Tee time is perfect for Simon in Knights win

By TOM INNES Jersey 24pts Tries: Cope 25, Worrall 59 Conversion: Cope 25 Penalties: Cope 8, 14, 29, 46 Doncaster 6pts...

Scanlon hopes for a birthday bonus

Preview Rotherham v Nottingham Today, Kick-off 2pm SEAN Scanlon hopes to celebrate his birthday weekend with an opening day win for...

No rush for Sam

CARDIFF Blues head coach Danny Wilson will resist the temptation to rush British Lions skipper Sam Warburton back into action despite...

Raising the cap would harm the game says Hogan

By NEALE HARVEY Warning: Mick Hogan NEWCASTLE managing director Mick Hogan has slammed demands by Saracens to increase the salary cap,...

Oh brother, the Fords roll back the years

By NICK VERDIER New recruit: Jonny May The way we were: George Ford with the Premiership trophy in 2013. GEORGE Ford...

The tale so far… how northern clubs have fared

Injury-hit: Jonny Wilkinson playing for Newcastle SALE Embarking on their 24th straight season of top flight rugby, Sale don’t get enough...

So why has rugby just gone north in the North?

Brendan Gallagher looks at the sad demise of top flight rugby in the North, save for Sale and Newcastle Benefactor: Sir...

Roberts aiming for a French adventure

FORMER Wales scrumhalf Martin Roberts is aiming to make waves across the Channel after joining ambitious French level three outfit Rouen...

‘Hair Bear’ shows prop Craig bald truth of scrimmaging

Learning: Craig Trenier RICHMOND tighthead Craig Trenier believes learning at the hand of Lions legend ‘Hair Bear’ Adam Jones will boost...

‘Mean’ Lam can bring best out of me – Luatua

By NEALE HARVEY ‘Growler’: Pat Lam Power: Steve Luatua carries for the Blues against the British and Irish Lions PICTURES: Getty...

Kuridrani on Sharks’ shopping wish-list

SALE SHARKS are interested in signing Queensland Reds winger Chris Kuridrani, as Steve Diamond looks to further strengthen his squad. Kuridrani,...

Lions scrum-half Webb is touted around Top 14

Dual contract: Rhys Webb RHYS WEBB looks set to become the latest member of Warren Gatland’s squad to become a target...

Saints lead race to land Kiwi No.8 Shields

Move? Brad Shields NORTHAMPTON Saints are in pole position to land Hurricanes No.8 Brad Shields. Shields, who holds a British passport...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■ ENGLAND fly-half Alex Lozowski has turned down the chance of signing a...

ROOM 101

THE COVENTRY HOOKER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND PHIL NILSEN 1. Paperwork I’m currently...

Samoan warrior Fotuali’i ready to put his head where it hurts again

Return: Freddie Burns, here playing for Leicester, is back with home town club Bath KAHN Fotuali’ i was Bath’ s most...

Willie and his double get me on the run

THOSE who used to joke about Willie Duggan being late for his own funeral will not have been surprised to learn...

Sorry Leigh, you didn’t have to leave Toulon

LEIGH HALFPENNY will already have made a mental note to clear the decks for Sunday October 15 and the Scarlets’ opening...

North must show he is still worth his place

Struggling: George North looks dejected after the Lions’ 31-all draw against the Hurricanes PICTURE: Getty Images Ever since the early days...

‘The Beast’ plots more try havoc in the Premiership

NAPOLIONI Nalaga, one of the most devastating finishers world rugby has seen, has declared himself fit and ready to take the...

Ball boy Cameron’s set for the big stage

By JON NEWCOMBE Day-dream: Cameron Cowell racing against Australia superstar Quade Cooper at the Las Vegas Sevens PICTURES: Getty Images Hero:...

Halfpenny looks forward to his speedy Toulon return

By ALEX BYWATER It’s a date: Leigh Halfpenny in Toulon shirt LEIGH Halfpenny already has his eyes on a return to...

Tolofua in challenge to Jamie

HARD-HITTING France hooker Christopher Tolofua believes quitting once-mighty Toulouse for European champions Saracens and a battle with Lions star Jamie George...

Purdy signals it’s May-day for rivals

By NEALE HARVEY Physical presence: Henry Purdy scores against Bristol PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER wing Henry Purdy is ready to fill...

Twickenham night of heroes

David Emery reports on the third National Game Awards at Twickenham, supported by The Rugby Paper Volunteer: Bernadette Chubb with the...

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Melville: Championship better than A-League

By NEALE HARVEY Option: Nigel Melville NIGEL Melville has cast doubt on Premiership proposals to create a fully blown A-League competition...

