Paul goes back to school

PAUL Hodgson has left London Irish to become director of sport at Cranmore School in Surrey. Hodgson spent the majority of...

Osborne leaves Harlequins

HARLEQUINS’ skills coach Collin Osborne has left the club for personal reasons after 13 years with the Premiership side. Osborne originally...

Mulvihill signals his intent at Blues

CARDIFF Blues confirmed the signing of USA No.8 Samu Manoa. The Toulon forward leaves the Top 14 outfit after three years,...

Cumbria fighting for cross-county alliance

By JON NEWCOMBE LEADING Cumbrian officials will meet with the RFU next week in a bid to stop competitive rugby in...

YOUNG GUNS

WILL WILSON WASPS FLANKER If Will Wilson ever makes it to the top of rugby’s tree, it would be fair to...

Sporting tragedy if Lomu’s famous World Cup stomping ground is no more

THE observant among you might have noticed that Newlands appeared five times on the fixture list in 1938 and has indeed...

Bachelor boys knew how to let off steam!

BRENDAN GALLAGHER turns back the clock to 1938 when the Lions spent the summer train-hopping Rugby teams on the move and...

Even at 38 warrior George is a Bear necessity

OLD Australian back row forwards never retire, they simply keep coming back even when they’re nearer 40 than 30. George Smith...

A double in Dublin put Pivac in hot seat

Good listener: Wales next coach Wayne Pivac PICTURE: Getty Images The journey that led to Wayne Pivac’s anointment in the mighty...

Cheika must find remedy for tactical shortcomings

NICK CAIN looks at issues Australia must address before the Rugby Championship Needs support in kicking battle: Will Genia PICTURES: Getty...

All Black Dagg off to Japan on short contract

By GEORGE LAWRENCE NEWS EXTRA ISRAEL Dagg has signed a deal to play in Japan for the Canon Eagles, putting his...

Blues put to sword by clinical Crusaders

By SAM JACKSON Super Rugby Flier: George Bridge scored twice for Crusaders PICTURE: Getty Image THE CRUSADERS eased into the Super...

RUGBY MATTERS

Cut out the cheap shots, Eddie, and be like Gareth BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points...

Provence showdown for RWC hopefuls

Marseille link: Jonah Lomu WORLD Rugby has opted for the homely Stade Delort in Marseille as the venue for the round...

Defensive seawall sees Sea Wolves turn the tide

SEATTLE Sea Wolves overturned the odds and two earlier season defeats against the same opponents when they beat Glendale Raptors 23-19...

Rugby passion still strong as ever… but not for pre-season!

Q&A SCHALK BURGER ON THE RECORD Schalk Burger, a 2007 World Cup winner with South Africa and veteran of 86 caps,...

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Ma’afu to join Tigers not Ealing

By JON NEWCOMBE LEICESTER have made a swoop for experienced Fijian loose-head prop Campese Ma’afu, who had only just signed for...

Tier three stand up to Premiership ‘bullies’

By NEALE HARVEY NATIONAL One clubs have reached a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ limiting the number of Premiership academy players they can use...

ROOM 101

SEAN SCANLON THE NOTTINGHAM FULL-BACK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. The power of...

World Rugby must act to redress this failing system

DAN LEO EXPERT ANALYST ON PACIFIC NATIONS When images surfaced on social media last week of the Zimbabwean National Rugby team...

Samoa ensure safe passage to World Cup

By SAM JACKSON Double: Ahsee Tuala SAMOA qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup after beating Germany 42-28 for a second...

PAT LAM ON…

…captaining Northampton to their European Cup triumph in 2000, playing the entire final against Munster with a badly damaged shoulder “I...

Lam has the pedigree for putting Bristol back on top

Mastermind: Pat Lam, taking charge of the Barbarians in May Pat Lam is an expert when it comes to putting teams...

Manoa to put Blues on front foot next season

IN MODERN rugby, forwards who can put you on the front foot are worth their weight in gold and that’s why...

Why I’m certain Rachel will be a success at Colwyn Bay

WOMEN’S RUGBY is getting bigger and bigger in both Wales and across the globe so in that regard I wasn’t that...

