Montpellier outwitted as Leinster nous earns top billing

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER LEINSTER swept into the quarter-finals as top seeds with a clever win over Montpellier, changing their tactics at...

Superb Hogg sends Six Nations warning

By NEALE HARVEY RETURNING Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg declared himself itching for Six Nations duty after delivering a superb display as...

Big guns return to help restore Tigers pride

Preview Leicester v Racing 92 Today, Kick-off 1pm. Welford Road LEICESTER’S grim season is at a crossroads and Dan Cole knows...

Eddie won’t hang about if England flop again

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK HERE’S a prediction. If Eddie Jones does not win the 2019 World Cup,...

Halfpenny told to up his game or face axe

By PETER JACKSON LEIGH Halfpenny is being warned to raise his game as Wales full-back in the face of growing competition...

Ring-fence Premiership or lose stars warns Dusty

By NEALE HARVEY MORE exceptional youngsters like Marcus Smith will be held back unless the Premiership is ring-fenced, warns frustrated Leicester...

Ben Youngs pens new Leicester Tigers deal

England international commits to Welford Road to the delight of coach Matt O'Connor

Gaffney challenges Northampton Saints to earn European cup spot

Northampton's interim director of rugby praises the impression Phil Dowson has made on him since his arrival

Guscott column: Blackadder must beef up front five

Jeremy Guscott reacts to Bath being overwhelmed by the Scarlets in the Champions Cup on home turf

Watch out Robshaw, Michael Rhodes is ‘best blindside in England’ says Saracens coach

The South African flanker will become eligible for England selection in July

Rugby Matters: Hartpury production line set for more Test success

Brendan Gallagher on why the Gloucestershire college isn't just creating international players for England anymore...

‘Sort out season to end injury mayhem’ says Bath coach Toby Booth

Booth explains how the demanding physicality of Premiership rugby has changed his training programme

Is this the end of Rugby Union in Australia?

With the recent news that Rugby Australia struck a deal to guarantee the same base pay for men and women’s sevens and Super...

Eddie Jones signs contract extension as England head coach

Australian signs on to 2021 and RFU confirm steps being taken to bed in his successor for smooth transition

Senior Munster stars show public support for team-mate who served steroid doping ban

Irish rugby in hot debate over whether past dopers should be signed by provinces and the role of IRFU

Barclay continues as Scotland captain despite Laidlaw’s inclusion for Six Nations

Gregor Townsend also names four uncapped players in squad expected to challenge for Six Nations title

Gatland hands Worcester wing Josh Adams Six Nations call-up

Full details of the Wales squad named by Warren Gatland

Ulster stay afloat after riding tide of emotion

By DARAGH SMALL Ulster 20pts Tries: Best 28, Stockdale 35, Timoney 45 Conversions: Cooney 50 Penalties: Cooney 46 La Rochelle 13pts...

Young: Defence just not good enough

WASPS director of rugby Dai Young lamented: “We got what we deserved. We probably won that game three times and let...

Quins shock Wasps with their double comeback

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Sprinter: Nizaam Carr runs in to score for Wasps HARLEQUINS, with nothing to play for but pride, effectively...

Blackadder must beef up front five – and coaches too

JEREMY GUSCOTT Ferocious: Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler swats away the challenge from Chris Cook PICTURE: Getty Images TODD Blackadder has some...

DREAMTEAM

GREG BATEMAN, LEICESTER TIGERS AND FORMER EXETER & LONDON WELSH PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS …PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

Sense of adventure is driving Gloucester on

COLIN BOAG Revelation: Willi Heinz scores for new-look Gloucester We’re one week into the Premiership’s five-week break, with two rounds of...

Scrums costing fans too much game time

I BELIEVE we are being short changed and getting only an average of 60 or so minutes of actual play, due...

Isiekwe’s the latest Haileybury old boy to hit the big time

NICK Isiekwe has enjoyed a meteoric rise since leaving Haileybury at the end of the 2016 summer term. It was a...

Top-flight coaches need to branch out

IAN Davies bemoans the recent ‘farcical’ appointments of Alan Gaffney and Alan Solomons while claiming that coaches in the Championship should...

Watch out Robshaw, Rhodes is ‘best blindside in England

By NEALE HARVEY Big fan: Alex Sanderson Combative: Saracens blindside Michael Rhodes UNCOMPROMISING flanker Michael Rhodes poses a huge threat to...

