Guirado: We let eight tries slip away

ITALY coach Conor O’Shea remained defiant despite a disappointing performance from his Azzurri. “I’m destroyed right now because I hate losing...

Destroyer Bastareaud waiting for England

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Wrecking ball: Mathieu Bastareaud on the rampage PICTURES: Getty Images CLOSE-UP WENCESLAS LAURET French blindside V SEBASTIEN NEGRI...

Irish ‘bullies’ gave us a lesson at breakdown

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Superb: Wales openside Josh Navidi PICTURE: Getty Images Powerplay: Bundee Aki crashes over for Ireland’s...

Gatland ready to call up new blood

By ALEX BYWATER WARREN Gatland says he’ll give Wales’ fringe players the chance to impress in the rest of the Six...

Farrell in Murrayfield tunnel row with Scots

By GARY FITZGERALD Grand Slam dream over: England’s Owen Farrell and Jonathan Joseph look dejected at the end of the match...

The biggest rugby players ever – literally

While rugby doesn’t have the following of football, for example – both sports that are called this, on both sides of...

Record-breaking ‘Rocky’ still fighting fit

Richie McCaw. Brian O’Driscoll. George Gregan.  These legends will be the only three players in history that will have played more...

TEAMS: Round Three of the Six Nations

Rest week over, here's the all the team news ahead of this weekend's rugby

Can England take the Six Nations for a third consecutive year?

After a bruising and sometimes scrappy victory over Wales at Twickenham, the Six Nations title – and the Grand Slam –...

Leicester move has taken Jonny May’s game ‘to new level’

The England international says he has no regrets about leaving Gloucester for Welford Road after bagging two game-clinching tries against Wales

Jackson column: Alun Wyn’s magnificent week on and off the field

Peter Jackson reveals the good deed done by the Wales captain for an elderly man in hospital

Allen: Unlike me, these England U20s boys will be Test ready

England U20s coach Anthony Allen profers two youngsters not far away from a senior Test berth

Guscott column: Farrell is just stratospheric, a class apart from the others

Jeremy Guscott on the Saracens fly-half proving to be a cut above

Dream Team: Former Bath and England full-back Jon Callard

Jon Callard chooses the best he has played with and against...

Can England take the Six Nations for a third consecutive year?

After a bruising and sometimes scrappy victory over Wales at Twickenham, the Six Nations title – and the Grand Slam –...

Doncaster Knights prop Ian Williams dies after collapsing at training session

(Photo: Getty Images) By Adam Ellis Doncaster Knights have announced prop Ian Williams has passed away, aged 27, after collapsing at...

Francis: I’m after SA tour place

STAR man Piers Francis has set his sights on England’s summer tour. The Saints No.10 said: “I’ve had adjustments to make...

Piers pulls the plug on Irish as North gives Wales boost

By NEALE HARVEY Flat out: Rob Horne scores Saints’ second try PICTURES: Getty Images Not enough: Alex Lewington scores his second...

Kingston: Penalty count was against us

HARLEQUINS rugby director John Kingston said his team had been hard done by: “We were the better team for first hour...

Toomua class keeps Tigers in the hunt

By NICK CAIN Reaching out: Matt Toomua scores Tigers’ first try PICTURES: Getty Images Round the legs! Quins’ James Chisholm is...

Farrell is just stratospheric, a class apart from others

JEREMY GUSCOTT Cut above: Owen Farrell slices through the Welsh defence PICTURE: Getty Images THIS Six Nations hasn’t overwhelmed us with...

DREAM TEAM

JON CALLARD, FORMER BATH AND ENGLAND FULL-BACK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Jason Leonard –...

Drop Italy to bring back the level playing field

COLIN BOAG Snarling: Ross Moriarty, No.6, went over the top With the Six Nations taking a break this weekend it gives...

Disgraceful to throw TMO under the bus

I MUST give my few penneth over the controversy surrounding last Saturday’s match. For World Rugby’s Allain Rolland to publicly throw...

Expected England to bring in a bonus

I WAS very disappointed with England’s performance against Wales. For a team with aspirations of lifting the Webb Ellis next year,...

Eddie needs rapier in back row, not just three bludgeons

EDDIE Jones has transformed England since the last World Cup, but recently scraped wins have papered over emerging fault lines. Jones...

Expand to 14 with 3-year moratorium

A COMPROMISE on the ring-fencing row would be to expand the top tier to 14 clubs and retain promotion/ relegation using...

