Varndell’s record run in vain as Quins cruise it

By ROGER PANTING TOM Varndell broke the Premiership tryscoring record but it was the only positive Bristol could take on a...

Goneva’s hat-trick can’t prevent sloppy Sale from closing out tight game

By COLIN NEWBOULT Sale 26pts Tries: Solomona 32, McGuigan 40, Evans 51 Conversion: Addison 33 Penalties: Addison 7, 11, 75 Newcastle...

Priestland holds his nerve to end Saints jinx

By TOM BRADSHAW THE signing of former Wallaby centre Ben Tapuai is starting to look like a seriously canny piece of...

‘It was vital we showed we care’

VICTORY was a bonus for Worcester’s interim boss Gary Gold. He said: “Today was all about showing the fans that we...

Saracens given kicking by metronomic Mills

Saracens’ Matt Gallagher is tackled by Perry Humphreys Bootiful: Worcester’s Ryan Mills lands one of his penalties while PICTURE: Getty Images...

Wasps aim to learn from thrashing to land their first win in Exeter fortress

By NICK VERDIER WASPS were thumped by Exeter in the Cup only two weeks ago but Ashley Johnson reckons they now...

Slater: We must scrap for everything

TIGERS lock Ed Slater urged his side to build on this performance On the day of his 100th Premiership appearance, Slater...

Mermoz joins party as Tigers regain mojo

By NEALE HARVEY FRENCHMAN Maxime Mermoz notched his first Premiership try as rampant Leicester reignited their title hopes with a convincing...

Remember Joost by backing his own J9 Foundation

WHEN Joost van der Westhuizen died earlier this week at the age of 45 after a battle with motor neurone disease...

Buddies? No, these are Championship’s worst enemies

THE buddy-system between Championship and Premiership clubs being proposed by the RFU looks to me like a deadend for the second...

Crooked feeds are making a mockery of our game

These days TV commentators are clearly under orders from broadcasters not to mention them, but our readers say that crooked scrum...

Strauss for Falcons? No, he’s off to Toulouse

SCOTLAND No.8 Josh Strauss won’t be moving to Newcastle Falcons when his contract with Glasgow Warriors runs out at the end...

Welsh lock Day is set to join Sarries

Three caps: Dominic Day playing for Wales ■ SALE Sharks’ tighthead prop Brian Mujati is joining the Ospreys, with immediate effect....

Jones on way back to Sale

BRISTOL hooker Marc Jones could be set to return to Sale at the end of the season as Steve Diamond plans...

Hamilton could boost Exiles pack

LONDON IRISH are eying up a move for Saracens’ Swindon-born Scotland lock Jim Hamilton who is out of contract at the...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER ■ WASPS are in the hunt to sign Northampton Saints prop Gareth Denman when his contract runs out at...

ROOM 101

BILLY BURNS THE GLOUCESTER FLY-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Hoovering My girlfriend...

Scotland put to the sword in La Rochelle

By NICK VERDIER France W 55 Scotland W 0 FRANCE got their Six Nations campaign back on track with a nine-try...

Just a practice run for Red Roses professionals

By NICK VERDIER IT was very much a case of professionals against amateurs at the Arms Park yesterday as England women...

Germany shock Europe as they end 79 years of pain against Romania

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP GERMANY’S bid to qualify for a first ever Rugby World Cup got off to a flying start with...

Zach factor makes the difference for England

Bonus time: Zach Mercer scores England’s fourth try PICTURE: Getty Images By NICK VERDIER ZACH Mercer showed exactly why he is...

Irish dig in to deny Italian fightback

By RYAN WEBB Italy U20 26 Ireland U20 27 IRELAND survived a late onslaught to hold on for their second one-point...

N’Tamack leads French resistance

By PHIL REES France U20 36 Scotland U20 8 FRANCE bounced back from a big opening defeat to England as they...

Why I worry for Wales in Edinburgh showpiece

Wales usually expect to win in Scotland, but I think this month’s trip to Murrayfield could be the toughest game of...

