Lake injury worry for Wales

HOOKER Dewi Lake will not play again for Ospreys before his move to Gloucester in the summer and is a doubt...

Snyman ruled out for rest of season

LEINSTER second row RG Snyman has been ruled out for for the rest of the season due to a ruptured ACL...

Too many coaches are spoiling the fun for everyone else

AS someone who has played, watched and been involved in administration over many years I have watched rugby union turn from...

Accept that even the best will make errors

AMONG the less publicised highlights of last weekend’s “Big Day Out” matches were some errors made by two of our most...

My father was the kind of man the game needs

out with polite suggestions from the touch line. THANK YOU for your publication’s diligent journalism over the last few years in...

Well done, Geoff! Doyle out of order

I WAS heartened to see Geoff Parling put Craig Doyle in his place before the Glos v Tigers game. Doyle treats...

Scarlets secure investment to stabilise future

SCARLETS have secured “significant further investment” from the existing funding group within the club which they say will ensure the “future...

Prop star Davison has knee surgery

NORTHAMPTON and England tight-head Trevor Davison is unlikely to play again this season because he needs surgery on a knee injury....

DREAMTEAM

BEN FODEN, THE FORMER ENGLAND, SALE, NORTHAMPTON & RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK FULL-BACK, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE PLAYED WITH OR...

Thomas gave us power – coach

BATH boss Johann van Graan hailed the impact of super sub Thomas du Toit after the South African’s match-turning intervention off...

Lam: We made too many mistakes

PAT Lam is looking to use the character his players showed in the last 20 minutes to get their play-off assault...

That was brutal but we recovered well, says Dowson

NORTHAMPTON DoR Phil Dowson said there was no panic when his side trailed 12-0 as he knew they had the quality...

Toulon next for Glasgow after they neuter Bulls

■By GEORGE LAWRENCE Glasgow ............25pts @therugbypape Tries: Williamson 17, Dempsey 33, Schickerling 56, MacDowall 71 Conversion: Lancaster 18 Penalty: Hastings 80...

White keeps Toulon on top

■By SAMANTHA EMMA Toulon ............28 Stormers .........27 TOULON edged a dramatic victory over the Stormers to secure a place in the...

We’ve got nothing to lose, says coach Everitt

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Leinster v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 5.30 pm, Aviva Stadium EDINBURGH head to Dublin with their season on...

Gilbert keeps Sharks at bay

By SAM JACKSON Connacht .......29 Sharks .............12 CONNACHT powered into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable victory over the Sharks,...

Dragons are hoping history will repeat itself

Preview Stade Francais v Dragons Today. 12.30pm By SAM JACKSON STADE Français head into their clash with Dragons as overwhelming favourites,...

Zebre face tough test against Pau

Preview Zebre v Pau Today. 5.30pm Zebre v Pau Today. 5.30pm ZEBRE host Top 14 high flyers Pau this afternoon looking...

Newcastle battle hard but can’t

By LUKE JARMYN FOR anyone who forgot the mantra of ‘no scrum, no win’, La Rochelle produced a real reminder as...

overcome La Rochelle

Leatherbarrow and scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz were ever-present through the phases before a Con-non over-the-top pass saw Obatoyinbo dash over. Two...

Cardiff fall short at the death

By JACK TREGONNING @therugbypaper Benetton .............38pts Tries: Menoncello 1, 42; Umaga 3, 14; Gallo 13; Ratave 29 Conversions: Umaga 1, 4,...

Brave Ospreys go down fighting

By JAMES LYONS Ulster ...................28pts Tries: Izuchukwu 3, McCann 34, Stockdale 45, Timoney 55 Conversions: Doak 4, 35, 46, 56 Ospreys...

Montpellier ……… 53 Perpignan ………..13

By TIM JOHNSON MONTPELLIER stormed into the quarter-finals with an emphatic victory over Perpignan. The hosts laid the foundations in the...

Bazalgette on target to lift Hartpury challenge

By BENEDICT GOLDFINCH Hartpury ........... 45pts Tries: : Benz-Salomon 30, 45; Hunt 37, Allford 52, Smith 63, Short 72 Conversions: Bazalgette...

Ealing take their time to put squeeze on Archers

By CÓILÍN DUFFY Trailfinders ... 47pts Tries: Campbell 13, Collins 41, 66; Scannell 46, Montgomery 54, Zigiriadis 57, Irvine 78 Conversions:...

