Oaks revert to old style power game

■ By JON NEWCOMBE Match-winner: Florin Vlaicu in action against Spain FLORIN VLAICU scored all his side’s points as Romania beat...

Test moved from Tonga

WALES’ summer Test against Tonga will be staged in another country after Welsh Rugby Union concerns over the suitability of the...

Otley on rise after Luffman dismissal

■ By JON NEWCOMBE OTLEY chairman Nick Girling says the National Two North club will wait until the summer to find...

Harlequins fight back to take the Academy crown

HARLEQUINS were crowned Premiership U18s Academy champions after they scored 20 unanswered points to beat Sale 20-8 in the final at...

Cragg demands changes to tier two schedule

■ By NEALE HARVEY HACKED-OFF Rotherham chairman Nick Cragg has called for a review of the Championship fixture list amid a...

Priestland enjoying life alongside Tapuai

By TOM BRADSHAW RHYS Priestland says the arrival of a Southern Hemisphere cavalry at Bath has given the West Country side...

Bath reap benefits from Cheika snub

By NEALE HARVEY BEN Tapuai admits leaving Australia left him “scared” but says a fresh start was necessary after being snubbed...

England expect Venter backlash after humbling at hands of Irish

Defence guru: Italy coach Brendan Venter By GARY FITZGERALD PAUL Gustard claims his old Saracens pal Brendan Venter will arrive at...

Tigers splash out to bring home prodigal son George

■By ED HUTSON GEORGE Ford this wek ended months of speculations by confirming he will be heading back to Leicester next...

‘Periodisation’ is a training concept from years back

Acres of space: Elliot Daly receives the perfect pass from Owen Farrell to skin Alex Cuthbert PICTURE: Getty Images With the...

The boot of Ben upsets Dings’ title tilt

National League 3 South West BEN LOVELL’S kicking led Brixhamto a surprise win over title-chasing Dings Crusaders as the fly-half scored...

Field tighten grip at the top of the table

National League 3 North HUDDERSFIELDcontinue to power away at the top of the table after a convincing 28-16 win at third-place...

Shaken Nuns fight to avoid banana skin

National League 3 Midlands NUNEATON battled back from a 14-point deficit to prevent a second shock in eight days and hold...

Judd look unstoppable after early scare

National League 3 London & SE TONBRIDGE JUDDIANStook maximum points to maintain their grip on top spot, with a 47- 17...

YOUNG GUNS

BEN LOADER ENGLAND U18S WING Breaking into senior rugby ranks is high on Ben Loader’s agenda but for now his focus...

20 QUESTIONS

ETHAN DAVIES WALES SEVENS Enjoying the break after thye opening two events in Wellington and Sydney? I’m just about over the...

Henley put in shift to avoid trap door

■By NICK PITSON Henley…33 Canterbury …22 HENLEY put in a hugely committed performance to ease any fears of being sucked into...

Irish overpowered as Clifton open up

■By BEN CARTER London Irish …12 Clifton…34 A FOUR-TRY performance from Clifton after the break earned them a bonus point victory....

Cinderford juggernaut is brought to halt

■By RICHARD JARVIS Chinnor …42 Cinderford …17 LEADERS Chinnor saw off the challenge of a side bang in form and having...

Emotion is the driver for Bishops says Long

■By KEITH BROOKING Taunton T …10pts Bishop’s S…39pts Smashed: Taunton’s Tony Popham looks to make ground PICTURES: Clayton Jane THIS was...

Robinson keeps his cool to fend off Redruth

■By BILL HOOPER Redruth …17 OEs …20 WILL ROBINSON’S injurytime penalty proved the match winner for promotion- chasing Old Elthamians in...

Early charge puts Rams in control

■By MATTHEW McCRORY Redin’sians R 25 Bury St Ed…21 A STRONG opening half set the scene for Rams’ victory. They were...

Forrest ends the Worthing drought

■By CHARLIE BENNETT Worthing R…32 Barnstaple…28 HARRY FORRESTscored a hat-trick as Worthing Raiders ended a tenmatch losing streak. The full-back was...

Cockles clinch it at death through Wathes

■By HANNAH GREGORY Exmouth…32 Barnes…25 A LAST-MINUTE Mark Wathes try gave Exmouth a vital bonus point victory. Earlier, Barnes had capitalised...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

NIKKI WALKER THE FORMER BORDERS, EDINBURGH, OSPREYS AND WORCESTER WINGER Winning the Celtic League in my first season at Ospreys with...

