Crossword

ACROSS 6. Australia’s most-capped second-row forward (6) 7. Continent whose RFU national members include Guam and Kazakhstan (4) 8. Black bird...

Stephenson aiming to make up for lost time at Saints

By NEALE HARVEY FRUSTRATED centre Tom Stephenson is ready to end 19 months of injury hell by firing Northampton’s bid to...

Carnegie still harbour a vision of greatness

By JON NEWCOMBE Mastermind: Sir Ian McGeechan is looking after the academy IN the week that Yorkshire Carnegie put out a...

Yarde out to impress Eddie and win back his place

By GARY FITZGERALD MARLAND Yarde insists he has not given up on his England dream despite receiving another hefty blow to...

Premiership Christmas plans are confirmed

PREMIERSHIP Rugby have this week confirmed the fixtures for the Christmas weekend. The weekend starts at Sixways for London Irish v...

Ospreys tie down speedster Giles

OSPREYS have managed to retain the services of highlyrated wng Keelan Giles who has signed a new three-year deal this week....

Knee injury causes ‘Fridge’ to call it a day

A KNEE injury has had the better of Eifion Lewis Roberts who was forced to announce his retirement from the professional...

Springboks lock joins London Irish

LONDON Irish have completed the signing of South African second row Franco van der Merwe. Capped by the Springboks, the experienced...

Collier signs on but Lowe is forced to quit

WILL Collier has signed a new deal at Harlequins but centre George Lowe has been forced to retire from the game...

Farrell to stay at Sarries until 2022

ENGLAND and British & Irish Lions fly-half Owen Farrell will remain at Saracens until at least 2022 after penning a new...

Williams determined to build on Pumas tour

New chance: Harry Williams ENGLAND summer tour hero Harry Williams admits he left Argentina feeling dissatisfied with his performances and knows...

Wasps will fly that extra ard this season warns Jimmy

By NEALE HARVEY Outstanding season: Jimmy Gopperth scores Wasps’ first try against Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership Final PICTURE: Getty...

It all starts again for Warriors prop star Schonert

HAVING seen his hopes of touring with England this summer dashed by injury, Worcester tight-head Nick Schonert hopes a fast start...

Law changes should make game better for everyone

JEFF PROBYN The first weekend of the season and you can almost taste the excitement and expectation as players and fans...

Abbots look part with a 67-point haul

South West Premier NEWTON ABBOT ran in ten tries to go top after an emphatic 67-12 victory over Bracknell. Ex-Exeter Chiefs...

Heap leads way as Hull make statement

Northern Premier HAVING finished third last season, Hull certainly made their intentions known with a resounding 31-13 win at home to...

Hat-trick hero Johns is scorching back

midlands Premier SPEED merchant Steve Johns marked his return to Birmingham and Solihull ranks by running in a hat-trick of tries...

Delighted Tring quickly adapt to step-up

London & SE Premier PROMOTEDTring got their season off to the best possible start with a 32-26 win at home to...

YOUNG GUNS

KALEEM BARRETO GLASGOW SCRUM-HALF Kaleem Barreto is not sure which version of the game he will be playing this season just...

20 QUESTIONS

JOHN BARNES HARTPURY COLLEGE Do How did pre-season go? We came back earlier than we normally do but we had to...

Geese stuffed by late Worthing try

By TOM SELLERS Worthing 27 LI Wild Geese 22 WORTHING’S late flourish ensured they got the better of a spirited London...

Barnstaple too strong for Dons

By IMRAN MASHRALI Wimbledon 13 Barnstable 33 WIMBLEDON started life in the National Two South with harsh realities as they fell...

Titans spring into life to notch first win

By KEITH BROOKING Taunton 41 Broadstreet 21 TAUNTON produced a rousing second-half display to come from behind and finish with aplomb...

Delight for Nonu after Impressive Reds win

By BILL HOOPER Redruth 58pts Old R’cliffians 10pts Ecstatic: Redruth centre Neilson Webber goes over for the Reds PICTURES: Geoffry Hichens...

Double try joy for Hone as Cind bag win

By NIGEL WILCE Canterbury 17 Cinderford 39 A STRONG second half performance from Cinderford saw them eventually run out comfortable winners...

Henley roar back to conquer Reds

By NICK PITSON Henley 28 R’gensians 24 HENLEY got their season off to a winning start by coming from behind to...

Tonbridge run riot in opening clash

By CLAIRE FISHER B St Edmunds 17 Tonbridge 50 A NEW-LOOK Bury St Edmunds side started their campaign against Tonbridge, who,...

