If you are a Rugby fan, Feb-March 2026 must be your favorite part of the year. Yes, the dates for the Six Nations Rugby Tournament are out. Six countries that participate in it are England, France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy. Are…
■ By SAM JACKSON Off to a flyer: Tom O’Flaherty gets the first try for Sale in their impressive win at Clermont Auvergne PICTURE: Alamy SALE Sharks secured a brilliant 35-14 bonus-point win against Clermont Auvergne yesterday to boost…
■ By PAUL REES PHIL Dowson thought long and hard before signing a new contract at Northampton and believes players should also carefully consider their options before committing. Half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith have agreed new deals…
Worcester Warriors insist they are determined to meet their “financial business plan objectives … and be promoted to the Prem at the earliest opportunity” despite missing the deadline to apply for promotion for next season.
■ By PAUL REES Great balance: Santi Carreras in action for Bath PICTURES: Getty Images SANTI Carreras has settled in quickly at Bath even though he is not guaranteed a place or a position in the starting line-up. The Argentine…
JOHN Rowlands does have the benefit of hindsight with his comments about the Wales v South Africa game in the letters page on December 7. As has been explained, the game was arranged after a cancellation of a game scheduled during Covid.…
HAVING read the article in which Sale boss Alex Sanderson talked about “devaluing the scrum” in last week’s paper, I await with anticipation that the Six Nations “DO” canvas World Rugby to allow overpowered props not to be penalised.…
THE RFU annual report 2025 was published recently showing a small profit for the year. There are many references to a “Stadium Masterplan”. At the final Bill Sweeney Road Show held at Newbury RFC the CEO explained that the refurb cost…
■ By PAUL REES ALEX Coles has enjoyed a stand-out year with club and country but is not getting ahead of himself as 2026 and the Six Nations beckon. The Northampton second row has been involved in England’s last seven Tests, starting six…
Saracens boss Mark McCall says there will be more big signings after confirming the arrival of England lock George Martin for next season from Leicester Tigers.
LEWIS GJALTEMA, THE FORMER HARLEQUINS AND BLUES SCRUM-HALF WHO NOW PLAYS FOR TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Joe Marler – Played together at Quins. World-class scrummager, team joker and king of on…
Bath have got a squad now which, when at full strength, and at home, can take on anyone, whether it’s in the Prem or in Europe, with the proof provided by their impressive 40-14 European Cup pool victory over Munster last weekend.
A stunning second-half comeback from 21-0 down saw Glasgow Warriors topple six-time European champions Toulouse in a thunderous Champions Cup encounter at Scotstoun.
This was a game Saracens could and should have won despite travelling to Durban with a much-changed team after putting Clermont Auvergne to the sword last week.
PREVIEW... Castres v Edinburgh Today. Kick-off 1pm, Stade Pierre-Fabre EDINBURGH have opted to rest several big names with youth given its chance for today’s visit to Castres. Having shocked Toulon 33-20 last Sunday, head coach Sean…
The longest-running farce in sport is the administration of club rugby union in England, with the RFU and the Prem club owners supplying a plantation’s worth of banana skins to keep the game in a perpetual state of tangled contortions.
THE opening round of the European Cup was notable for far fewer complaints by Prem clubs that they are always on the back foot against French or Irish opposition because of the salary cap squeeze. This time it did not seem much of an…
Geoff Parling had some straight advice for try-scoring Adam Radwan after the wing had raised hopes of a first Leicester Tigers win over Leinster since 2008.
Just for once, we must congratulate World Rugby on getting it right. Their staging of the pool draw for the next global gathering may have been less celebrity-heavy and red-carpeted than the football version – as there is barely enough…
BEFORE long, the start of next season will be closer in time than the beginning of this one. Not that it matters to the people running club rugby in England, for whom time appears to be a concept too far. Even now, a few days shy of…
Buoyed by their impressive win in Pau last Sunday, Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson has made only two changes to the starting lineup as they chase another statement win against Pretoria Bulls.
Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has named a strong team for today’s clash against French high-flyers Pau, saying a win would be ‘huge’ for their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the competition.