Lean, keen and ready to fight for England dream

By NEALE HARVEY World beaters: Johnny Williams scores against South Africa at last summer’s U20s World Cup, with Joe Marchant in...

Replace women’s contracts with individiual match fees

World cup captain: England No.8 Sarah Hunter, World Rugby’s player of the year for 2016 PICTURE: Getty Images As I prepare...

2017-18 pre-season fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs Thursday August 3 Leicester Lions v Coventry Friday August...

Knee injury ended my England hopes

MY LIFE IN RUGBY ANDY SAULL THE FORMER ENGLAND SAXONS, SARACENS, NEWCASTLE AND YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE FLANKER Saracens titan: Andy Saull shared...

DREAM TEAM

RORY PITMAN, THE JERSEY AND FORMER SCARLETS AND WASPS NO.8, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Arscott excited by coaching challenge at Dings

NEWS EXTRA By NEALE HARVEY DINGS Crusaders coach Luke Arscott believes the club’s impressive new £8m facility at Shaftesbury Park will...

When Briggs made us all believers

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? BEDFORD 1975 THE RFU CUP WINNERS By NEIL FISSLER Mastermind: Pat Briggs DEREK Wyatt, the former England...

Charitable mindset has held back Pacific rugby

Fifty up: Akapusi Qera, with insets David Lemi, Census Johnston and Nili Latu PICTURE: Getty Images Much of the kiwi media-fare...

Gold excited to have captain GJ back to lead battle

WORCESTER hope concussion problems to a trio of key players are a thing of the past as they look set to...

Denton: I had to quit Bath for Test dream

By NICK VERDIER Hungry for game time: David Denton PICTURES: Getty Images DAVID Denton wants to wear the Scotland jersey again...

Gloucester honing killer instinct says Woodward

By NEALE HARVEY Aiming high: Jason Woodward GLOUCESTER full-back Jason Woodward reckons squad depth and the discovery of a killer instinct...

New recruits could get Bristol home by Xmas

Nick Verdier assesses the Championship squads after another summer of high activity Exiled: Ben Mosses left Bristol for London Scottish this...

Fixtures putting players in impossible position

WHEN Perpignan reached the 2009 Top 14 final, Perry Freshwater made a stand. The England prop put club before country and...

Johnny lost to Wales because of his colour

Halifax record-breaker: Cardiff’s Johnny Freeman They carried Johnny Freeman from St. Mary’s church last week and out of what used to...

Navidi charged for positive season after Test recall

JOSH Navidi insists he’ll play anywhere for Cardiff Blues if it helps him add to his three Wales caps. Back rower...

Kalamafoni confident he’ll crack it at Tigers

By NICK VERDIER Physical specimen: Sione Kalamafoni PICTURES: Getty Images New boss: Matt O’Connor POWERHOUSE back row Sione Kalamafoni will not...

Ball targeting leadership role for club and country

By ALEX BYWATER Calling the shots: Jake Ball JAKE Ball says the pain of missing out on the Scarlets’ PRO12 title...

Joe ready to take his chance alongside George

ONE downside of going to America is that I won’t be able to see George and Joe play for Leicester as...

My love of risk-taking has landed me in U.S.

Big oak: Toulon’s Mathieu Bastareaud PICTURE: Getty Images The opportunity to try something new appealed to me when Dallas Griffins owner...

Baxter bolsters lock stock with Kings enforcer

TRANSFER WRAP PREMIERSHIP champions Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their squad ahead of the new season with the acquisition of South African...

Welsh Union set to step in for Halfpenny

LIONS full-back Leigh Halfpenny could be on the verge of finding a new club according to Blindside sources in South Wales....

Tigers swoop for England star May

BY NEIL FISSLER Tigers target: Jonny May ENGLAND wing Jonny May will this week complete his switch from Gloucester to Leicester...

ROOM 101

BRETT DAYNES THE COVENTRY BACK-ROWER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Literally Using literally...

Scarratt: We’re not champions, just contenders

Breaking through: Emily Scarratt takes on the Italians It seems like yesterday that Emily Scarratt was thrust into the rugby limelight...

Black Ferns became the domimant force after early success for the U.S.

IN the early years the USA were a powerhouse and they duly won the inaugural World Cup in 1991, beating England...

