Saints’ youth policy suits scrum-half Mitchell

Livewire scrum-half: Northampton’s Alex Mitchell CONFIDENT Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell is ready to prove why new boss Chris Boyd is right...

Reid’s revival at Ealing will be worth the weight

By NEALE HARVEY Hair-raising: Jordy Reid pumps iron with the Rebels Top openside: Michael Hooper TEN months after fearing his playing...

Olympic stars are back for Amor

By SAM JACKSON HEAD of England Sevens Simon Amor has named his 20-man squad for the new season which will include...

We’ll need time for new men to gel says Paver

By MIKE SINCLAIR PREVIEW… September 2. Kick-off 2.30pm. Mennaye Field Cornish P v Doncaster Warning: Alan Paver CORNISH Pirates have played...

Cozens on target to see Hartpury get winning start

By ANDREW BEACHAM HARTPURY took a morale-boosting win from this hard-fought openingnight encounter on a mild, still evening in Gloucestershire. With...

Hill delighted by hard-fought win over big rivals

By GEOFF NORDEMANN A PERFECT start for Richmond, beating local rivals and ground-sharers London Scottish at the Athletic Ground, much to...

Irish put a marker down with power play

By GARY FITZGERALD Hero: James Cordy gets a hug on scoring Rock and roll: Benjamin Meehan’s try celebration PICTURES: Lissy Tomlinson...

Determined Cov defy late fightback by Jersey

By TOM BRANSTON COVENTRY Rugby returned to life in the second tier with a lively win over Channel islanders Jersey Reds...

Rayer: This could go down to wire

Preview Nottingham v Bedford Sept 2. Lady Bay. 3pm TWO new recruits will be making their Bedford debuts when the Blues...

Society darling Maro shows his caring side

Learning: Maro Itoje misses Faf de Klerk in the first Test Maro Itoje insists that outside the game he is, “a...

Wales aim to be world No.1 in player welfare

By STEFFAN THOMAS WELSH rugby is on the way to becoming a world leader in player welfare and personal development as...

Evans: I’m quicker and bigger, now let me play

By NEALE HARVEY Flat out for glory: Gloucester’s Gareth Evans flies into a tackle against Harlequins PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER enforcer...

At 37, Brock just keeps rolling on

PLAYERS come and players go but, like Old Man River, Brock James keeps rolling along. The uncapped Australian began his 13th...

High-speed Beauden leaves even Carter in slip stream

DAN Carter took 12 years to assemble his collection of 29 Test tries. Beauden Barrett has gone one better in half...

Backrow battle will keep all of Wales agog

PETER JACKSON Million dollar man: Gavin Henson. PICTURE: Getty Images Since Sam Warburton made his last stand in the Six Nations...

The other men in the hot seat this season

BATH: Director of Rugby Todd Blackadder: Beginning his third season in charge at Bath with a 5th and 6th to his...

On McCall’s watch

2009-10: Regular season: 3rd. Premiership Play-offs: Runners up losing 32-27 to Leicester Tigers. Europe: European Challenge Cup semi-finalists, losing 16-13 to...

McCall factor is magic ingredient for Sarries

BRENDAN GALLAGHER charts the remarkable rise of Mark McCall and his methods at Saracens Champions: Saracens celebrate with the Premiership trophy...

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Two more South African teams ready to join PRO14

THE South African Rugby Union confirmed yesterday that two more of their provincial teams are in the process of migrating north...

Munster revel in ‘perfect’ six-try opener

By DARAGH SMALL Munster …38 Cheetahs …0 IMPRESSIVE Munster winger Darren Sweetnam revelled in “the perfect start” to the new season”...

Zanini zips in for Italians to douse early Dragons fire

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE DRAGONS got their season off to a horror start with a shocking home loss to Benetton. After...

Connacht collared as Hogg drops in so late

By DECLAN ROONEY Connacht …26 Glasgow…27 GLASGOW Warriors survived the sin-binning of Adam Hastings and a late penalty attempt from Craig...

Try double gets North off to bang with Ospreys

By STEFFAN THOMAS GEORGE North made a dream start to his Ospreys career with a brace of tries as the Welsh...

Scintillating Blues left devastated by late try

By ROGER PANTING Catch me if you can: Ray Lee-Lo of Cardiff Blues gets clear to score PICTURE: Huw Evans BLUES...

