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...

Wales clear way to pick all four of their Lions

By PETER JACKSON WALES will give all four of their English-based Lions a clear run to the World Cup by removing...

It’s a record as the tries pile in

We’re flying: Topsy Ojo leaps over to score London Irish’s first try against Harlequins PICTURE: Getty Images A TOTAL of 44...

Struggling Worcester are put up for sale

EXCLUSIVE By NEALE HARVEY Takeover? Edward Griffiths WORCESTER Warriors are up for sale, with former Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths believed...

Premiership Christmas fixtures announced

Premiership Rugby have today confirmed the Premiership fixtures for the Christmas weekend. The weekend starts at Sixways for the arrival of...

Former Bath captain to play for Ospreys this season

Bath flanker Guy Mercer has joined the Ospreys on a season long loan. The 27-year old, who only last year was...

George Lowe forced to retire from rugby

Harlequins have today announced that George Lowe has been forced to retire from the game on medical advice. Lowe made 139...

Hold Manu back until 2018 says top Tiger 

England supremo Eddie Jones should resist selecting Manu Tuilagi until the 2018 Six Nations and allow the troubled centre to recapture...

Owen Farrell pens new five-year deal

Owen Farrell has signed a long-term contract extension with Saracens that will see him stay at Allianz Park until at least...

Bath will need to step up for Tigers

Leinster …25 Bath …17 LEINSTER made it two from two against West Country opposition, backing up last week’s success over Gloucester...

Hartpury so close to a mighty scalp

By JAMES CANDY Gloucester …41 Hartpury …33 CALLUM Braley spared Gloucester’s blushes as they escaped with a narrow win over Championship...

Gloucester power tells in second half

By JAMES CANDY Gloucester…40 Scarlets …21 GLOUCESTER went through the gears to complete their pre-season programme with a convincing win over...

Sarries may call for their Lions to bite the Saints

By NEALE HARVEY Saracens …49 Timisoara …0 SARACENS face a tough call on whether to involve any of their returning Lions...

Tuilagi back with his big hits and high hopes

By STEVE KENNY Leicester…40pts Ospreys …14pts MANU Tuilagi came through his first start since New Year’s Day to give himself a...

Nine-try Saints go marching on to Twickers

By CALLUM DUNN Northampton…55 Ulster…15 NORTHAMPTON will head into their Premiership season high on confidence after this nine try demolition of...

Warriors run out of gas at the end

By SAM JACKSON Worcester …26 Munster …35 WORCESTER leaked two tries at the death to see Munster snatch victory at SIxways...

Chiefs’ maul strikes but Blues hit back

By ROB COLE Cardiff Blues…21 Exeter …20 IF anyone is going to strip the Chiefs of their Premiership title this season...

Big try count is worry for Jackman

Dragons …16 Glasgow…40 ITlooks like a long season is ahead for new Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman after his side shipped...

From Sam to Francois, don’t take your eyes of these guys

ANDY GOODE OUR GUEST COLUMNIST LOOKS AHEAD TO THE PREMIERSHIP With the Premiership season nearly upon us, there is a lot...

DREAM TEAM

MATT WILLIAMS, THE LONDON SCOTTISH & FORMER MOSELEY WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Mark...

If you don’t like scrums, watch Rugby League!

COLIN BOAG With the new Aviva Premiership just five days away, it’s good to hear directors of rugby fighting back against...

I can’t wait for the Premiership season

THE Premiership is back next week and I can’t wait. Last season was brilliant and the play-offs were full of drama...

Kings will be the whipping boys in the new PRO 14

EVERY PRO14 coach will be taking a look at the South Africas Kings and revelling at the chance of increasing their...

Basic catch and pass wins it for ABs

THAT try from Beauden Barrett yesterday morning to help New Zealand snatch victory over Australia was outstanding and just shows how...

End of the road for Will Fraser

WILL Fraser has announced his retirement from professional rugby after failing to recover from a neck injury. The Saracens openside has...

Bristol pay differentials won’t cause disharmony says Lam

By NEALE HARVEY Probyn: Marler shows value of old-fashioned drinking! BRISTOL supremo Pat Lam insists that motivation will prove no issue...

High tempo rugby was just too much for our girls to handle

CATHERINE SPENCER Former England captain Fine tournament: Sarah Bern hands off the Black Ferns I am so gutted for England but...

Red Roses wilt against Black Ferns onslaught

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER NEW ZEALAND, shocked at their failure to reach the 2014 final, finally erased that stain from their memories...

France find they are shut out by great white wall

SEMI-FINAL England…20 France…3 THE Red Roses put in huge defensive shift to beat France on Tuesday and book their place in...

YOUNG GUNS

ADAM RADWAN NEWCASTLE WING Adam Radwan has been a revelation for Newcastle this summer, so it is hard to imagine the...

Howley the star as Neath swamp their old rivals

By SAM JACKSON Neath. 39 Swansea.16 A BLISTERING first-half got the season off to a flying start for these two rivals,...

Conbeer shows his skills as Llanelli back-three sparkle

By JAMES LLOYD Llanelli.24 Carmarthen Q.8 LLANELLI kicked off their season with a thumping victory over West Wales rivals Carmarthen Quins....

Warren into Llandovery record books with a try

By TIM LEWIS Llandovery … 31 RGC 1404 … 10 LLANDOVERY began their campaign with a storming triumph over RGC 1404...

Wizards continue where they left off with try-scoring fun

By ROB COLE Aberavon. 40 Bridgend.15 ABERAVON scored more tries than any other team in the league last season, and they...

Bedwas open season in fine style with five tries

By JAMES CANDY Pontypridd.27 Bedwas. 39 BEDWAS sent out a statement of intent to their league rivals after they overcame Pontypridd...

Reigning champions given a scare as Jarvis holds nerve

By CALLUM EVANS Merthyr.31 Cross Keys.29 TWO tries in the final five minutes grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat for...

Bargoed. 20 Ebbw Vale. 24

By DARREN DAVIDSON LEWIS Dennett stepped off the Ebbw Vale replacements bench and became an instant hit as he kicked eight...

Ace Cruden in control as Montpellier make mark

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Montpellier, under the new control of former Clermont and Scotland boss Vern Cotter, are generally considered to...

New captains in West Country

WORCESTER and Gloucester were the latest clubs to announce their captains for the upcoming season this week with Donncha O’Callaghan and...

Deano’s winning strategy? Buys, banter and barbies

Stewart McCullough charts the rise of Newcastle under their owner and coach Eye-catching: Toby Flood is returning to the North-east PICTURES:...

Cockerill: Quit your comfort zone or move on

By ALEX BYWATER NEWS EXTRA RICHARD Cockerill has challenged his Edinburgh players to step out of their comfort zone or risk...

Marler shows the value of ‘old-fashioned’ drinking

JEFF PROBYN Having just read Joe Marler’s take on the British and Irish Lions and what it taught him about rugby,...

Old boy Oakley relishing the opening shot from Bristol

HARTPURY captain Rhys Oakley reckons the club have the right foundations to ensure a successful first year in the Championship. The...

Charteris: Ewels here to stay for England

By NEALE HARVEY EXPERIENCED Bath lock Luke Charteris expects second row partner Charlie Ewels to be a mainstay of England’s forward...

Springok star Franco joins Irish as Blues count costs

By ALEX BYWATER FRANCO van der Merwe will this week complete a move to Aviva Premiership newcomers London Irish after failing...