Honesty is best policy for Trimble

NEWseason launches tend to be tedious exercises: a stream of coaches and players trotting out a stream of banalities, clichés and...

Sir Colin will be sent on way to the march of a Dambuster

THE funeral of the ‘Pinetree’ takes place tomorrow at a venue named in memory of Les Munro, a New Zealander whose...

The green, green grass of home is down to Max

PETER JACKSON Max Boyce casts his mind back to the early Sixties and runs through his playing career at Glynneath. It...

Tom goes toe to toe against his old pals

By GUY WILLIAMS A WEEK today, when Rotherham launch their Championship campaign at home against Nottingham, will be an emotional experience...

Sarries to face Saints in European opener

Two in a row: Saracens win the Europen Champions Cup last season CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND 1 FIXTURES Friday October 13 Ulster...

ROOM 101

RORY DAMANT THE RICHMOND FLY-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Train delays I...

I need to play to keep my shirt, Watson tells Eddie

By GARY FITZGERALD ANTHONY Watson has begged Eddie Jones to ditch plans he has to give him an autumn break. The...

I’m still improving, Kruis warns rivals

By NEALE HARVEY GEORGE Kruis admits being dropped by the Lions was hard to take but insists lessons from the three-Test...

The Bok who gave Meads his toughest challenge

THROUGHOUT his career Colin Meads was frequently asked who his toughest and most feared opponent was and although the likes of...

It’s Munster for the title with Scarlets chasing them

AFTER a long summer of negotiations, the Guinness PRO14 begins on Friday and I’ve nailed my colours to the mast with...

Wallabies fire out a warning to Wales

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND I WROTE last week how Wales must look at this year’s Rugby Championship and take...

Squad depth holds the key for Chinnor

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 SOUTH PREVIEW Chinnor boss Matt Williams is fully aware logic makes his side favourites to go up this...

Samoan Test star Leo buys into Stortford’s low-budget values

By ANDY LINES THEY will have the smallest budget of any club in National League Division One, but newly-promoted Bishop’s Stortford...

It won’t be a cakewark for Cov’s cash warns Brightwell

NICK VERDIER previews the battle for promotion from National One where big-spending Coventry start as favourites Birmingham Moseley back-rower Chris Brightwell...

Heald hopes his Lions can roar louder

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 NORTH PREVIEW Leicester Lions are hoping to challenge for promotion after finishing on the podium last season but...

Richmond set for the drop. Sorry!

Former England scrum-half and London Scottish coach Pete Richards looks ahead to the Greene King Championship season Super talent: Bristol signing...

Leinster can edge out Scarlets

Alex Bywater discovers a Wales legend is looking across to Dublin for this season’s champions Martyn Williams believes the signing of...

Agony of final loss will help us next time says Haskell

Nick Verdier talks to a Wasps player eager to help end the club’s trophy drought Lessons learned: James Haskell believes Wasps...

It’s Saracens for me if they can avoid distractions

JEREMY GUSCOTT’S VERDICT The competitiveness of the Premiership is what gets me excited every year and this season is no different....

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Baa-baas calls up top Kiwi to help beat the All Blacks

THE Barbarians have hired a champion New Zealander with the best inside track on the All Blacks for their crack at...

Overseas stint may help as Eddie’s successor is sought

By NEALE HARVEY RFU director of professional rugby Nigel Melville has revealed that the search to find a successor to England...

WORCESTER

Director of Rugby: Gary Gold Captain: Donncha O’Callaghan Ground: Sixways Stadium Capacity: 11,499 There is a reluctance to write off a...

O’Connor aims to be great again

Brendan Gallagher looks at James O’Connor’s challenge Stade Felix Mayol or the AJ Bell Stadium? The dazzling Med or misty Manchester?...

WASPS

Director of Rugby: Dai Young Captain: Joe Launchbury Ground: Ricoh Arena Capacity: 32,600 Regular crowds of up to 25,000 at the...

SARACENS

Director of Rugby: Mark McCall Captain: Brad Barritt Ground: Allianz Park Capacity: 10,000 The reigning European Champions want a hat-trick of...

