Shane Williams: Wales backs and pack must get it together

When I look back on Wales‘ Six Nations campaign, my overriding emotion is confusion. How can we play with width and...

Brendan Gallagher: Eurostars who can earn chance to make a late check-in for the Lions

European Cup quarter-final weekend is right up there with the very best rugby weekends of the season but doubly so this...

Peter Jackson: Warren so wrong on Sam’s loss as skipper

Warren Gatland has found the oldest scapegoat under the sun for Sam Warburton losing the Wales captaincy before their worst Six...

Nick Cain picks his English lions as Eddie Jones reaches a watershed

Whichever way you look at it, the manner in which England’s clean sweep and world record was slammed in Dublin was...

Pressure almost led me to suicide admits Leicester star

Leicester scrum-half Jono Kitto is spearheading a campaign aimed at persuading players to open up about mental health issues after revealing...

Tait one of four to pen new Leicester deal

Mathew Tait, Harry Thacker, Harry Wells and Michele Rizzo have all extended their Leicester contracts to stay at Welford road. Tait...

20 Questions: Steve Boden – Yorkshire Carnegie coach

How has your week been up in Leeds? We had a good training with a lot of players coming back to...

Jeremy Guscott: O’Mahony had a hunger England never showed

There are as many questions after the Six Nations as there were before it in terms of selection for the 2017...

Solomona eligible for England and the Lions

Sale Sharks flying winger Denny Solomona is now eligible to play for England after receiving notification from the RFU. Being English-qualified...

Twickenham rout ‘will cost Scots their Lions places’

Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton fears his countrymen’s 62-21 Six Nations thrashing by England has dashed any hope of significant Lions...

Heem banned for two weeks for challenge on Le Roux

Bryce Heem has received a two-week ban for his challenge in the air on Willie le Roux on Sunday. The Worcester...

REVEALED: Champions Cup semi-final venues

BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton, as well as three French stadiums – the Allianz...

Lions ban clubs from using their branding

The Lions are not making friends among the broader rugby community as their commercial team prevent other clubs from ‘unofficial’ use...

Bath sign Welsh fly-half

Bath have secured the signing of fly-half Josh Lewis from Ebbw Vale ahead of next season. The 25-year-old’s form in Ebbw...

My Life in Rugby: Scott Hamilton – former All Blacks and Leicetser wing

The main reason I made the All Blacks team in 2006 was because I was in such a great Crusaders team....

Dream Team: Topsy Ojo – London Irish wing

1. Clarke Dermody – It can’t be bad when your prop has hands like a centre as well as being able...

Deano: Yes, put Chris on the plane

RIVAL coaches John Kingston and Dean Richards were united in respectfully suggesting Warren Gatland seriously considers Chris Robshaw for the Lions...

Robshaw’s back and firing for his Lions selection

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins 53pts Tries: Buchanan 14, Brown 21, Marchant 40, Yarde 42, Luamanu 48, Care 55, Swiel 77 Conversions:...

Williams: This one was for Aaron

MATCH-WINNING marksman Owen Williams said Leicester wanted to give departing coach Aaron Mauger a winning send-off. “He’s a lovely bloke and...

Tigers find a Mauger performance at last

By NICK CAIN LEICESTER said they were determined to send Aaron Mauger into the sunset on a winning note. And they...

O’Mahony had a hunger England never showed

JEREMY GUSCOTT THERE are as many questions after the Six Nations as there were before it in terms of selection for...

DREAMTEAM

JIM EVANS, THE FORMER ENGLAND SAXON AND QUINS LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Ceri...

That extra 20 minutes? Enthralling rugby drama

COLIN BOAG I’ve always believed that all three matches in the final round of the Six Nations should kick off at...

French coaches should face a ban

AS AN England fan you wouldn’t think I’d be worried, but seeing Wales blatantly cheated out of a match by the...

Stop these bench players from rushing into the in-goal area

■ HOW much longer are referees going to allow tries when sides have 19 or 20 players on the field of...

Falcons prove gap can still be bridged

RE Stephen Rodgers letter titled Gap between top tiers getting wider. He states that since Exeter in 2010 no other Championship...

