Cragg optimistic Titans can survive the drop

NEWS EXTRA By GUY WILLIAMS WINLESS Rotherham Titans still believe it is possible to avoid relegation after sacking coach Andy Key....

Noves goes legal as French job row hots us

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN New France supremo Jacques Brunel, promised a golden goodbye by his Bordeaux- Begles troops, found they could...

Warriors lock quits to pursue American Dream

Ace: Scotland-Williamson SECOND row Christian Scotland-Williamson has left Worcester Warriors to pursue a career in American football in Florida. The 24-year-old...

Henry’s mind games get him focused on England

By NEALE HARVEY Finally fit again: Henry Thomas is hungry for a Test recall thanks to help from Don Macpherson PICTURE:...

Howe puts the boot in to claim derby

SWALEC Division One round-up By JAY BAYFORD MAESTEG Quins edged into a five-point lead at the top of One West Central...

Four-try Jamie ends year on a high

SWALEC Championship round-up By JAY BAYFORD THERE was end-of-year cheer for Jamie Jeune as his four-try salvo helped maintain Pontypool’s perfect...

RGC keep pace at the top with thumping victory

RGC 1404 …47 Bridgend …14 By CHRIS SMART RGC 1404 said goodbye to 2017 in perfect fashion as they scored six...

Super Sweeney the hero again as Ponty maintain form

Pontypridd …29 Bedwas …20 By JAY BAYFORD PONTYPRIDD made it 11 wins from their last 12 Principality Premiership games with a...

Newport hold on as Cardiff squander late chance

Newport…29 Cardiff …17 By IWAN GABE DAVIES IT IS one of the oldest fixtures in rugby, dating back to 1876, and...

Mogg stars as Bargoed turn on the style to crush Neath

Neath…17 Bargoed RFC…40 By CARL FIELD JULIAN Mogg’s brace inspired Bargoed as they hit Neath for six at the Gnoll. Former...

Magnificent Merthyr hit seven to demolish Keys

Merthyr …43 Cross Keys …10 By ANDREW DEERING MERTHYR powered to a convincing victory over Cross Keys at the Wern, crossing...

Wizards undone by Llandovery magic in one-sided game

Llandovery …30 Aberavon …7 By HUW S THOMAS LLANDOVERYdeservedly and decisively took the spoils against Aberavon in front of the live...

Ebbw Vale…43 Llanelli …15

EBBWVale put in an outstanding second-half performance to overwhelm Llanelli. The home side opened the scoring when Dorian Jones kicked a...

Principality Premiership

Carmarthen …24 Swansea …23 TWO penalty tries helped Carmarthen Quins to a last-gasp victory against Swansea in a thriller at Carmarthen...

North have stolen a march on southern pace-setters

JEFF PROBYN Big gains: Stuart McNally scores in Scotland’s eight-try victory over Australia PICTURE: Getty Images Well that’s it, 2017 is...

PRO14 pair banned following red cards

SCOTLAND prop Simon Berghan will miss the Six Nations opener against Wales after being banned for six weeks. Edinburgh star Berghan,...

Hamstring injury sidelines Bassett

WASPS have been hit by news that winger Josh Bassett faces a spell on the sidelines. Bassett was forced off in...

Roberts considering swansong in Japan

WALES centre Jamie Roberts is weighing up a move to Japan at the end of the season when his contract at...

Bath fined £60k for releasing Faletau

BATHhave been fined £60, 000 by Premiership Rugby for allowing No.8 Taulupe Faletau to play for Wales against South Africa in...

Cockerill brings in prop reinforcement

EDINBURGH boss Richard Cockerill has signed Samoa loosehead Jordan Lay from New Zealand-based outfit Bay of Plenty until the end of...

Broken hand rules out Warrior Lance

RUGBY SHORTS WORCESTER’s Jono Lance may have played his last game for the club after breaking his hand. The Australian flyhalf...

Stack knew how to make most of his many talents

BRIAN ‘STACK’ STEVENS (Cornish Pirates, Cornwall, England and Lions tourist) Died October 10 aged 76 Cornish farmer and a rock of...

Joost faced death with defiant courage

JOOST VAN DER WESTHUIZEN (Blue Bulls and South Africa) Died February 6 aged 45 One of the best scrumhalves the game...

More than a tough guy but Meads was tough!

Memorial: Sir Colin Meads and his wife Lady Verna with a new statue of himself Uncompromising: Meads charges down a kick...

