RUGBY SHORTS

Tigers beef up forwards LEICESTER have signed Wasps back rower Guy Thompson and Worcester lock Will Spencer for the start of...

Galarza hoping for Pumas reprieve at Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER lock Mariano Galarza has revealed how proposed changes in Argentina’s Test eligibility rules could pave the way to him signing...

Preparation for Premiership begins now says Morahan

AUSSIE flyer Luke Morahan says Bristol must hit top-flight levels of performance over the remainder of the season to ensure they...

I thought my career was over, says Luke

By NEALE HARVEY England duty: Chris Robshaw FRUSTRATED Harlequins back rower Luke Wallace has revealed the gruesome extent of last summer’s...

ROOM 101

THE CINDERFORD HOOKER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND NATHAN TAYLOR 1. Spicy food This...

Barclay, the enemy within for Wales, joins a select quartet

IT’S not every day that the Scottish captain skippers his country against Wales at Cardiff while enjoying a spell playing for...

Muldoon is deserving of a glorious Euro farewell

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A new weekly look at the game’s other talking points RUGBY MATTERS One-club hero: John Muldoon IT’S hard to...

Crisis? What crisis? England are still so strong

IRELAND coach Conor O’Shea raised a cheer from minnows everywhere this week when, without pausing for breath, he reeled off an...

Heather’s bobbing in for new shot at gold

FORMER Canada rugby star Heather Moyse has a fighting chance of making it three Olympic gold medals on the bounce in...

Crusaders win battle of the leading pair

South West Premier DINGS Crusaders stretched their advantage at the top to 15 points following a 30-13 victory over Bournemouth in...

Hoppers are beaten at last in niggly affair

Northern Premier THEbig shock was a first defeat for league leaders Preston Grasshoppers, who went down 17-12 away at Kirkby Lonsdale....

Bees buzzing to maintain perfect record

Midlands Premier LICHFIELD came within ten minutes of ending Birmingham and Solihull Bees’ 100 per cent record, but Matt Spink’s try...

Guernsey find Saxons tough proposition

London & South East Premier GUERNSEY continue at the top but had to come from behind for their 15-48 win away...

Hartpury show better form as Trent are hit by weather again

By JOE BYRNES BUCS ROUND-UP NOTTINGHAM Trent will be fizzing to get on the paddock next week as their fixture once...

YOUNG GUNS

SAM NIXON BATH PROP Having enjoyed a close-quarters view of Beno Obano’s rise to the top with Bath and England, tight-head...

Clifton hold on to down Barnstaple

By WYN TINGLEY Clifton……………24 Barnstaple……19 CLIFTON secured a vital victory against Barnstaple and scored a late try to confirm a bonus...

Prescott wastes shot at victory

By CAMERON TEMPLE Reding’ns ………12 Tonbridge J….12 LIAM Prescott missed the chance to kick Tonbridge Juddian to victory as he sent...

Jake pulls the strings to stump the Reds

By SIMON LORD Bury St E ……27 Redruth ……….14 BURY St Edmunds deservedly ground out a victory with a battling display...

Awesome Cinderford race clear at the top

By KEN VAUGHAN Chinnor………………14pts Cinderford ……….26pts Unapposed: Reuben Norville scores for Cinderford PAUL Morris said he was “in awe” of his...

No joy for Dons on their travels to Kent

By JOSHUA JOHNSON CANTERBURY secured their 11th win of the season with a hard-fought victory against Wimbledon. In a low-quality affair,...

Davis double act stuns the Raiders

By KEITH BROOKING Worthing ………19 Taunton ……….25 PAUL Davis scored two tries as Taunton Titans produced a superb second-half comeback to...

Hawks soar after late penalty try

By NICK PITSON A PENALTY try two minutes from the end gave Henley Hawks a bonuspoint win against a committed and...

Superb Street turn on the style at Geese

By BEN CARTER LI Wild Geese …0 Broadstreet….34 BOTTOM-PLACED Broadstreet produced a wet-weather masterclass as they cruised to superb a five-try...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

PETER DODS THE GALA AND SCOTLAND FULL-BACK Istarted the 1984 Grand Slam with a split pair of boots and ended it...

Blaydon battered by brilliant Bridge

By DAVE LAWRENCE Stourbridge….89 Blaydon ……….17 SUPREME Stourbridge put relegation-threatened Blaydon to sword as they ran riot by racing over for...

