‘The Beast’ plots more try havoc in the Premiership

NAPOLIONI Nalaga, one of the most devastating finishers world rugby has seen, has declared himself fit and ready to take the...

Ball boy Cameron’s set for the big stage

By JON NEWCOMBE Day-dream: Cameron Cowell racing against Australia superstar Quade Cooper at the Las Vegas Sevens PICTURES: Getty Images Hero:...

Halfpenny looks forward to his speedy Toulon return

By ALEX BYWATER It’s a date: Leigh Halfpenny in Toulon shirt LEIGH Halfpenny already has his eyes on a return to...

Tolofua in challenge to Jamie

HARD-HITTING France hooker Christopher Tolofua believes quitting once-mighty Toulouse for European champions Saracens and a battle with Lions star Jamie George...

Purdy signals it’s May-day for rivals

By NEALE HARVEY Physical presence: Henry Purdy scores against Bristol PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER wing Henry Purdy is ready to fill...

Twickenham night of heroes

David Emery reports on the third National Game Awards at Twickenham, supported by The Rugby Paper Volunteer: Bernadette Chubb with the...

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Melville: Championship better than A-League

By NEALE HARVEY Option: Nigel Melville NIGEL Melville has cast doubt on Premiership proposals to create a fully blown A-League competition...

We should back this grassroots initiative from Ryan

I WAS fascinated to see my old team-mate Ryan Jones launch a new initiative through the Welsh Rugby Union to try...

I won’t be tempted to write off Kings yet

Asset: Yaw Penxe bursts out of a tackle to score for Kings PICTURE: Huw Evans The start of a new era...

Ospreys blushes are spared by 2-try Giles

By STEFFAN THOMAS Ospreys 22pts Tries: Giles 3, 79, Fia 40 Conversions: Hook 40, Davies 79 Penalty: Hook 23 Zebre 13pts...

Rennie takes honours in battle with old coach

By DECLAN ROONEY Connacht 2pts Penalties: Carty 2, 19, 40, 60 Glasgow 18pts Tries: Price 48, Jones 72 Conversions: Horne 49...

‘World class’ Ulster teach Cheetahs first lesson

By BILL KIELY Ulster 42pts Tries: Bowe 19, O’Connor 27, McCloskey 30, Piutau 33, Ludik 41, Nelson 75 Conversions: Cooney 28,...

Leinster’s giant pack grind down improving Dragons

By ALEX BYWATER Dragons 16pts Try: penalty 73 Conversion: penalty 73 Penalties: Henson 10, 33, 44 Leinster 39pts Tries: Gibson-Park 22,...

Majestic Scarlets put Kings to sword

By ROB COLE Scarlets 57pts Tries: McNicholl 9, 74, Halfpenny 23, Patchell 47, Ball 50, Phillips 63, Parkes 70, S Evans...

Cockerill lifts off with rare victory in Cardiff

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff Blues 10pts Try: Navidi 36 Conversion: Evans 36 Penalty: Evans 48 Edinburgh 20pts Tries: Kinghorn 12, Dean...

Class gap tells as Irish tonk Treviso

Munster 34 Treviso 3 MUNSTER coach Rassie Erasmus says they have plenty of room for improvement despite an easy win to...

Tuilagi starts as Tigers fire their big guns

MANU Tuilagi will make his first competitive start since January after being named in Leicester’s XV to take on Bath at...

Captain Garvey’s out to checkmate Leicester

Leader: Matt Garvey MATT GARVEY knows he will have to play chess while he plays rugby when Bath take on Leicester...

Toomua’s aiming for new reign of terror

PREVIEW… By NICK VERDIER Leicester v Bath Today. Welford Road. Kick-off 3pm Power: Matt Toomua is tackled by Finn Russell on...

Te’o arm injury may be serious says Gold

WORCESTER director of rugby Gary Gold is concerned by the injury sustained by British and Irish Lions international Ben Te’o. Te’o,...

Warriors given reality check by Newcastle

By COLIN NEWBOULT Newcastle 35pts Tries: Tait 5, Vickers 52, Cooper 62, Socino 75 Conversions: Takulua 6, 53, Willis 76 Penalties:...

Diamond: Ref got new ruck rule wrong

SALE boss Steve Diamond admitted his team had no answer to the invention of Wasps in a brilliant firsthalf display. But...

Rampaging Robson sends 4-try message to England

By STEVE KENNY Wasps 50pts Tries: Robson 3, 13, 33, 44, Wade 16, Rowlands 70, Rieder 73 Conversions: Gopperth 3, 13,...