Past glories will count for nothing say England

The memory of 2014 in France might still be fresh with us but women’s rugby has moved on apace and, a...

Jones wants Tour to help England go the distance

Rupert Guinness, rugby writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, finds the England coach in the Alps Eddie Jones is back at...

Ackermann has wish come true

By NICK VERDIER Back to back: Kwagga Smith scores to secure a a second consecutive final for the Lions THE Lions...

Ruthless Crusaders march into final with Tamanivalu at double

By NICK VERDIER Match-winner: Seta Tamanivalu scored twice to give the Crusaders the win Out: Brodie Retallick picked up the only...

YOUNG GUNS

MATT WORLEY RACING 92 FULL-BACK It was a PR stunt that took Matt Worley from Hong Kong to Racing 92, but...

Why help Kiwi coaches? They wouldn’t dream of helping us!

Q&A ALI HEPHER ON THE RECORD Recently promoted Exeter head coach Ali Hepher tells NEALE HARVEY how the Premiership champions are...

Handling of expansion has become a shambles

I COVERED the expansion of the Guinness PRO12 in my column last week, but seven days later we’re no closer to...

Break the bank to keep Dan at Ospreys

Key man at Ospreys: Dan Biggar PICTURE: Getty Images HERE’S MY message to the Welsh Rugby Union; you have to try...

Old pals Catrakalis and Swiel set to battle it out

By NEALE HARVEY Order of the boot: Demetri Catrakilis shows his kicking repertoire for Montpellier against Quins PICTURES: Getty Images NEW...

Robinson: I couldn’t quit even after club axed Dad

BRISTOL flanker Olly Robinson has revealed why he decided to stay at the club in the wake his father’s sacking as...

Lydiate ready for action at Ospreys

By PETER JACKSON Gimme some skin: Christian Wade, left, and Dan Robson helped Wasps retain their Premiership Sevens title PICTURE: Getty...

Top Boks will follow ‘exodus to Europe’

By NEALE HARVEY Views: Edward Griffiths SUPER Rugby’s fading appeal is likely to provoke South Africa’s major provinces to follow the...

The History of the Six Nations Championship

The Six Nations is an annual competition in the sport of rugby union that is contested between six teams, England, France,...

Nick Cain: Baxter must join Eddie’s team if he’s to succeed

One of the most vexing issues that all four Home Unions have had to face over the last eight years is...

Andy Goode: You’ve got to be a big noise now, Demetri!

The fly-half merry-go-round has been in full swing throughout a frenetic last few months with a host of No.10s switching clubs in...

Dan Leo: Samoa left with mountain to climb after All Blacks error

After a brutally long season the ever-dwindling holiday period is finally upon us. Four weeks to rest those aches and pains,...

Signing winners shows Falcons mean business

says that Newcastle‘s ambition to be a real force in English rugby was one of the main factors in persuading him...

Jeff Probyn: Baa-baas ‘Test’ would solve the Lions tour conundrum

Sometimes you have to ask why people ask questions when something has already been decided upon and accepted by all. I...

Shane Williams: Leigh needs future sorted double fast

I really feel for Leigh Halfpenny. What a situation he’s in. To be without a club at this stage isn’t ideal...

Gary Gold: Boks reborn with Venter working for the defence

The fact that the All Blacks drew the three-match series with the British and Irish Lions would have been of concern...

Why Peter Stringer is rugby’s answer to Roger Federer

Gary Gold says Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer is rugby’s equivalent to Wimbledon champ Roger Federer – inspirational proof that age is...

Longbottom returns to Saracens with unfinished business

Returning Saracens prop Kieran Longbottom insists his England ambitions remain alive after fully recovering from a foot injury that was so...

Super Rugby lock on his way to Premiership champions

Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their squad ahead of the new season with the acquisition of South African lock Wilhelm...

Jeremy Guscott: Liam’s electric but he must sharpen focus at Saracens

Liam Williams’ move to Saracens from the Scarlets is one of this summer’s biggest transfers, and one of the big talking...

Nick Cain: Without doubt, Ford’s found fresh gears since Bath exit

Welcome to the new, improved, Ford. In this case, however, the model is called George rather than describing the latest product...