53 JOINT-BOTTOM Bees were ruthlessly brushed aside by top-of-the-table Rams, who reeled off...

Hill top as Reds claim shock win

■By BILL HOOPER Redruth …17 Old Redcliff’s 27 OLD Redcliffians did their chances of avoiding relegation a power of good with...

Mind the gap for Dings as Raiders close in

■By MAX WEBSTER Worthing…10 Dings …0 WORTHING Raiders came through their mid-table clash with Dings Crusaders unscathed after securing a comfortable...

Thrill to run out alongside those Tigers greats

FORMER LEICESTER, WASPS, LONDON WELSH, NOTTINGHAM & EALING PROP MICHAEL HOLFORD MY LIFEIN RUGBY Premiership winner: Michael Holford in action for...

Hoppers refuse to let the weather dictate

■By ANTON JONES Preston G …25 S Leicester…0 HOPPERS ended comfortable winners in the miserable conditions, despite South enjoying periods of...

Classy Ireland makes the Tigers growl

■By STEVE SMITH Sheffield T …12 Hinckley …3 SHEFFIELD Tigers bounced back from two consecutive victories by edging out high-flying Hinckley...