CATEGORIES

Too many matches had no real meaning to them

NOW, as we reflect and are drawing closer to the end of this varied season, we must all be thinking what a season we’ve had. Filled with the highs and lows, keeping the fans on the edge of their seats, but coupled with the uncertainty of how this season will end.

On the clock: Who put the minutes in?

I’M indebted to stats guru Stuart Farmer who has faithfully logged the Premiership match minutes for players in the regular season just finished and it makes for very interesting reading once you dig in.

'Your only job is to pour champagne'

I WENT on the first post-Falklands War, England tour to Argentina in 1990 despite having only played in Division 5 for Northern, who I’d joined whilst at College in Newcastle.

Sorrowful shadow blights the game

FOR month after miserable month, Welsh rugby had been crying out for someone to give their apology of a season the last rites.

Gott in charge to steer Navy home

JORDAN Gott produced the performance of his life to steer the Navy to the Inter-Services title with a first win over the Army since 2010.

Doris looking for revenge against La Rochelle

CAELAN Doris is hellbent on inflicting revenge on Saturday when Leinster meet La Rochelle in a re-run of last season’s Champions Cup final.

Battle at No. 10! Hunting for a final place

GEORGE Ford and Handre Pollard have not confronted each other since the 2019 World Cup final between England and South Africa in Yokohama.

Fish is my kind of player - reliable and committed

I WAS gutted when I read that Dan Fish is going to miss Cardiff's Premiership semi-final clash with Newport today after breaking a bone in his wrist last week.

Now it's Ealing's turn to celebrate

FOR the second year in the row, Ealing Trailfinders were crowned Championship Cup winners after a thrilling victory over Jersey at Trailfinders Sports Club.

Miotti can be the main man for Glasgow - McDowall

DOMINGO Miotti can step up and fill the boots of banned fly-half Tom Jordan as Glasgow aim to become the first Scottish side to win a European trophy, insists centre Stafford McDowall.

England need to get it right at scrum time

STEVE Borthwick’s decision to raid Leicester for his latest scrum coach – and England’s third in the last year – has raised a few eyebrows.

Crowley has final say in epic contest

A DROPPED goal two minutes from time from Jack Crowley saw Munster take this wonderful, relentless, bar room brawl of a semi-final that was probably the most compelling club game of the season.

Carpenter washes stress away

SALE full-back Joe Carpenter only made his Premiership debut in October, but he starts today’s semi-final and has attracted the notice of England head coach Steve Borthwick.

Roebuck aims to rise high for Sale

IN-FORM Sale winger Tom Roebuck hopes to help fire his boyhood team into their first Premiership final in 17 years.

Battling Saracens seize the moment

SARACENS may have assembled a new wardrobe, but they have not thrown away their old clobber.

Lawrence bounces back from adversity

MOST of the players who get awards are deserving, and I think that is the case with Ollie Lawrence, who this week was voted Premiership Player of the Season.

Steward: Wiggy's the main driver

RICHARD Wiggles- worth, the Leicester interim head coach, is not happy taking the plaudits for Tigers’ resurrection but Freddie Steward is happy to big him up.

Bath battle back to grab elite spot

THE final round of the regular Premiership season boiled down to who would claim England’s final place in next season’s Champions Cup.

Kelly ready to work hard for starting place

NEWCASTLE’S new recruit John Kelly has come a long way from working as a nightclub doorman in Plymouth, but believes it’s given him the work ethic to claim a starting spot in Alex Codling’s squad next season.

Salary cap hurting, not helping - Biggar

DAN Biggar feels the Premiership’s exodus of players to France is a result of the league’s reduced salary cap ‘hurting it more than helping’.

Morgan: Move away from culture of debt

JERSEY Reds chairman Mark Morgan has called for a complete refocus so rugby can move away from a culture of debt and prioritise England’s player pathway development.

Saracens on track for sixth Prem title

MARK McCall hailed “outstanding and controlled” Owen Farrell after the England star pulled the strings at StoneX Stadium and kept Sarries on track for a sixth Premiership crown.

Valetini's late double stuns the Hurricanes

TWO months after their shock win over the Crusaders, Fijian Drua slayed their second Kiwi powerhouse of the season as two late Kemu Valetini penalties saw them stun the Hurricanes 27-24 in Suva

Boost for finances as recovery continues

THE Commission des Championnats professionnels de l’Autorité de régulation du rugby – the new name for the financial auditors of the professional game at this end of the Channel Tunnel – reported that revenues for Top 14 and ProD2 clubs rose 43 per cent between the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, from just under €360 million to €515m. Some €371m of that revenue was generated by the Top 14 alone

Twickenham now the home of the women's game

CONGRATULATIONS to the Red Roses on another Grand Slam with a great result against France

Henderson keeps Lancashire on road

LANCASHIRE got off to a winning start on the road at Upper Park, Birkenhead as they ran in eight tries to Cheshire’s three

Success at county level will help game grow - Lewis

THE Gill Burns Women’s County Championship returns today and while the men’s tournament seems to reduce in popularity each year, Leicestershire head coach Philippa Lewis believes the county game is vital for the continued growth of the sport

Players must keep a licence to thrill

IF, God forbid, I ever find myself in the dock I will be hiring Sam Warburton KC to defend me

Blackett ready to fire up Bath attack

NEW Bath recruit Lee Blackett says his time away from the Premiership has enriched him as an attack coach

RFU should capitalise on success of Reds - Biljon

HARVEY Biljon fears the RFU’s strict policy on promotion may come back to haunt them as he believes they’ve missed an opportunity to capitalise on a catchment area in which the sport is thriving