My plea to WRU: Don’t cut great clubs like Neath adrift

WHEN I was a player, boardroom politics weren’t my thing. My only priority was what happened on the field and performing...

With Leigh kicking goals, Scarlets can go all the way

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Last piece of the Scarlets jigsaw: Kicking maestro Leigh Halfpenny WHISPER IT quietly, but the...

Bath boss rues soft ceding of possession

TODD Blackadder’s dismay at his side’s slow start was clear. “There was some aimless kicking, we didn’t put any pressure on...

CLOSE-UP

FREDDIE BURNS JOE SIMMONDS Bath fly-half Exeter fly-half Simmonds’ stock rose further. His control was unwaveringly assured and his strong goal-kicking...

Chiefs streak home after first half blitz

By TOM BRADSHAW Champions: Exeter celebrate with the trophy PICTURES: Getty Images EXETER have left Bath bodies strewn across the West...

Now play on

INTERESTING how some controversial officiating calls you never hear the end of, while others are accepted. The high-ball knock-on by Rob...

Simmonds award snub is shocker

CONGRATULATIONS to Exeter’s second team for beating a full strength Bath 28-11 in the final of the Anglo Welsh cup. However,...

Clubs do turkey trot

NIGEL Melville, the RFU’s professional rugby director, has made the right call by going on record in these pages that one-up,...

Return of the ruck would cut head injuries instantly

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK BRING back the ruck, and do it now, before it is too late....

Gloucester get to grips with the ref and the Irish

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Strength: Henry Trinder fights his way to the line PICTURE: Gloucester Rugby GLOUCESTER, losing finalists last year, produced...

Navidi leads from the front as clinical Blues capitalise on Edinburgh mistakes

By ALEX BYWATER CARDIFF Blues set up a home Challenge Cup quarter- final with Pau as Edinburgh shot themselves in the...

Flood runs hot to set up Tait for try-double

By ALAN HEDLEY Looking good: Alex Tait and Toby Flood, right, celebrate after Tait scores Falcons’ third try Flyer: Zach Kibirige...

Unbeaten Pau put champs to sword

By TOM RICHARDSON DEFENDING champions Stade Francais were knocked out of the Challenge Cup in a thrilling quarter-final by Top 14...

Hurricanes ace Fatialofa signs on with Solomons

NEWS EXTRA Chief: Alex Cuthbert WORCESTER Warriors have signed Hurricanes lock Michael Fatialofa, 25, on a two-year deal. Fatialofa, below, is...

Skipper Owens salutes ace kicker Halfpenny

SCARLETS captain Ken Owens hailed the contribution of full-back Leigh Halfpenny. He said: “It’s knockout rugby, we’ve learnt that you can...

Scarlets surge into last four as Beirne enjoys luck of the Irish

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Sealing the deal: Rhys Patchell scores PICTURES: Huw Evans CLOSE-UP KEN OWENS Scarlets hooker v PIERRE BOURGARIT La...

Sweeping changes for Clermont after Toulon humbling

Preview Clermont v Racing 92 Today, Kick-off 2pm CLERMONT have made 12 changes to the side that was defeated 49-0 by...

Wales eye Pivac as Gatland successor

By PETER JACKSON WAYNE Pivac is in talks with Wales about succeeding Warren Gatland as head coach after next year’s World...

RFU working to put more Englishmen in top jobs

By NEALE HARVEY NIGEL Melville, the RFU’s director of professional rugby, admits the number of overseas coaches occupying top jobs in...

Maro Itoje isn’t tired, he just needs new tricks

Saracens forwards coach Alex Sanderson says Itoje has not been overworked and must simply crack the rule books to rediscover his...

England wing Denny Solomona charged by RFU over alleged homophobic comment

Sale back will appear in front of disciplinary panel next month over incident in match against Worcester Warriors

Bristol prop Jack O’Connell to make switch to Ealing Trailfinders

Loosehead to make switch from Ashton Gate to Bristol's main promotion challengers

Harry Mallinder focussed on wearing the No.15 jersey for Northampton

Mallinder hopes to taste success when new head coach Chris Boyd takes over at Saints

Dave Attwood at home with ‘mutants’ in France

The Bath lock is enjoying life on loan at double-chancers Toulon

Ireland internationals Jackson and Olding acquitted in rape trial

Nine-week trial concludes in Belfast after verdicts returned by jury

HITZ youngsters take part in Charity Mega-Build One Day Challenge

Volunteers from Premiership Rugby and their award-winning HITZ Learning Academy joined forces with programme sponsors Wooden Spoon, along with Rugbytots and...

