Carnegie look to build on improved showing

Preview York’ Carnegie v Jersey Reds Today, Kick-off 3pm YORKSHIRE Carnegie return to Emerald Headingley today to face rivals Jersey Reds...

RAF getting closer to Forces parity by parachuting into the Stoop

The RAF celebrated its Centenary last week and it’s always been something of a bugbear, stoically borne, that for all sorts...

RUGBY MATTERS

Hopefully commonsense will prevail in Spain case BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points In spotlight: Mathieu...

Bananaman Hernandez could take your breath away

JUAN Martin Hernandez circa 2007 was an astonishing player touched by genius who added a good deal of X-factor to the...

Murray’s eagle eye earns the advantage

THERE were all sorts of difficult calls for our referees to make in Europe last weekend – and in real time...

Chiefs keep momentum with penalty try winner

By SAM JACKSON Flyer: Lions wing Madosh Tambwe celebrates his hat-trick PICTURE: Getty Images THE Chiefs stretched their winning run to...

Proud Lemi moving on

DAVID Lemi will depart Bristol Rugby at the end of the season, having made 139 appearances. The club’s record tryscorer, who...

Cheetahs tighthead Botha set to sign on at Ospreys

NEWS EXTRA By ALEX BYWATER OSPREYS will today confirm the signing of Toyota Cheetahs tight-head Tom Botha. The powerful prop has...

Eddie must tap into the reservoir to find answers

Captain material: Elliot Daly gathers the ball ahead of Keith Earls to score against Ireland PICTURE: Getty Images Make Elliot Daly...

Obviously some WRU policies aren’t fit for purpose

ANOTHER week, another example of how one family’s expensive day out to support Wales ended up being ruined by drunken fans...

Ashton shows he’s class act

CHRIS Ashton, derided by many as more a show-off than a showman, ought to have won a host of admirers over...

Hard to fathom their understanding of ‘neutral’

WHEREwould the Champions’ Cup be without Ireland’s big two? Leinster (51,700) and Munster (26,265) accounted for more than 80 per cent...

Crying shame that Wilson’s magic will be lost to Wales

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Miracle man: Blues coach Danny Wilson PICTURE: Getty Images Danny Wilson is one...

Bailey turning women into world beaters in double quick time

Women’s Sevens TEAM England women’s Sevens coach James Bailey knows his side must overcome “super high competition” if they are to...

Glover is one to watch after impressing in debut season

Men’s Sevens SIMON Amor is backing politics student Harry Glover to swing the vote in Team England’s favour at this week’s...

Hopefully I’ll be given a luckier break this time!

England captain TOM MITCHELL assesses his side’s chances on the Gold Coast TOM MITCHELL Team to beat: South Africa win the...

Galacticos of ’98 ensured Sevens was here to stay

BRENDAN GALLAGHER recalls the glorious arrival of Rugby Sevens to the Commonwealth Games BRENDAN GALLAGHER Best of the best: Jonah Lomu...

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Dickinson concern over long term effects of ring-fencing

By NEALE HARVEY Worry: Sam Dickinson PREMIERSHIP ringfencing would be a disaster for player development, says Ealing and former Northampton back...

Deegan double helps see off plucky Italians

By BILL KIELY Leinster …41 Zebre …6 LEINSTER No.8 Max Deegan was thrilled with the staying power of the province as...

Horror trip ends in last gasp agony for Blues

By STEFFAN THOMAS CARDIFF Blues came within a whisker of beating the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein only to be denied by a...

Stander try sets Munster on way to bonus

By JOHN FALLON Kings …22 Munster …39 MUNSTERbegan preparations for their Champions Cup semi-final with a hardfought win over Southern Kings....

Jackman blasts ‘shocking’ late decision

By ROB COLE A SCRUM penalty conceded on their own ball with the clock in the red denied the Dragons their...

We’ll front up for big tests ahead says Pivac

By TOMOS INGS Flying high: Scarlets’ Gareth Davies dives over to score PICTURE: Huw Evans WAYNE Pivac believes his Scarlets pack...

Biggar signs off in style as Ospreys eye play-off shot

By ROGER PANTING DAN Biggar bade farewell to Liberty Stadium by guiding Ospreys to a convincing victory to keep alive their...

