Evans: These backs can test my All Blacks

Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans never bets against the All Blacks, but the Kiwi strategist reckons he can name a British &...

Biljon fury as Jersey face Friday night Cup fiasco

Frustrated Jersey rugby director Harvey Biljon has blasted B&I Cup organisers for turning what should be his club’s biggest-ever day into...

Room 101: James Horwill – Harlequins lock

1. Plane pain Being a longer-limbed person – I am 6ft 6ins – I find it very annoying when the person...

CONFIRMED: Quins centre off to France

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on Sunday, Matt Hopper will leave Harlequins at the end of the...

Peter Jackson: JPR’s a Wales legend but was Price even better?

Anniversaries have been all the rage of late, from the 25th of England‘s last Grand Slam double under Will Carling to...

Exeter thrive on defying the odds says Steenson

Exeter fly-half Gareth Steenson reckons Rob Baxter’s ability to outwit big-spending Premiership rivals in the transfer market is underpinning their title...

Brendan Gallagher: Willie wasn’t a wonker – he just got it wrong

Don’t blame Willie Le Roux or Danny Cipriani for that matter. Wasps‘ humbling defeat at Leinster went much deeper than an...

20 Questions: Biyi Alo – Worcester prop

How do you look back at that entertaining game at Wasps last Sunday? It must have been great to watch for...

Jeremy Guscott: Lions have the ferocity up front to shock All Blacks

It’s not long now until Warren Gatland makes the final call on what will be the biggest challenge of his coaching...

Andy Goode: Ford’s a top 10 in Europe but Tigers need to find a pack

Matt O’Connor returned to these shores this week to resume command of the club he left in 2013, which begs the...

Courtney Lawes – I’m just going to get better and better

Courtney Lawes may have looked back to his best during the Six Nations but the Saints man has warned his would-be...

My Life in Rugby: Chris Malone – former Bath, London Irish and Quins fly-half

I came to England in 2001 and had 10 great years, experiencing time at five different clubs, all of which were...

Globetrotter Francis has eyes trained on England

Super Rugby star Piers Francis is determined to challenge for an England fly-half spot when he returns from New Zealand later...

3G – sow the seeds of future success

If Saracens can become reigning double champions, and set up another Champions Cup semi-final after beating Glasgow Warriors, what can other...

Sale retain Ostrikov for two more years

Sale Sharks have announced that lock Andrei Ostrikov has signed a new two-year deal with the club. The big Russian lock...

Four arrive and Edwards pens new deal at Bristol

Ryan Edwards has signed a new contract at Bristol who have also announced the arrival of four players ahead of next...

Injury forces Marcos Ayerza to retire

Leicester Tigers and Argentina prop Marcos Ayerza has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect. The loosehead, who spent...

Dream Team: Will Owen – Rotherham centre

1. Robin Hislop – ‘Bomber’ has a solid set piece and a great work rate in the loose. He wears his...

Fletcher’s lads off to flyer against Canada

ENGLAND U18s scored nine tries as they got their international series off to a winning start at Taffs Well RFC yesterday....

Blackadder proud his boys passed the character test

BATH had to come from behind to beat Leicester yesterday and Director of rugby Todd Blackadder couldn’t have been happier. He...

Bath finally run hot with general Ford in command

Bath…27pts Tries: Joseph 21, Watson 67, 71 Conversions: Ford 22, 68 Penalties: Ford 27, 49, 68, 72 Leicester …21pts Tries: O’Connor...

Moore’s on the mend

FORMER England and Lions hooker Brian Moore is recovering in intensive care at St George’s Hospital in London after suffering a...

France’s cash crisis must be heeded say Tigers

By NEALE HARVEY LEICESTER chief executive Simon Cohen believes the on-off merger fiasco with Top 14 outfits Stade Francais and Racing...

Lions have the ferocity up front to shock All Blacks

IT’S not long now until Warren Gatland makes the final call on what will be the biggest challenge of his coaching...

DREAMTEAM

NIC GROOM, THE SAINTS AND FORMER STORMERS SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Steven Kitshoff...

