Stade Rochelais v Leinster: Leinster aiming to cash in on Will Skelton’s absence

Leinster and La Rochelle, the 2022 and 2023 finalists, continue their epic rivalry today with both sides unbeaten in this year’s...

Castres in good shape but Bulls fade away

■ By TOM WALKER Castres ............ 49 Bulls .................. 10 A SECOND-STRING Bulls were all but eliminated from the Champions Cup...

Bristol Bears v Benetton: James Williams out to prove his worth again

James Williams saw off the challenge of Virimi Vakatawa last season and having recovered from a shoulder injury now has the...

This match will be tough – it’s do-or-die for us, says Lam

■ By PAUL REES PAT Lam has billed Bristol’s clash with Treviso at Ashton Gate today as do or die. Defeat...

Ollie Lawrence’s play-acting was shameful to watch

Ollie Lawrence’s sham injury in the closing minutes of a knife-edge finish between Northampton and Bath at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend...

We don’t need platitudes, we need to see change

The RFU’s U-turn on Friday in agreeing to an SGM, just 24-hour’s after rejecting the Thursday’s submission representing 152 clubs across...

Bath v Clermont: Joe Cokanasiga- “It is all down to chatting to the boss”

Joe Cokanasiga has credited a frank conversation with head of rugby Johann van Graan for his purple patch of form for...

We know this is a must-win match, admits van Graan

Return: Bath’s Ted Hill BATH make five changes as they look to kickstart their Champions Cup campaign against Clermont Auvergne. England...

Toulon v Harlequins: We’re expecting a brutal clash, admits Chisholm

James Chisholm admits he is not one of the flashier players who wear the Harlequins’ multi-coloured jersey, but the back rower...

Wilson: We have a good record and won’t be overawed

■ By PAUL REES DANNY Wilson says Harlequins will not be overawed when they face Toulon at Stade Mayol today having...

Cardiff still in running after taking bonus point

■ By SIMON THOMAS Perpignan .........23pts Tries: Allan 40, Veredamu 50, Velarte 61 Conversion: Allan 40 Penalties: Allan 4, 48 Cardiff...

Fit-again Harri in line for debut

■ By BEN JAYCOCK Preview Dragons v Pau Today. 3.15pm PROMISING youngster Harri Ackerman will make his first Dragons start today...

Double for Walsh puts Ospreys in charge

■ By ROGER PANTING Ospreys ...............35pts Tries: Walsh 15, 64; Parry 26, Kasende 30, Hardy 68 Conversions: Edwards 15, 26, 30,...

Gloucester take the easy route to cruise past Scarlets

■ By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ....... 31pts Tries: Englefield 4, Clement 17, Barton 31, Blake 50, Wade 73 Conversions: Carreras 4,...

Connacht find target thanks to Murphy

■By BENEDICT GOLDFINCH Connacht ..........52pts Tries: Murphy 2, 39, 46; Jansen 15, Bealham 18, Murphy 42, Aungier 54, Tierney-Martin 73, Hurley-Langton...

Montpellier ..28 Lions ……………… 5

FORMER England and Exeter Chiefs No.8 Sam Simmonds scored a late try as unbeaten Montpellier comfortably brushed off the Lions to...

Cheetahs v Zebre Today. 1pm

Preview CHEETAHS will look to keep their hopes of qualifying for the play-offs alive today against fellow winless outfit Zebre. Following...

Muncaster blow takes edge off it for Edinburgh

■By BRYN PALMER RC Vannes ........25pts Tries: Beziat 25, Taccola 37, Vili 68 Conversions: Le Bail 26, 38 Penalties: Le Bail...

Black Lion ….. 16 Bayonne ………41

BAYONNE blew a helpless Black Lion away with a dominant six-try bonus point triumph on the road. The routine victory continues...

Franco Molina is following in Rob Baxter’s footsteps

By Mark Stevens In the rugby world, players often emerge as leaders not only through their skill, but through their character,...

Injuries are tough but I’m a fighter – Johnny Williams

Simon Thomas talks to Johnny Williams about beating cancer, life as a Scarlet and his Wales ambitions For Johnny Williams, the...

We need to watch rugby in the raw

By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed According to Inkoo Kang, a leading critic at The New Yorker magazine and, almost by definition,...

George is the best captain for England

IF Steve Borthwick has his share of tricky selection quandaries ahead of the Six Nations, the choice of captain is not...

A spirit of adventure comes at high price

Crowd pleaser: Cadan Murley scores for Quins against Leicester in front of nearly 80,000 at Twickenham PICTURES: Getty Images NO matter...

‘I want to follow my brother to the top’ – David Opoku-Fordjour

By Ben Jaycock David Opoku-Fordjour feels he has what it takes to achieve his lifelong dream of lining up alongside his...

