Wilkinson: Lions will need a team full of captains to defeat All Blacks

Been there: Jonny Wilkinson on Lions duty in 2005 By GARY FITZGERALD NEWS EXTRA JONNY Wilkinson claims the Lions will need...

Furlong clear in race to be the pack pillar

New Zealand have the highest strike rate off set piece possession in the world game. That is why it is imperative...

Geech points way ahead for future tours

The 1993 Lions tour of New Zealand was Ian McGeechan’s second as coach and the first time a Lions coach had...

Groundhog Day as Lions are ambushed by Aussie ref

Brendan Gallagher looks back on the heroics and heartbreak of the 1993 Lions tour to New Zealand THE last truly amateur...

MacGinty cashing in off Callard’s master classes

By JON NEWCOMBE Target practice: AJ McGinty hits another penalty against Exeter SALE fly-half AJ MacGinty has paid tribute to former...

Is Vui staying or going?

THERE is uncertainty over the future of Worcester’s Chris Vui after boss Gary Gold said he believes Vui is “already committed”...

Gold: Mills has given us control at 10

By TOM BRADSHAW FRANCOIS Hougaard may have been creating headlines at Worcester, but Warriors boss Gary Gold says another half-back has...

’I was close to being an LA drop-out’

NEALE HARVEY talks to Joe Taufete’e, the American Football ace now tearing up the Aviva Premiership Early days: Taufete’e in LA...

Kingston working to lower injury toll

By CHRIS JONES HARLEQUINS boss John Kingston has initiated a forensic examination of the club’s training and medical systems in a...

All Blacks coach who bowed out undefeated

HIS name never seemed to merit a mention in relation to the best New Zealand coaches and yet Eric Watson could...

Five in a row for squeaky clean Connacht

NOWthat red cards are being spotted in ever greater numbers with the passing of every winter, avoiding one takes some doing...

Tale of two rugby cities could not be more stark

On a wintry Friday night by the Clyde, Glasgow Warriors and Newport Gwent Dragons played out a 16-all draw. So few...

Ford set to extend his French stay

Wanted: Mike Ford MIKE FORD is a surprise name in the running to be named as the new head coach of...

Sale seek closure to Solomona issue

SALE SHARKS are going into mediation with Castleford Tigers later this month in a bid to avoid a costly legal action...

Flood’s return in doubt with Bordeaux interested

FORMER England flyhalf Toby Flood is a target for French club Bordeaux, who want to scupper a return to Newcastle Falcons...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler CARL FEARNS is unlikely to be seen in a Gloucester shirt next season despite...

ROOM 101

THE HARLEQUINS CAPTAIN TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND JAMES HORWILL 1. Plane pain Being...

Champions stunned by basement boys

By SAM JACKSON CONNACHT suffered a shock defeat to Zebre in Parma yesterday in what was only the Italians’ second win...

Cardiff ace eyes Wales tour to cap his season

By ALEX BYWATER STEVEN Shingler wants to end his impressive first season with Cardiff Blues by earning a place on Wales’...

Cracked jaw small price to pay for a spot in the cup final!

I GOT a lot of stick for playing for Amman United last weekend, but even though we won, it didn’t all...

Warburton still the pick of captaincy candidates

The clock is ticking in the run up to Warren Gatland’s Lions squad announcement, but for me there’s only one man...

Biggar: Play like last week and we’ll be in trouble

By ALEX BYWATER STAR fly-half Dan Biggar has revealed the Ospreys have had a few home truths spoken as they prepare...

Top 14 high-fliers soft early tries

Rochelle replacement prop Lekso Kaulashvili picked up a yellow card and Edinburgh replacement Duncan Weir kicked the resulting penalty to bring...

Twelvetrees fires reminder to Eddie

By GARY FITZGERALD BILLY Twelvetrees produced the kind of inspired display that helped win him 19 England caps as Gloucester set...

Edinburgh crash out of the race after gifting

By GARY HEATLY EDINBURGHwere left to rue a dreadful start once again as they were bundled out of the Challenge Cup...

’Butcher’ Taulupe brings in the bacon

WITH Lions selection looming, Bath No.8 Taulupe Faletau produced a perfectly timed effort. WITH Lions selection looming, Bath No.8 Taulupe Faletau...