Sexton’s world class – he expects rough stuff

COLIN BOAG It’s my favourite weekend of the whole rugby season: the quarter-finals of the European cups never disappoint, and the...

Guildford display their fighting spirit

AS a supporter of Guildford I’d like to point out that their recent efforts deserve more praise than has been given....

Don’t forget who pays your bills, George

THE papers tell us that George Ford quit Bath because of his father’s sacking. Who comes first, your Dad or your...

Saracens debt is cause for concern

ARE the financial models being used by Wasps, Saracens, Bath etc. Sustainable in the long term? The Saracens accounts were formally...

Castleford still hold Solomona’s ticket

IN ALL the discussion about whether Sale Sharks winger Denny Solomona should be selected for the Lions or England, there is...

Exiles confident in-demand Venter can retain club focus

By CHRIS JONES BRENDANVenter will continue as London Irish technical director despite joining the South African coaching team as well as...

‘Mental health at risk over longer season’

BATH prop Kane Palma- Newport has blasted proposals to lengthen the English season, claiming it will increase the risk of star...

Forthcoming fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs Week beginning Sunday, April 9th, 2017 ... Continue reading......

Fitness guru Morrow gets Gatland call

RUGBY SHORTS SARACENS’ unsung hero Phil Morrow has been signed up by Warren Gatland for this summer’s Lions tour. Morrow, performance...

Williams in the dock

A FRENCH court has fined former New Zealand international Ali Williams £1,280 for buying cocaine outside a Paris nightclub. The 35-year-old...

Wade named best in March

LETHAL Wasps finisher Christian Wade has been named the Aviva Premiership Player of the Month for March. The winger, who has...

Watch 7s at Richmond

THE Lord’s Taverners, the UK charity that provides young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with disabilities the chance to enjoy...

Sonny Bill’s back and feeling fresh for Lions

By NICK VERDIER SONNY Bill Williams made his long-awaited Blues debut yesterday after nearly a year on the sidelines but it...

Raisuqe gets ten weeks for stamping

Banned: Josaia Raisuqe stamped on Keelan Giles STADEFrancais wing Josaia Raisuqe has been given a ten-week suspension for stamping on the...

Stade are enjoying their new lease of life

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Stade Francais, so recently facing extinction in a merger with Racing, have become a key element in...

Abergele remain winless after loss at Mold

SWALEC Division One round-up By ELGAN ALDERMAN TREORCHY were crowned winners in the Division One East-Central division after a 38-7 win...

Bedlinog safe from drop with big win at Dunvant

SWALEC Championship round-up By JOHN ARKLESS THREEsides secured their Championship status for next season but the final relegation spot is yet...

Budgen late show heaps gloss on Bedwas victory

By DAVID WILKINSON Bedwas 49 Llandovery 17 HE MAY be in his 45th year, but former Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs...

Swansea swept aside as Newport keep up unbeaten run

By BEN JAMES Newport 28 Swansea 10 NEWPORT kept their unbeaten record in Tier Two as they brushed aside Swansea with...

Marvellous Murphy the man as Quins are quelled

By ROB COLE Merthyr 30 C’marthen Q 21 MERTHYR moved to within one win of a play-off place in Tier 1...

14-man Bridgend battle to win over basement boys Cardiff

By ELGAN ALDERMAN Bridgend 33 Cardiff 26 BRIDGEND moved up to second place with a bonuspoint victory over basement side Cardiff...

Hat-trick hero Baker the difference for Aberavon

By JOHN ARKLESS Aberavon 35 Pontypridd 20 A JAY Baker hat-trick inspired Aberavon to a fivetry win over second-placed Pontypridd as...

RGC survive late Vale onslaught to secure win in thriller

By RICH JONES RGC 1404 37 Ebbw Vale 31 RGC 1404 held on to beat reigning Premiership champions Ebbw Vale in...

Keys cut open by Neath

Neath 59 Cross Keys 14 NEATH inflicted a first defeat of the season for Cross Keys after a dominant win in...

Crossword

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS Across: 1 Hogg 3 Ojomoh, 7 Munster, 8 Earls, 9 Slack, 11 Black, 13 Butts, 15 Egerton, 16...