Chris Farrell sacked by Oyonnax

Former Ireland international Chris Farrell has been sacked by French club Oyonnax following his conviction last month. Farrell, 31, received a...

Russian flag removed from Gotovtsev shirt

GLOUCESTER have apologised for the use of a Russian flag on prop Kirill Gotovtsev’s club shirt and said it will no...

Let’s hope the best of Regan Grace is yet to come

By Peter Jackson - The man truly in the know Ever since St Helens discovered him in Port Talbot playing for...

Gopperth’s long and winding road

NOW that he’s beginning to make Peter Pan look like a grumpy old man, Jimmy Gopperth’s longevity requires further updating with...

Frank Wilson dies at the age of 80

The funeral of former Cardiff and St Helens wing Frank Wilson will take place at Peel Green Crematorium in Salford on...

When brute force saved day for the Baa-Baas

MEIRION Roberts would have been highly amused had someone told him that his death last week would resurrect probably the most...

Chiefs aiming to get season back on the right track

■By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Exeter v Bristol Today Kick-off 3pm, Sandy Park TITLE hunting Exeter Chiefs will be desperate to get...

Saracens run riot to bring up the century

■By HARRY SCOTT-MUNRO Saracens ............ 100pts Tries: Infante 4, Packer 7, 12; Harrision 14, 18, 38; Hardy 22, 58; Bridger 32,...

George double makes it five in a row

■By JOSH THOMAS Gloucester-H ....36pts Tries: Tuipulotu 3, Venner 22, Simpson 35, George 44, 80; Carson 67 Conversions: Sing 22, 35,...

Heroes deserve highest accolade

Rugby Matters by Brendan Gallagher - A weekly look at the game’s other talking points The second series of BBC’s SAS...

Gifted KG MacLeod was well ahead of his time tally on

Has rugby ever had an equivalent of Luke Littler the youthful prodigy, who won the World Darts Championship aged 17 years...

I owe Birmingham Moseley so much, says the fit-again flanker Morgan Dawes

By Ben Jaycock Passionate Midlander Morgan Dawes takes great pride in representing his beloved city through Birmingham Moseley. The former London...

Power so proud as Park edge a thriller

■By GRAHAM COX Rosslyn Park ...26pts Tries: Ledger 16, Charalambous 38, 44, Fenley 48 Conversions: Bragman 17, 39, 45 Blackheath ......25pts...

Sam’s the man in helping ‘tee-up’ Dings’ victory

■By BAZ JOHNSON Dings Crusaders ..35 Sedgley Park .......... 3 SAM Worsley produced a faultless kicking game from the tee as...

Hosts just do enough to secure a terrific triumph

By HAMISH OGILVY Oxford Har’.......38 Bury St Ed......... 31 OXFORD Harlequins come out on top in a thrilling clash. Bury St...

Armstrong proves the hat-trick hero

By ROB MATTHEWS Guernsey.................40 Havant......................14 GUERNSEY took the spoils with a dominant first-half performance. They came out firing on all cylinders...

Humphreys is the Barnes’ inspiration

By ED MARRIAGE Colchester..............28 Barnes......................57 BARNES went second in the table with a comprehensive nine-try win at Colchester, whose artificial pitch...

Dorking’s Tom Bristow believes props should keep their options open

By Ben Jaycock Experienced prop Tom Bristow is urging young front rowers to learn both sides of the scrum rather than...

Life at the top suits us, says Lymm flyer Nathan

By BEN JAYCOCK Sprint for home: Lymm full-back Nathan Beesley LYMM have proven surprise title challengers during their second season in...

Students prove just too sharp for the Hornets

By SAM SMITH Loughboro S....55 Hornets.............. 14 LOUGHBOROUGH Students welcomed Hornets in one of the only games to go ahead in...

Camborne hold nerve to draw a classic

National League 2 West By MIKE AMOS Taunton T..........38pts Camborne..........38pts A BUMPER crowd of over 1,100 were treated to a ten-try...

Fogerty seals fightback to break spirit of hosts

By RORY MORROW Devenport S............20 Old Redcliffians....26 OLD Redcliffians’ late rally snatched a vital victory at bottom side Devenport Services. The...

Jack’s King in easy win for the Reds

By BILL HOOPER Redruth....................3 3 Bournville............... 10 DESPITE difficult playing conditions Redruth got 2025 off in style with a bonus point...

Clifton comeback thwarts Luc’s pack

By ROGER OPIE Clifton....................... 16 Luctonians.............. 12 STRONG resolve and confidence helped Clifton turn this game around despite trailing by 12...

Jamie Harrison sets his own try target as Macclesfield start to climb table

By Ben Jaycock Jamie Harrison isn’t satisfied with his nine tries so far for newly promoted Macclesfield and hopes to reach...