How Richards rates the Championship contenders

PETER Richards reckons only the pressure of the play-offs can prevent London Irish from making an immediate return to the Premiership....

Floundering Titans call on Rouse

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Premiership lock Nic Rouse is set to be unveiled as Rotherham’s new forwards coach. Rouse replaces Steve...

Richards: RFU must bring in Championship age cap

Doubtful: Peter Richards believes development is failing By NEALE HARVEY LONDON SCOTTISH head coach Peter Richards reckons the Championship is failing...

Moriarty on the move next year

ROSS Moriarty has rejected the offer of a new contract from Gloucester but will still be seeing out the final year...

Fekitoa’s new star name for Wasps

Tonganborn: Malakai Fekitoa WASPS have earmarked All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa as a marquee signing to replace Kurtley Beale who is...

ON THE BLINDSIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler LONDON IRISH are having talks with Springbok lock Lood de Jager, right, about joining...

De Klerk and O’Connor are done deals at Sale

BLINDSIDE understands that Sale Sharks have completed deals for Faf de Klerk and James O’Connor to move to the club next...

ROOM 101

THE HULL IONIANS SCRUM-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND ISAAC GREEN 1. Slow walkers...

Sarries know they must win that early battle of wills

Third time lucky? Two English teams including the national XV have been sent packing from Dublin this season in no uncertain...

Pedigree is there for a classic Euro showdown

Brendan Gallagher looks at epic games in the European Cup between Munster and Saracens Brendan Gallagher It’s 18 years since Saracens...

Anscombe signs new deal with Cardiff

GARETH Anscombe will give Cardiff Blues a major boost by signing a fresh deal with the region. Anscombe’s National Dual Contract...

Wigglesworth staying on for more trophy success

By NEALE HARVEY INFLUENTIALSarries scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth has revealed his devotion to winning persuaded him to turn down big money offers...

Good for a gag, but the truth is Mike really was world class

MIKE Phillips is one of my best mates and the best scrum-half I played with. The thing with Mike is that...

Thrilled I’ve got the nod to help Amman become history boys

I HAD every intention of being on the bench whenever I played for Amman this season, but I’ve got the callup...

Anscombe excellence left Sam in the shade

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Judgement Day was a chance for some of Wales’ best players to book their place...

Hartley in with a chance says England’s 2003 scrum guru

Accurate: Dylan Hartley THE set-piece will be absolutely crucial to whatever game-plan Warren Gatland has identified to carry the Lions to...

The Rugby Paper columnists select their 37-man squads…

JEREMY GUSCOTT Full-back: Halfpenny, Hogg, L Williams. Wing: North, Simon Zebo (I), Daly, Watson. Centre: Henshaw, Joseph, Te’o, Jonathan Davies (W)....

Take 45 players to New Zealand, you’re going to need all of them!

Strong men: George Kruis and Maro Itoje in training. Sam Warburton PICTURES: Getty Images THE 2017 Lions must go to New...

Crash in sterling has hit revenue admits Halliday

By NEALE HARVEY Problem: Simon Halliday THE financial implications of Brexit are hindering efforts by Champions Cup bosses to add to...

First-half blitz sees Warriors cruise in

DESPITE having virtually nothing to play for after their hopes of a PRO12 play-off place ended last weekend, Glasgow’s second XV...

Red Army battle back but injuries mar victory

By RONAN O’BRIEN WINGER Simon Zebo is confident Munster will have no problem plugging gaps if some big names are missing...

Leinster secure home semi-final

LEINSTER will go into their Champions Cup semifinal on a high after Josh van der Flier inspired his side to a...

You’ll have to be better than this, Pivac tells his Scarlets

By JAMES CANDY SCARLETS head coach Wayne Pivac warned his men they will have to improve on their Judgement Day triumph...

Nightmare continues for lowly Edinburgh

EDINBURGH slumped to a record eighth successive PRO12 defeat as their season went from bad to worse at Stadio Monigo. The...

Playoff bid goes west as Ospreys fall again

By ALEX BYWATER Man-of-match: Gareth Anscombe dives in for Cardiff Blues PICTURE: Huw Evans STEVE Tandy blasted his players’ poor attitude...

