Van Velze calls for Griffiths to steady ship at Warriors

By NEALE HARVEY WORCESTER No.8 GJ Van Velze is demanding stability at the club – and reckons former consultant Edward Griffiths...

Scarlets now have the grunt up front to match their flair

IT’S a new dawn once again with the start of Europe this weekend and as ever I’m finding it hard to...

Unfortunate to lose one, two may be catastrophic

It all seems to have fallen apart at Ospreys and I must admit I’m seriously worried. There have been some very...

Dragons shot down in second half blitz

By ROGER PANTING Cometh the hour: Tom James touches down for Bklues after 60 minutes PICTURE: Huw Evans A FORMIDABLEsecond half...

Cockerill bewildered by PRO14 officiating

By GARY HEATLY EDINBURGHhead coach Richard Cockerill slammed the officiating in the PRO14 following his side’s stuttering win over Zebre on...

Record man Sexton fires Leinster to derby victory

By RONAN O’BRIEN TWO tries from Rory O’Loughlin in the firsthalf helped Leinster to a fifth win of the season as...

Harley’s try keeps Warriors winning run on the road

By JAMES HANWELL ROBHarley’s late try ensured Glasgow Warriors’ winning start to the PRO14 campaign continued with a thrilling victory over...

Samson’s Scarlets’ tower of strength

By ROB COLE SAMSON Lee celebrated his 100th appearance for the Scarlets against Edinburgh two weeks ago and now he has...

Stockdale wings in to give Ulster Euro boost

By BILL KIELY CONNACHT’S hopes of a first win in Belfast since 1960 were dashed when Jacob Stockdale got through for...

Kings tumble to another humbling

Benetton 31 Kings 3 THE Southern Kings are still searching for their first win in the PRO14 after they lost 31-3...

Mostert puts Premiership on red alert

SPRINGBOK lock Franco Mostert is attracting the interest of a host of Premiership clubs for when his contract in Japan and...

Lozowski holding out for more cash

SARACENS are planning more talks with England squad man Alex Lozowski in a bid to keep him at the club when...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■ LONDON IRISH might find it difficult to keep hold of highly rated winger...

Six Nations still looking for new title sponsor

SIX NATIONS big wigs are facing a race against time to find a new sponsor in time for the first round...

ROOM 101

THE DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK OPENSIDE TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY OF WORLD AND BEYOND MATT HEATON 1....

McCall demands greater consistency ahead of Europe

By SAM JACKSON SARACENS boss Mark McCall has urged his side to produce a more complete 80-minute performance against Wasps today...

Wasps feeling sting of fixture congestion

By NEALE HARVEY WASPS fly-half Jimmy Gopperth has urged Premiership and European rugby bosses to review their match scheduling after conceding...

Clifford to miss Autumn series

HARLEQUINS flanker Jack Clifford seems certain to miss England’s Autumn internationals after injuring his right shoulder again. Clifford underwent surgery on...

Try-happy Quins head for Europe with Care on top form

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER HARLEQUINS finished the first phase of the Premiership season with their best display to date with five tries...

May’s the best says delighted O’Connor

AFTER seeing Jonny May grab his sixth Leicester try in six games, Tigers boss Matt O’Connor said: “He’s easily the best...

Evans gives Eddie an openside reminder

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND openside prospect Will Evans offered a timely reminder of his lavish potential with a starring role for...

Come off it, Vern…Montpellier can cash in this year

VERN Cotter started jockeying for position this week as his Montpellier side, who have blasted their way to the head of...

Sinckler’s a lucky boy to get off so lightly

KYLE Sinckler can consider himself fortunate to get off with a seven-week ban after making contact with Northampton lock Michael Paterson’s...

No panic yet insist ‘buoyant’ Warriors

CARL Hogg remains stoic despite the Warriors recording six losses from six matches. “We’d love to be sitting there with more...

Burns deserved his red says Blackadder

By TOM BRADSHAW TODDBlackadder says Bath have “no complaints” after Freddie Burns was red-carded for a tip-tackle on his full debut...

Wales to adopt the Wallaby model

By PETER JACKSON WALES are preparing to introduce a controversial new rule aimed at stemming the exodus of their international players....

