Welcome to Boyd – now let NZ take one of ours

CHRIS Boyd’s track-record is impressive enough to suggest that a Northampton resurgence will be on the cards when the New Zealander...

Simmonds proves we need strong second tier

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE vapour trail left by Sam Simmonds on his Six Nations debut in...

Injuries could be key, says Schmidt

JOE Schmidt admits injuries could be a factor for Ireland after Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw both left the field early...

Ireland’s Italian romp marred by injury fears

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER IRELAND duly accumulated an impressive total against Italy which helped boost their points difference immeasurably – but it...

Judo horror injury will force Sam to quit at 26

By NEIL FISSLER SAM JONES is set to hang up his boots after failing to recover from an horrendous injury he...

Gatland raps TMO as ‘no try’ row rages

By GARY FITZGERALD WARREN Gatland hit out at the Twickenham TMO last night after his Welsh team were denied a crucial...

Gregor Townsend names Greig Laidlaw among six changes to Scotland team

Scotland head coach makes three changes to the backs and three to the forwards for clash with France

Eddie Jones names England team to play Wales and plays mind games with Rhys Patchell

The England head coach warns Patchell to expect a more robust defence when he sees England players running to tackle him

Ealing Trailfinders are on the long trek towards Premiership

By Brendan Gallagher Could Ealing Trailfinders be the next Exeter Chiefs?  Both clubs were founded in 1871, both have long rugby...

Jackson column: Shaun Edwards knows how to win at Twickenham

Peter Jackson recalls an extraordinary classic at Twickenham ten years ago

Dallaglio: Move might help James Haskell find his best form

Lawrence Dallaglio talks of his former Wasps team-mate's next move when his contract at the Ricoh expires at the end of...

Former All Blacks great Conrad Smith drops hint on when he will retire

Now 36, the Pau centre has spoken about his future ahead of the Brisbane Tens tournamant

Guscott column: Jonathan Joseph must stop ambling through and get positive

'Ben Te'o could be the Billy Vunipola in the backs' writes former England centre Jeremy Guscott

Top international rugby referee has say on football’s VAR teething problems

The Northern Hemisphere's first professional referee, Ed Morrison, talks about the evolution of the TMO in rugby

Sale Sharks flanker Dave Seymour retires from rugby

Former Sale captain calls time on career to focus on business interests

Warren Gatland names unchanged team to face England at Twickenham

Gatland confirms Liam Williams will be allowed to play for Saracens this weekend as he recovers from injury

Ben Youngs suffers suspected ligament damage

Leicester Tigers scrum-half to have a scan on Monday

Johnny’s so glad he got last chance…

IRELAND’S Grand Slam remains on track thanks to Johnny Sexton’s lastgasp winner. The fly-half said: “It was one of those moments...

Sexton sets Irish eyes smiling with one of the great drop goals

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER JOHNNY Sexton broke French hearts in Paris last night with a match winning 45 metre dropped goal with...

Halfpenny is class on another red-letter day for Scarlets

PETER JACKSON VERDICT Marksman: Leigh Halfpenny kicks more points One day soon the scoreline will be enshrined in clubhouses all over...

Momentum will carry us to Twickenham with belief

SHANE WILLIAMS Midfield maestro: Centre Hadleigh Parkes That was more like it! I’ve said for a long time that Wales have...

Beckett’s score earns maiden win for Firwood

By STEVE BROOKS Five tries: Hartpury-Gloucester’s Kelly Smith SARAH Beckett helped secure Firwood Waterloo’s first victory in the Tyrrells Premier 15s...

France find it difficult to feel love for Altrad

DAVID BARNES Montpellier chairman Mohed Altrad, born to a Bedouin tribe in the desert, has built a global empire that turns...

Double break-in horror shocks Talywain

By LUKE JARMYN NEWS EXTRA A SOUTH-EAST Wales rugby club has been left devastated after being broken into twice within five...

Gatland: Don’t pick a Welshman

WARREN Gatland says it will be hard for a Welshman to follow him as Wales national coach after the 2019 World...

We must replace Cup says Connacht coach

NEWS EXTRA By LUKE JARMYN CONNACHT Academy coach Mossy Lawler has called on the Irish Rugby Football Union and other governing...

