Patchell and Evans have been bitten, and it hurts!

PHIL DOLLMANis to be congratulated on his elevation to the Wales squad, a reward for long years of perseverance which may...

Size didn’t matter in 1971, just pure ability

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW When they line up for the first Test, the Lions’ backs will be...

What next for Yorkshire project?

JON NEWCOMBE talks to ex-hooker Rob Rawlinson about the dilemma of his former club Yorkshire Carnegie JON NEWCOMBE THREE years ago,...

Kennedy set to bring in big league cavalry

By NICK VERDIER NICK Kennedy was a relieved man on Wednesday night but he knows there are bigger challenges awaiting after...

Irish power through despite late red card for All Black Franks

London Irish 55 Yorkshire Carnegie 48 London Irish win 84-66 on aggregate A THREE-TRY blitz at the start of the second...

SQUADS for Twickenham, kick off 3pm

ENGLAND: * new cap Mike Brown (Harlequins, 60 caps), *Nathan Earle (Saracens), *Sam James (Sale Sharks), *Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May...

Robshaw and Ford will shepherd youngsters against the Baa-baas

CHRIS ROBSHAW and George Ford will co-captain an England squad featuring eight uncapped players against the Barbarians at Twickenham today. It...

Eddie must hope his shooting stars don’t crash to earth in Argentina

NICK CAIN TALKS TO ENGLAND’S HEAD COACH ABOUT THE KIDS HE IS SENDING INTO THE PUMAS’ LAIR IF England minus the...

Breathtaking, now let’s hope all regions can build on success

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WHAT A win, what a performance, what a team! Hats off to everyone at the...

Munster are buried in a magnificent blizzard of fabulous tries

From PETER JACKSON at the Aviva Stadium THE scintillating Scarlets turned a leaden Dublin sky into more than 40 shades of...

Lions must beware getting on wrong side of ref

WHAT was evident from the high-tempo Chiefs v Crusaders clash played in Suva, Fiji, last weekend was that forward passes in...

Of course Billy’s a loss, but others will step in

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The wailing and gnashing of teeth over Billy Vunipola’s withdrawal from the Lions...

Mallinder hits winner after Wood sees red

By NICK VERDIER NORTHAMPTON defied the odds to book their place in next season’s Champions Cup after fighting back from 22-16...

Mermoz will make Falcons soar says Richards

By NEALE HARVEY NEWCASTLE boss Dean Richards expects star signings Maxime Mermoz and Toby Flood to light up next season’s Premiership...

Exeter prove patience can be greatest virtue

BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT It was Leo Tolstoy – who doesn’t offer appear on the sports pages – who once remarked that...

Steenson: I said a prayer to my dad over kick

By NEALE HARVEY GARETH Steenson revealed he offered a prayer to his late father before kicking the vital conversion. Steenson’s heroics...

Follow our lead, Pivac tells Welsh rugby

By PETER JACKSON THEScarlets marked their coronation as PRO12 champions last night by challenging Wales to follow the dazzling brand of...

Champions! Now Chiefs boss demands Euro glory

By NEALE HARVEY Best in the land: Jack Yeandle and Gareth Steenson hold the trophy aloft for Exeter PICTURE: Getty Images...

Young Gun: Josh Gray – Barnard Castle No.8

Josh Gray was just 12 when his brother Alex led England U20s to the Junior World Cup final in 2011 and...

How Wasps have fared since the club moved to Coventry

In 1999, professional rugby union outfit Wasps RFC changed their name to London Wasps to differentiate themselves from amateur side Wasps...

Peter Jackson: Boks’ RWC triumph hung on a shirtsleeve

There is an old adage in journalism that news is not necessarily when it happens but when someone digs it out....

Jeff Probyn: Saracens are great but can they keep going?

Congratulations to Sarries on the totally expected win in last week’s Champions Cup final. They have made history and written the...

Harry hoping to follow dad’s lead in Argentina

Harry Mallinder is hoping for another summer where he feels on top of the world after what he admits has been...

Room 101: Ollie Dawe – Bristol prop

1. Second-hand jokes It annoys me when I tell a funny story or a joke and someone else repeats it shortly...

England name side for Barbarians clash

Eddie Jones has named his England squad to face the Barbarians on Sunday at Twickenham . The starting XV will be...