My mate Vern is going to make it tough for us says Nakaitaci

By NICK VERDIER NOA Nakaitaci knows from personal experience all about the physical challenge that will confront France as they attempt...

Hogg aims to end 18 years of hurt

By GARY HEATLY STUART Hogg is well aware that France like to play with flair on their own patch – but...

Howley: We’ll use this to beat Scotland

By ALEX BYWATER WALES head coach Rob Howley vowed his team will use the heartbreak of their last-gasp defeat to England...

Eddie: We’ve used up all our get out of jail cards

From GARY FITZGERALD EDDIE Jones hailed his “gritty, never say die heroes” after Elliot Daly’s late, late try kept England’s remarkable...

Young Gun: Josh Basham – Wellington College captain

Leaving Wellington College having made history is no easy feat but that is what Josh Basham is already certain to do...

Barclay only change for Scots in Paris

Flanker John Barclay is the only change to the Scotland line-up to face France in Paris on Sunday which includes Stuart...

Pirates announce first signing of next season

Cornish Pirates have announced that Bedford prop Christian Judge is their first new signing ahead of the 2017/18 season. The 23-year-old...

Bedford duo sign new contracts

Bedford has secured the services of captain Michael Le Bourgeois and prop Ben Cooper who have both signed new deals to...

London Irish statement on move to Brentford

London Irish appear one step closer to securing a move back to London with the news that Hounslow Council has said...

Jeff Probyn: Bonus points will hamper the development of Italy

Isn’t it strange how sometimes things happen that on the surface seem to be totally unrelated, but then have mind-blowing consequences?...

Nick Cain: Six Nations offers Boks a route to salvation

As the Six Nations gets underway there is an issue that should be uppermost in the minds of its council, and...

High hopes for Henry Trinder after years of injury hell 

Henry Trinder says he is physically and mentally ready to end 30 months of injury hell by delivering silverware for the...

Glasgow sign Stormers fly-half

Glasgow have brought in Stormers fly-half Brandon Thomson on a two-month deal as cover for Finn Russell during the Six Nations....

Room 101: Chris Cook – Bath scrum-half

1. A multi-lingual world I get embarrassed by my inability to speak the local language whenever I visit countries like France...

Faletau fit but on Wales bench to face England

Taulupe Faletau has been passed fit to take on England in the second round of the Six Nations on Saturday but...

Peter Jackson: Stern Vern allows himself a smile as Scotland box clever

Murrayfield rejoiced yesterday at catching a glimpse of a moment even more truly historic than the Grand Old Championship‘s first bonus...

England make two changes for Wales clash

Jack Clifford and Jack Nowell will start for England against Wales in the second round of the Six Nations at the...

Mapletoft defends Quins model as Test call-ups bite

Mark Mapletoft insists Harlequins remain committed to developing England-qualified players despite claiming his side’s trophy chances have been hammered by Test...

20 Questions: Nic Groom – Northampton scrum-half

How do you look back at Northampton‘s Champions Cup campaign? It’s over now. Obviously we wanted to progress but we didn’t....

Saracens bring in Samoan from Japan

Saracens have signed Samoan second-row Fa’atiga Lemalu on a short-term deal from Japanese Super Rugby side the Sunwolves with immediate effect....

Favaro to leave Glasgow but new deals for centres

Italian international Simone Favaro revealed that he will leave Glasgow at the end of the season in what he described as...

England name 24-man squad for Wales

Jack Clifford has been retained in a squad of 24 players by Eddie Jones ahead of England’s clash with Wales at...

Jeremy Guscott’s verdict: Te’o and Care’s cameos may force Eddie’s hand

Ben Te’o offered more of a threat in the final 12 minutes than the entire back division in the 68 preceding...

Brendan Gallagher: Play Itoje and Daly in their natural positions

Sometimes we can get carried away and expect too much from out young players with their extravagant talents encouraging us to...

Elliot Daly urged to pick a number and stick at it

Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson must switch positions permanently or forget about being England‘s long-term answer at full-back, according to former...

EPCR statement on Gloucester takeover

European Professional Club Rugby have released the following statement regarding the potential takeover of Gloucester by Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad through...