Handsome Mike had some ugly moments

MIKE PHILLIPS has been called many things in his time as befitting one who often dealt in the outrageous on and...

Parry Jones spotted Duggan’s surrender to battle fatigue

THE passing of broadcaster David Parry Jones, aged 83, evokes memories of Wales- Ireland in 1975, a unique match in that...

Dylan must hope Lions history isn’t repeated

Not counting his chickens: England captain Dylan Hartley PICTURE: Getty Images The Lions leave the England captain at home, pick his...

Ellis unfazed by Parisse as Bath bid to end 9-year wait for trophy

By NEALE HARVEY Enjoying life in back row: Bath flanker Tom Ellis UNSUNG flanker Tom Ellis aims to complete a stellar...

Lions must dethrone the breakdown kings

Sam Warburton Thunderous: No.8 Billy Vunipola Taulupe Faletau CJ Stander NEW Zealand have been kings of the contest for the ball...

Plucky Richmond star out to seize his big second chance

NEWCASTLE-BOUNDNo.9 Sam Stuart will always be grateful to Richmond for helping him win a remarkable battle against injury. Stuart was once...

Dynamic Sharks duo tipped for Pumas tour

By JON NEWCOMBE Big fan: Dave Seymour Fast-track: Ben and Tom Curry SALE young guns Ben and Tom Curry are on...

Williams upbeat despite agony at Exeter

BRISTOL were “gutted” not to beat Exeter at Sandy Park last time out and scrum-half Rhodri Williams is calling for another...

Bristol v Wasps

PREVIEW… Today. Kick-off 3pm BRISTOL are running out of time. The odds are stacked against them and they simply have to...

Wasps form key to Daly’s bid for more central role

By NICK VERDIER Coming of age: Elliot Daly in the thick of it against Northampton PICTURE: Getty Images ELLIOT Daly will...

Saracens put Conlon back on path to top via Bedford

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS back rower Joel Conlon says he is determined to seize the day against Northampton after spending two...

Northampton v Saracens

PREVIEW… NORTHAMPTON are unlikely to make the semi-finals this year but they’re still in the hunt for a Champions Cup spot...

Hartley fired up by bid for Euro place

By NEALE HARVEY In the thick of the battle: Saints’ Dylan Hartley PICTURE: Getty Images NORTHAMPTON are out of the running...

Baxter: Home semi not a must

EXETER boss Rob Baxter, delighted with yet another bonus points win, isn’t overly bothered about his high flying Chiefs securing a...

High-flying Chiefs cash in another win bonus

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Double delight: Chiefs full-back Lachie Turner dives over for one of his scores PICTURES: Getty Images Veteran: Nick...

Don’t blame us, Pichot

AGUSTIN Pichot is banging the drum that Georgia should be allowed into the Six Nations for the good of the game....

Play it straight for game to flow

THERE is a growing concensus – at last – that the scrum, rather than being a collapse-fest in which front rows...

Sonny Bill is still king – of double standards!

Cover up: Sonny Bill with plasters over the collar logos PICTURE: Getty Images SONNY Bill Williams has a habit of cornering...

Title bid is over agrees Matson

BATH head coach Tabai Matson conceded his side’s title hopes look over. He said: “I said after last week’s game against...

Worcester hit the Gold standard to near safety

By NEALE HARVEY Tongue-twister: Francois Hougaard spins the ball out for Warriors Breakaway: Matt Banahan powers through to score BRAVE Worcester...

Eddie tells Watson to work on his kicking

By JON NEWCOMBE EDDIE JONES says Anthony Watson could be the long-term successor to Mike Brown at full-back – if he...

All Blacks will target Sexton warns Best

By NICK CAIN JOHNNY Sexton is a Lions casualty in waiting according to former England coach Dick Best. Best, who presided...

Young Gun: Aaron Hinkley – England U18s flanker

Aaron Hinkley is fully aware making it at senior level will not be a walk in the park but he reckons...

Lions Watch: locks

The giants of the second row have always loomed large in the folklore of the Lions as the driving force behind...

Shane Williams: Judgement Day – for the regions… and Wales

Wales can’t afford to let this summer’s tour pass without blooding some youngsters – and that’s why Judgement Day is going...