Nick Cain’s Premiership of the Year

Saracens‘ exceptional European Cup double explains why they have almost half the starting line-up in my 2016-17 Team of the Season....

Shane Williams: We need Bomb back coaching OUR props

I’ve always had a lot of time for Adam Jones, but he didn’t strike me as a potential coach, not initially...

National League One Dream Team

Hartpury College became the first team in history to win 30 from 30 in National League One as the West Country...

Blackadder takes swipe at below-par Bath stars

Bath rugby director Todd Blackadder has put his star players on notice after admitting standards of professionalism had fallen below his...

Leo: Pacific Islanders need a professional pathway

  Former Samoa lock Dan Leo has urged World Rugby to dig deep to stem the flow of talent away from...

20 Questions: Joe Munro – Ealing Trailfinders centre

How do you look back at the semi-finals against Yorkshire Carnegie? We self-imploded for 20 minutes in the first half at...

Brendan Gallagher: Premiership final promises to be an absolute cracker

So after 22 rounds and two pulsating skin-of-your- teeth semis Wasps will play Exeter in the Aviva Premiership Final in a...

Nick Cain: Ritchie gets even richer thanks to RFU pay

Ian Ritchie’s sudden announcement that he is leaving his £700,000 a year post as the RFU‘s chief executive this summer after...

Jeremy Guscott: Lions should copy Crusaders’ blueprint to restrict Barrett’s influence

Beauden Barrett has a skill-set that would be the envy of a lot of world-class players, but last weekend playing for...

I can’t wait to get back to Leicester says Ford

George Ford is focused on another successful summer in white before returning to former club Leicester determined to win some silverware...

My Life in Rugby: Simon Binns – former Leicester fly-half

I experienced some memorable wins as a player – beating Bath at home while at London Scottish, for example – but...

Double injury blow for England

Paul Hill and Joe Marchant have been ruled out of England‘s tour to Argentina in June through injury. Hill, who has...

Newcastle star retires at only 26

Tom Catterick insists he will always be a Newcastle Falcons fan despite this week retiring from professional rugby at the age...

Genge eyes overtime as stars near game limit 

Leicester prop Ellis Genge is committed to going the extra mile for England in Argentina despite the likelihood of him busting...

Warburton declares himself FIT for Lions tour

British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton says he is fully fit and ready to “crack on” for the New Zealand...

Barbarians make stellar addition to 27-man squad

The Barbarians have today confirmed their experienced 27-strong squad for the tour matches against England on May 28 and Ulster on...

Exiles centre banned for final’s second leg

London Irish centre Aseli Tikoirotuma will miss the second leg of the Championship final against Yorkshrie Carnegie tomorrow after being banned...

Big Billy out of Lions tour

Billy Vunipola has withdrawn from the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand due to an ongoing shoulder injury. The...

Dream Team: Brendan McKibbin – London Irish scrum-half

1. Tom Court – Nothing to do with his rugby abilities really, it’s just that he’s so old he can be...

Big Joe was just immense says Dai

DAI YOUNG paid tribute to his side after their last ditch win. “I was very pleased with our composure –we never...

So sweet for Wasps as Bassett lands the final thrust

From NICK CAIN at Ricoh Arena Wasps 21pts Tries: Beale 7, Bassett 77 Conversions: Gopperth 8 Penalties: Gopperth 2, 23, 39...

McCall proud of his tired troops

MARK McCall admitted Saracens were ‘hanging on and looking tired’ after their European exertions. The Sarries director of rugby said: “What...

Slade missile sets up smash and grab raid

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter 18pts Tries: Nowell 43, S Simmonds 79 Conversions: Steenson 43 Penalties: Steenson 26, 30 Saracens 16pts Tries:...

Copy Crusaders’ blueprint to restrict Barrett’s influence

Shut-out: Crusaders defenders swarm around Beauden Barrett PICTURE: Getty Images BEAUDEN Barrett has a skill-set that would be the envy of...

DREAMTEAM

DEMETRI CATRAKILIS, THE MONTPELLIER AND FUTURE HARLEQUINS FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Steven Kitshoff...