Riley runs riot as Park keep pace

By LUKE MADEIRA Macclesfield…18 Sedgley P………28 SEDGLEY Park closed the gap on the top two after a hard-fought victory over Macclesfield....

wait for a win

On target: Sale’s Chris Johnson kicks more points PICTURES: Steve Wells Menace: Hinckley’s Jonny Sykes threatens the line The theme continued...

Can Wales half-backs hit it off like Gareth and Barry?

AN UNCANNY piece of Celtic history will be repeated in Cardiff next Saturday after exactly 50 years. When Wales and Scotland...

Burton knew how to pick a winner when he took Liz to Cardiff

FROM his vantage point somewhere in Milan, Marvin Hagler will be keeping a beady eye on Ireland’s fortune over the coming...

Rhys has become the victim of politics

Sad: Rhys Webb has been robbed of his Cardiff farewell PICTURE: Getty Images The lucky ones find a way of bowing...

Strange gives Welsh boys licence to thrill

Round-up FRANCE were runners-up last season but must do without 19-year-old fly-half sensation Matthieu Jalibert, who was called up to the...

Force yourselves into Eddie’s plan for Japan

NEALE HARVEY finds England head coach Steve Bates has set his lads a big challenge Under 20s Returning stars: Quins flier...

France

■FRANCE are desperate to get their hands on the title again after a disappointing third-place finish last season. They improved steadily...

Briggs is back to guide Irish

Ireland NIAMH Briggs returns to the Ireland set-up after missing last year’s tournament because of injury. The full-back made her comeback...

Scotland

■Scotland get the honour of kicking of this year’s Championship, but start it with a tricky Friday-night trip to take on...

Trailblazer Brown aiming to hammer down on Italy

SAM PARKHOUSE talks to the England flanker who’s no stranger to international competition FRANCE Lise Arricastre, Cyrielle Banet, Camille Boudaud, Caroline...

Phillips predicts big future for Wales

Women Wales WALES head coach Rowland Phillips has named 10 uncapped players in his 36-strong squad for the 2018 Women’s Six...

Pivac swoops for Dragons ace O’Brien

SCARLETS are set to sign Dragons fly-half Angus O’Brien as the Champions Cup quarter-finalists begin to prepare for next season. The...

Strettle signs on at Sarries

SARACENS confirmed that David Strettle will return to the club next season from Clermont Auvergne. As revealed in Blindside a fortnight...

Joe’s out to show he’s no longer the shy guy

By NEALE HARVEY Running the show for Exeter: Joe Simmonds cuts through the Glasgow defence PICTURE: Getty Images RISING Exeter playmaker...

Conor is getting it right now says Masi

ITALY’S improved mental strength and fitness under head coach Conor O’Shea will ensure they can go toe-to-toe for 80 minutes against...

O’Shea: We’ll have a go, not die wondering

BRENDAN GALLAGHER talks to the Italian camp and finds reasons for optimism this season Italy Masked marvel: Ian McKinley PICTURE: Getty...

Brunel must turn French Cup aces into champs

NICK CAIN says don’t write off France - just look at their club teams in Europe France Options at No.10: Anthony...

Memo to Warren: Let Scarlets lead way

In superb form: Rhys Patchell should play at fly-half PICTURE: Getty Images IN February 2008 I was part of a Wales...

Watson well aware that away form will determine Scots’ fate

GARY HEATLY talks to openside Hamish Watson about the challenges ahead Scotland Scalp hunter: Hamish Watson Hamish Watson knows that for...

Jones: Injuries or not, failure not an option

Wales Experienced head: Alun Wyn Jones PICTURES: Getty Images ALUN Wyn Jones believes the experience of head coach Warren Gatland can...

Never a dull moment – six of the most memorable Wales v Scotland encounters in Cardiff

Game-changer: Stuart Hogg is yellow carded then sent off by referee Jerome Garces in 2014 1923: Wales 8 Scotland 11 Known...

If the scrums are competitive you will see a great game predicts Gatland

Smart: Warren Gatland AS you would expect, Wales coach Warren Gatland is among those who have clocked that Wales enjoy the...

Scots must go Full Monty to strip Wales down in Cardiff

Brendan Gallgher looks back on the Six Nations matches between Wales-Scotland in Cardiff SCOTLAND will sweep into Cardiff later this week...

Courtney has big appetite for success – Jones

EDDIE Jones is banking on Courtney Lawes to put the stranglehold on Italy. The England head coach heaped praise on his...