Shaky stats but Pichot’s point is solid

Outspoken: Gus Pichot BRAVO Gus Pichot for having the cajones to mention the elephant in the room that shames the biggest...

Canuks complete mission in Marseilles mud bath

CANADA’S journey to maintain their record of qualifying for all nine World Cup finals has been a long and trying one...

DREAMTEAM

MICHAEL HEANEY, WORCESTER WARRIORS AND FORMER ULSTER & DONCASTER NO.9, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Injuries could stop Irish claiming the World Cup

COLIN BOAG Big loss: Johnny Sexton would be sorely missed Ireland’s win against the All Blacks was great for rugby with...

Delight to see game played at high tempo

WHAT a pleasure it was to watch Japan play last weekend. The tempo and ball handling skills they show are a...

Amateur game pay high price for East Stand overspend

FRANCIS Baron and John Owen are absolutely right to challenge the financial management of the current RFU hierarchy. The RFU’s commitment...

Pichot’s got a point about qualification

AGUSTIN Pichot, World Rugby’s vicechairman, came in for a lot of criticism this week over his tweet showing the percentage of...

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Wessels favourite at Scarlets

■ SARACENS have appointed former London Irish director of rugby Nick Kennedy as head of player recruitment. The 36-year-old had previously...

Blackadder: Testing autumn has been a gift for All Blacks

By NEALE HARVEY Under fire: All Blacks’ Sonny Bill Williams NEW Zealand’s November tribulations against England and Ireland will only strengthen...

Cox: We owed the fans a win after Bath

ALAN Solomons praised his side’s resilience as they climbed to sixth in the Premiership table. “I’m really happy with the win...

Blunt Quins attack fails to find the killer touch

By ROGER PANTING Worcester 20pts Tries: Schonert 32, Mills 63 Conversions: Weir 32, 63 Penalties: Weir 12, Pennell 40 Harlequins 13pts...

Judge relishing ‘surprise’ jump from Pirates as Sarries look to lay down the law

By NEALE HARVEY PREVIEW… Leicester v Saracens Today. Kick-off 3pm, Welford Road CORNISH Pirates tighthead Christian Judge says talks over his...

’Worst display of the season’

TODD Blackadder chastised his men after this lacklustre loss at Kingston Park. The unhappy Bath director of rugby insisted the visitors...

Centurian Flood drives Falcons change of tide

By GARY FITZGERALD Newcastle 16pts Tries: Williams 39 Conversions: Flood 40 Penalties: Flood 6, 57, 70 Bath 8pts Tries: McConnochie 28...

We’llsoon see best of Lima says Dai

WASPS star signing Lima Sopoaga enjoyed one of his best displays to date. Boss Dai Young said: “There’s been a lot...

Wasps hold on despite three-try Thacker’s fightback

By NEALE HARVEY Wasps 32pts Tries: Neal 4,47, De Jongh 7, Gaskell 45 Conversions: Sopoaga 7, 45, 47 Penalties: Sopoaga 25,...

Diamond: We need our heroes to be local

SALE supremo Steve Diamond admits they could get the Du Preez brothers, Jean-Luc and Rob, on longer term deals but is...

Solomona double gets wasteful Sharks home

By COLIN NEWBOULT Sale Sharks 18pts Tries: Solomona 8, 58 Conversions: R du Preez 9 Penalties: R du Preez 45, 75...

Johan: Europe will be tough

JOHAN Ackermann admitted it is going to take a “massive effort” for his side to turn the tables when they meet...

Cipriani slip puts Chiefs on the road to victory

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter 23pts Tries: White 34, Cuthbert 44 Conversions: Steenson 34, 44 Penalties: Steenson 24, 50, 77 Gloucester 6pts...

Amos off to Blues, will Adams and Evans follow?

HALLAM Amos is set for a move to Cardiff Blues – and Wales’ capital region are also looking at his fellow...

Diamond shopping for Bok forwards

SALE SHARKS are looking towards South Africa in a bid to sign a new locks for next season with two Springbok...

