Halfpenny close to new deal with Toulon

LEIGHHalfpenny looks set to turn down the offer of a dual-contract in Wales to stay with Toulon. Mourad Boudjellal, boss of...

Wray deserves England call, McCall tells Jones

By GARY FITZGERALD MARK McCall is “gobsmacked” by Eddie Jones’ continued snub of flanker Jackson Wray. Wray, 26, has been desperate...

Forthcoming fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs SUNDAY, MARCH 5 NATIONAL LEAGUES Aviva Premiership Newcastle v...

Toulon’s troubles just keep on coming

Just when Racing thought it was safe to venture out in public, they discovered more trouble was lying in wait. Things...

Players pay tribute to starlet Norkett

TEAMMATES of 20-yearold Elli Norkett paid tribute to the talented rugby player as they played for the first time without her....

Tadhg’s taking chance to prove them all wrong back in Ireland

NEWS EXTRA By ALEX BYWATER TADHG Beirne joined the Scarlets as an unheralded Irishman who had struggled to make the grade...

Keys too strong as Pool beaten

By RHYS THOMAS Cross Keys 19 Pontypool 3 CROSS KEYS ended Pontypool’s dream of a historic league and cup double with...

Merthyr through after heated clash

By RICH JONES Ebbw Vale 3 Merthyr 13 MERTHYR remain alive on three fronts after they beat Ebbw Vale 13-3 in...

Hero Huw gives RGC superb win

By ROB COLE RGC 1404 41 Llandovery 36 HUW WORTHINGTON grabbed a last-minute try to send RGC 1404 into their first...

Dale at double as Ponty down Quins

Carm Quins 19 Pontypridd 24 By ALEX BYWATER PONTYPRIDD made it one step closer to the final of the WRU National...

Beddau the main winners despite the rain

SWALEC Championship round-up By JOHN ARKLESS THERE were wins for Beddau and Glamorgan Wanderers in the Welsh Championship, but three games...

Red Roses face big test

ENGLANDwomen will face Australia, Canada and the Black Ferns in New Zealand this June ahead of the World Cup in August....

Dual role for Molenaar

CENTRE Tim Molenaar will combine his playing duties with joining the 1st XV coaching team at Moseley next season. Former club...

Robshaw returns to training

HARLEQUINS flanker Chris Robshaw has returned to non-contact training less than eight weeks after having an operation on a shoulder injury....

Howells atones for sin bin with late try

SWALEC Division One round-up By JOHN ARKLESS YSTRAD Rhondda condemned Treorchy to their first defeat of the season after a remarkable...

Robinson to return for Tindall XV

RUGBY SHORTS FORMER Wales fly-half Nicky Robinson came out of retirement just a day after he retired this week. Robinson, who...

Lads from the North dominate Counties XV

ENGLANDCounties U18 have named their 23-man squad for the two-match tour of Ireland in April. They play Ireland U18 Clubs on...

Redpath pins his colours to England

ENGLAND SCHOOLS CAMERON Redpath will force his father Bryan to cheer on England today after being named on the bench to...

Busy few weeks for Cooper’s high-flying Reigate

SCHOOLS REPORT By NICK VERDIER REIGATEGrammar School beat Crossley Heath 38-14 to reach the inaugural NatWest Schools Cup U18 Plate final...

Saxons coach Bates to take top RFU job

RUGBY SHORTS FORMER England Saxons head coach Steve Bates has been named performance manager and international performance coach by the RFU....

Barnstorming Billy can put the frighteners on

BEN Youngs insists the potential return of “the world’s best No.8” for the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham is bad news...

No need for motivation when we face Scots says Youngs

By GARY FITZGERALD BEN Youngs happily fanned the Calcutta Cup flames that threaten to burn red hot in the build-up to...

How Eddie put spring back in Daly’s step after World Cup axe

High-stepping: Elliot Daly takes on Italy’s defence ELLIOT Daly has thanked Eddie Jones for giving him the confidence to believe he...

Scotland star Strauss is snapped up by Sharks

TRANSFER WRAP By STEVE RIGBY Shark: Josh Strauss SALE Sharks have secured the services of Scotland international Josh Strauss ahead of...

Crooked feeds are bigger concern than lack of rucking

Still a mess: World Rugby has a duty to sort out the ongoing problems in the scrum PICTURE: Getty Images What...

Old boys need seven points to take title

National League 3 South West OLD Redcliffians look set to clinch the South West title after they extended their lead to...

