CATEGORIES

Crowds need to be part of the action

\"Of the nine stadia hosting the World Cup, only two could be described as outsized\"

Sanderson looking for an extra 12%

ALEX Sanderson believes Sale will need to improve by at least 12 per cent if they are going to go one better than last season and win the Premiership.

Mentality of the players holds key

\"Everyone should look to improve and be brave - and that's coaches as well as players\"

Mo'unga on target to deny Wallabies

RICHIE Mo’unga kicked a last-minute penalty to complete New Zealand’s comeback win over a much-improved Australia in the second Bledisloe Cup match in Dunedin.

Fagerson fear mars Scotland fightback

GREGOR Townsend was left with mixed emotions after watching his side shrug off the blow of having a man sent off to conjure a thrilling victory at Murrayfield.

Italy make Ireland fight all the way

IRELAND started and finished strongly but were made to work hard in between times by an Italy side that refused to give this game up as a lost cause.

England need to start trusting their instincts

\"The contrast with Wales who were full of trickery and no-look flicks was vivid\"

Next week matters for Borthwick's men

\"England's coach was philosophical after defeat in a match they were expected to win\"

Morgan shows way for Wales as England struggle to spark

WALES have been holding out for a hero, and yesterday in Cardiff they found one in Jac Morgan.

Financial stability is our priority - Durkin

CORNISH Pirates chairman Paul Durkin has branded the RFU “the only body in sport who haven’t reinstated Covid cuts”.

Borthwick decides to see the positives

STEVE Borthwick remained positive after seeing his England team get well beaten by an inexperienced Wales side in Cardiff last night.

'Time England had central contracts'

Ben Jaycock talks to former Ireland captain Rob Saunders, who won 12 caps between 1991 and 1994 before venturing into business life in the City, about the state of game in Britain and Ireland

Northumbria I'm Scottish born but at heart

WHEN we beat France in the final round of the 1999 Five Nations we had a big night out in Paris but made it home in time to watch England v Wales at Wembley – the final match of the Championship – on TV the following day. None of us had the foggiest that we might’ve had a chance of winning the whole thing! It only dawned on me when the final whistle blew and England had been beaten that it was a possibility.

YOUNG GUNS: EPIROKODRAVA EALING TRAILFINDERS WING

After being made redundant at Wasps last year, Epi Rokodrava fell off the radar of England U20s but the hefty Ealing Trailfinders Academy wing is hoping to make it back into the fold for next year's Six Nations.

Matthews striving for more medals

HAVING hoisted the Premier 15s title in June, Alex Matthews has ticked off virtually ever accolade in the sport but the Gloucester-Hartpury and England back row is more driven than ever to push her personal standards.

Bordeaux put their faith in Gazzotti

“The flanker who starred in the U20s World Cup is keen to hit the Top 14 as soon as possible”

Easter targets top six finish with Chinnor

CHINNOR director of rugby Nick Easter is optimistic that his side can compete at the top of an ultra competitive National 1 next season.

Bright eyes return to Championship

RICHMOND captain Mark Bright recognises the challenge his side faces in an ultra competitive National 1 next season but the 44-year-old is determined to gain promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Saracens snap up Argentine flanker Gonzalez

SARACENS Argentina Juan Martin have signed back row Gonzalez following the demise of London Irish.

Treat players well and they will stay here, says RPA's Day

RPA chairman Christian Day believes making English players the best-looked after in the world will help to combat the player drain from the Premiership to France's Top 14 and other more affluent leagues.

Codling can't wait to take on 'fantastic challenge'

HAVING coached in multiple leagues in Wales, Northern Ireland, England and France, it is fair to say Alex Codling has never shied away from a challenge.

England can go all the way, says Ojo

TOPSY Ojo believes England have a great opportunity in the World Cup to go deep in the tournament and provide a launchpad to rebuild English rugby.

Humphreys backing Plumtree to play major role for Wales

WALES forwards coach John Humphreys says that new signing Taine Plumtree from New Zealand could play a big part in their World Cup campaign.

Allan desperate to be starter at 10 for Italy

TOMMASO Allan is \"quietly confident\" Italy can produce an upset against France or New Zealand and make it out of Pool A at the World Cup.

Libbok deserves a chance at No. 10

HAVING beaten the Springboks in Auckland, the All Blacks certainly have one hand on the trophy due to the fact it’s a single round Rugby Championship in a World Cup year.

I'd take the rough with the smooth every time

BEFORE my first cap against Wales in 2004, they brought in some ex-internationals, Scottish rugby legends, to come and have dinner with the team on the Wednesday night and I’ll never forget Finlay Calder was sat at our table.

Fans left in dark as Viaplay row back

THE future of live Top 14 – and United Rugby Championship – rugby coverage in the UK is up in the air after TV rights-holder Viaplay confirmed this week that it intends to scale back its international operations on the back of disappointing financial results.

Southern Hemisphere given big advantage

WELL, if ever there was a sign of a true bias in the game we have just had it with World Rugby making five law changes with just under seven weeks from the start of the most important competition in the whole of the world game just after the Northern Hemisphere have ended their season.

Exeter sign O'Connor from Munster

EXETER Chiefs have signed Munster second row Eoin O’Connor. The 22-year-old moves to Sandy Park after four years with the United Rugby Championship side.

Trailfinders make Gwala statement

PREMIERSHIP Women’s Rugby newcomers Ealing Trailfinders have signed South Africa international Lindelwa Gwala.