Dramatic late try rescues draw for Chinnor

By ROGER OPIE Clifton 24 Chinnor 24 ORISI Nawaqaliva’s lastgasp try rescued a draw for Chinnor after a roaring second-half fightback...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

THE FORMER ENGLAND, NEWCASTLE FALCONS AND BRIVE CENTRE JAMIE NOON Scoring a hat-trick against Scotland in my first Six Nations campaign...

Chester blitzed by eight-try Tynedale

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale 52 Chester 21 TYNEDALE had the four-try bonus point wrapped up before halftime with an eight-try demolition...

Aley hits jackpot to edge out Field

By PAUL JOANNOU S Leicester 44 Huddersfield 36 RICKIE ALEY scored 21 points for South Leicester as they won a thriller...

Bebbington off to perfect start with Sedge

By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield T 5 Sedgley Park 38 SEDGLEY Park’s new head coach Matt Bebbington got just the start he...

Big victory gets Sale back in the groove

By GEOFF LIGHTFOOT Sale 48pts Leicester Lions 10pts SALE put the disappointment of their near-miss last season firmly behind them with...

Macc are back as Barker pulls the strings

By MATT COLERIDGE Macclesfield 41 Wharfedale 15 MACCLESFIELD returned to National Two with a resounding win against Wharfedale, but had to...

Depledge misses late shot at glory

By ROGER KEEGAN Sheffield 31 Luctonians 32 SHEFFIELD were denied a win on their first taste of National Two rugby as...

Blaydon stunned by an ex-All Black

By STEVE SMITH Hinckley 52 Blaydon 26 FORMER All Black Scott Hamilton was among the try-scorers as Hinckley condemned title picks...

Super six for Otley as Bridge is burned

By JOHN FINCH Otley 21 Stourbridge 42 STOURBRIDGE ran in six tries past a valiant Otley side to secure a comfortable...

Shocked Devon club find their HQ wrecked

NEWS EXTRA By NICK VERDIER TORRINGTON Rugby Club were forced to start their season thinking about how to rebuild their clubhouse...

Park unstoppable as OAs collapse

By BRIAN QUINN Old Albanians 0 Rosslyn Park 58 A DOMINANT Rosslyn Park started their season in style as they ran...

Nine tries as Cov look like favourites

By MALLY KNOWLES Hull Ionians 20 Coventry 63 WHETHER Coventry are potential champions is a moot point, but this ninetry victory...

Fylde on receiving end as pressure pays off

By HENRY WOODSFORD Fylde 12 Cambridge 25 A STRONG second-half performance from Cambridge earned them a deserved victory. Conditions at Woodlands...

Spot-on Rayner signs off fighting Ampthill revival

By DAVE LAWRENCE B Moseley 21 Ampthill 21 LAWRENCE Rayner kept his cool to kick a last minute penalty to earn...

Exciting Blues Challenged to keep up level of intensity

By JACKSON COLE Bishop’s Stort 49pts Tries: Tomlinson 17, Riddington 21, Banks 35, Roberts 56, George 63, Cullen 66 Conversions: Cullen...

Esher cut loose to give OEs a lesson

By JON EDWARDS Esher 39 O Elthamians 14 OLD Elthamians were handed a lesson in the harsh realities of life in...

Tarrant keeps his nerve at the death

By GRAHAM COX Blackheath 32 Plymouth A 31 THIS was a terrific contest to start off the new season with eight...

Warren Seals a fine win for DMP on return

By KEVIN ROBINSON Darl’gton MP 33 Loughboro’ 23 DARLINGTON Mowden Park opened their season with maximum points against a Loughborough Students...

Bristol roll out the big guns

Preview Bristol v Hartpury College Today, Kick-off 3pm BRISTOL will begin their quest for Premiership promotion against new boys Hartpury College...

Durutalo at the double as May lets off Ealing

By LUKE JARMYN Ealing T’finders 9pts Tries: Harries 3, Durutalo 22, 42, Stegmann 27 Conversions: Lydon 4, 23, 43 Penalties: Lydon...

Richmond are left reeling by quickfire Bedford

By NEALE HARVEY Richmond 7pts Try: Phipps 42 Conversion: Gabbitass 42 Bedford 36pts Tries: Williams 6, Adamson 14, 31, Packman 18...

Carnegie collared by Exiles’ end-game

By NEALE HARVEY London Scottish 30pts Tries: Uanivi 5, Mosses 75, Scott 78 Conversions: Sharp 5, 75, 78 Penalties: Sharp 30,...