Owens eager to bring Gats’ ton up in style

By ALEX BYWATER Previous: Ken Owens in action against Ireland last season KEN Owens insists Wales remain in a good position...

’Boro up to fourth as they defeat Sharks

■By JACK UNWIN L’borough 21 DMP Sharks 15 LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning made it three wins in a row with victory over Darlington...

Mobbs-Smith wants strong defensive display

■By DAVID PORTER PREVIEW: Richmond v Firwood Waterloo Sunday February 18. Kick-off 2.30pm RICHMOND head coach David Mobbs-Smith wants a strong...

Underwood the hero as Glos halt Sarries

■By ADAM MOYLES Saracens 29pts Glos-Hartpury 29pts MID-TABLE Gloucester- Hartpury came from 14 points down to prevent a Saracens victory –...

Waterman and Dow provide sting for Wasps

■By HOLLY FOSKETT Wasps 26 Bristol 12 WASPS produced a terrific second-half display to run out winners over visiting Bristol. It...

Quins secure play-off spot with victory

■By JONTY MAWES Harlequins 80 Worcester V 7 Three tries: Aldora Itunu HARLEQUINS ran in 11 tries at Surey Sports Park...

Ashton in record bid after latest hat-trick

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Chris Ashton took a giant leap towards an all-time record yesterday with his second hat-trick of tries...

Scrivens scores 43pts in Penallta rampage

■By JAY BAYFORD Welsh Division One round-up JOSEPH Scrivens struck 43 points in Penallta’s 83-14 victory over Ynysybwl in One East....

Seven-try Steelmen still 17pts behind Pooler

■By JAY BAYFORD Welsh Championship round-up TATA Steel were in irresistible form as they ran in seven tries to thrash basement...

Marshall’s penalty ensures Quins share the spoils

■By DEAN JONES RGC 1404 20 Carmarthen 20 THIS clash in Colwyn Bay between two of the title chasers ended in...

Replacement Jones emerges as late Vale match winner

■By JAY BAYFORD Bridgend 18 Ebbw Vale 21 DORIAN Jones proved to be the match winner as his late penalty gave...

Keys stand firm as Swansea come roaring back

■By PAUL HOPKINS Swansea 23 Cross Keys 30 CROSS KEYS’ unbeaten start to the year continued with a thrilling victory over...

Bargoed battlers hang on to celebrate another big scalp

■By IWAN GABE DAVIES Bargoed 16 Aberavon 14 BARGOED took another big scalp after they beat last year’s runners-up Aberavon in...

Drovers come from behind with their fresh legs

■By HUW S THOMAS Llandovery 26 Cardiff 24 THE Drovers won their second game of the post- Christmas Premiership after a...

Merthyr juggernaut rolls on with 16th victory on the spin

Merthyr 30 Pontypridd 21 ■By IAN GOLDEN MERTHYR extended their winning streak to 16 games – 14 in the league –...

Principality Premiership

Neath 10 Bedwas 40 BEDWAS produced a superb display to put an end to their winless start to phase two. A...

Patience game starting to pay off for Sharks flyer Charnley

■By JON NEWCOMBE NEWS EXTRA JOSH Charnley admits he was “clueless”when he first crossed over into Rugby Union but, 16 months...

Tuipulotu looks set to pledge allegiance to Wales

■By STEFFAN THOMAS NEWS EXTRA WALES look to have won a tug of war with England for the services of one...

Blooding kids has been key to revival – Savage

■By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA JOHAN Ackermann’s determination to blood fresh talent is inspiring Gloucester’s charge for a first Premiership title,...

Wallaby flyer joins Saints but Brookes is moving on

NEWS EXTRA NORTHAMPTON Saints have signed Wallaby flyer Taqele Naiyaravoro from the Waratahs. The 26-year-old Fiji-born wing will join the Premiership...

Tired Mako glad to have Marler back

By SAM JACKSON Workout: England pack down against Georgia He’s back: Joe Marler in training ENGLAND prop Joe Marler paid the...

Hepburn’s striving for more than cameo role

By NEALE HARVEY No.1: Mako Vunipola Challenge: Alec Hepburn takes on Italy’s Tiziano Pasquali PICTURE: Getty Images CONFIDENT England new boy...

Stooke’s back on boil at Bath after freeze out from Fisher

■By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA HARD-NOSEDlock Elliott Stooke aims to take centre stage in Bath’s dash for silverware and push his...