Sexton has one remaining ambition to fulfil in Japan

Alex Bywater talks to the Leinster and Irish playmaker about what drives him on this season At the pinnacle of his...

Bristol aiming for top six insists Aussie legend George

Longevity: George Smith GEORGE Smith believes those writing off Bristol’s Premiership chances are wide of the mark. Australian legend Smith says...

Change was good move for Saints says Lawes

By NEALE HARVEY New era: Chris Boyd Faster and stronger: Courtney Lawes PICTURE: Getty Images HARD-HITTING lock Courtney Lawes says Northampton...

Dempsey aims to end Bath’s soft-touch reputation

DETERMINED new Bath attack coach Girvan Dempsey has urged his charges to “find their voices” as the 82-cap former Ireland international...

Five to follow…

Brendan Gallagher marks your card on some of the players you should be keeping an eye on during the 2018-19 Premiership...

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Nobody wants to help clubs like us say Ealing

By NEALE HARVEY EALING managing director Ben Ward admits he is “frustrated” by Premiership Rugby’s dismissive attitude towards the Championship and...

Nifty Nizaam has proved he can cope in land of giants

By NEALE HARVEY Off-loading skills: Nizaam Carr NIZAAM Carr has ordered Wasps to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents...

Lucky stars should play with smiles on their faces

JEREMY GUSCOTT’S VERDICT THE Premiership has waves of wonderful rugby – but there is not enough of it over the course...

WORCESTER

Director of Rugby: Alan Solomons Captain: GJ van Velze Ground: Sixways Stadium Capacity: 11,499 The Warriors finished 11th last season, and...

Diamond shines the rough edges

Brendan Gallagher assesses how the Sharks will bite Banned: Chris Ashton PICTURES: Getty Images James O’Connor There’s very rarely a dull...

WASPS

Director of Rugby: Dai Young Captain: Joe Launchbury Ground: Ricoh Arena Capacity: 32,609 This summer’s big spenders will be looking for...

SARACENS

Director of Rugby: Mark McCall Captain: Brad Barritt Ground: Allianz Park Capacity: 10,000 Saracens are the Prem superpower.With almost 20 current...

SALE SHARKS

Director of Rugby: Steve Diamond Captain: Jono Ross Ground: AJ Bell Stadium Capacity: 12,000 The Sharks are circling following the investment...

NORTHAMPTON

Northampton plumbed the depths last season, leading to the mid-term sacking of Jim Mallinder after over a decade as coach at...

Heat on O’Connor to halt Tigers’ slide

Jonny May tells Neale Harvey how Tigers will be a different beast Prolific: Tigers try-scoring ace Jonny May PICTURE: Getty Images...

NEWCASTLE

Head Coach: Dean Richards Captain: Will Welch Ground: Kingston Park Capacity: 10,200 Can the Falcons trump last season’s top four finish?...

LEICESTER

The Tigers could have done without speculation over Matt O’Connor’s future as DoR being top of their preseason agenda, but the...

HARLEQUINS

Head of Rugby: Paul Gustard Captain: James Horwill Ground: Twickenham Stoop Capacity: 14,800 The feelgood factor was absent at the Stoop...

GLOUCESTER

Director of Rugby: David Humphreys Captain: Willi Heinz Ground: Kingsholm Capacity: 16,115 Johan Ackermann will not be happy with a seventh...

EXETER

Director of Rugby: Rob Baxter Captain: Jack Yeandle Ground: Don Armand Capacity: 12,800 Rob Baxter has built a side that plays...

BRISTOL

Director of Rugby: Pat Lam Captain: Jordan Crane Ground: Ashton Gate Capacity: 27,000 Newly promoted clubs have a habit of going...

Togetherness is Gustard mantra

Brendan Gallagher on the changes Paul Gustard is ringing at Harlequins Moments of magic: But Marcus Smith had a heavy workload...

BATH

Director of Rugby: Todd Blackadder Captain: Matt Garvey Ground: Recreation Ground Capacity: 14,509 Anyone who believes that great training facilities guarantees...

Haskell lands debut try as Saints hit 7th heaven

By LUKE JARMYN Northampton ………41 Glasgow ………15 SAINTS finished preseason with a 100 per cent record as they fought their way...

