Rob Baxter plans to make Exeter Chiefs one of Europe’s elite

By Nick Cain EXETER Chiefs are rolling towards Europe’s elite clubs like a dislodged boulder of Dartmoor granite. The newly- crowned...

Rhys Webb makes switch to Toulon to cast doubts over Wales selection

By Adam Ellis Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb will leave the PRO14 side at the end of the season after agreeing a...

Cain column: Players have not been consulted over extending the season

By Nick Cain PLAYERS and coaches in the Premiership have started to align in their resistance to the World Rugby blueprint...

Halfpenny will be the one to pay if Gatland experiments with Steff Evans

By Peter Jackson Leigh Halfpenny’s used to be the first name on the Wales team-sheet and not just because they named...

‘I’m dangling on a rope and they’ve lit the rope’ says Haskell on England future

By Adam Ellis James Haskell admits he will have to work hard to get back into Eddie Jones‘ selection plans after...

Dave Gallaher forged the All Blacks identity from the furnace of the Boer War

October 4 is the 100th anniversary of the death of Dave Gallaher, killed in action on the first morning of the...

Which teams will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2019?

The Rugby World Cup is undoubtedly the sport’s biggest and most prestigious tournament – with the next one due to take...

Serious injury almost forgotten history for Slade as Eddie Jones watches on

By Mike Sinclair Henry Slade astounded everyone by racing back in less than five months after breaking his leg and suffering...

Shane Williams column: There’s only one man in my mind who can replace Wilson at Cardiff

By Shane Williams WHAT a shambles it is right now at Cardiff Blues. I must admit I was very surprised to...

‘I felt I needed to trim down’ – Fitness regime behind Cook’s fine form

Slimline Bath scrum-half Chris Cook credits a gruelling summer training regime for helping him see off Kahn Fotuali’i to spearhead the...

RFU on the fence about whether to sell Twickenham naming rights

By Adam Ellis The RFU has refused to rule out the possibility of selling the naming rights for Twickenham Stadium as...

Rory Best comes to the defence of Howley after O’Brien’s criticisms

By Adam Ellis Ireland captain Rory Best has voiced his views on the criticisms aimed at Rob Howley by team-mate Sean...

Gary Gold to leave Worcester at the end of the season for USA post

By Adam Ellis Worcester Warriors director of rugby is to leave the Aviva Premiership club at the end of the season...

The Gentlemen’s Game: A Current Observation

“Rugby is a thugs’ game played by gentlemen.” No one really knows who the first person to utter this old saying...

Mallinder: George is finding his form now

Orchestrator: Nic Groom makes another break PICTURES: Getty Images Concentration: Aaron Morris takes a high ball for Quins SAINTS boss Jim...

Honeymoon period for Saints as Groom calls the shots

By NEALE HARVEY SCRUM-HALF Nic Groom orchestrated a well deserved bonuspoint victory as Northampton consigned memories of their opening day hammering...

Baxter: They won the killer moments

LEICESTER coach Matt O’Connor said: “Commitment was at the heart of that, we dug in…with (Ellis) Genge injured in the warm-up...

Sloppy Chiefs made to pay by May magic

By NICK CAIN Rapier thrust: Jonny May powers through to score for Leicester PICTURES: Getty Images JONNY May reinforced his reputation...

Watson must prove Brown’s equal in aerial excellence

JEREMYGUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Improving his all-court game: Bath full-back Anthony Watson PICTURE: Getty Images ANTHONY Watson has proved that...

DREAMTEAM

MICHAEL LE BOURGEOIS, THE BEDFORD AND FORMER JERSEY CAPTAIN, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Ben...

Solve rugby’s problems by ending promotion

COLIN BOAG Pay cut: Billy Vunipola says he would take less salary for fewer games We could be witnessing the start...

Maybe it’s time for central contracts

WITH both Gloucester and Worcester seeking investment to secure their futures, who in their right mind would put money in any...

Bombing Kyle just doesn’t add up, he’s a three-Test Lion

I’M not questioning Eddie Jones’ ability to motivate a team and produce results, but I must say I’m disappointed with some...

Change needed

ONE thing you can be sure of on any Premiership weekend is that a player (sometimes several) will leave the field...

Gibson’s still best

THE selection of two fly-halves at 10 and 12 for the 2017 Lions was not a fresh idea. The 1971 Lions...

