Wales No.9 jersey has Scarlet hue

OF all the assembly lines in the rugby world, there is surely none to compare with the one the Scarlets operate...

Just two Chicago heroes make cut

WHEN Ireland ended the All Blacks’ winning run last year in one of the greatest Test matches of the professional era,...

How Belfast family have been giving Ireland Stirling service

A FATHER and son from Belfast can now claim a London double of such improbability that it can be safely assumed...

Seb – from raw novice to two-Test warhorse

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PETER JACKSON Seb Davies could be forgiven for thinking there is nothing much to this...

DREAMTEAM

BEN MORRIS, THE NOTTINGHAM AND FORMER NEWCASTLE FALCONS BACK ROW, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Will new Channel 5 deal put more bums on seats?

COLIN BOAG Dublin-based marketing agency, Atomic Sport, has published some interesting analysis of last season’s Premiership attendance figures, and they appear...

If Webb’s super-fit, what about Carter?

“LONGdistance runner Webb….” article, describing ‘super-fit’ Rhys Webb as tailoring his ‘high-tempo running training’ to a higher Lions fitness and match...

Well done England, fantastic rugby on show and I’m Welsh!

IF you were to take a complete unknown to rugby and try to persuade them what a wonderful gam it is...

Halfpenny not the solution for Bath

I READ last week’s Blindside with disbelief that Bath may be in the market to recruit Leigh Halfpenny. I hope it...

MND sufferer Doddie to set up charitable foundation

FORMER Lions lock Doddie Weir has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Weir, 46, who earned 61 caps for Scotland, announced...

Next stop Brumbies for Fisher

FORMER Gloucester head coach Laurie Fisher has inked a deal to rejoin the ACT Brumbies under his former apprentice Dan McKellar...

Club demands ‘will kill off Lions tours’

By SAM JACKSON TOUR manager John Spencer says plans to shorten future Lions tours are “bordering on insanity”. The next three-tour...

…and came off ropes to land knockout

The third Test at Wellington was billed as the game when the All Blacks would put the Lions away. The tourists...

When Lions whipped

The Lions King: Barry John up storm in windy city The Lions head to Wellington to play the Hurricanes on Tuesday...

Shelford: Haka is part of our identity

BUCK Shelford’s views on the haka and its place in New Zealand society are as straightforward as they were when he...

I hit 22 stone says Buck, then I got healthy again

Nick Cain Nick Cain catches up with All Blacks legend and former Northampton back row Buck Shelford BUCK Shelford is one...

Gatland glad to see his finishers find form

RORY Best was a happy man after leading the Lions to their biggest victory of the tour so far. After two...

Nifty Nowell nips in with two-try Test reminder

From NICK CAIN at FMG Stadium, Hamilton JACK Nowell was in full flow for the Lions, with the Exeter and England...

Fans are priced out of first Test

IT was not surprising that there were still spare seats for last night’s New Zealand v Lions Test opener at Eden...

Marty’s on the money after Siberia

MARTY ‘Money’ Banks, the replacement fly-half who became a local hero when he kicked the winning penalty for the Highlanders against...

Caging these Lions would be vandalism

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK NICK CAIN AUCKLAND was awash with red this week as thousands of Lions fans arrived...

Lions back row has become a big concern

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen usually makes a point of talking about team performance, seldom picking out individuals but last...

Greatest of them all still battling like a true champion

John Taylor John Taylor, the 1971 Lions flanker, meets up with his old sparring partner, the great Colin Meads Te Kuiti...

Lions need to get to rescue series in North firing Wellington

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND THERE WILL be some Lions fans who didn’t watch Wales in New Zealand last summer....

Pub talk

Breakfast in the local…a light-hearted look at how the Lions unite the country Well, it all started so brightly. The replica...

Gatland: I believe Lions can still win

From NICK CAIN in Auckland WARREN Gatland remained defiant after the Lions’ 30-15 first Test defeat by New Zealand and insisted...