We fought for full 80 says coach Ackermann

EMOTIONAL new Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann credited his side’s spirit after getting his reign off to the best start. He...

Woodward try rewards Gloucester’s new spirit

By NEALE HARVEY Gloucester 28pts Tries: Thrush 25, 39; Morgan 56, Woodward 80 Conversions: Burns 25, 39, 56, Twelvetrees 80 Exeter...

Spit-spot it’s a solution!

A POTENTIAL breakthrough in the diagnosis of concussion through a simple saliva test is a note of good news at the...

The sweaty basics pay dividends for new-look Gloucester

JOHAN Ackermann might just be able to galvanise Gloucester judging by their cliff-edge 28-21 win over champions Exeter at Kingsholm on...

Fearns in Les Bleus? C’est un outrage!

Switching allegiances? Carl Fearns on the burst for Lyon The thought of Carl Fearns becoming a surrogate Frenchman fills me with...

That’s no surprise insists Cowan

LONDON Irish flanker and man of the match Blair Cowan: “We weren’t surprised at that performance, we have been building for...

Relegation fodder? No-one’s told Irish!

From BRENDAN GALLAGHER at Twickenham London Irish 39pts Tries: Ojo 23, Bell 30, Treviranus 58, McKibbin 78 Conversions: Bell 31, 59...

Wales clear way to pick all four of their Lions

By PETER JACKSON WALES will give all four of their English-based Lions a clear run to the World Cup by removing...

It’s a record as the tries pile in

We’re flying: Topsy Ojo leaps over to score London Irish’s first try against Harlequins PICTURE: Getty Images A TOTAL of 44...

Struggling Worcester are put up for sale

EXCLUSIVE By NEALE HARVEY Takeover? Edward Griffiths WORCESTER Warriors are up for sale, with former Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths believed...

Premiership Christmas fixtures announced

Premiership Rugby have today confirmed the Premiership fixtures for the Christmas weekend. The weekend starts at Sixways for the arrival of...

Former Bath captain to play for Ospreys this season

Bath flanker Guy Mercer has joined the Ospreys on a season long loan. The 27-year old, who only last year was...

George Lowe forced to retire from rugby

Harlequins have today announced that George Lowe has been forced to retire from the game on medical advice. Lowe made 139...

Hold Manu back until 2018 says top Tiger 

England supremo Eddie Jones should resist selecting Manu Tuilagi until the 2018 Six Nations and allow the troubled centre to recapture...

Owen Farrell pens new five-year deal

Owen Farrell has signed a long-term contract extension with Saracens that will see him stay at Allianz Park until at least...

Bath will need to step up for Tigers

Leinster …25 Bath …17 LEINSTER made it two from two against West Country opposition, backing up last week’s success over Gloucester...

Hartpury so close to a mighty scalp

By JAMES CANDY Gloucester …41 Hartpury …33 CALLUM Braley spared Gloucester’s blushes as they escaped with a narrow win over Championship...

Gloucester power tells in second half

By JAMES CANDY Gloucester…40 Scarlets …21 GLOUCESTER went through the gears to complete their pre-season programme with a convincing win over...

Sarries may call for their Lions to bite the Saints

By NEALE HARVEY Saracens …49 Timisoara …0 SARACENS face a tough call on whether to involve any of their returning Lions...

Tuilagi back with his big hits and high hopes

By STEVE KENNY Leicester…40pts Ospreys …14pts MANU Tuilagi came through his first start since New Year’s Day to give himself a...

Nine-try Saints go marching on to Twickers

By CALLUM DUNN Northampton…55 Ulster…15 NORTHAMPTON will head into their Premiership season high on confidence after this nine try demolition of...

Warriors run out of gas at the end

By SAM JACKSON Worcester …26 Munster …35 WORCESTER leaked two tries at the death to see Munster snatch victory at SIxways...

Chiefs’ maul strikes but Blues hit back

By ROB COLE Cardiff Blues…21 Exeter …20 IF anyone is going to strip the Chiefs of their Premiership title this season...

Big try count is worry for Jackman

Dragons …16 Glasgow…40 ITlooks like a long season is ahead for new Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman after his side shipped...

From Sam to Francois, don’t take your eyes of these guys

ANDY GOODE OUR GUEST COLUMNIST LOOKS AHEAD TO THE PREMIERSHIP With the Premiership season nearly upon us, there is a lot...

DREAM TEAM

MATT WILLIAMS, THE LONDON SCOTTISH & FORMER MOSELEY WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Mark...