Patient Lions earn reward in the end

■By ED WILLIAMS LEICESTER Lions had to be patient as they broke down a resilient Wharfedale for a resounding win. Lions...

Ruthless Caldy a cut above Lucs

■By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians…5 Caldy…36 CALDY consolidated their promotion hopes with a well-deserved victory against a Luctonians side who offered plenty...

Harrogate sold short by costly mistakes

■By BILL BARRACK PROMOTION candidates Sale came from behind to defeat a Harrogate side who might have thought they should have...

Win helps Park build foundation for future

■By DAVID LAWRENCE Stourbridge …14pts Sedgley Park…19pts SEDGLEY Park put their disappointing away form to one side as they held on...

Terrific Dale are too hot for Otley to handle

■By BRIAN TILLY Tynedale …38 Otley …20 TYNEDALE produced some excellent rugby on their way to the six-try demolition of Otley....

Skipper Alex more than worth his Salt

■By STEVE SMITH Hinckley…41 Scunthorpe …20 HINCKLEY captain Alex Salt scored a sensational hat-trick as the hosts came from behind to...

Hoppers halted by South power

■By MICK MCNEILL S Leicester …23 Preston G …10 SOUTH Leicester overpowered Preston Grasshoppers, despite losing replacement Josh McLaurin to two...

Second half grit ensures Chester victory

■By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield T …26 Chester…37 CHESTER centre Tom Foden came off the bench to inspire a second-half comeback and...

Leicester’s gang of four helping ease Tom’s pain

■ By NEALE HARVEY LEICESTER captain Tom Youngs admits he still carries the scars of last month’s humiliating 43-0 home defeat...

Mermoz: I’m back in love with game at Tigers

NICK VERDIER meets the France centre who has rediscovered his passion for the game The sea, the sun, the trophies, Maxime...

OAs put Macc to sword as Foster runs riot

By MATTHEW COLERIDGE NICK FOSTER crossed for four tries in a scintillating attacking performance as Old Albanians triumphed away to Macclesfield....

Game Esher can’t handle hot Steff

By RICHARD DORE A POWERFUL six-try performance from Ampthill saw off Esher and strengthened their third-place position in the league. All...

Fylde bag bonus despite slow start

By GALILEO SUTHERLAND SCOTT ARMSTRONG’S second-half double secured a third consecutive Fylde win as they fought back from a halftime deficit...

Albion edge out Students as Cox makes refereeing history

By EVIE PROBERT AS SARA COX became the first female to referee in National One history, Loughborough more than made amends...

Sneddon gets wish as Park fell Club with blinding starts

By GRAHAM COX AN ELECTRIC start to each half saw Rosslyn Park cruise to a victory almost as convincing as the...

Ionians can’t cope with White’s show

By JOHN WILKINSON COVENTRY returned to winning ways on home soil, but after leading 28-3 within 12 minutes they were pushed...

Moseley pay price for lineout calamity

By PAUL SMITH B Moseley 19 DMP 21 JAMES FITZPATRICK secured an unlikely Darlington Mowden Park win over Birmingham Moseley as...

First-half barrage powers College’s victory

By ANDREW BEACHAM Hartpury 45 Cambridge 36 HARTPURY once again took five points, but coaches and supporters alike were left disappointed...

There was only so much snooker before the Duke went stir crazy

Anyone for cricket, or snooker, or cards, or golf? Lions tours – even in defeat – are meant to be vibrant,...

A tour too far for a team hit by big name absentees

BRENDAN GALLAGHER outlines the organisational failures that conspired against the Lions in 1977 History has not been kind to the 1977...

‘Old man’ Haskell being nursed back to his fighting best

While Ben Te’o is at the ‘novice’ end of the England bench with just five caps, James Haskell is the daddy...

Finishing king confident he can conquer from the start

Ben Te’o and the England ‘finishers’ have got a strut in their step after making the difference in the late wins...

Decision on Sexton may hold key for Irish

BRENDAN GALLAGHER sets the scene for Ireland’s must-win match against France next weekend Round three is usually the tipping point in...

We’re improving, Huw warnsWelsh

Let’s hear it from the Jones boy! Scotland’s Huw Jones celebrates scoring a try against Australia in the autumn By GARY...

Biggar puts pain of defeat behind him to focus on Scots

By ALEX BYWATER A SIX Nations defeat to England always leads to a bitter fallout in Wales but as attentions turn...