Ulster still in mix for honours with bonus point win

By RONAN O’NEILL Edinburgh …20 Ulster …32 RICHARD Cockerill blamed a poor first-half showing for the defeat at the hands of...

Rotatation will be key to Scarlets’ double bid

SHANE WILLIAMS Been there, done it: Scarlets triumphed in last year’s PRO12 final at the Aviva Stadium PICTURE: Getty Images WALES...

County councillors set to vote on Stadium for Cornwall

By MIKE SINCLAIR “STADIUM for Cornwall COMING HERE” reads the giant poster in a field at the side of the A390,...

Adams aiming for a big finish to ignite Test bid

By NEALE HARVEY Prolific: Premiership top try scorer Josh Adams PICTURES: Getty Images HOT SHOT Worcester wing Josh Adams has quashed...

Patchell’s packing heat from distance

By STEFFAN THOMAS RHYS Patchell insists he’s ready to step up and fire the Scarlets into a first Champions Cup final....

ROOM 101

THE LEICESTER LIONS FORWARD AND CAPTAIN TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND MATT TUCKEY 1....

Expendables would put up a good fight

JUST for a bit of fun, Blindside has put together a top XV of players who are out of contract at...

Ambitious Ealing look totempt Joe

Wanted: Wasps No.9 Joe Simpson EALING Trailfinders are looking into launching an ambitious bid to lure Joe Simpson away from Wasps...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

Castro’s consortium looking to invest in Tier 2 BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler MARTIN Castrogiovanni is looking to get...

Kempson has eye on West’s job

FORMER Northampton prop Robbie Kempson is keen to return Franklin’s Gardens next season to replace forwards coach Dorian West. Saints have...

Lowes keen to lure Cope to Carnegie

YORKSHIRE Carnegie head coach Jimmy Lowes will get a close look at one of his transfer targets when Jersey Reds visit...

Pellow excited by Chiefs’ embarrassment of scrum-half riches

EXETER backs coach Ricky Pellow concedes stalwart pivot Will Chudley has become collateral damage in a vicious scrumhalf battle that is...

Slater calls for Tiger-like finish to season grind

By NEALE HARVEY Thriving at Gloucester: Ed Slater PICTURES: Getty Images Impressive rise at Chiefs: Jonny Hill ED Slater has ordered...

No reason to leave Cipriani out now he is tackling his weight

Team player: Danny Cipriani should tour South Africa in the summer PICTURE: Getty Images DANNY Cipriani has not been renowned as...

Romanian failings just a bad joke, or worse?

NICK CAIN The Romania-Spain-Belgium World Cup qualifying scandal has forced the ostriches who thought the match-fixing could never happen in rugby...

Still all to play for insists Deano

DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Richards admitted that he had feared such a result had been on the cards for Newcastle. “Before...

Richards’ boys put in spin by Worcester big-hitters

By TOM BRADSHAW Driving force: Ryan Bower tries to break through the Falcons defence PICTURES: Getty Images Well marshalled: Newcastle defence...

Basic errors let them in – Young

DAI Young was disappointed with some of the errors which saw Wasps concede four tries at the AJ Bell. “We did...

Yarde nips in to beat the buzzer for Sharks

By COLIN NEWBOULT Sale day: Sharks’ Bryn Evans goes over PICTURES: Getty Images Second strike: Wasps’ Josh Bassett scores his second...

Bad start just got worse – Kingston

HARLEQUINS director of rugby John Kingston did not cut a happy figure post-match. “We never got going; we were lethargic from...

Exiles make most of Quins’ surrender

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Our hero: Exiles’ Tom Fowlie is congratulated after scoring against Harlequins PICTURES: Getty Images Legging it: Mat Luamanu,...

Ball is in George’s court now say Blues

By PETER JACKSON THE George North transfer saga takes a new twist today with the revelation of an enterprising move from...

Worcester hit by £8m losses for last season

By NEALE HARVEY WORCESTER Warriors have declined to comment over losses of £8.1m for season 2016-17 amid off-field upheaval that has...

Newcastle Falcons flying high again

Jon Newcombe talks to Newcastle's commercial director Mick Hogan about the change in the club's fortunes

Guscott column: Only Wasps magic can deny Chiefs and Saracens

Jeremy Guscott says Wasps are the only team who can prevent a Exeter v Saracens Premiership final