RUGBY MATTERS Canada still favourites but losing Hassler is a blow

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Retired at 27: Canadian flier Jeff Hassler Repechage schedule (all...

Altier looks set for big stage

One to watch: Hong Kong U20 fly-half Paul Altier FIJI saved their best for last at the U20 Trophy final in...

Boyau, the wing ace who ruled the skies

THE 100th anniversaries are coming quick and fast as we head towards November 11 and exactly 100 years since the end...

Find a front row or forget the World Cup, Eddie

Nick Cain talks to the architect of England’s 2003 world-beating scrum to find what’s missing now Guru: Phil Keith-Roach Front row...

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Thomas is forced to bale out his Blues again

THE Welsh Rugby Union’s new regional agreement can’t come soon enough for Cardiff Blues after they were forced to take a...

Ford gearing up for huge challenge with Germany

By JON NEWCOMBE In the blood: Mike Ford, centre, with sons George, left and Joe MIKE FORD says he is relishing...

Eddie must pick a backline and stick with it to Japan

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT Most dangerous back in Europe: Elliot Daly PICTURE: Getty Images World Cup countdown: 1 year to...

Forgotten man Maunder’s back on the starting grid

AFTER having last season written-off by injury, forgotten England scrum-half Jack Maunder is ready to fire his way back into Test...

Van Velze predicts big things under Solomons

By JON NEWCOMBE Power play: GJ van Velze avoids a tackle from Ben Botica to touch down for Worcester against Quins...

Foden exit paves way for Tuala to be the star

By NEALE HARVEY SWASHBUCKLING fullback Ahsee Tuala aims to play a lead role in Northampton’s revolution after filling the boots of...

Winning all that matters says Cave

ULSTER head coach Dan McFarland makes three changes to the side that defeated Edinburgh last weekend. Second row Alan O’Connor, prop...

Hard work undone by Fabiani’s try at the death

By STEFFAN THOMAS JOHN Mulvihill must wait for his first competitive Blues victory after Zebre overturned a 21- point deficit to...

Cheetahs crash to another big home defeat

By SAM JACKSON Cheetahs ………24 Glasgow……….52 GLASGOWrecovered from a scrappy first half to score seven tries in all and move top...

Pivac demands more from his Scarlets

By ROB COLE SCARLETS were forced to twice come from behind to beat 14-man Benetton, leaving head coach Wayne Pivac far...

Williams’ wonder try counts for nothing

By RONAN O’NEILL JORDAN Williams scored one of the tries of the season so far but Dragons still came close to...

Carbery is top class in record win for Munster

By BARRY MURPHY OSPREYS paid dearly for leaving out many of their big names as Munster devoured them in a record...

Furious Cockerill lets rip at ‘cheating’ Connacht

By GARY HEATLY Edinburgh………17 Connacht ………10 EDINBURGH coach Richard Cockerill could find himself in hot water with PRO14 chiefs after lashing...

Craig’s right, lose control and you don’t get it back

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Non-starter: American Football is not a role model for the English Premiership...

Guy’s primed for ‘war’ against his old mates

New Tiger: Guy Thompson LEICESTER TIGERS back rower Guy Thompson is braced for a huge battle on his first return to...

Self-assured Searle ready for Ford test

By NEALE HARVEY UNSUNG Wasps duo Billy Searle and Joe Atkinson aim to buck conventional wisdom by proving academy routes are...

Diamond: We can still make top six

BETTER but not good enough! That was the honest verdict from Sales Sharks boss Steve Diamond who said: “Our performance was...

Sensational Slade keeps Chiefs on maximum momentum

By MIKE SINCLAIR CLOSE-UP JACK NOWELL Exeter wing U DENNY SOLOMONA Sale wing Nowell, Eddie Jones’ preferred England choice, made a...

Solomons: We could have 12 points now

ALAN Solomons was left frustrated by his Warriors lack of killer instinct after seeing another game slip away. But the Worcester...

Deano hails effort of his 13-man Falcons

By GARY FITZGERALD DEAN Richards feels his side took a big step to climbing up the Premiership table after ‘refusing to...

ROOM 101

JAKE WOOLMORE THE BRISTOL PROP TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Peacocks I have...

Warriors face loss of big three star men

Move? Ben Te’o WORCESTER Warriors are facing losing three of their best players who are all out of contracts at the...

Vito looking to cross the Channel from La Rochelle

Eyeing Premiership: Victor Vito FORMER All Black Victor Vito is looking at his options in the Premiership next season with his...

Marx can make mark in Europe

Convert: Marx SPRINGBOK hooker Malcolm Marx might be under contract to the South African Union until 2020 but his CV is...

French are sniffing for Armand

EXETER CHIEFS flanker Don Armand is attracting the interest of French teams with his Sandy Park contract up at the end...

Hooker Tolofua wanted by Clermont

SARACENS look set to lose French hooker Christopher Tolofua when his contract runs out at the end of the season. Blindside...

Penalty count killed us – Lam

BRISTOL director of rugby Pat Lam was annoyed at the way in which his side imploded in the second half. He...

Bristol concede five in second half shake-up

By ROGER PANTING GLOUCESTER stayed unbeaten but they remain the most infuriating of sides by being incapable of producing a consistent...

Wales in hunt for Oz League star Frizell

By PETER JACKSON WALES will consider a move for Australian Rugby League superstar Tyson Frizell as part of their longterm planning...

Yes, those All Blacks are beatable England

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER SOUTH AFRICA yesterday sent a message of hope to England and their other World Cup rivals – the...

How have Leicester’s last eight coaches fared?

From Dean Richards to Matt O'Connor...

12 stalwarts of the game who deserve to be inducted into the Hall of Fame

A dozen stars from different generations of rugby

Alex Lozowski talks England’s 13 shirt with Slade, Joseph and Tuilagi for competition

The Saracens centre has moved up to a shade under 100kg to keep in the hunt for an England spot

Williams column: England need virtuosos like Chris Ashton and Cipriani

Ashton and Cipriani are off-the-cuff entertainers, writes the former Wales wing

We’re notorious for getting off to a bad starts, says Sale number 8 Josh Beaumont

Exeter Chiefs are next up for Steve Diamond's side

Ring-fence would help Premiership clubs blood kids, says Northampton boss Chris Boyd

The Northampton Saints head coach lauds the academy products available to him at his new club

Ma’a Nonu to re-join Blues after leaving Toulon

A third stint with New Zealand's underachieving Super Rugby outfit

EXCLUSIVE: Maro Itoje in advanced talks to stay at Saracens and say no to French suitors

The Saracens lock's current deal expires at the end of the season

Ronan O’Gara leads the latest list of players inducted to rugby’s Hall of Fame

Brendan Gallagher takes a look at the inductees

Guscott column: Why England don’t make fly-halves like Beauden Barrett

The New Zealand 10 can spot gaps and fly through them like few of his northern hemisphere contemporaries can

‘It’s a big challenge’ – Joe Launchbury anticipating bruising autumn encounter against Retallick

The Wasps second row looks ahead to November 10 when England host the All Blacks

Wales aim to sell their TV rights for £20m

The WRU want a £5m increase on their current deal, Peter Jackson has more...

Bristol Bears bring in Springbok international on loan amid injury worries

A crisis at full-back has been eased by Pat Lam dipping into the market

£30m loss by Premiership clubs means door won’t be closed on fresh investment

CVC's £275m bid for a majority stake in the Premiership has been rejected

Young: It doesn’t look great for Shields

AN already long Wasps casualty list grew with Wasps DoR Dai Young confirming England blindside Brad Shields was taken to hospital...