CATEGORIES

I've Got To Win Back My England Place Says Billy

Billy Vunipola admits he is ‘no longer in the driving seat’ for England selection as fierce competition and Saracens’ relegation to the Championship combine to threaten his Test future.

Pollard is Bath's first-choice with Goosen back-up

BATH are attempting to lure World Cup-winning fly-half, Handre Pollard, to the Rec even though the move appears to be doomed to failure.

Jokers at the ready to cover Test calls

Forget a week – the last five days has been a long time in French rugby. Less than a month before the season is due to kick-off, and less than a week before the pre-season friendly calendar begins, there has been plenty to keep watchers of the game in water-cooler conversation.

I'm thrilled rugby's back – but I want it fast and open

NOTHING will ever quell my excitement at good rugby played at pace by smart, talented players, although I must admit that before lockdown I was tired with the lack of action being taken to improve some aspects of the game.

Diego bent it like Beckham and almost never missed

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Cuthbert aims to seal double glory for new baby Harrison

ALEX Cuthbert says Exeter are ready to finish what they started as they prepare to bid for double glory when rugby returns this week.

Booth: Wyn Jones is starting all over again

ALUN Wyn Jones is only just getting started according to his new Ospreys head coach Toby Booth in what amounts to a huge boost for both him and Wales boss Wayne Pivac.

BAFTA got it right – ITV were spot on

ONE of the marvels of modern-day rugby is how ITV, essentially starting from scratch every four years, do such a fine job of covering the Rugby World Cup.

Attwood: Radradra's the best I've seen

SEMI Radradra’s array of wondrous talents has galvanised Bristol’s squad into believing a first Premiership title can be theirs, says experienced lock Dave Attwood.

Will Eddie Be Able To Pick Exeter Players For Rome?

It will be great when Rugby Union gets going again in England on August 15, and when it does it will be very unusual because the crowds, and the atmosphere that they bring, will not be there. How long that new normal will last we don’t know yet, but it could be around for most of the 2020 Premiership season’s conclusion, and perhaps into the new domestic season, which re-starts almost immediately in the autumn.

Ring-fence inevitable says owner of Gloucs

GLOUCESTER owner Martin St Quinton believes ring-fencing the Premiership is inevitable, describing the current situation of a team spending a season against Championship part-timers as ‘mad’.

Survivor Sonny Bill finds a new payday

All Black star: Sonny Bill Williams

Griffiths must bin four-year moritorium

Time to ‘cuffo’ time wasters

RFU should get grassroots playing again, not the Prem

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME

What a joy it will be to see Wales in action

So close to victory: Justin Tipuric goes past Henry Slade of England to score for Wales’ in the Six Nations’ 33-30 defeat

Refs' zero tolerance makes for a spectacle

Crusaders take on the Hurricanes last weekend

Battle lines drawn in star player release row

Centre of controversy: Fabien Galthie coaches his French squad

Barrett boys face split in North-South divide

When you’ve got it to flaunt it. New Zealand, COVID free and trucking along very nicely thank you, are in the happy position of not only being able to stage a top-class domestic competition this summer, but they can also fill their stadia with paying fans to ease the cash flow situation.

Wray stays at Sarries to build for the future

JACKSON Wray wants to become a leading figure in Saracens’ revival after extending his contract until 2023.

Woodward Holy Trinity were just untouchable

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

No crowds is disgrace blasts Sale boss Simon

SALE Sharks owner Simon Orange has launched a stinging attack on government officials for dragging their heels over allowing fans back into grounds.

Webbe had an answer for racism: Laugh at it

Glenn Webbe has never been one to blow his own trumpet. Had he changed the habit of a lifetime and given it a blast, the sound might have brought the barriers of prejudice tumbling down faster than the walls at Jericho.

Yes, Eddie's right..there are far too many subs

Don’t you just love it when Eddie Jones throws a hand grenade to get the rest of the world talking about an issue.

THAT try will always remind us of Slem

AS a yeoman Englishman and very fine player indeed Mike Slemen, who passed away earlier this week, will be remembered for many things but I suspect his try for the Lions in Potchefstroom 40 years ago to secure a late 22-19 win against a strong South Africa Invitation XV is the ‘moment’ that will be spoken of for decades to come. Or at least it should be.

These young coaches can make Gloucester special

Gloucester showed they were willing to take a risk by appointing George Skivington as head coach and Skivington has done the same by bringing in Dom Waldouck to coach his defence.

Sam's style suits Hill in quest to be top captain

NEWLY-appointed Worcester skipper Ted Hill will take inspiration from legendary leaders Sam Warburton and Lawrence Dallaglio as he aims to stamp his mark on proceedings as the fourth youngest captain in Premiership history.

Sadness over death of Clermont president

The death of Clermont president Eric de Cromières, aged 66, has cast a sombre shadow over French rugby.

Is Griffiths getting his own back on the Prem?

Finally, the Championship has a champion in Edward Griffiths, who is going to shine a light at the end of the long tunnel that has been the clubs’ battle to survive in these professional times.

Heads out of the bunker chaps and point the way!

Lady Godiva’s dress-down ride through Coventry; Sir Thomas Fairfax’s rout of the Royalist forces south of Bristol; the first stirrings of the Battle of Britain; the attack on the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland: all things considered, the 10th day of July had more than its share of historical resonance even before Darren Childs addressed the rugby nation.

So Vital Gatland Goes For Tried And Tested Coaches

The big positive from the announcement of the 2021 Lions itinerary this week is that there is continuity, because it is the same tour schedule in South Africa as it was before the Covid lockdown.