14-man Doncaster Buckle at the death

By GUY WILLIAMS THIS exciting Yorkshire derby, in which both sides scored four tries, was dominated by a red card on...

Jones drives over to keep Trailfinders in the hunt

By MATT WRIGHT LLEWELYNJones’ late try completed a remarkable comeback from Ealing as they edged a thriller against a fired-up Bedford...

Titans sink further into mire after Murphy double

By ANDREW BEACHAM HARTPURY emerged victors in a game which, had it gone the other way, could have left them contemplating...

Bristol cut loose with Williams hat-trick

By LUKE JARMYN Power play: Steven Luatua forces his way through to score for Bristol PICTURE: Dante Kim Try time: Luc...

Nottingham stunned by late Scottish power surge

By ROB WILDMAN LONDONScottish produced a powerful final quarter to overturn a 17-0 deficit to win by three tries to two...

Koster in as Pirates target big home win

Preview Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds Today, Kick-off 2pm PIRATES have lost their last four fixtures against the Islanders and coach...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

THE FORMER WORCESTER, BRISTOL, ROTHERHAM & DONCASTER SCRUM-HALF CHRIS HALLAM It took me until the final game of my 11-year career...

Budd try clinches Christmas double for Benetton

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Zebre 20 Benetton 26 DEANBudd’s score 11 minutes from time helped Benetton back up last weekend’s victory over...

We want to win it for Les – Piutau

PREVIEW… Ulster v Munster Monday, January 1, Kick-off 5.35pm ULSTER recall fly-half Christian Lealiifano for their derby with Munster as pressure...

Sexton returns in Leinster shake up

PREVIEW… Leinster v Connacht Monday, January 1, Kick-off 3.15pm. Aviva Stadium JOHNNY Sexton will captain Leinster on his return to the...

Tyro Babos set for baptism against Webb

By ROB COLE Prodigy: Dan Babos TEENAGE Dragons scrumhalf Dan Babos will face the biggest test of his career to date...

Blues’ cult hero Filise brings up 250 mark

By ALEX BYWATER Still going strong at 40: Blues prop Taufa’ao Filise TAUFA’AO Filise insists he remains unclear over his future...

Warriors hit back to level 1872 Cup series

Glasgow 17 Edinburgh 0 GLASGOWgained revenge for last week’s defeat to Edinburgh with this hardfought 1872 Cup win at Scotstoun. The...

YOUNG GUNS

CHARLIE WILSON NEWCASTLE CENTRE Charlie Wilson has a photograph on his phone to remind him of the standards he aspires to....

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Exiles urged to keep faith with Kennedy and staff

By NEALE HARVEY LONDON Irish must stand by rugby director Nick Kennedy and his young coaches regardless of whether they are...

…And on a more serious note

Most poignant: Pretoria, February 10 and the death at 45 of the best scrum-half since Gareth, now Sir Gareth Edwards. They...

Warburton wins the Kissinger award 2017

PETER JACKSON Persuasive: Sam Warburton saves the tour. Gareth Steenson, Sergio Parisse, Rassie Erasmus PICTURES: Getty Images Stuffed with turkey and...

Exiled Buckland waiting for a coaching reprieve

Start of decline: London Welsh were relegated from the Aviva Premiership in May 2016 ON January 1, 2017, London Welsh met...

TEAM OF THE YEAR 2017

15. Israel Folau (Australia) The long-striding Aussie full-back enjoyed a glorious 2017 scoring 12 tries in ten Tests before ‘declaring’ and...

ANNUAL RANT

Forward passes. It’s not bloody rocket science. All the ball carrier needs to do is propel the ball backwards at a...

2017 That was the year that was

Brendan Gallagher picks his most memorable moments from the past 12 months QUOTES OF 2017 “I think we should have won...

2017 AWARDS

Electric: Rieko Ioane Player of the Year: Rieko Ioane. World Rugby gave the award to Beauden Barrett but for me nothing...

2017… THE WINNERS

Captain: Dylan Hartley lifts Six Nations trophy RBS Six Nations Men: England RBS Six Nations Women: England Rugby Championship: New Zealand...

Call me when you want, Steff – you’re on the way up

THERE are lots of players I’m looking forward to seeing take their game to the next level in 2018, but if...

North can fire Wales’ Six Nations ambitions

SHANE WILLIAMS Juggernaut: George North is essential to Wales PICTURE: Getty Images IN years gone by, my wish for Welsh rugby...