Noves puts Laporte in the dock over axing

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Ousted: Guy Noves with his erstwhile French squad in training PICTURE: Getty Images Guy Noves has launched...

Phillips’ boot puts holders out of the Plate

Welsh Plate & Bowl round-up By CARL FIELD HOLDERS Penallta are out of the WRU National Plate after going down 12-7...

Dunvant eyeing a quick return to top flight

Welsh Division One round-up By JAY BAYFORD DUNVANT’S hopes of returning to the National Championship at the first time of asking...

Gullis hat-trick as Pooler land win No14

Welsh Championship round-up By JAY BAYFORD PONTYPOOL strengthened their lead at the top of after a 14th consecutive win. A hat-trick...

Saracens smash a century of points in easy win

By LAURA EDDIE Saracens …105 Worcs Valky’ …0 Prolific: Emma Uren SARACENS couldn’t have hoped for a brighter start to 2018...

Appleby excited for Acheson’s Glos debut

Preview…Richmond v Gloucester-Hartpury Today, Kick-off 2.30pm By DANIEL MURRAY PROP Sasha Acheson will make her debut in a Gloucester-Hartpury shirt against...

Quins’ success keeps pressure on leaders

By DANIS ROBERTS Harlequins …17pts Loughborough…10pts Threat: Jess Breach breaks through the Loughborough defence HARLEQUINS scored three tries from their forward...

Bristol run riot with 11-try thrashing of Waterloo

By GEORGE WEST Bristol…59 Firwood W’loo 7 BRISTOL kicked off 2018 in style with a convincing 59-7 win over Firwood Waterloo,...

Wasps’ sting too much for spirited Sharks

By HOLLY FOSKETT Wasps …31 D’lington MPS 10 Try: Danielle Waterman CONDITIONS were cold but Wasps brought the heat to secure...

Polledri pushing for Test debut against England

By SAM JACKSON Rising star: Jake Polledri JAKE Polledri was not expecting his Italy call-up so soon but the Gloucester flanker...

Teenager Sam beats cancer to sign deal at Knights

NEWS EXTRA By GEORGE LAWRENCE DONCASTER Academy flanker Sam Jones has completed the most remarkable comeback to pen a professional contract...

Kiwis left short at No.10 as Sopoaga signs off

NEWS EXTRA ALL Blacks coach Steve Hansen is disappointed at Lima Sopoaga’s decision to leave New Zealand and sign for Wasps....

RUGBY SHORTS

Lydiate out for season OSPREYS and Wales flanker Dan Lydiate has been ruled out for the rest of the season after...

…while Harrison has strength of Troy on his side

By JON NEWCOMBE Durable: Sale loosehead Ross Harrison ROSS HARRISON will not tear his hair out if he is overlooked once...

Booth: Mako miles ahead but Beno’s pushing hard

By NEALE HARVEY Out in front: Mako Vunipola Charging on: Beno Obano is in line for his Test debut PICTURE: Getty...

Earning a national jersey is the pinnacle in every sport

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Development tool: Tier Two sides such as Samoa need games against the...

Smith double stretches Crusaders’ lead

South West Premier DINGS Crusaders increased their lead at the top of the South West Premier to 11 points following a...

Grasshoppers keep top spot after rally

Northern Premier PRESTON Grasshoppers still top the table but they had to come from behind, beating relegation strugglers Birkenhead Park 32-12...

Bees remain clear after battling triumph

Midlands Premier THEleading pair of Birmingham and Solihull Bees and Peterborough Lions both picked up hard fought away victories, but it...

Leaders Guernsey get scare at Hertford

London & South East Premier GUERNSEYremain top the table after a 44-33 win away at Hertford as Luke Jones scored a...

Healy heads new coaching team for Germany after axe falls on Potgieter

By JON NEWCOMBE In: Paul Healy Out: Kobus Potgieter GERMANYhave announced a new coaching team on the eve of the Rugby...

YOUNG GUNS

GLOUCESTER HOOKER HENRY WALKER As a schoolboy cricket all-rounder of some repute, Henry Walker was faced with a tough choice: don...

Smashing six for Titans star Rice

By KEITH BROOKING Taunton T’ns…66 Wimbledon …15 OLLIE Rice scored an incredible six tries as Taunton Titans ran out comfortable winners...