CATEGORIES

Coventry show right style to pull in crowds

RUGBY attendances are mostly on the decline in the top two divisions in England, but Coventry’s scintillating style of play is getting fans in their droves through the gates at Butts Park.

Sing on target as champions kick off defence in fine style

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY started their title defence with a comprehensive victory over PWR newcomers Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm.

Stay patient and results will come - McDonald

IT has been an eventful four months for Kiran McDonald. The second row joined Wasps last year from Glasgow only for the club to fold four months later. A shortterm contract with Munster followed before he signed for Newcastle.

Dupont deserves to be on Olympic stage

THERE are exceptions to the general rule – the best three-minute pop songs, James Joyce’s stories in Dubliners, the wonderful actor Toby Jones – but, all things considered, long is better than short. Test cricket versus T20? No contest. Test rugby against the seven-aside version. Please.

Ford keeps his cool to seal it for Sharks

GEORGE Ford stepped up with ice in his veins to slot the match winning penalty and maintain pacesetters Sale Sharks’ position at the top of the table.

Furbank in control as Saints hold on

IT WAS pretty much inconceivable that Saints and Quins would lay on anything other than an entertaining try fest and so it proved at Franklin’s Gardens with the home side just squeezing home.

Seven-try Saracens too good for Bears

SARACENS, misfiring at times, nonetheless claimed their fifth win on the trot to climb to second in the table while Bristol will think this was an opportunity missed.

Gloucester founder on Leicester rocks

LEICESTER secured their first try bonus point of the season in the final move of the match after Gloucester were again hounded off the ball in another match that showed the dividing line in the Premiership is physicality.

Fearing players going abroad is a false storm

WORLD Cups provide rugby union with an opportunity to reset, and the actions taken following the 2023 tournament, which finished in France a few weeks ago, will be crucial to the game’s future.

Luke: I've got a new lease of life

LUKE Cowan-Dickie insists his summer switch to Sale Sharks has given him a ‘new lease of life’ in terms of his rugby.

Lawrence is hungry for more, says JVG

JOHANN van Graan is excited to see how good a player Ollie Lawrence can become with the England international potentially still having his best years ahead of him.

Evans on a mission to enjoy the highs

AS ONE of the Gallagher Premiership’s kings of the breakdown, Will Evans is determined to embrace every success that comes his way, even if triumphalism is frowned upon.

Dallaglio: We need clarity on Prem 2

LAWRENCE Dallaglio is calling for clarity from the RFU and Premiership Rugby over plans for a Premiership 1/Premiership 2 which could see a return for the three top flight sides that went into liquidation last season.

Baron calls for block on £296m PGP plan

FRANCIS Baron has called for the RFU Council to insist that the RFU Board puts a moratorium on the current PGP negotiations being undertaken by its chief executive Bill Sweeney, which is reportedly worth £296 million to the 10 remaining Premiership clubs.

Hogg: Now is the time for young guns to shine

EXETER Chiefs’ young talent have had to bide their time but are now the focus of Rob Baxter’s side and former full-back Stuart Hogg says the pressure’s on with a ‘sink or swim’ mentality.

Radwan motivated to make up for lost time

ADAM Radwan’s relishing Newcastle’s new expansive style this season, with the winger confident it will lead to an England recall.

Good cop, bad cop worked well, says Lake

DEWI Lake has revealed just how much he learned about captaincy with Wales at the World Cup amid his “good cop, bad cop” partnership with Jac Morgan.

Hanekom chews over Wales option

HIS elder brother was the first to dip his toe into Welsh rugby and now the Bulls No.8 Cameron Hanekom is mulling over his future international possibilities.

Cambridge set to make up for tough opening

CAMBRIDGE have had a difficult start to their first season in the Championship and but director of rugby Richie Williams believes they have a more winnable batch of games to come.

Markus makes his mark to hit 250 milestone

MARKUS Burcham made his 250th appearance for Blackheath last Saturday in their 21-17 win over Richmond and continues to enjoy playing under influential head coach James Shanahan.

Ruthless Dale's joy as Tigers are caged

THE two teams in third and fourth swapped places again as Wharfedale won the match and gained five points with Sheffield Tigers going home with nothing to show for their efforts.

Hornets feel the sting after surprise jump up the league

IN A sport decided by the most razor-thin margins, experience is one of the most precious things a rugby team can have.

Young pals leading the fightback in Oaks battle

AFTER five games of the National 2 East season, Sevenoaks had just one win to their name.

Ebbw Vale prevent Newport going top

NEWPORT missed the chance to go top of the Premiership after their five-game winning streak was brought to an end with a 28-20 defeat by Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale at Newport Stadium.

Smith: I want to join Alex in England team

FIN SMITH dreams of pairing up with Alex Mitchell for both club and country in the not too distant future after a strong start to the season.

Davis keen to put on a show on derby day

AIDON Davis has played in all three major leagues in Europe and feels the physicality of the Premiership best suits him as a South African.

Lawrence shines on a night of spectacle

FOR a derby that has been played for more than a century, this was a contest for the ages. It ebbed, it flowed, and there were mini-battles everywhere. It was a sell-out spectacle to hearten the West Country’s rugby soul.

Ruthless Saracens demolish Harlequins

SARACENS flexed their muscles mightily at The Stoop last night to remind everybody they remain the team to beat if you have intentions on this season’s Premiership title.

World Cup winner puts Tigers on top

LEICESTER ignited their campaign through a huge collective effort inspired by Springbok World Cup winner Handre Pollard.

Russell has the mastery to push Bath to the top

FINN Russell is, with out a doubt, an ultra talented fly-half and the Scot has a touch of old school about him in terms of being like the very good attacking 10s of 30 years ago. I mean this in terms of Russell not playing to a game plan or structure, but playing much more what he sees with his own eyes and projecting it forward.