Woods can’t wait to see Ebbw in action after delay

PREVIEW Newport v Ebbw Vale Sunday. Kick-off 2.30pm By DANIEL WILSON NEW Ebbw Vale head coach Greg Woods takes charge of...

Hughes double gives coach Stoddart second win in row

Neath 15 Cross Keys 41 By CARL FIELD HOOKER Darren Hughes scored a double as Cross Keys hit Neath for six...

Ponty turn on the style in march towards the title

Pontypridd 59 Llanelli 14 By ANDREW DEERING PONTYPRIDD once again demonstrated their Premiership title credentials by romping to victory. Llanelli had...

Merthyr dig out victory after injuries disrupt Bedwas drive

Bedwas 23 Merthyr 34 By JAY BRAYFORD MERTHYR extended their winning run to 14 games with a hard-fought victory at the...

Quins find perfect response to National Cup loss

Carmarthen Q 21 Aberavon. 15 By PAUL HOPKINS QUINS sneaked a hardfought victory thanks to three second-half penalties from fly-half Jac...

Swansea pack in control as Bargoed are swept away

Swansea 22 Bargoed 8 By PAUL HOPKINS SWANSEA secured a welldeserved victory at a rain-soaked St Helen’s. They took the lead...

Welsh Division One round-up

BRYNMAWR moved seven points clear at the top of One East after a 22- 12 bonus-point victory at Dowlais. Wingers Ryan...

Thompson looks class from tee

By JAY BRAYFORD Bridgend 13 Cardiff 23 AN impressing kicking display from Gareth Thompson inspired Cardiff to victory. The fly-half booted...

Amor’s lads face Kiwis in Hamilton last eight

WORLD SERIES 7s HOSTS New Zealand laid in wait for England in the early hours of this morning in the Cup...

ROOM 101

MATT HEMA THE CAMBRIDGE CENTRE/WING TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND. 1. Unflushed toilets I...

Games pools pit England against Aussies

By SAM JACKSON NEWS EXTRA ENGLAND have discovered their groups for the 2018 Commonwealth Games Sevens in the Gold Coast in...

Lam track record led me to Bristol – Stirzaker

By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA AUSSIE Super Rugby star Nic Stirzaker has revealed how Pat Lam’s record of success persuaded him...

Politics drove me out of SA rugby – Van Zyl

NEWS EXTRA By NEALE HARVEY SOUTH African scrum-half Piet van Zyl concedes his hopes of a Springboks recall are over after...

Wily Warren has too much know-how for reckless Scots

From NICK CAIN at the Principality Stadium THE Scarlets experiment worked a treat as Wales opened their Six Nations account in...

Saints tie down lock star Ratuniyarawa

FIJI second row Api Ratuniyarawa has signed a new two-year contract with Northampton Saints to run until 2020. The 31-year-old joined...

Pumas ace Cordero signs on at Exeter

ARGENTINA winger Santiago Cordero has joined Exeter until the end of the season Cordero has won 33 caps for the Pumas...

Bath bring in Sevens flyer McConnochie

ENGLAND Sevens speedster Ruaridh McConnochie, 26, will join Bath in the summer of 2018 – his first top flight club having...

Gibbes in charge as Kiss departs Ulster

ULSTER’S director of rugby Les Kiss has left the province following the recent poor run of results. The ex-Ireland assistant coach’s...

Visser, Hammond pen contract extensions

HARLEQUINS wing Tim Visser has signed a two-year contract extension with the Premiership side. The Netherlands-born Scotland back, 30, joined the...

Attwood jets off for refresher in Toulon

RUGBY SHORTS BATH second row Dave Attwood has joined French Top 14 side Toulon on loan for the rest of the...

Now Eddie knows what Stuart Lancaster had to put up with

WITH the first weekend of the Six Nations upon us, the excitement and expectation has made the waiting worthwhile for some....

Women must change their laws to avoid catastrophe

JEFF PROBYN Physical differences: Lagi Tuima makes a break for England against Canada. PICTURE: Getty Images As the England men’s team...

Crusaders surivive Bracknell fightback

South West Premier TABLE-TOPPERS Dings Crusaders survived a second-half fightback from Bracknell to win 23-19. Two tries from Ashley Challenger, a...

Grasshoppers closing in on title triumph

Northern Premier PRESTON Grasshoppers look to have the league sewn up after they increased their lead to 10 points following a...