Ford warns Smith to get ready for target practice

By GARY FITZGERALD GEORGE Ford is gearing himself up for a fresh battle for the England No.10 jersey with the precocious...

Brown joins Vunipola on injured list

MIKE Brown is a doubt for the Autumn internationals after Harlequins said they must wait to discover the extent of his...

Toulon are still hoping Jonny will come back

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Jonny Wilkinson, the legend Toulon are trying to lure back to the fold, would have loved the...

Brynmawr prove too good for unbeaten Brecon

SWALEC Division One round-up BRECONlost their unbeaten record, and slipped from top of Division 1 East to third, as they were...

Edwards stars to fire new boys into second

SWALEC Championship round-up TREBANOS came out on top in the battle of the two promoted clubs and picked up a bonus...

First-half red no bother for Ravens as Evans shines

By JACK FLYNN Bridgend ……..28 Neath …………..20 A 14-MAN Bridgend side shocked Neath at Brewery Field to take a second victory...

Rees pulls the strings to help Bedwas past Blue & Blacks

By RICH JONES Bedwas ……….18 Cardiff …………..8 BEDWAS returned to winning ways in the East conference of the Premiership with a...

Ironmen overcome slow start to see off Ebbw

By ED HARRISON Ebbw Vale……20 Merthyr ……….33 A BLISTERING secondhalf effort from Merthyr helped them beat rivals Ebbw Vale in a...

Ponty getting Diggy with it as they make it three in a row

By JAMES LLOYD Pontypridd ….26 Cross Keys ….12 PONTYPRIDD made it three wins on the bounce as they convincingly saw off...

Llanelli have last laugh in thrilling Wizards clash

By JAMES CANDY Llanelli ……….36 Aberavon……..22 LLANELLI scored four tries to record a bonuspoint win over Aberavon in what was an...

Drovers stay on top after putting Whites to the sword

By TIM LEWIS Llandovery ….32 Swansea ……….9 LLANDOVERY scored four tries as they thrashed Swansea to consolidate their position at the...

PREVIEW…

Newport v Bargoed Kick-off 2.30pm, Rodney Parade BARGOED will head to Rodney Parade today knowing that if they can repeat their...

RGC1404……….26 Carm Quins ….13

THREE tries in the space of a four-minute purple patch around the half-time interval were enough to carry RGC1404 to a...

Jantjies shoots wide to leave it all square again

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER South Africa ……27pts Tries: Dreyer 17, Serfontein 42, Skosan 48 Conversions: Jantjies 18, 43, 50 Penalties: Jantjies 25...

Wilson gets three weeks

BEDFORD centre James Wilson has been banned for three weeks for playing an opponent without the ball against Bristol last weekend....

Tigers snap up Tuohy

LEICESTER have signed Ireland lock Dan Tuohy on loan from Championship side Bristol until January. The 32-year-old forward adds to the...

Cranleigh working hard for hat-trick

NEWS EXTRA CRANLEIGH are building for another outstanding season after celebrating two record-breaking years. The 1st VII successfully defended their Rosslyn...

Big name signings bringing best out of Harris

By JON NEWCOMBE NEWS EXTRA UNHERALDED homegrown centre Chris Harris is enjoying being the centre of attention at Newcastle – even...

Cowan’s evolving his game in bid for Test recall

By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA LONDON Irish flanker Blair Cowan has revealed how he is revelling in a ‘seven’s heaven’ and...

…but Greenwood wants more pace at outside-centre

By NEALE HARVEY WILL Greenwood has urged England boss Eddie Jones to think hard before handing Henry Slade the keys to...

Slade back to his best after injury frustration

By MIKE SINCLAIR Central to Chiefs’ success: Henry Slade holds off Jimmy Gopperth in Exeter’s win over Wasps last Sunday PICTURES:...

Coaches endorse League-style rolling subs system

BATH coach Toby Booth has called for the introduction of rolling substitutions – or interchanges as they are known in Rugby...

ROOM 101

THE BRISTOL SECOND-ROW TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND JOE JOYCE 1. Bad waiters There’s...

Banning scrums for kids will just bring injuries later

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME I’ve had an interesting week which started with an interview with Sky...

Dings strike early blow in promotion race

South West Premier DINGS Crusaders took an early advantage in their bid for the South West Premier title by beating promotion...