ON THE BLINDSIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Tigers keen to land Macken LEICESTER TIGERS are believed to have offered former Wasps...

ROOM 101

SAM POCKLINGTON THE DONCASTER AND YORKSHIRE U20 SCRUM-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1....

Newcastle ……13 Edinburgh ……23

■ Edinburgh produced another uplifting performance after their loss to Bath last week and gained a huge psychological boost by beating...

Plymouth …….12 C Pirates …….29

■ Two tries by replacements Dan Koster and Jake Clemson saw Pirates seal the win after Albion levelled at 12-12 with...

Wasps hit for six in Cov’s second-half try spree

■ By TOM BRANSTON COVENTRY exploded into life in the second half with six tries against a flailing Wasps defence to...

Cipriani the star in 11-try feast for the Shed

■ By ALEX BYWATER Gloucester……40 Dragons ……….31 IT RAINED tries at Kingsholm, but both sides declared themselves happy with their final...

Scarlets will be the main threat to Leinster

Best in the world: Alun Wyn Jones PICTURE: Getty Images THE Guinness PRO14 – as it is now – is nothing...

Jackson had mountain to climb – and did it!

By ALEX BYWATER Gruelling: Ed Jackson climbing Mount Snowdon WHEN Ed Jackson was told he may never walk again after breaking...

Woodward: Danny can help us win the Prem

By NEALE HARVEY Aiming to step up: Jason Woodward PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER fullback Jason Woodward is backing controversial England fly-half...

Quins on the trail of Tyrrells revenge over Saracens

WOMEN’S PREMIER 15 Champs: Lotte Clapp of Saracens lifts the trophy Intent: Rachel Burford Profile: Marlie Packer HARLEQUINS Ladies centre Rachael...

Rams aim to charge into new era

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 SOUTH Signing: Fly-half Alex Seers has joined the Rams With a modern new name to back up his...

Cozens back to help Hartpury and Oxford women improve

Coaching: Luke Cozens LUKE COZENS is banking on his trophy-winning experience in France to help Hartpury consolidate their place in the...

Falcons’ feelgood factor gives Mowden Park a boost

Neale Harvey looks at the prospects of the teams in National One aiming to climb into the Championship Driving on: Rory...

Ionians ring changes in promotion bid

Hopes: Martyn Wood, former England scrum-half NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 NORTH After the bitter disappointment of his side’s controversial relegation from National...

Ealing can push the favourites close

Former Nottingham boss Ian Costello, now Wasps attack coach, runs the rule over this season’s Championship clubs Livewire: Doncaster’s Fijian scrum-half...

Edinburgh are my dark horses

ALEX BYWATER gets the lowdown on the new season from former Wales star Lee Byrne LEE Byrne believes the combination of...

Burger back for World Cup tilt

JACQUES Burger is on course for a World Cup come-back as defence coach of Namibia against the All Blacks. The perennial...

Captain Tipuric hails new start

JUSTIN Tipuric plans to take the Ospreys back to the top after being appointed skipper. The Wales openside is looking to...

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?