Eddie urged to let Farrell run show from No.10

By NEALE HARVEY OWEN Farrell’s controlling influence as a leader is being compromised by England’s insistence on playing him out of...

Rob Baxter plans to make Exeter Chiefs one of Europe’s elite

By Nick Cain EXETER Chiefs are rolling towards Europe’s elite clubs like a dislodged boulder of Dartmoor granite. The newly- crowned...

Rhys Webb makes switch to Toulon to cast doubts over Wales selection

By Adam Ellis Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb will leave the PRO14 side at the end of the season after agreeing a...

Cain column: Players have not been consulted over extending the season

By Nick Cain PLAYERS and coaches in the Premiership have started to align in their resistance to the World Rugby blueprint...

Halfpenny will be the one to pay if Gatland experiments with Steff Evans

By Peter Jackson Leigh Halfpenny’s used to be the first name on the Wales team-sheet and not just because they named...

‘I’m dangling on a rope and they’ve lit the rope’ says Haskell on England future

By Adam Ellis James Haskell admits he will have to work hard to get back into Eddie Jones‘ selection plans after...

Dave Gallaher forged the All Blacks identity from the furnace of the Boer War

October 4 is the 100th anniversary of the death of Dave Gallaher, killed in action on the first morning of the...

Which teams will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2019?

The Rugby World Cup is undoubtedly the sport’s biggest and most prestigious tournament – with the next one due to take...

Serious injury almost forgotten history for Slade as Eddie Jones watches on

By Mike Sinclair Henry Slade astounded everyone by racing back in less than five months after breaking his leg and suffering...

Shane Williams column: There’s only one man in my mind who can replace Wilson at Cardiff

By Shane Williams WHAT a shambles it is right now at Cardiff Blues. I must admit I was very surprised to...

‘I felt I needed to trim down’ – Fitness regime behind Cook’s fine form

Slimline Bath scrum-half Chris Cook credits a gruelling summer training regime for helping him see off Kahn Fotuali’i to spearhead the...

RFU on the fence about whether to sell Twickenham naming rights

By Adam Ellis The RFU has refused to rule out the possibility of selling the naming rights for Twickenham Stadium as...

Rory Best comes to the defence of Howley after O’Brien’s criticisms

By Adam Ellis Ireland captain Rory Best has voiced his views on the criticisms aimed at Rob Howley by team-mate Sean...

Gary Gold to leave Worcester at the end of the season for USA post

By Adam Ellis Worcester Warriors director of rugby is to leave the Aviva Premiership club at the end of the season...

The Gentlemen’s Game: A Current Observation

“Rugby is a thugs’ game played by gentlemen.” No one really knows who the first person to utter this old saying...

Mallinder: George is finding his form now

Orchestrator: Nic Groom makes another break PICTURES: Getty Images Concentration: Aaron Morris takes a high ball for Quins SAINTS boss Jim...

Honeymoon period for Saints as Groom calls the shots

By NEALE HARVEY SCRUM-HALF Nic Groom orchestrated a well deserved bonuspoint victory as Northampton consigned memories of their opening day hammering...

Baxter: They won the killer moments

LEICESTER coach Matt O’Connor said: “Commitment was at the heart of that, we dug in…with (Ellis) Genge injured in the warm-up...

Sloppy Chiefs made to pay by May magic

By NICK CAIN Rapier thrust: Jonny May powers through to score for Leicester PICTURES: Getty Images JONNY May reinforced his reputation...

Watson must prove Brown’s equal in aerial excellence

JEREMYGUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Improving his all-court game: Bath full-back Anthony Watson PICTURE: Getty Images ANTHONY Watson has proved that...

DREAMTEAM

MICHAEL LE BOURGEOIS, THE BEDFORD AND FORMER JERSEY CAPTAIN, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Ben...

Solve rugby’s problems by ending promotion

COLIN BOAG Pay cut: Billy Vunipola says he would take less salary for fewer games We could be witnessing the start...

Maybe it’s time for central contracts

WITH both Gloucester and Worcester seeking investment to secure their futures, who in their right mind would put money in any...

Bombing Kyle just doesn’t add up, he’s a three-Test Lion

I’M not questioning Eddie Jones’ ability to motivate a team and produce results, but I must say I’m disappointed with some...