SALE SHARKS

Director of Rugby: Steve Diamond Captain: Will Addison Ground: AJ Bell Stadium Capacity: 12,000 Sale have strength-indepth after making some choice...

NORTHAMPTON

Director of Rugby: Jim Mallinder Captain: Dylan Hartley Ground: Franklin’s Gardens Capacity: 15,500 Saints rugby director Jim Mallinder will be hoping...

Saints counting on their No.8s

NEALE HARVEY talks to Saints about the loss of Picamoles Northampton coach Phil Dowson has challenged his No.8s Teimana Harrison and...

NEWCASTLE

Head Coach: Dean Richards Captain: Will Welch Ground: Kingston Park Capacity: 10,200 Newcastle were the surprise package of the last campaign,...

LONDON IRISH

Director of Rugby: Nick Kennedy Captain: TBA Ground: Madejsk Stadium Capacity: 24,200 Brendan Venter’s coaching record is a warning that promoted...

LEICESTER

Director of Rugby: Matt O’Connor Captain: Tom Youngs Ground: Welford Road Capacity: 25,800 Leicester have assembled one of the most potent...

HARLEQUINS

Under John Kingston there’s been tilting of the tactical axis at the Stoop, with more emphasis on the systematic and less...

GLOUCESTER

Director of Rugby: David Humphreys Captain: Willi Heinz Ground: Kingsholm Capacity: 16,500 The arrival of tightheads Fraser Balmain and Gareth Denman...

EXETER

Director of Rugby: Rob Baxter Captain: Jack Yeandle Ground: Sandy Park Capacity: 12,600 Having won the crown for the first time...

Cheekie chappie Jack set to learn

NEALE HARVEY looks at the tussle for the No.9 spot at Exeter Chiefs Big future: Jack Maunder clears the ball for...

BATH

Head Coach: Todd Blackadder Captain: Matt Garvey Ground: Recreation Ground Capacity: 14,500 Bath are the Premiership’s great pretenders, having not won...

‘Pinetree’ got his strength by cutting down trees

Brendan Gallagher remembers the great Sir Colin Meads who died last weekend at 81 THE iconic image of Colin Meads is...

Humberstone puts the boot in

Doncaster …35 Newcastle …26 DONCASTER ended preseason on a winning note, beating a youthful but competitive Newcastle Falcons side. On what...

Harries’ first try downs Falcons

By GARY HEATLY Edinburgh …14 Newcastle …10 EDINBURGH posted a victory in their final preseason friendly before the PRO14 season begins,...

Wedlake injury overshadows Plymouth pluck

By MARTIN WOOLLATT Pirates …22 Plymouth …14 ALTHIOUGH it was a pre-season friendly, this first cross-Tamar derby since March 2015 brought...

We’re ready now says Kennedy as Irish run riot over brave Richmond

By NEALE HARVEY LONDON Irish supremo Nick Kennedy declared his promoted side ready for Premiership duty after a convincing victory over...

Cruse launches Wasps’ comeback

By JOE REES Wasps…40 Connacht …22 WASPS completed their pre-season with a victory over Connacht, but it took a rousing comeback...

Even Luatua can’t save Lam’s return

By JOHN FALLON Connacht …24 Bristol …14 STEVEN Luatua made his Bristol debut, but not even the presence of the All...

Bedford strength tells but Club show their spirit

By GRAHAM COX Blackheath …21 Bedford…38 THE pace and physicality of the Championship side succeeded in the end as Bedford scored...

Red Roses shaded in World Cup final thriller

By SAM JACKSON Jubilation: New Zealand leap for joy after beating England in the World Cup final PICTURE: Getty Images ENGLAND...

Hold Manu back until 2018 says top Tiger

By NEALE HARVEY Plea: Telusa Veainu ENGLAND supremo Eddie Jones should resist selecting Manu Tuilagi until the 2018 Six Nations and...

Young Gun: Ben Jones – Wales U20s fly-half

Ben Jones is after game time in his first season at senior level and with three sides to play for he...

Room 101: Colin Quigley – Doncaster prop

1. Pre-season It’s become a bit of an in-joke that I try and get an operation booked in during the summer...

Neck injury forces Will Fraser to retire

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