We should back this grassroots initiative from Ryan

I WAS fascinated to see my old team-mate Ryan Jones launch a new initiative through the Welsh Rugby Union to try...

I won’t be tempted to write off Kings yet

Asset: Yaw Penxe bursts out of a tackle to score for Kings PICTURE: Huw Evans The start of a new era...

Ospreys blushes are spared by 2-try Giles

By STEFFAN THOMAS Ospreys 22pts Tries: Giles 3, 79, Fia 40 Conversions: Hook 40, Davies 79 Penalty: Hook 23 Zebre 13pts...

Rennie takes honours in battle with old coach

By DECLAN ROONEY Connacht 2pts Penalties: Carty 2, 19, 40, 60 Glasgow 18pts Tries: Price 48, Jones 72 Conversions: Horne 49...

‘World class’ Ulster teach Cheetahs first lesson

By BILL KIELY Ulster 42pts Tries: Bowe 19, O’Connor 27, McCloskey 30, Piutau 33, Ludik 41, Nelson 75 Conversions: Cooney 28,...

Leinster’s giant pack grind down improving Dragons

By ALEX BYWATER Dragons 16pts Try: penalty 73 Conversion: penalty 73 Penalties: Henson 10, 33, 44 Leinster 39pts Tries: Gibson-Park 22,...

Majestic Scarlets put Kings to sword

By ROB COLE Scarlets 57pts Tries: McNicholl 9, 74, Halfpenny 23, Patchell 47, Ball 50, Phillips 63, Parkes 70, S Evans...

Cockerill lifts off with rare victory in Cardiff

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff Blues 10pts Try: Navidi 36 Conversion: Evans 36 Penalty: Evans 48 Edinburgh 20pts Tries: Kinghorn 12, Dean...

Class gap tells as Irish tonk Treviso

Munster 34 Treviso 3 MUNSTER coach Rassie Erasmus says they have plenty of room for improvement despite an easy win to...

Tuilagi starts as Tigers fire their big guns

MANU Tuilagi will make his first competitive start since January after being named in Leicester’s XV to take on Bath at...

Captain Garvey’s out to checkmate Leicester

Leader: Matt Garvey MATT GARVEY knows he will have to play chess while he plays rugby when Bath take on Leicester...

Toomua’s aiming for new reign of terror

PREVIEW… By NICK VERDIER Leicester v Bath Today. Welford Road. Kick-off 3pm Power: Matt Toomua is tackled by Finn Russell on...

Te’o arm injury may be serious says Gold

WORCESTER director of rugby Gary Gold is concerned by the injury sustained by British and Irish Lions international Ben Te’o. Te’o,...

Warriors given reality check by Newcastle

By COLIN NEWBOULT Newcastle 35pts Tries: Tait 5, Vickers 52, Cooper 62, Socino 75 Conversions: Takulua 6, 53, Willis 76 Penalties:...

Diamond: Ref got new ruck rule wrong

SALE boss Steve Diamond admitted his team had no answer to the invention of Wasps in a brilliant firsthalf display. But...

Rampaging Robson sends 4-try message to England

By STEVE KENNY Wasps 50pts Tries: Robson 3, 13, 33, 44, Wade 16, Rowlands 70, Rieder 73 Conversions: Gopperth 3, 13,...

We fought for full 80 says coach Ackermann

EMOTIONAL new Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann credited his side’s spirit after getting his reign off to the best start. He...

Woodward try rewards Gloucester’s new spirit

By NEALE HARVEY Gloucester 28pts Tries: Thrush 25, 39; Morgan 56, Woodward 80 Conversions: Burns 25, 39, 56, Twelvetrees 80 Exeter...

Spit-spot it’s a solution!

A POTENTIAL breakthrough in the diagnosis of concussion through a simple saliva test is a note of good news at the...

The sweaty basics pay dividends for new-look Gloucester

JOHAN Ackermann might just be able to galvanise Gloucester judging by their cliff-edge 28-21 win over champions Exeter at Kingsholm on...

Fearns in Les Bleus? C’est un outrage!

Switching allegiances? Carl Fearns on the burst for Lyon The thought of Carl Fearns becoming a surrogate Frenchman fills me with...

That’s no surprise insists Cowan

LONDON Irish flanker and man of the match Blair Cowan: “We weren’t surprised at that performance, we have been building for...

Relegation fodder? No-one’s told Irish!

From BRENDAN GALLAGHER at Twickenham London Irish 39pts Tries: Ojo 23, Bell 30, Treviranus 58, McKibbin 78 Conversions: Bell 31, 59...