By ADAM HATHAWAY GEOFF Parling’s Leicester rapped out a title warning as they blitzed champions Northampton in the second half to romp to a 28-7 win at Welford Road. Tigers played like men possessed after the interval and after a brawl…
By BEN JAYCOCK ENGLAND head coach John Mitchell has warned that too many overseas players in Premiership Women’s Rugby could harm future success after losing 31-22 to Canada in the WXV Series in Ottawa to suffer back-to-back defeats for…
By GARY FITZGERALD ENGLAND stars have issued a World Cup warning to their big Southern Hemisphere rivals on the eve of a November filled with crucial and brutal international battles. Just a year off from the big kick-off in Australia,…
■By SAM JACKSON THE WRU has plunged into a profound financial crisis after reporting a staggering £18.2 million loss for the financial year ending June 2026. The devastating deficit, which has more than doubled from the £7.2 million loss…
> continued from front definitely glimpses of it in last autumn’s internationals when things were going really well. We want to put our best foot forward in the next few competitions coming up.” Injury-blighted Fur-bank, hoping to end his…
nBy ADAM HATHAWAY Solid performer: George Hendy scoring for Saints PICTURE: Getty Images GEORGE Hendy revealed he put on a few kilos in the summer and is hoping that adds weight to his chances of an England call-up. The Northampton back…
FORMER Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan says it was “no surprise” that United Rugby Championship teams fared better than their Prem counterparts in the opening round of Europe. Northampton were the Prem’s sole victors – 28-12 against Cardiff…
nBy SAM JACKSON RUGBY World Cup winner Phil Vickery has revealed his incredible shape in fresh pictures from a recent bodybuilding competition. The former England tight-head recently competed in the official Physical Culture Association …
FORMER Scotland wing Tim Visser has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, including rape and domestic abuse, spanning a 14-year period. Appearing at the High Court in Glasgow, the 34-cap international, below, denied all allegations…
SARACENS are in talks with England captain Maro Itoje about extending his stay at the StoneX. Midi Olympique claims European champions Bordeaux-Begles and Perpignan are among those hoping to lure lock Itoje, 32, across the Channel when his…
EXETER have signed England-qualified forward Andre Goedhals from South African side Pumas on a deal that runs until the summer of 2030. The 22-year-old Devon-born back-five forward, right, moves to Sandy Park having helped Pumas reach this…
■By ADAM HATHAWAY CHRISTIAN Wade revealed he knew he was set to be a one-cap wonder 11 years ago after his World Cup snub. The Newcastle Red Bulls wing – who has had stints in the NFL and rugby league – made his Test debut in Argentina in…
■By SAM JACKSON Uncapped Dragons centre Aneurin Owen and scrum-half Che Hope have been included, while Dragons lock Seb Davies and Cardiff No.8 Basham are called up for the first time since Tandy took charge. Cardiff loose-head Rhys…
IRELAND head coach Andy Farrell, below, has called up Ulster duo Jamie Benson and James McNabney for the first time ahead of November’s Nations Championship matches. Former England Under-20 international Benson, far right, joined Ulster…
SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend has delayed his squad announcement for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series until Monday, October 26. The selection was originally scheduled for earlier this week, but Townsend opted to push the date back…
JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK WHEN I became professional later in my career, you negotiated a club contract with the help of your agent, and then you signed it. At that time, there were no marquee players in the…
NEWS EXTRA BATH are set to be without No.8 Dan du Preez for a “considerable amount of time” due to a torn hamstring suffered prior to their Champions Cup defeat by Montpellier last Saturday. The South African, below, moved to Bath from…
NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson refused to blame his side’s dismal second half on the fracas just before the break. Players from both sides piled in to push and shove each other but no punches were thrown and Dowson dismissed it as a bout of…
PAT Lam hailed Bristol’s growing physicality and work-rate after his side overcame Exeter, insisting the Bears are developing the all-round game needed to complement their trademark attacking flair. “You have to bring the right mindset…
RESURGENT Gloucester’s impressive start to the season continued by winning a pulsating derby but the final score tells only half the story. ■By ROGER PANTING Gloucester ....................... 23pts Tries: Thomas 54, Llewellyn 78…
ELATED Gloucester head coach George Skivington stressed how much a win over Bath meant to the Kingsholm faithful. He said: “Everything that could go against us tonight did as we were pinged off the park and went down to 13 men so we were…
CHRISTIAN Wade equalled the Prem’s all-time try-scoring record as Newcastle Red Bulls took the northern bragging rights to secure their first league victory of the season. ■By BEN JAYCOCK Newcastle Red Bulls .....17pts Tries: Wade 49,…
DAN McFarland insists Newcastle must not get carried away after securing their first Prem victory of the season. The head coach praised his side’s physicality and resilience after they overturned a 3-0 half-time deficit to claim the…
■By GARY FITZGERALD PREVIEW... Harlequins v Saracens Today. Kick-off 3pm, The Stoop GEORGE Furbank is adamant his special on-field relationship with Marcus Smith can help plant the roots for a Harlequins revival and future success. Just as…
Motivated: Theo Dan THEO Dan is ready to fight hard for his World Cup dream after having his international nose pushed out of joint in recent times. The Saracens hooker wants to step back into the England ring and show off his skill and…
THE siren call for England to pick George Hendy for the Nations Championship, which sounded soon after Northampton’s 28-12 European Cup win over Cardiff, is premature. Hendy is an impressive attacking strike force, who adds further cutting…
THE Prem is now probably on a par with Japan League One in terms of preparing players for the demands of international rugby. It’s why, if the losing, lacklustre performances of most Prem clubs in the first round of the European Cup is a…