Bath bury humiliation as Faletau roars back like a Lion

By NEALE HARVEY TAULUPE Faletau hammered out a statement to Lions boss Warren Gatland with a man-of-the-match display as Bath exorcised...

Watch out for Retiere

LA ROCHELLE showed in their 32-22 Challenge Cup victory over Edinburgh why they are top of the Top 14. Unlike so...

Maestri could use a history lesson

YOANN Maestri’s £26,000 fine for bringing the game into disrepute after criticising English referee Wayne Barnes for his handling of the...

Solomona is quality, but don’t pick him

THAT Denny Solomona has had a phenomenal start to his Rugby Union career, with 11 tries in 11 matches for Sale...

Rowan relishing chance to realise potential

JACOB Rowan says he owes departed head coach Laurie Fisher a debt of gratitude after ousting Matt Kvesic from Gloucester’s No.7...

’Vunipola gives you go-forward like no other in world rugby’

BEFORE he heads home to Australia, former Gloucester head coach Laurie Fisher has been casting his eye over England’s line-up and...

Cohen comes out fighting in defence of Mauger axe

By NEALE HARVEY LEICESTER chief executive Simon Cohen has defended the sackings of Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger, claiming both decisions...

McCall: Don’t let rugby go same way as county cricket

MARK McCall has deep misgivings about the new 11 month season that has been foisted on Northern Hemisphere clubs, and as...

We know it’s going to be physical says pack ace Harley

In the thick of it: Rob Harley of Glasgow tackles Edinburgh’s Damien Hoyland ROB HARLEY has been there and done it...

Mighty Mako can put the frighteners on the Warriors

Nick Cain talks to Saracens prop Mako Vunipola ahead of today’s clash Nick Cain PREVIEW… Saracens v Glasgow Today. Kick-off 1pm....

Halfpenny demands improvement ahead of showdown

By NICK VERDIER Hungry: Leigh Halfpenny LEIGH Halpfenny has urged his teammates to snap out of their travel sickness for the...

Saracens’ success made me sick… now it’s my turn

Neale Harvey talks to Dave Strettle about his quest to emulate his old Sarries mates PREVIEW… Clermont v Toulon Today. Kick-off...

Ryan: We stood up to pack onslaught

STAR man John Ryan admitted the scoreline flattered his team after being made to work hard for the victory. “It was...

French giants no match for runaway Red Army

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Munster 41pts Tries: Ryan 5, Stander 48, Sweetnam 76, Conway 80 Conversions: Bleyendaal 5, 76, 80 Penalties: Bleyendaal...

Wales will veto cut to 6 Nations

WALES will take a stand in Dublin this week against England’s call for the Six Nations schedule to be shortened by...

Frustrated Fisher tells Gloucester to get real

By NEALE HARVEY LAURIE Fisher says Gloucester have a long way to go before they can be considered a powerhouse of...

Young Gun: Dominic Morris – England U20s

Being injured at the start of the season, Dominic Morris would not have expected to have made his Saracens debut, won...

The all new Middlesex 7s festival

The Middlesex 7s Festival is returning to Richmond Athletic Ground Sunday April 30th and this year it promises to be bigger...

Nick Cain: O’Connor had better watch his back at Leicester

The knives are out at Welford Road – again – with Matt O’Connor on his way back in as Leicester‘s head...

Lions watch: scrum-halves

Given the influence that Conor Murray had on the 2013 Lions series victory in Australia, and on Ireland‘s progress since then,...

Jeff Probyn: Stop whinging Rob, you’re ignoring player welfare!

Rob Howley should remember that nobody likes a bad loser as he struggles to justify a poor Six Nations‘ performance by...

Farrell would make a great leader of Lions says Mako

Mako Vunipola reckons ‘world-class’  Owen Farrell would make a fantastic job of captaining the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand...

Super Rugby? I’d rather watch European game, says Mitchell

Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell has bemoaned the demise of Super Rugby and has called on organisers to take a...

Room 101: Paul Privey – Rosslyn Park lock

1. Economy class flights I’m 6ft 5ins and the seats in economy class are never big enough and it costs too...