Stick with Wayne as Wales No.2 Stephen!

Suited to assistant’s role for now: Stephen Jones PICTURE: Getty Images Stephen Jones has the greatest rugby mind of anyone I’ve...

Knoyle out to put eight years of pain behind him

By ALEX BYWATER TAVIS Knoyle has felt the pain of injury more than most, but now the former Wales scrum-half is...

Keelan still believing in World Cup dream

By STEFFAN THOMAS At full stretch: Keelan Giles has big ambitions for club and country PICTURES: Getty Images KEELAN Giles insists...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

BRUCE REIHANA THE FORMER ALL BLACKS, WAIKATO, CHIEFS, NORTHAMPTON AND BORDEAUX-BEGLES PLAYER When All Blacks coach John Hart rang me up...

It’ll be tough but expect some upsets

JAMES BAILEY Medal contenders: England celebrate bronze at the Commonwealth Gamess At the start of the season we were well aware...

Abbie: Let’s end season on a high

By NEALE HARVEY Leading from the front: Abbie Brown CONFIDENT England women Sevens captain Abbie Brown wants her team to embrace...

Jamaica aiming for rich pickings as poor relations

By ROB COLE JAMAICA will go into their inaugural World Cup Sevens as rank outsiders without their coaches or players even...

Baber must deliver glory for Fiji after Ryan’s coup

By STEFFAN THOMAS Power: Leone Nakarawa Pressure: Gareth Baber GARETH Baber is a man under pressure as he counts down the...

Eastern promise has John buzzing

Sevens World Cup PAUL John insists his commitment to Hong Kong rugby remains absolute as he hopes to cause a shock...

Amor’s squad warm up with Euro triumph

By SAM JACKSON ENGLAND Sevens won the Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series Cup final at the Exeter after a 15-5...

Fergusson caps fightback

By GARY HEATLY A FEW years ago Robbie Fergusson thought he would never play rugby again, but today he is off...

Irish so excited

IRELANDwill be hoping Jordan Conroy can continue his rich vein of form for Anthony Eddy’s Cup squad. Conroy has scored 11...

Wales wary of Zimbabwe

CORY Allen insists Wales can seal glory at the Sevens World Cup in San Francisco next weekend. The Ospreys centre has...

Rodwell: We believe England can win it

By NEALE HARVEY Selection: Ben Ryan MARATHON man James Rodwell is certain Simon Amor’s England have the quality to beat anyone...

Dallaglio’s victory in ’93 gives this so much history

TOM MITCHELL ENGLAND SEVENS CAPTAIN Sevens World Cup - San Francisco July 20-23 After winning a silver medal with Team GB...

Pivac gets to pick his own panel of coaches

By PETER JACKSON WAYNE Pivac will be given a free hand to pick his own Wales coaching team and decide whether...

Top-flight clubs set for big TV cash boost

By NEALE HARVEY PREMIERSHIP clubs can expect to glean a cash windfall of £140 million when the league’s broadcasting rights come...

Leinster’s strong season aids IRFU to £1.1m profit

A good year for Irish rugby after the sucker punch of losing out on hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup with...

Crane confident Pat Lam has assembled a Bristol pack that can go toe-to-toe with Premiership’s best

Steven Luatua, Jack Lam, Dan Thomas and George Smith to mention a few back rowers Bristol can bear with this coming...

Chris Pennell daring to dream at Worcester Warriors

The Worcester Warriors full-back talks wanting to reverse the team's trait of starting off slow to a season and playing with...

Dan Leo column: Malielegaoi mind game brings the best out of Samoa

Manu Samoa played Germany in a World Cup qualifier – Dan Leo reveals the weight of expectation placed on Chris Vui...

Williams column: Why I’m rooting for Alex Cuthbert and Tom James this season

Alex Cuthbert is making a fresh start at Exeter and Tom James is back in training with Cardiff after battling depression

Cardiff Blues make strides to back row with signing of Samu Manoa

The Challenge Cup winners secure major signing in USA international Manoa

Guscott column: Chris Ashton’s unique finishing ability still sets him apart

Jeremy Guscott feels Chris Ashton's appetite for tries can be fed by Faf de Klerk at new club Sale Sharks