CATEGORIES

Ring fence has made English rugby go soft

THE most positive aspect to come out of the opening round of the European Cup was that, despite six out of the eight English clubs losing, it can get better and relatively quickly.

The global travellers who light up game

THERE is nothing especially funny about short-term memory loss, but it may just have an upside when it comes to rugby.

Battling Bath looking to revive cup campaign

JOHANN van Graan is braced to take on the Italian national team in all but name as Bath look to revive their Champions Cup campaign.

Off-target Gloucester get lesson in finishing

KIWI Michael Ruru scored two early tries and put in a silky display as Vannes created a famous night in their history, securing a first ever Challenge Cup win over a misfiring Gloucester.

We're happy to be the hunted, says Beckett

SARAH Beckett admits Gloucester-Hartpury have made an underwhelming start to their title defence but believes that's partly due to competition across the PWR being at an alltime high.

Heard takes charge to keep out Sarries

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY secured a pulsating victory over Saracens to leapfrog the Londoners in the PWR table.

Hellfire Corner gives a warm welcome to all

RUGBY was undergoing a massive boom 150 years ago so we shouldn’t be surprised so many teams are celebrating their sesquicentennial anniversary as those who glory in long words like to call it.

My fierce Tigers are roaring-Howison

A RUTHLESS second-half display saw Sheffield Tigers come from behind to score 29 unanswered points and seal a vital bonus point win against bottom of the table Billingham.

Brave Lupus banking on Mo'unga class

THE fourth season of Japan Rugby League One kicks off this week, with the tournament opening with the clash between Mie Honda Heat and Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on December 21.

Oyonnax must live without El-Abd

OYONNAX’S seven-try 53-10 bonus-point win over ProD2 rivals Soyaux-Angouleme on Friday – their first victory since October 25 – was a relief in more ways than one. In fact, relief probably doesn’t cover it.

Darge: We're all set for Toulon challenge

SCOTLAND flanker Rory Darge believes Glasgow’s 2023 Challenge Cup final defeat by Toulon proved pivotal in their progression to URC champions last season as they prepare for a tasty Champions Cup reunion in the south of France today.

Slade: We have to be all in this together

THE importance of playing what’s in front of you rather than on reputation alone is not lost on Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs’ most experienced Champions Cup player, as the Premiership’s only winless team prepare to take on sixtime winners and reigning champions Toulouse.

Powerful Tigers take Sharks apart with ease

LEICESTER made light work of despatching a depleted Sharks team back to South Africa in a predictable one-sided encounter last night.

Dombrandt leads the fight for Quins

ALEX Dombrandt proved a real powerful force of nature as the No.8 helped Quins smash their South African rivals into submission with eight tries in front of a watching Steve Borthwick.

It's time for Bath to take control

BATH need to make a statement against Benetton at the Stadio Monigo today if they are to progress to the last 16 of the European Cup, and have a realistic hope of a home draw.

O'Gara keeps on driving La Rochelle

Mark Stevens talks to the former Ireland No.10 about his plans in France and what could happen next

Pollard: My future still up in the air

HANDRE Pollard is out of contract at the end of the season and Leicester hope a strong showing for the rest of the campaign will persuade the South Africa outside-half to stay.

Pirates remove break clauses

CORNISH Pirates have lifted the break clauses in player contracts which had been inserted in the summer amid concern over the ongoing funding of the club.

Saints, Quins & Tigers lead way

NORTHAMPTON Saints won in South Africa for the first time in their history by beating the Bulls away in Pretoria 30-21 courtesy of England international Tommy Freeman's brace of tries.

Start with Roebuck, Curry tells Borthwick

STEVE Borthwick has been urged to make in-form Sale star Tom Roebuck a starting winger in the Six Nations. c

Forrest sees green shoots growing for the Raiders

WITH an average age of 23, Worthing Raiders almost certainly have the youngest squad in National 2 East.

Sailing around the Med for a year is next for me

IN 18 months’ time, when my final contract with Castres expires, I will literally be sailing off into the ocean with my partner, leaving my rugby career behind.

Harrogate's ideal for Nuu as he looks to the future

RUGBY league convert Junior Nuu is on a shortterm contract with Harrogate and is eager to help the newly promoted side in their survival bid.

RFU Council must make a stand for whole game

NOW the Autumn Nation Series is over – with all four games at the Twickenham Allianz Stadium virtual sellouts with crowds close to the maximum 82,000 – the RFU should be in a good financial position.

Pope expecting to play a major role in a highly eventful month

AUSTIN Pope and his partner, Izzie, are expecting a baby any minute, but the inside centre has shown his commitment to Bishop’s Stortford in recent weeks by continuing to start matches.

Nugent is the difference

RAMS slipped to a second straight narrow defeat as they went down by two points at home to Richmond under the Friday night lights.

Gregson gets going to put Saracens in charge

SARACENS secured a second straight bonus-point victory to move second in the PWR table.

Cornish at the double to clinch it for Ealing

MATT Cornish’s double ensured Ealing Trailfinders kept up the pressure at the top of the Championship table with a hard-fought victory away at Bedford.

Get rid of the regions and call for Cotter, says Ring

MARK Ring never thought Welsh rugby would come to this; their four regional teams failing en masse to meet the modest qualifying criteria for the non-champion zone of the Champions Cup.

We're aiming to be more clinical - Evans

HAVING fallen short in recent years, the PWR’s all-time most successful side Saracens are seeking redemption this season.