Pirates finally get green light after long rain delay

GREENE KING CHAMPIONSHIP Preview Cornish Pirates v Yorkshire Carnegie Today, Kick-off 2.30pm AFTERweeks of incessant rain, Cornish Pirates finally host their...

Rival clubs set to swoop for Titans coach Rouse

By JON NEWCOMBE ROTHERHAM face a battle to keep hold of the services of interim head coach Nic Rouse with their...

Frankenstein foot to the floor in bid for higher honours

HIGHLY rated Harlequins lock Sam Twomey is ready to relaunch his quest for Test honours after recovering from a horror foot...

Crusaders spark into life with late power surge

By OLIVER SINCLAIR THE Crusaders started the defence of their Super Rugby title with a 45-23 bonus-point win over the Chiefs....

Beefed up Barrett back after shoulder surgery

NEWS EXTRA By GEORGE LAWRENCE ALL BLACKS full-back Jordie Barrett will make his return to action for the Wellington Hurricanes development...

The French connection

THE French connection for Spain is not new, it’s just been a Catch 22 situation of Los Leones never previously having...

Is thisWorld Cup story changing face of old-fashioned Spanish sporting customs?

BRENDAN GALLAGHER takes a look at the latest European nation to make their mark in rugby SO, suddenly Spain look odds-on...

Top talent from tier two moving up for shot at Premiership

WORCESTER have signed three of the top stars from the Championship for next season. Doncaster scrum-half Michael Heaney, London Scottish hooker...

Pocket rocket Cordero catching fire at Chiefs

By NEALE HARVEY EXETER flyer Santiago Cordero claims risking his Test career with Argentina is a small price to pay for...

Munster win the race for Haley

Irish call: Mike Haley MUNSTER look to have beaten Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs in the bid to lure England Saxons full-back...

Mostert waits to see if South Africa want him

FRANCO Mostert is set to keep waiting the Premiership clubs who are keen to lure him away from the Lions later...

Te’o decides he’s staying at Warriors – for now

Staying: Ben Te’o will see out his contract at Worcester BRITISH Lions centre Ben Te’o is set to see out the...

Ospreys choose Fleck as their new boss

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Deal: Robbie Fleck FORMER Bath centre Robbie Fleck has agreed...

ROOM 101

TOM CALLADINE THE ROTHERHAM BACK ROWER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Hangovers It’s...

Wales snub drives Young’s need for speed

DETERMINED Wasps back rower Thomas Young has vowed to keep working on his pace and power as he seeks a route...

Galarza stays but hopes for Pumas call

ARGENTINIAN lock Mariano Galarza has confirmed he is staying at Gloucester next season. There have been doubts about the 31-year-old’s future...

Batty: Plenty of life in the old dog yet!

By NEALE HARVEY Up for the fight: Ross Batty PICTURES: Getty Images SELF-PROCLAIMED Bath “old dog” Ross Batty has warned youthful...

Success in Italian job key to Blues Euro bid

Preview Zebre v Cardiff Blues Today, Kick-off 1pm CARDIFF Blues head coach Danny Wilson is looking for an ‘Italian Job’ to...

Benetton beaten by Connacht’s power

By RONAN O’BRIEN Benetton…19 Connacht …22 FINLAYBealham, Jarrad Butler and Eoin Griffin scored second-half tries as Connacht recovered to win. Coach...

Leinster kids cane Kings with 10 tries

By JOHN FALLON Leinster …64 Kings …7 LEINSTER coach Leo Cullen threw in his young talent with so many absent on...

It’s a Vale of tears… even for victorious Edinburgh

By ROGER PANTING DESPITE their bonus point win, Edinburgh’s director of rugby, Richard Cockerill, was scathing of Dragons’ decision to play...

Depleted Scarlets keep heat on Leinster

By JAMES CANDY On the rampage: Werner Kruger of Scarlets tries to break through the Ulster defence PICTURE: Huw Evans SCARLETS...

Makeshift Ospreys find winning end game

By ROB COLE OSPREYS completed a smash-and-grab raid in the final minute to keep alive their chances of reaching the Champions...

Glasgow made to pay for lineout failings

By DECLAN ROONEY Munster …21 Glasgow …10 GLASGOW coach Dave Rennie lamented his side’s misfiring set-piece as Munster inflicted just a...