Scarlets pay the penalty as Cooney steals win

By RONAN O’BRIEN JOHN Cooney kicked a last-minute penalty to give Ulster victory over Scarlets in Belfast following a tight opener...

Italians turn on the style to crush Kings

By TIM LEWIS ZEBRE won the battle of last season’s basement boys with a convincing bonuspoint victory. Scores from Oliviero Fabiani,...

Rotherham win their pitch battle

By JON NEWCOMBE ROTHERHAM TITANS’ preparations for life in National One were disrupted this week after the club found themselves caught...

New blood now giving Brew food for thought

ALED BREW was Bath’s Players’ Player of the Year last season and chalked up more minutes on the field than any...

Youngs wants his Tigers to be home boys again

By NEALE HARVEY On the charge: Leicester Tigers skipper Tom Youngs takes on the Newcastle cover last year at Welford Road...

Premiership promises to be highly exciting

THE 2018-19 Principality Premiership began at the weekend amid a serious discussion over whether the league has any future in Welsh...

It’s right to let regions take control once more

SHANE WILLIAMS Back home: Leigh Halfpenny PICTURE: Getty Images THERE is no doubt in my mind the National Dual Contract system...

ROOM 101

BEN HOWARD THE OLD ELTHAMIANS FULLBACK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Social media...

Bath start talks to keep ace Watson at the Rec

Options: Watson BATH have opened talks with England star Anthony Watson about his extending his stay at The Rec beyond the...

Nowell close to agreeing new Chiefs’ contract

Negotiations: Jack Nowell JACK NOWELL looks set to become the first of the large number of Eddie Jones England squad who...

Langkilde’s date for court return

SAMOA Sevens player Gordon Langkilde could learn his fate this week after his alleged assault on three Wales players during the...

Ferreira set to join Lions exodus to Premiership

On move? Ferreira LIONS lock Andries Ferreira wants to join the exodus of players leaving Gauteng to move to the Premiership...

Wasps eye Vellacott as Simpson replacement

BY NEIL FISSLER GLOUCESTER scrum-half Ben Vellacott could be off when his contract runs out at the end of the season....

‘Slim-line’ Skelton in the best shape of his life

By NEALE HARVEY Feeling good: Will Skelton GARGANTUAN Saracens lock Will Skelton has revealed how losing ten kilos has enabled him...

Welch has grown into true leader

By TRP REPORTER On the rampage: Will Welch of Newcastle is tackled by Mitch Eadie of Northampton PICTURES: Getty Images AS...

Luatua: Team is crucial word

BATH supremo Todd Blackadder pulled no punches. “The points were there, we just didn’t capitalise,” he said. “Our ball into contact...

Wham bam! Lam given ideal start to Bristol adventure

By NEALE HARVEY Killer Bear: Alapati Leiua scores the late winning try for Bristol PICTURES: Getty Images No way through: Jamie...

Gustard: Fantastic start but that’s all

NEW Harlequins coach Paul Gustard – who received good luck messages from his old boss Eddie Jones in midweek – insists...

Maestro Smith gets Quins back on song

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Low centre of gravity: Quins Ben Tapuai evades Byron McGuigan to score their third try PICTURES: Getty Images...

Pumas roar out England warning

ARGENTINA have warned England they are capable of making big gains before the teams face each other in the pool round...

Eddie’s breakdown backdown

EDDIE Jones claimed that he did not need specialist opensides for England to be successful at the breakdown. He has revised...

Bristol win will intensify ring-fence campaign

NICK CAIN Bristol’s 17-10 win over Bath at Ashton Gate in front of more than 26,000 fans on Friday night will...

Yes, we got lucky admits Young

WASPS rugby director Dai Young admitted his side got lucky He said: “I couldn’t have moaned if we’d lost because they...

Warriors’ penalty count has Solomons puzzled

By NEALE HARVEY Double handed: GJ van Velze and Francois Hougaard of Warriors tackle Wasps’ Rob Miller PICTURES: Getty Images Over:...

Lions may play in 95,000 stadium

By PETER JACKSON Roar delight! Quins new boy Nathan Earle celebrates his try against Sale PICTURE: Getty Images THE Lions will...