Ash splash: Ashton score the opening try

Try of the week: You could choose half a dozen from the England v Barbarians game but my favourite was the...

Hero pathfinders fought cause of black players

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Ball of energy: Errol Tobias RUGBY MATTERS BACK in 2009...

Challenge Cup hit by double standards

RUGBY does have an incredibly frustrating habit of shooting itself in the foot with its blatant tendency to soft pedal with...

Ireland without Best

SKIPPER Rory Best has been ruled out of Ireland’s three-Test tour in Australia because of a hamstring injury. Munster hooker Niall...

Jackson linked with Perpignan

PADDYJackson is understood to be close to joining Stuart Olding in relocating to France as both bid to kick-start their playing...

New cap Kinghorn plots route to Japan

By GARY HEATLY Edinburgh ace: Blair Kinghorn PICTURE: Getty Images BLAIR Kinghorn knows that Gregor Townsend has put a lot of...

Springbok lock Mostert agrees deal with Glos

By ADAM ELLIS Leader: Franco Mostert GLOUCESTER have confirmed the signing of Lions and Springboks lock Franco Mostert ahead of the...

US game critics are all just talking nonsense

I SIMPLY can’t understand those who have spent the last week slamming Wales’ clash with South Africa in Washington. Yes there...

Dead dogs, muggers… welcome to Argentina!

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Needs to be at his best: Rob Evans faces a big test in Argentina INEVER...

New-look Wales bid to emulate success of ‘99

ALEX BYWATER talks to the Welsh coaching duo hoping for more glory days in Argentina History boys: Chris Wyatt scores for...

Debut for Williams as North moves to centre

WING George North was named at centre with Ellis Jenkins captaining Wales for the first time in last night’s Test match...

Edwards to help coach the regions

WALES defence coach Shaun Edwards will work with both Ospreys and Dragons next season on a part-time basis. Edwards, who recently...

Ospreys’ coaching panel swung decision for North

By ALEX BYWATER Taken care of: Wales star George North GEORGE North has revealed the coaching combination of Allen Clarke and...

Families need to stay away from big matches

ON the 2005 Lions tour Sir Clive Woodward was accompanied by his wife and their teenage son. My view after that...

Bath boss on thin ice when he raps Eddie

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK IN two and a half years of England training sessions under Eddie Jones...

Rees set for Cup bid at the age of 38

By PETER JACKSON MATTHEW Rees plans to make a Champions’ Cup come-back with Cardiff Blues next season at the age of...

Penalties will kill our Boks hopes warns Itoje

By NICK CAIN MARO Itoje has warned his England team-mates to cut out the penalties or face defeat on their Springbok...

HITZ programme shows rugby kids the power of sport

Sport helped turn John McAvoy's life around - and hand-in-hand with Premiership Rugby he's helping youngsters reach for the stars!

50 tournaments for England captain Tom Mitchell and he says Sevens can only grow

England have been drawn in a pool with Kenya, USA and Russia for the event at Twickenham

Ellis Jenkins to skipper Wales against the Boks

All four touring Dragons to play in Washington

Joey Carbery set to end speculation over his future with move to Munster

Joe Schmidt could comment on the move later on Thursday when he faces the media

Scottish Rugby reveal plans for new 7,800-capacity stadium for Edinburgh

SRU apply for planning permission for new ground to be built on training pitches

Eddie Jones bats away criticism over training regime

The England coach responds to Bath owner Bruce Craig who is furious over Beno Obano's injury on international duty

Guscott column: Elliot Daly is in many ways England’s best back

Jeremy Guscott says Ben Te'o should be key to England's plans for victory in South Africa

South Africa name seven uncapped players for Wales Test in Washington

Blitzbokke star and Lions openside flanker Kwagga Smith starts

Gloucester sign Springboks forward Franco Mostert

Ackermann works his magic again to lure familiar face from his old club Lions

Mark McCall follows up Premiership title with new contract at Saracens

McCall will mark ten years at Saracens next year...