Penalty for breaching cup rules

WASPS have been punished for playing too many loan players in last month’s Anglo-Welsh Cup game against London Irish. Wasps played...

Lam promises to give youth their chance

FRUSTRATED Bristol supremo Pat Lam says he is sick of his club being used as a bargaining tool as he prepares...

Bakewell’s challenge to create new pack legacy

By NEALE HARVEY New generation of prop: Ellis Genge PICTURES: Getty Images NEW Leicester forwards guru Mark Bakewell has vowed to...

Brian was part of the famous hole-in-floor Press gang

THEYlaid Brian Batty to rest amid the tranquility of the Wiltshire countryside the other day, his passing at the age of...

A rugby cap for Ireland, and a place on the wing for Arsenal

IRELAND-Wales in Dublin yesterday marked the 70th anniversary of an event which has long been forgotten in the mists of time....

All-change as France try 30 sets of half-backs

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PETER JACKSON New cap: Baptiste Couilloud “Whirring sound of revolving door is caused by failure...

England’s third team could take on the best

NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE GROWING TALENT AVAILABLE TO EDDIE JONES Long way to go: Manu Tuilagi in action against Harlequins...

Action man Browne completes epic trans-Atlantic solo mission

POWERFUL Irish lock Damian Browne travelled the world playing rugby with long spells at Connacht, Northampton, Brive, Leinster and Oyonnax and...

RUGBY MATTERS

Reducing penalty sanctions may resurrect old quick-tap BRENDAN GALLAGHER A new weekly look at the game’s other talking points Bag of...

De Villiers may come calling for Ewers

Boss: Pieter De Villiers NEW Zimbabwe coach Pieter De Villiers, who led South Africa to a Lions and Tri-Nations success in...

Nadolo gets behind bid for Pacific Islanders franchise

ISN’T it odd how things come full circle. Back in the supposedly bad old amateur days, the Super Ten competition was...

Irish remain defiant despite 16pt gap

Spencer, Cox, Arr, Hammond Back in the lineup: Johnny Williams ENGLAND midfield prospect Johnny Williams returns as London Irish aim to...

Spencer eager to capitalise on big chance to impress

By NEALE HARVEY Aiming for impact: Ben Spencer PICTURE: Getty Images POPULAR hooker Schalk Brits makes an eagerly-awaited return as Saracens...

We must be more clinical admits disappointed Diamond

STEVE Diamond, Sale Sharks’ director of rugby, admitted his team need to be more clinical when they get into winning positions....

Amazing Mr Wilson gives Bath last word

By ANDY BABER Shark attack: Denny Solomona scores Nervless: James Wilson kicks the winning points PICTURES: Getty Images MAKESHIFT fly-half James...

Gloucs rue 34 missed tackles

GLOUCESTER head coach Johan Ackermann rued a frustrating secondhalf and wants to see his side make amends next week against Newcastle...

Gopperth’s pressure kick saves the day

By JAMES LLOYD Pack power: Gloucester celebrate their first try PICTURES: Getty Images In the thick of it: Wasps ace Jimmy...

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Carnegie swoop for ex-Pirates boss Stirling

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Cornish Pirates boss Chris Stirling is set to return to the UK with Yorkshire Carnegie in a...

Saxons on schedule again ahead of World Cup 2019

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND’S second string Saxons will be revived next year with World Cup preparations in mind. Planning is at...

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Kingston: We have to get our pride back

HARLEQUINS boss John Kingston struggled for positives He said: “We defended manfully for long periods and it was fantastic to see...

Falcons show they are really in this title challenge

By NEALE HARVEY Not to be denied: Sinoti Sinoti powers over for Falcons PICTURES: Getty Images Early hope: James Horwill scores...

Olly burst changed it all says Dickens

ALAN Dickens, Saints’ interim coach, lamented: “For 70 minutes we were in control. Then Olly Woodburn makes a fantastic break. “That...

We’re scared of losing the title admits Baxter

By MIKE SINCLAIR Held up: Luke Cowan Dickie is stopped by the Northampton defence short of the try line PICTURES: Getty...

Scott set to embark north again

MATT Scott will return to Edinburgh at the end of the season after two years with Gloucester. The 27-year-old Scotland centre...