Lions closer to regaining Rugby bragging rights

By JON NEWCOMBE FOR the past five years Rugby Lions have not even been able to claim to be the biggest...

They’ll all remember day Eddie called in

Jon Newcombe finds the England coach making dreams come true at the grassroots A guest training session from Eddie Jones on...

Even loss won’tdeny Juddian prize of promotion

NATIONAL 3 ROUND-UP By NICK VERDIER TONBRIDGE Juddian secured promotion to the National Two South next season with a 46-5 win...

Fiji earn first win as Amor’s lads crash

HONG KONG WRAP FIJI picked up their first trophy since the Rio Olympics by retaining their Hong Kong Sevens crown last...

Big win over Blitzbokke makes up for early slip

SINGAPORE By NICK VERDIER ENGLAND saved their best until last with a stunning win over South Africa sending them to the...

England look to complete the clean sweep

NEWS EXTRA JOHN Fletcher’s England U18s take on Scotland today looking to end the international series in Wales unbeaten. John Fletcher’s...

It’s a chance of a lifetime say promoted Caldy

By JON NEWCOMBE AFTER nine consecutive seasons at level four, Caldy head coach Simon Verbickas admits the club is stepping into...

Hartpury won’t be selling out for glory

Can the students of Hartpury be competitive in the Championship next season? Luke Jarmyn talks to CEO Russell Marchant Russell Marchant...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

THE FORMER RICHMOND, CARDIFF BLUES, LEEDS AND GLOUCESTER PROP GARY POWELL After countless hours playing Jonah Lomu Rugby on the PlayStation...

Bolter O’Mahony ‘has drive to lead Lions’

By NEALE HARVEY DONNCHA O’Callaghan reckons forceful Irish back rower Peter O’Mahony is a viable contender for the Lions captaincy if...

All-rounder Farrell reminds McCaw of legend Carter

By ADAM HATHAWAY Running the show: England inside-centre Owen Farrell. Dan Carter scores during the second Lions Test in 2005 PICTURES:...

Reds finish on high and focus turns to Munster

By TOM INNES Jersey Reds …28pts Tries: Kolo’ofa’i 19, Argyle 32, Robling 67, Adair 77 Conversions: Cope 19, 32, 67, 77...

Paver fury as Pirates let slip big lead for second week

By MIKE SINCLAIR C Pirates …40pts Tries: Duncan 10, 40, 43, Day 14, Arnott 22, O’Meara 69 Conversions: Cargill 10, 14,...

Miserable end for Richards as Exiles cave again

By LUKE JARMYN A SOLOtry by replacement Charles Thacker on the final play saw Nottingham end their hoodoo in the capital...

Disjointed phony war goes way of Carnegie

By COLIN NEWBOULT Y Carnegie …33pts Tries: Beck 13, Thraves 28, Beesley 44, Forsyth 52, Mayhew 60 Conversions: Seals 14, 29,...

Kennedy calls for improved discipline in play-off return

By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster …5pts Tries: Lewis 80 London Irish …22pts Tries: Lewington 40, Penalty try 44, McKibbon 47 Conversions: Bell...

Dogged Aylesford fight back to book final place

By NICK VERDIER WOMEN’S COLUMN THE Women’s Premiership will have a new winner next Sunday after Bristol and Aylesford Bulls reached...

How Richards rates the Championship contenders

PETER Richards reckons only the pressure of the play-offs can prevent London Irish from making an immediate return to the Premiership....

Floundering Titans call on Rouse

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Premiership lock Nic Rouse is set to be unveiled as Rotherham’s new forwards coach. Rouse replaces Steve...

Richards: RFU must bring in Championship age cap

Doubtful: Peter Richards believes development is failing By NEALE HARVEY LONDON SCOTTISH head coach Peter Richards reckons the Championship is failing...

Moriarty on the move next year

ROSS Moriarty has rejected the offer of a new contract from Gloucester but will still be seeing out the final year...

Fekitoa’s new star name for Wasps

Tonganborn: Malakai Fekitoa WASPS have earmarked All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa as a marquee signing to replace Kurtley Beale who is...

ON THE BLINDSIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler LONDON IRISH are having talks with Springbok lock Lood de Jager, right, about joining...

De Klerk and O’Connor are done deals at Sale

BLINDSIDE understands that Sale Sharks have completed deals for Faf de Klerk and James O’Connor to move to the club next...

ROOM 101

THE HULL IONIANS SCRUM-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND ISAAC GREEN 1. Slow walkers...