Young Gun: Marcus Street – England U20s prop

Marcus Street is still only 18 and making his Exeter and U20s debut by February already made for a successful season...

Get creative with Lions cocktail recipes from Slingsby Gin!

Anyone for gin?

Room 101: Rob Louw – Rotherham lock

1. Internet buffering Losing internet connection when you’re out and about is immensely frustrating. This is more of a problem back...

Read fit to captain All Blacks against Lions

All Blacks captain Kieran Read has overcome a thumb injury and will face the British and Irish Lions in the first...

O’Mahony to lead Lions against All Blacks

Peter O’Mahony will captain the British & Irish Lions against New Zealand in the first Test in Auckland on Saturday. Ireland...

20 Questions: Beno Obano – Bath loosehead

Enjoyed your breakthrough season? I wouldn’t call it a breakthrough season but it’s the beginning of something good hopefully. I enjoyed...

All Black centre joins Harlequins

All Black Francis Saili will leave Munster this summer to join Harlequins. The 26-year-old centre spent the last two seasons in...

‘Unexpected’ Sale move for James O’Connor

Despite denying having spoken to the player a few weeks back, Sale have confirmed the signing of James O’Connor on a...

Bath snap up Bristol lock

Bath have announced the signing of Bristol lock James Phillips ahead of the upcoming season. Phillips arrives at Bath having made...

My Life in Rugby: Mike Worsley – former England prop

I was born in Warrington and my uncle, Ken Gill, played Rugby League for Great Britain but I never played the...

REPORT: Sensational tries help the Lions beat the Chiefs in Hamilton

The British and Irish Lions will go into the Test Series against the All Blacks on the back of two convincing...

Wasps sign two props

Wasps have confirmed the signings of Paul Doran-Jones and David Langley, ahead of next season. Doran-Jones, 32, will move the Ricoh...

Dream Team: Joe Munro – Ealing Trailfinders centre

1. Max Lahiff – Your modern day prop but he takes it to new levels being a complete freak of nature....

O’Mahony set to get a battlefield commission as captain

Missed out: Jamie Heaslip BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT Sport still has that irresistible ability to surprise. Three months ago, when England played...

Lions must learn how to ‘walk in’ those try chances

Will start: George North has no real challenger at present JEREMYGUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Guscott Lions Test team: Halfpenny; Watson,...

Scots have every right to be riled by Gatland

WARREN Gatland has walked into a tornado of recrimination after his decision to call up four Wales players into the Lions...

Can these Lions move the world like Telfer?

Pressure situations: Steve Borthwick works with the Lions forwards THERE is no greater psychological weapon in Rugby Union than wrecking the...

Great eight rule in the rain as Lions get confidence lift

From NICK CAIN at Rotorua International Stadium Maori All Blacks 10pts Try: Messam 12 Conversion: McKenzie 13 Penalty: McKenzie 22 British...

Fotuali’i fired up for home shot at Wales

SAMOA scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i warns Wales his team are ready to turn up the heat when they meet in Apia on...

Sharks sinner off for new start at Rouen

By NEALE HARVEY OUTCAST Tom Arscott is ready to banish the nightmare of his controversial sacking by Sale by making a...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

THE FORMER NEWCASTLE UTILITY BACK TOM CATTERICK Imissed two easy kicks and tore my MCL 15 minutes into my one and...

Clerc feels driven to repay debt to Toulon

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Most of the good things come in threes for Vincent Clerc, the veteran winger who will share...

Bad boy Pape signs off in inimitable style

PETER JACKSON reveals his exclusive table of Europe’s saints and sinners Leaving his mark: Stade Francais second row Pascal Pape PICTURE:...

20 QUESTIONS

HAYDEN THOMPSON-STRINGER SARACENS PROP How’s your summer going? Pretty good thanks. I’ve kept up with training even if it was nice...