Attwood on therampage as Bath give Pivac problems

By STEFFAN THOMAS Welcome back: Dave Attwood crashes over for a Bath try PICTURES: Patrick Khachfe Other results Cinderford 7 -...

Quins have lots to work on still admits Gustard

By NEALE HARVEY HARLEQUINS supremo Paul Gustard admitted his side had “lots to work on” after this scrappy win over a...

Bedford ……….48 Bishop’s S………10

■ BEDFORD could be seeing more of Ben Foden after the former England full-back helped them to a comfortable victory. Playing...

Saracens ………18 Richmond………12

■ A YOUNG Saracens Storm side battled hard in a full-blooded friendly for a narrow win over Championship side Richmond on...

Scarlets find cutting blade for Scotland

By PETER JACKSON THE Scarlets have put another New Zealander on the road to an alternative international career and an early...

Hartley set to reclaim captaincy of England

By NICK CAIN Flying Falcons: Tom Arscott scores for Newcastle against Doncaster PICTURE: Patrick Khachfe DYLAN Hartley, the man Eddie Jones...

FEATURE: Rob Baxter on Exeter’s prospects in the Premiership and Europe and why ring-fencing would be ‘morally wrong’

Is there any part of Exeter Chiefs that director of rugby Baxter doesn't have a role within?

Jackson column: Johnny Sexton has become invisible in the PRO14

Peter Jackson points out that Johnny Sexton has played in one PRO14 match in Wales over the past two years

Easter: I learned more in adversity with Quins than if we were on hot form

Nick Easter speaks to Neale Harvey about leaving the Stoop and how he got the job in Durban with the Sharks

Williams column: Deafening WRU silence over the future of Cardiff Arms Park worries me

Shane Williams gives his take on the future of a ground with grand standing in the history of Welsh rugby

Abuse at Twickenham made me consider retiring, says Nigel Owens

The official reveals comments were shouted from the stands during a Test between England and New Zealand

Biggar: Good to get out of the goldfish bowl

'I put playing for Wales above the Lions' says the new arrival at Franklin's Gardens

Give Danny Cipriani a chance like the ECB with Stokes, Vickery urges

Phil Vickery calls for caution by the RFU and Eddie Jones

Guscott column: Aussies look like a junior team

Michael Cheika's future as Wallabies coach has been called into question Down Under

Harlequins release former Hartpury star Jonas Mikalcius

27 tries for Hartpury when they won promotion to the Championship

Ulster’s Rory Best keeps tight-lipped on his thoughts about his future

Over a decade as Ulster captain

Academy kids star as Warriors run in 8 tries

Worcester ….52 Hartpury ……24 WORCESTER ran in eight tries as they swept to a comfortable win. Four first-half tries from Ollie...

Blues battle hard but class tells for Sarries in second half

By MATT WRIGHT FLY-HALF Max Malins took his chance to impress as Saracens eventually pulled clear of a fired-up Bedford. With...

Matawalu adds his magic from the bench to throttle Quins

Glasgow ……..50 Harlequins ….17 HARLEQUINS head of rugby Paul Gustard branded his side’s showing “unacceptable” after they shipped eight tries in...

Blommetjies dazzles on debut for Scarlets

By STEFFAN THOMAS WAYNE Pivac hailed the x-factor impact of new signing Clayton Blommetjies who scored two tries as the Scarlets...

Kvesic states case with breakdown dominance

By ROB COLE THEChiefs hammered out a five-try warning to their Premiership rivals that they will be just as difficult to...

Young: That wasn’t part of the plan, we were second best

By DECLAN ROONEY Connacht ……..43 Wasps …………..10 DAI Young handed out nine Wasps debuts but his side were swamped by an...

All Blacks make Aussies look like a junior team

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT Set-pice dominance: Sam Whitelock wins clean lineout ball for the All Blacks PICTURE: Getty Images Australia...

DREAM TEAM

ANTHONY ALLEN, FORMER ENGLAND, LEICESTER AND GLOUCESTER CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Marcos Ayerza...

Dinosaurs must realise TMO plays a vital role

COLIN BOAG Injured: Ospreys signing Gheorghe Gajio is out for six months Well done to World Rugby for standing up to...