Stuart Olding signs for relegated Top 14 side Brive

Olding and Ulster team-mate Paddy Jackson had their contracts at the Kingspan revoked in April

CLOSE-UP

JOHNNY SEXTON Leinster fly-half V RHYS PATCHELL Scarlets fly-half It was just the Scarlets luck to run into Johnny Sexton on...

Ringmaster Sexton puts Scarlets on the ropes

By PETER JACKSON at the Aviva Stadium Body blow: Leinster’s James Lowe scores just before half-time MATCH STATS… LEINSTER stripped the...

Eddie must unleash Te’o against the Springboks

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT Explosive: At his best, Ben Te’o can tear defences apart PICTURE: Getty Images ALL three of...

Absolute joke no Sarries player makes Dream XV

Forces of nature: Mako Vunipola, left, and Brad Barritt PICTURE: Getty Images BRENDAN GALLAGHER COMMENT In the match programme at Twickenham...

Wyles and Brits go out in style of champions

By NICK CAIN at Twickenham Flying low: Nathan Earle scores Sarries’ fourth Curtain call: Chris Wyles touches down for Saracens’ third...

YOUNG GUNS

JOEL KPOKU SARACENS LOCK Joel Kpoku reveals he was torn between Rugby League and Rugby Union before a chat with legendary...

Curry confident England can rule again

SALE flanker Ben Curry is determined to bring his Premiership experience to bear and prove to Eddie Jones he is worth...

Wizz-kid Smith in to work his magic

By NEALE HARVEY Harlequins playmaker: Marcus Smith scores against Exeter PICTURE: Getty Images ENGLAND SQUAD Forwards: Josh Basham (London Irish) Ben...

Castres unlikely lads line up tilt at the title

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Incisive: Aaron Cruden has disovered his touch just in time for Montpellier PICTURE: Getty Images TOP 14...

ROOM 101

THE LANCASHIRE WINGER AND KIRKBY LONSDALE HEAD COACH TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND SCOTT...

Hibbard impressed by Dee’s progress

RICHARD Hibbard is backing club rival Elliot Dee to become Wales’ first choice hooker at next year’s World Cup. The former...

Tynedale appoint ex-Tiger Woods

TYNEDALE have appointed former England Saxons, Newcastle and Leicester flanker Ben Woods as their new head coach. Woods, a Premiership winner...

Cowan-Dickie ready to explode on Test scene

By NEALE HARVEY Take that: Luke Cowan-Dickie hands off Saints’ Jamie Gibson PICTURES: Getty Images ENGLAND hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has vowed...

Lancashire clubs highlight need for level playing field

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Ambitious: Ealing Trailfinders are pushing hard for the Premiership I was not...

Hurricanes outmuscled by clinical Crusaders

By JAKE JONES In the clear: Heiden Bedwell-Curtis scores for Crusaders PICTURE: Getty Images THE Crusaders took a major step towards...

Tonga’uiha sure Pacific franchise would be smash hit

NEWS EXTRA SOANE Tonga’uiha reckons a combined ‘Pacific Force’ Super Rugby team could quickly challenge the old order and become a...

Big rewards for super-charged forward pack at promoted Sale

Champions Sale take top billing but the best backs in National Two North all come from elsewehere Handful at No.8: Hinckley’s...

Irish fully loaded for Australia tour

UNCAPPED pair Tadhg Beirne and Ross Byrne have been named in a 32- man Ireland squad for the three-Test series against...

Next Robinson stepping up in coaching world

By WILL CARPENTER AMBITIOUS Jersey Reds’ new assistant coach Ed Robinson is relishing his opportunity to join up with Harvey Biljon’s...

Namibia are big favourites with Bothma back to lead

AS was the case for RWC2015 the CAR African Championship will double up as the RWC2019 qualifying tournament for Africa 1,...

Ireland face tough task of keeping Folau quiet

BRENDAN GALLAGHER sets the scene for the big Southern Hemisphere tours set to depart in June Challenge: Michael Cheika THIS summer...

Pride of Lions turn out to honour Top Cat

PORT TALBOT, famous for making steel as well as a trio of matinee idols in Richard Burton, Anthony Hopkins and Michael...