Skelton gives up RWC for Sarries

Decision: Will Skelton will stay at Saracens WILL SKELTON has verbally agreed to stay with Saracens next season after turning down...

Blow for Tigers as Jones stays at Glasgow

Changed mind: Huw Jones LEICESTER Tigers have been dealt a major blow after Huw Jones had a late change of mind...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■ NEWCASTLE Falcons are set to lose the Premiership’s Player of the Year, Vereniki...

ROOM 101

RORY JENNINGS THE LONDON SCOTTISH FLY-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Political correctness...

Welsh fall to Canada endgame

Wales 21 Canada 38 CANADA showed why they are a top-four ranked nation in women’s rugby as they ended Wales’ hopes...

Lydia hat-trick seals the deal

England 37 Ireland 15 HEAD COACHSimon Middleton praised the impact of hat-trick scorer Lydia Thompson in helping England wrap up a...

At last, Fiji conquer France for the first time

By GARY FITZGERALD France 14pts Tries: Guirado 24, 40 Conversions: Serin 25, 40 Fiji 21pts Tries: Radradra 19, Toisova 30 Conversions:...

All change Irish put Eagles to the sword

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Ireland 57pts Tries: Conway 2, 16, 77, Conan 33, Beirne 52, McCloskey 58, Roux 64, Ryan 80+2 Conversions:...

Patient Scots cash in with Laidlaw boot

By GARY HEATLY Scotland 14pts Tries: Maitland 65 Penalties: Laidlaw 4, 33, 55 Argentina 9pts Penalties: Sanchez 28, 43, 74 Flying...

With mates like these…

THE Wallaby camp must be a bundle of fun. Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kurtley Beale were axed from the squad against England...

’Whinger’ Read has grounds to grumble

THERE was a big push by the All Blacks to take their defeat by Ireland on the chin because they are...

Pichot gets facts wrong but the argument right

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK AGUSTIN Pichot got plenty of flak from an army of PC trolls –...

It’s strongest Welsh squad I’ve ever seen

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND IT’S THE end of Wales’ most successful Autumn ever. Now bring on the Six Nations!...

All Blacks respond to World Cup fears with 10-try rout

By ADAM ELLIS Italy 3 New Zealand 66 IN answer to critics quick to doubt New Zealand’s World Cup credentials, Steve...

Ellis blow spoils big day for Wales

WARREN Gatland told Wales they can improve even further for the Six Nations after watching his team seal a first Autumn...

Joltin’ Joe gets Eddie World Cup approval

By GARY FITZGERALD Doing damage: Joe Cokanasiga scores England’s third try EDDIE Jones opened the World Cup door to Joe Cokanasiga...

Stuart Hogg will take us to the next level, says Exeter Chiefs wing Cuthbert

ALEX CUTHBERT is excited at the prospect of playing in an all-British & Irish Lions back-three at Exeter next season following...

Michael Lynagh has his say on what England-Australia rivalry means to the Wallabies

There's plenty of history between the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere giants

David Pocock ruled out of Australia’s clash against England

Influential Wallabies back row fails late fitness test

Cain column: Exit of RFU CEO Steve Brown exposes growing split in rugby

Nick Cain explains how the RFU's agreement with the Premiership and the revamp to Twickenham's East Stand caused headaches

Saracens bring in Nick Kennedy as full-time head of recruitment

The former London Irish director of rugby had been working for the Premiership club on a consultancy basis

Flanker Lewis Ludlam extends contract with Northampton Saints

A success story for Saints' academy

Will he stay or will he go? Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt to clarify his future next week

The wait is almost over and Schmidt admits it's 'been a long time coming'

Danny Care’s future at Harlequins thrown deeper into uncertainty as club pursues Argentina star

The England scrum-half is out of contract at the Stoop in the summer

Eddie Jones drops Dylan Hartley for Australia clash

England squad announcement sees rested players return for Wallabies showdown

Wales team to wear rainbow laces in show of support to Gareth Thomas

Wales make act of solidarity to LGBT community following attack on 100-cap Thomas

Jackson column: Wales must find more to beat the Springboks

Wales have put the fright on South Africa in their past three meetings, but things have changed