Sarries know they must win that early battle of wills

Third time lucky? Two English teams including the national XV have been sent packing from Dublin this season in no uncertain...

Pedigree is there for a classic Euro showdown

Brendan Gallagher looks at epic games in the European Cup between Munster and Saracens Brendan Gallagher It’s 18 years since Saracens...

Anscombe signs new deal with Cardiff

GARETH Anscombe will give Cardiff Blues a major boost by signing a fresh deal with the region. Anscombe’s National Dual Contract...

Wigglesworth staying on for more trophy success

By NEALE HARVEY INFLUENTIALSarries scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth has revealed his devotion to winning persuaded him to turn down big money offers...

Good for a gag, but the truth is Mike really was world class

MIKE Phillips is one of my best mates and the best scrum-half I played with. The thing with Mike is that...

Thrilled I’ve got the nod to help Amman become history boys

I HAD every intention of being on the bench whenever I played for Amman this season, but I’ve got the callup...

Anscombe excellence left Sam in the shade

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Judgement Day was a chance for some of Wales’ best players to book their place...

Hartley in with a chance says England’s 2003 scrum guru

Accurate: Dylan Hartley THE set-piece will be absolutely crucial to whatever game-plan Warren Gatland has identified to carry the Lions to...

The Rugby Paper columnists select their 37-man squads…

JEREMY GUSCOTT Full-back: Halfpenny, Hogg, L Williams. Wing: North, Simon Zebo (I), Daly, Watson. Centre: Henshaw, Joseph, Te’o, Jonathan Davies (W)....

Take 45 players to New Zealand, you’re going to need all of them!

Strong men: George Kruis and Maro Itoje in training. Sam Warburton PICTURES: Getty Images THE 2017 Lions must go to New...

Crash in sterling has hit revenue admits Halliday

By NEALE HARVEY Problem: Simon Halliday THE financial implications of Brexit are hindering efforts by Champions Cup bosses to add to...

First-half blitz sees Warriors cruise in

DESPITE having virtually nothing to play for after their hopes of a PRO12 play-off place ended last weekend, Glasgow’s second XV...

Red Army battle back but injuries mar victory

By RONAN O’BRIEN WINGER Simon Zebo is confident Munster will have no problem plugging gaps if some big names are missing...

Leinster secure home semi-final

LEINSTER will go into their Champions Cup semifinal on a high after Josh van der Flier inspired his side to a...

You’ll have to be better than this, Pivac tells his Scarlets

By JAMES CANDY SCARLETS head coach Wayne Pivac warned his men they will have to improve on their Judgement Day triumph...

Nightmare continues for lowly Edinburgh

EDINBURGH slumped to a record eighth successive PRO12 defeat as their season went from bad to worse at Stadio Monigo. The...

Playoff bid goes west as Ospreys fall again

By ALEX BYWATER Man-of-match: Gareth Anscombe dives in for Cardiff Blues PICTURE: Huw Evans STEVE Tandy blasted his players’ poor attitude...

Handsome Mike had some ugly moments

MIKE PHILLIPS has been called many things in his time as befitting one who often dealt in the outrageous on and...

Parry Jones spotted Duggan’s surrender to battle fatigue

THE passing of broadcaster David Parry Jones, aged 83, evokes memories of Wales- Ireland in 1975, a unique match in that...

Dylan must hope Lions history isn’t repeated

Not counting his chickens: England captain Dylan Hartley PICTURE: Getty Images The Lions leave the England captain at home, pick his...

Ellis unfazed by Parisse as Bath bid to end 9-year wait for trophy

By NEALE HARVEY Enjoying life in back row: Bath flanker Tom Ellis UNSUNG flanker Tom Ellis aims to complete a stellar...

Lions must dethrone the breakdown kings

Sam Warburton Thunderous: No.8 Billy Vunipola Taulupe Faletau CJ Stander NEW Zealand have been kings of the contest for the ball...

Plucky Richmond star out to seize his big second chance

NEWCASTLE-BOUNDNo.9 Sam Stuart will always be grateful to Richmond for helping him win a remarkable battle against injury. Stuart was once...

Dynamic Sharks duo tipped for Pumas tour

By JON NEWCOMBE Big fan: Dave Seymour Fast-track: Ben and Tom Curry SALE young guns Ben and Tom Curry are on...

Williams upbeat despite agony at Exeter

BRISTOL were “gutted” not to beat Exeter at Sandy Park last time out and scrum-half Rhodri Williams is calling for another...