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Ambitous Coventry step up their push for Premiership

By NEALE HARVEY Big plans: Jon Sharp COVENTRY chairman Jon Sharp insists there are ‘no limits’ to the club’s ambition after...

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Ackermann working to eliminate Gloucester’s ‘kamikaze’ moments

By TOM BRADSHAW JOHAN Ackermann will use the impending preseason to improve his side’s hit-and-miss decisionmaking. South African Ackermann joined the...

Lewington in a rush to fulfill his Test ambition

By NEALE HARVEY Tough competition: Liam Williams, Sean Maitland and David Strettle CONFIDENT wing Alex Lewington believes competing with Saracens’ galaxy...

Inspirational rise of the ‘Beast’ from Zimbabwe

NICK CAIN looks at the rise of Springbok powerhouse Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira Centurian: Tendai Mtawarira is gunning to make the World...

Drowning Eddie needs a life raft

NICK CAIN SPELLS OUT WHAT YESTERDAY’S DEFEAT MEANS FOR ENGLAND Dejection: Owen Farrell, right, and Denny Solomona lead England off yesterday...

Bravo Lewis, even the best can bomb in Argentina

I’VE BEEN hugely impressed by each and every player on Wales’ summer tour, but I want to single out one man...

Edwards is a must for whoever takes over

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Best in the world: Shaun Edwards PICTURE: Getty Images WHILE Wales narrow down their search...

DREAM TEAM

PETER ANGLESEA, THE SALE COACH AND FORMER SALE AND ENGLAND ‘A’ BACK ROW, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

Yet more poor reffing from the game’s elite

COLIN BOAG First mistake: Luke Pearce should not have carded Paul Gabrillagues It just keeps happening, and as fans we’re being...

Youngs responsible for setting tempo

LIKE against Wales in the Six Nations, England started like a train in the first Test against the Boks and then...

How many more like Francis could be lost to England?

IN last week’s My Life in Rugby column, Jamie Salmon writes how, in the early 1980s, he went from being rejected...

Chiefs better not try and crack America

I SINCERELYhope that World Rugby read Colin Boag’s column in last week’s Rugby Paper. Colin described the present silly plans for...

French wait continues

THE days of great French tour victories over the big three are fast disappearing. France’s last win against New Zealand in...

If Saints facilities are so great why are they struggling?

NIC Groom, the former Northampton Saints scrum-half who left the club to join the Johannesburg- based Lions before the end of...

One-legged drug addict shows power of the spirit

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK FOR those at the elite end of the game going through the ordeal...

Gatland’s right, we will be contenders

ALEX BYWATER talks to Wales centurian Martyn Williams about World Cup chances ALEX BYWATER In depth talent: James Davies and Ellis...

Contepomi: We must keep our top players in Argentina

From ALEX BYWATER in Buenos Aires Puma ace: Facundo Isa needs incentives to stay FELIPE Contepomi has warned Argentina have serious...

Hansen: I wish ref let Fall stay on

STEVE Hansen sympathised with Benjamin Fall insisting he would have preferred the Frenchman to remain on the field. However, the All...

Barrett hits French as they reel from red card

By GARY FITZGERALD No stopping him: Jordie Barrett breaks through the tackled of Mathieu Babillot on his way to scoring for...

Healy facing anxious 48 hrs

CIAN Healy could face disciplinary action for his role in Australia scrum-half Will Genia’s departure through injury. Genia’s series is over...

Ireland up intensity to force series decider

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Taking advantage: Tadgh Furlong crashes over for Ireland’s second try PICTURES: Getty Images GRAND SLAM winners Ireland showed...

Scarlets open talks with Kiwi McNicholl

By PETER JACKSON JOHNNY McNicholl is to be offered a new deal designed to ensure he becomes the next Scarlet Kiwi...

Crisis time – can England stop the rot in Cape Town

From NICK CAIN in Bloemfontein It tastes bitter: Captain Owen Farrell and fly-half George Ford leave the field PICTURE: Getty Images...

Eddie: It was like watching horror film

From NICK CAIN in Bloemfontein EDDIE Jones described England’s latest defeat as “a horror show’ and called on the players to...

Steve Boden banking on that Yorkshire grit

“There are a lot of teams out there spending a lot of money and, for one of the first times in...

Graham Rowntree leaves Harlequins after two seasons

The British & Irish Lions coach is stepping down due to personal reasons, Harlequins confirm

De Klerk puts mighty spring into the new South Africa

By Brendan Gallagher I don’t think I’m alone in thinking that Sale’s Faf De Klerk could well have been the Premiership...

All Blacks star set for big move to Toulon

Mourad Boudjellal busy in recruitment again...

Jackson column: Surely Bok reserves don’t merit cap status

By Peter Jackson Charlie Faulkner will never forget his international debut, how he stood toe-to-toe against the All Blacks and slugged...

England name Test side for second Test against Springboks

Brad Shields in for Chris Robshaw, as Jones shuffles pack

Dream Team: David Sisi, former London Irish and Bath back row

The Zebre back row picks the best he has played with and against?

Argentina to host 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship

U20 Championship can deliver legacy for rugby in Argentina, says country's rugby chief

Gregor Townsend appoints Stuart Hogg as captain for USA trip

Stuart Hogg will lead a Scotland side featuring 12 changes for their Test against the USA in Houston in the early...

RG Snyman takes the glory in win over England on debut

It was an impressive debut for the 23-year-old Bulls lock

Wasps sign Kieran Brookes after decision to leave Franklin’s Gardens

Moving on to the Ricoh Arena

Guscott column: We missed Joe Launchbury, Le Roux boosted Boks

Jeremy Guscott's viewpoint on where things went wrong for England in the first Test

Leicester Tigers centre George Catchpole retires from rugby

Calling it a day at the age of 24...

You haven’t heard the last of Spain, insists Jaime Nava

The Spain captain claims there is no justice in the system after his team are disqualified from the Rugby World Cup...

Lang takes centre stage as Jackson returns at 10

By SAM JACKSON HARLEQUINS playmaker James Lang and Edinburgh flanker Jamie Ritchie were set to make their make Scotland debuts in...

Gatland’s fledgling Dragons show fire

From ALEX BYWATER in Argentina In at the corner: James Davies scores the opener for Wales PICTURES: Huw Evans IN THE...

O’Shea’s Azzurri fall to eighth defeat on the spin

By GEORGE LAWRENCE WORLD Cup hosts Japan extended Conor O’Shea’s Italy’s winless run to eight games and provided a timely boost...

De Klerk puts mighty spring into thenew South Africa

BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT Idon’t think I’m alone in thinking that Sale’s Faf De Klerk could well have been the Premiership player...

We missed Launchbury, Boks had Le Roux back

JEREMY GUSCOTT ENGLAND were immaculate in the first 20 minutes and when George Ford and Owen Farrell combine like that in...

Great start, good ending …in between it’s disaster!

From NICK CAIN at Ellis Park Passion: Willie le Roux celebrates his try SO much for a 3-0 series win. England...

YOUNG GUNS

JAMES SCOTT WORCESTER & ENGLAND U20S LOCK James Scott might have been a footballer and could have been a top basketball...

Connacht avoid red mist yet again

PETER JACKSON looks at the saints and sinners from Europe’s three main leagues For the first time in 15 years, Connacht...

El Abd’s in dreamland after latest miracle job

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Dad’s a hero: Joe El Abd with his children Maya, 6, Gabriel, 8, and Zachary, 4, at...

Botha hits back after German club gets the boot

By STEFFAN THOMAS FORMER England lock Mouritz Botha has blasted EPCR’s decision to throw his Heidelberger RK side out of the...