Field clear at top as rivals play catch-up

National League 3 North HUDDERSFIELDhold their position as runaway leaders following yet another bonus-point win, 10-26 at Lymm Ben Hoyle, Nick...

Nuns shrug off red card to see off Bees

National League 3 Midlands DESPITE having Rory Vowles sent off, Nuneaton triumphed in the first v fourth clash, beating Birmingham and...

Channel Islanders give leaders a scare

National League 3 London & SE TONBRIDGE Juddians still lead the way following a 32-26 win at home to Guernsey. But...

YOUNG GUNS

WILL JONES WALES U20s CAPTAIN Enjoying the student life while trying to become a professional rugby player is not easy but...

20 QUESTIONS

JERSEY NO.8 NICK HAINING Big win against Yorkshire Carnegie last week? It was a great home win for us and it...

Stortford run riot over sorry Geese

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s St 53 Wild Geese 3 BISHOP’S Stortford breezed to victory as they racked up nine tries against...

Reds ease home but Gidlow sent off

By JAMES BROOKS Canterbury 18 Redruth 29 REDRUTH secured a hard-fought victory over Canterbury, despite finishing the game with 14 men...

Rams pull away in style to see off Foresters

By NIGEL WILCE Cinderford 12 Red’sians 25 REDINGENSIANS gained a well-deserved bonuspoint victory over an out of sorts Cinderford team. The...

Valiant OE fightback falls short to Chinnor

By JON EDWARDS Old Elthamians 31pts Chinnor 34p Power: Chinnor pack on the charge Right: OEs winger Alex Brown on his...

Hail the Lord! Try machine Chris is the key

By SIMON LORD Bury St Ed 33 Exmouth 28 A CHRIS Lord hat-trick was enough to edge a nervy Bury side...

Hawks fly high at a blustery Clifton

By ROGER OPIE Clifton 27 Henley 29 HENLEY battled to victory over Clifton in a game played in swirling conditions, resulting...

Raiders hold off Titans in a thriller

By KEITH BROOKING Worthing R 36 Taunton T 33 WORTHING Raiders survived a second-half onslaught by Taunton as they held on...

Brock is the man for gutsy Barum battlers

By ANDREW JONE Barnstaple 10 Barnes 3 WITH just 13 men on the field, Barnstaple scored the only try of the...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

THE FORMER ENGLAND AND LEICESTER CENTRE AND NOW LEICESTER ACADEMY COACH ANTHONY ALLE With hindsight, getting capped by England at 20,...

Taylor keeps Dale tally ticking over

By BEN JAMES Hinckley 15 Tynedale 19 TYNEDALEedged a close encounter over mid-table rivals Hinckley, to extend the gap between the...

Chester’s happy new year lives on

By NEIL TARRAN Chester 31 Stourbridge 0 CHESTER continued their fine form as they kept out Stourbridge in a bonus-point win....

Dominant Gate scrum is still not enough

By ED WILLIAMS Wharfedale 17 Harrogate 3 WHARFEDALE stretched their winning home run to seven games with an impressive display. Harrogate...

Park tame the Lions in nine-try eye-catcher

By STEVE SMITH Sedgley Park 36pts Leicester Lions 27pts SEDGLEY Park have made a habit of claiming key victories at critical...

South in control for fifth win on the road

By ANDREW SMITH Otley 19 S Leicester 34 SOUTH Leicester’s return to form continued with a comfortable bonus-point win at Cross...

Classy Caldy are 23 wins on spin

By JOHN LYON Caldy 41 Sheffield Tig 7 LEADERS Caldy saw off the challenge of a spirited and game Tigers side...

Torrent of tries as Sale take charge

By STEVE WILLIAMS Scunthorpe 7 Sale 61 SALE kept up their pursuit of leaders Caldy with a resounding nine-try win at...

Hoppers in a spot as Street nabs the winner

By HENRY WOODSFORD Preston G 23 Luctonians 24 A LAST-MINUTE try from Jordan Street secured a vital win for Luctonians. The...

Stewart stunned as Esher stop the road rot

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge 22 Esher 36 ESHER finally ended a run of 11 successive away defeats this season with a...

Powerhouse Lutui pushes Amps on

By WARREN KAY Ampthill & D 43 Fylde 24 TWO tries in a man-ofthe- match performance from Aleki Lutui powered Ampthill...