Players’ boss warns over new 11-month season

By NEALE HARVEY CHRISTIAN Day, chairman of the Rugby Players Association, fears Premiership Rugby plans for an extended domestic season are...

All Blacks grab £3m jackpot at Twickers

THE All Blacks have confirmed they will play the Barbarians and not England at Twickenham on November 4, as revealed by...

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

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER All Blacks coach John Mitchell has bemoaned the demise of Super Rugby and has called on organisers...

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, March 26th, 2017 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs SUNDAY, MARCH 26...

Racing back in form as merger row goes away

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Out of the chaos of a botched merger with Stade Francais came a victory yesterday that gives...

Alun-Wyn to miss big Euro Cup showdown

ALUN-Wyn Jones will miss the Ospreys’ Challenge Cup quarter-final against Stade Francais next Sunday after suffering a shoulder injury against France...

OspreyThornton tells Wales: I’m ready for take-off

NEWS EXTRA By JAMES LLOYD Up for it: Rory Thornton is desperate for his Test debut RORY Thornton wants to make...

Tight at the top as title race heats up

SWALEC Division One round-up By ANDREW MCQUARRIE THINGS are hotting up in the race for top spot in the West-Central. The...

Battling Students crash Pool’s party

SWALEC Championship round-up By JAMES LLOYD THE champagne remains on ice for Pontypool after their 18-game league winning run was brought...

Crossword

ACROSS 1. Kiwi centre who qualified for his France caps after three years at Clermont from 1998 (5) 4. Four-times Five...

Murphy boots Ravens to win

Principality Premiership By JOHN MILLS Bridgend R19 Swansea 0 BRIDGEND Ravens moved into third in Tier Two after they shutout Swansea...

Sam the man as RGC reach final

By JAMES MICHAELS RGC 1404 24 Merthyr 20 SAM JONES’ sensational late score secured a WRU National Cup final place for...

Ceri keeps head for Ponty

Welsh Cup By ROB COLE Cross Keys 37 Pontypridd 42 CERI Sweeney will be back at the Principality Stadium with Pontypridd...

Garvey’s backing Jamaica for 7s progress

NEWS EXTRA By NICK VERDIER MARCEL GARVEY is fully aware it will not be a cool run-in but he has high...

Woodhouse and the Kildunnes on fire

ROUND UP WOODHOUSE Grove showed great character at the Rosslyn Park Sevens on Friday to win both the U14s and the...

Cranleigh retain U18s Cup for Jake

On top again: Cranleigh School celebrate after retaining the Rosslyn Park Sevens U18s Cup UNDER 18S CUP By NICK VERDIER JAKE...

Trio in line for England U18s bow against the Welsh

NEWS EXTRA By NICK VERDIER MAX Coyle, Kieran Wilkinson and Kieran Verden will all make their England U18s debute after being...

Nel stays at Edinburgh

EDINBURGH Rugby have re-signed Scotland international tighthead prop Willem ‘WP’ Nel on a three-year deal. Nel joined Edinburgh in 2012 and...

Lions Test refs named

TWO French referees and a South African will take charge of the British and Irish Lions’ Tests against world champions New...

Johnston quits at Warriors

RUGBY SHORTS WORCESTER Warriors high performance director Nick Johnston will leave the club next Saturday. He has decided not to renew...

Olivier: Boks must act to end the drain of talent

NEWS EXTRA By TOM BRADSHAW SOUTH AFRICA are likely to suffer a continuing drain of talent unless the South African Rugby...

Haskell’s determined to learn from mistakes in Dublin

JAMES Haskell is not one to dwell on the past but he will be able to have a second bite at...

Farrell would make a great leader of Lions says Mako

By NEALE HARVEY MAKO Vunipola reckons ‘world-class’ Owen Farrell would make a fantastic job of captaining the British & Irish Lions...

Northampton lure playmaker Francis back from Auckland

TRANSFER WRAP By STEVE RIGBY NORTHAMPTON Saints have signed Auckland Blues’ highly-rated playmaker Piers Francis for next season. Francis, 26, originally...