CATEGORIES

Great to see Dupont going for Paris gold

RATHER overlooked during a hectic end of season in France which saw Toulouse march off with all four national titles – Top 14, U20, U18 and U16 – was a report in the authoritative Le Parisien insisting that Antoine Dupont will be missing some or even all of the 2024 Six Nations to pursue his dream of also winning an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics next July.

Baldwin still glad he headed to Falcons

Jon Newcombe talks to Newcastle’s new defence coach and finds a man who is certain he has made the right decision

Torture of the ice age gave us faith

DON’T tell me or any of the boys from 2011 that the players in the Welsh squad training for the World Cup are having a hard time of it. Hoods, splashes of water in their faces and carrying logs on long marches – luxury!

Time to balance a weighty problem

A CLEVER man once predicted that progress would eventually turn out to be a circle rather than a straight line.

Reds to kick off their defence against Cov

CHAMPIONS Jersey Reds will begin the defence of their Championship crown against third-placed Coventry when league action starts on October 22.

You write off the All Blacks at your peril

BEFORE this edition of the Rugby Championship, people have been writing off New Zealand, and talking about their decline – but, even if they do not have the presence Richie McCaw’s world champions had eight years ago, you write them off at your peril.

Cardall set to fire for the Falcons

AS Tim Cardall reflects on the eventful last nine months for the career, his hope for the new Premiership season is that it will command attention for the richness of its rugby rather than more clubs collapsing under a debt pile.

Halliday's collective ultimatum

Halliday: We need to see radical changes

Heavenly finish as Crusaders snatch title

THE Crusaders made it seven straight titles in Scott Robertson’s final game in charge to sign off on one of rugby’s greatest-ever dynasties.

Charalambous on Scottish mission

AFTER aiding the club’s surival bid last term, London Scottish new signing Rhys Charalambous is hoping to use the final three games of last season as the building blocks for a mid-table finish this term.

Noot: Blackheath aiming for top six

ALEX Noot has stressed that his new Blackheath side are not there to merely make up the numbers next season in National 1 and are aiming to compete at the top of the table.

Playing for my country was never about money

MY playing career with Tonga (a record 54 caps) really came about as a result of the riots of 2006 when political unrest over an election result back home led to Nuku’alofa, the capital, being burnt down.

Sensational Jonah, the game's first global star

IT’S A quiet corner of a five star hotel in Johannesburg four days before New Zealand open their 1995 World Cup account against Ireland at Ellis Park. A giant man-boy with comically oversized headphones enveloping his ears is sitting alone on a settee, bored as only teenagers can be bored, and counting down the minutes before All Blacks press officer Ric Salizzo tips him the wink and he can buzz off back to his room.

Nienaber keeps faith with World Cup stars

SOUTH Africa’s squad preparing for the Rugby Championship contains 19 players who were involved in the 2019 World Cup final against England in Yokohama – with two more in contention for this year’s tournament in France.

Irish weren't given enough time - Ojo

LONDON Irish’s record try scorer Topsy Ojo says it’s regrettable that the club weren’t given more time to try and find someone to fund the club before their suspension from the Premiership in the first week of June.

Why this merger just might be the way to go

ANOTHER day in Welsh rugby and another potential drama emerges. They always say the close season is the ‘silly season’ for stories, but I’m not sure which end of the scale I’d place the suggestion of a potential merger between Cardiff and the Ospreys.

Hill keeps climbing the peaks in France

Jon Newcombe talks to top coach Richard Hill after he secured yet another promotion in the French leagues

Law-tinkerers are a danger to the game

THE odds on Owen Farrell travelling to the World Cup as England’s starting No.10 are even shorter than the lifespan of a European Champions Cup format, which means three things: watertight kicking and defence, an ocean of attitude and, according to his critics, the imaginative scope of a whelk. How might we describe this style of rugby? Fazball. Owzat?

Harlequins swoop to sign trio from London Irish

HARLEQUINS have pounced for three players who found themselves out of work after the collapse of neighbours London Irish, including England centre Will Joseph.

Battling England go close as Ireland have to hang on

ENGLAND were denied a remarkable comeback victory in their opening game of the Under 20s Championship as they shared a breathless draw with Ireland in Paarl.

France prove too strong for Japan

FRANCE ran in 11 tries to steamroll a determined Japan outfit.

Borthwick impressed with intensity of Prem final

STEVE Borthwick’s hopes that England can enjoy a successful World Cup campaign were boosted by the “Test match” performances of some of his stars in the Premiership final.

England's Bath bias difficult to justify

IF England's international selection is meant to be a meritocracy it is hard to understand how Bath managed to have the biggest contingent alongside Leicester for the second of England’s World Cup warm-up training weeks.

Power to the girls on day of history

GLOUCESTER- Hartpury claimed their first Allianz Premier 15s title as they outclassed Exeter Chiefs in front of a record crowd.

Steward's aerial skills can power England on

FREDDIE Steward has had a big impact for England at full-back since he made his debut against the USA in the summer of 2021. Steward has made his physical size and strength count to the extent that two years later he has scored seven tries in 22 Tests, which is not a bad strike rate.

'Tofty' on mission to improve the pathway for England

MARK Mapletoft had no hesitation when he was last month offered the chance to take the England Under 20s to the Junior World Cup in South Africa.

Ealing add Collins to list of star recruits

BIG-SPENDING Ealing Trailfinders have come to the rescue of Tom Collins who had been left high and dry by the collapse of London Irish.

Champions Cup draw suits Bears

BRISTOL Bears sneaked into the Champions Cup through the cat flap rather than the back door, but they will be more content with their pool draw than Sale, who pushed Saracens all the way in last month’s Twickenham final.

Dynamic duo back for more

PAUL de Villiers and Katlego Letebele will return for their second stint with the Junior Springboks, this time as captain and vice-captain of the South African squad that are at home in this World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

Jones opts for mixed approach

WALES U20s interim head coach Mark Jones has named five uncapped players in his squad.