Maisey becomes the

By JEAN BULL WILL Maisey became just the sixth man in history to score 1,000 points for Bedford Blues as they...

1,000th-point man

tiently waiting for their moment to counter. Fyn Brown and Lucas Titherington both crossed in quick succession to help open up...

Ampthill are quick off the mark to cut down Knights

By BEN WHITE Ampthill ...........61pts Tries: Merrett 5, 7; Bracken 22, 46; Wilson 28, Hall 56, Davidson 68, West 74, Grimoldby...

Altier has a blast but Warriors in control

By ROGER PANTING @therugbypaper Richmond .........29pts Tries: Wakeling 23, Altier 31, 33, 75; du Randt 80 Conversions: Dennett 31, Grieve 80...

Walker hits quick double as Chinnor power clear

The Champ ■By CÓILÍN DUFFY CHINNOR strengthened their grip on a top six place in the Champ with a 30-point win...

Kelly the hero for Ireland

U18s Six Nations Festival U18 Men ■By BEN JAYCOCK IRELAND claimed a dramatic 36-31 victory over England in the U18 Men’s...

Wales leave it late to sink England

U18 Women WALES produced a late comeback to beat England 32-24 in a thrilling opening match of the U18 Women’s Six...

Flankers who can cause problems

A TROUBLESOME breed, openside flankers of the silver-ferned variety – especially the top one per cent. The wonderful New Zealand captain...

How National League play-offs will work

WITH just three rounds of the regular season remaining, anticipation is building for an exciting conclusion to the National League campaign....

Penfold glad to be calling the shots for Bury St Eds

By BEN JAYCOCK Focused: Bury St Edmunds fly-half Ben Penfold BURY St Edmunds flyhalf Ben Penfold admits this season has already...

Nonu just keeps on rolling along

ONE man has survived for so long on the higher grounds of the global game that he makes grand old footballing...

New Green Wave is gaining power

by Ben Jaycock IRELAND Erin King is spearheading an Ireland side no longer rebuilding but beginning to believe. New captain King,...

Les Bleues enjoy new energy burst

FRANCE Under fresh leadership, France have their sights fixed on finally bridging the gap to England. Captain Manae Feleu, the 26-year-old...

Fukofuka keen to build on World Cup

SCOTLAND Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka begins his reign, but the Australian has been hampered by injuries to key players. Back...

Azzurre want to be quick off the mark

ITALY Silvia Turani’s Italy outfit are determined to shed their underdog tag with the women’s team taking inspiration from the men’s...

Brunel on top form to move up into the elite

BUCS RUGBY By JOSEPH TERRY BRUNEL have been promoted into Men’s BUCS Super Rugby after defeating Newcastle 29-25 in a promotion...

Taylor leads from front as Crusaders hit their century

Super Rugby By BEN JAYCOCK Delight: Codie Taylor celebrates one of his four tries CRUSADERS signed off from Apollo Projects Stadium...

It’s about time rugby started to beat its chest

I DON’T know Eddie Hearn from Adam but I doff my hat to the influential boxing promoter for boldly signing up...

YOUNG GUNS

Feature FREDDIEJONES SARACENS & ENGLAND U19 LOCK Freddie Jones is embracing every moment of his England U19s experience, with the young...

Another blow for Steelmen

Welsh Rugby Super Rygbi round-up nBy CARL FIELD LEADERS Ebbw Vale crashed to a second straight home defeat – and a...

Swannack at double for Merthyr

Premiership round-up nBy CARL FIELD DEFENDING champions Merthyr made it 18 wins from 19 in this season’s Welsh Premiership with a...

Bordeaux ready to run their marathon

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN All set: Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and, inset left to right, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and head...

Forthcoming fixtures Week beginning Sunday, April 5, 2026

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs SUNDAY, APRIL 5 EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS Champions Cup Bordeaux Bègles...

Memory of her brother lifts Powell

TRP nBy LAURA HOWARD Jackson: Lion king George North faces the final curtain THE sudden death of her brother is driving...

Ducker: We’re team they all want to beat

nBy BEN JAYCOCK CAMBORNE winger Alex Ducker believes consistency and raised training standards have been the driving forces behind his side’s...