London Calling: Don’t miss out on Sevens action!

This year’s HSBC London Sevens will be a celebration of everything that makes the capital great, as the World Series visits...

Champions Cup preview: Fancy Leinster to copy class of ’09

Brendan Gallagher examines the upcoming Champions Cup quarter-final fixtures this weekend

The race is on to be crowned Premiership Top Scorer – who are you betting on?

As the Aviva Premiership enters its final rounds, Exeter‘s position at the top of the table is looking unassailable. But for...

Williams column: Shame Cardiff Blues didn’t go for home-grown option

Shane Williams questions why Wales looks set to have no Welsh head coaches in charge of the regions next season

Guscott column: Cut the number of subs to see the game improve

Jeremy Guscott outlines why reducing the number of replacements will make professional rugby an even better watch

Wales legend Adam Jones announces retirement from rugby

The 37-year-old will move into coaching at the end of the season with Quins

Deano: Crowd were just brilliant

DEAN Richards hailed the occasion and was relieved to come away with the four points that lift his side to third...

CLOSE-UP

WILL WELCH Newcastle flanker JAMIE GIBSON Northampton flanker Both were at their industrious best, winning lineouts, slowing ball down at the...

Flood sets Toon alight as Goneva gives salute to Shearer

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Newcastle United ball boy Toby Flood returned to St James’ Park the hero as the Falcons rewarded...

McCall: Maro’s full of beans

MARK McCall described Maro Itoje’s display as ‘brilliant’ and added that Itoje’s energy did not surprise him. “Maro looked full of...

CLOSE-UP ALEX GOODE MIKE BROWN

Saracens full-back Harlequins full-back Goode, by a whisker. He has tap-dancing feet, and was a constant threat, including the scoring pass...

Itoje takes a nap as fans are put to sleep

From NICK CAIN at London Stadium MARO Itoje may have stolen the headlines with a soft first-half run-in, which he then...

Cut the number of subs to see the game improve

JEREMYGUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK No more of this: England captain Dylan Hartley is substituted after 57 minutes against Ireland...

Bigger club squads would aid England

Potential stars: Lower league players like Jake Polledri deserve a chance PICTURE: Getty Images COLIN BOAG It’s been open season on...

Players need rest but clubs can’t afford it

YOU probably have to agree with the observation that England’s players need a rest, especially after a British & Irish Lions...

Why not expand Premiership but split conferences?

ANY reformatting of the Premiership has to take into account many conflicting requirements. Ring-fencing the league is an aim for many...

Drop the tired Lions

AH, pity poor England who have to pick their Lions even though they are tired out and shadows of their former...

Ireland got rub of the green

WOULD Ireland have won the Grand Slam if four things had been different on Saturday. 1. The TMO had checked properly...

Eddie must adopt Japan style

I AGREE with Jeff Probyn’s points regarding the coaching and selection of the England team over the past 12 months, especially...

Mallinder focused on wearing No.15 jersey

Choice: Harry Mallinder HARRY Mallinder is ready to launch a bid to oust Mike Brown and Anthony Watson from England’s starting...

Armand eager to build on his Ireland cameo in South Africa

Abrasive: Exeter back rower Don Armand EXETER back row Don Armand says being restricted to just 13 minutes of Six Nations...

Saints to part ways with Myler

NORTHAMPTON standoff Stephen Myler is to leave the club at the end of the season with Wales No.10 Dan Biggar joining...

Diamond upbeat despite Charnley project failure

By JON NEWCOMBE SALE SHARKS boss Steve Diamond says he wouldn’t hesitate to make another crosscode raid – if the right...

Highlanders led to slaughter by Lam’s brilliant strikes

By SAM JACKSON THE Hurricanes delivered a lesson in clinical finishing to beat the Highlanders 29-12 in a fierce match in...