Brave Lupus promise to take the attack to Spears

Japan League One preview

Vaa’i hat-trick puts Chiefs in command

Super Rugby Pacific round-up

Champions Ealing keep marching on

THE sun set on the Championship season with another magnficent seven from champions Ealing.

Another battling show by Bordeaux

WHAT a great game last weekend's Champions Cup final turned out to be with both of the finalists, Northampton and Bordeaux Begles, rising to the occasion and putting on an 80-minute performance to rival any game we have seen this season.

Time to speak with one voice

BACK in the age when men were men and Willie John McBride was wearing the red shirt of the British and Irish Lions, the phrase “get your retaliation in first” - five words of survival advice, whispered in the private confines of the dressing room was elevated into a public declaration of policy.

We struggled to replace our big names, says Dowson

NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson was left to reflect on an eighth-placed finish in the Premiership. He said:

Penguins are happy to give prisoners a helping hand

THE Penguins RFC summer tour saw the men’s team beat Bologna RFC 40-17 while the women’s team heavily defeated Colorno RFC, 71-7.

Maisey holds his nerve to snatch it for Bedford

BEDFORD Blues survived the conditions and 20 minutes with 14 men as they saw off Caldy to end the season with a seventh successive bonus point victory.

Semi-finals decided

LEICESTERSHIRE, Hertfordshire, Dorset & Wiltshire and Sussex qualified for the Division 3 semi-finals.

Weimann takes his lead from Mitchell

NORTHAMPTON'S production line shows no sign of slowing down with Jonny Weimann the latest prospect off the conveyor belt.

I've been lucky to learn from the best coaches

COMING from Trimsa-ran, the same village as dual international Jonathan Davies, there was no short-age of inspiration growing up. And then when I moved to Felinfoel RFC, as a 19-year-old, another Welsh legend Phil Bennett was our fitness coach.

Barmy to downgrade the Champions Cup

ACCORDING to its promoters, the 'wonderful' Champions Cup stands on a pinnacle above everything else as 'the greatest club competition in the world.'

Minikin is on fire for dominant Yorkshire

STALWART _ Lewis Minikin produced a try-scoring man of the match display as Yorkshire won in emphatic style against Lancashire to book their place in the showcase at Twickenham in three weeks.

Ibitoye makes sure Bears keep control

THERE was a moment in the second half when the home faithful feared they were seeing a rerun of a video nasty.

Uruguay's Gonzalez joins the Worcester rebuild

WORCESTER Warriors have signed Uruguay back Juan Gonzalez as they build towards their return next season in the revamped Championship.

Dombrandt hoping for Quins link

ALEX Dombrandt would relish the chance to play alongside his team-mates in an all-Harlequins England back row this summer.

Toulouse keen to get back In groove

SITTING out last weekend’s Champions Cup final was not in Toulouse’s plans at the start of the season. It wasn’t part of Toulouse’s plans when their semi-final in Bordeaux kicked off.

Bristol set for a Bath showdown

FIERCE rivals Bath and Bristol will play off at The Rec on Friday looking to become the first West Country side to win the Premiership.

Chinnor hit 12 to end season on a high note

CHINNOR finished their first Championship season as they had started, with a comprehensive victory over Cambridge who propped up the table for the second season in a row.

MacGinty predicts Friday fireworks

AJ MacGinty has predicted there will be fireworks when Bath and Bristol meet in the play off at The Rec.

Cheshire work hard to subdue Cumbria

CHESHIRE came from behind to beat Cumbria 45-28 to move into the semi-finals unbeaten after a perfect record in Pool 1.

George deserves to be a Lion, says his boss

ALEX Sanderson claims it would be a \"travesty\" if George Ford fails to experience what it feels like to be a Lion.

Alex was high class under the high ball

BRENDAN GALLAGHER

Rivalry with Hardy is pushing Morgan-Williams on

REUBEN Morgan-Williams says the competition with fellow Ospreys scrum-half Kieran Hardy has driven the two of them on a fact demonstrated by both being selected for Wales' tour of Japan.

Cheika quick to defend winger

LEICESTER boss Michael Cheika defended Ollie Hassell-Collins after his try-scoring wing was yellow-carded for a forearm chop on Alex Hearle.

Bath tempt Harris from Gloucester

GLOUCESTER star Chris Harris will make the move to rivals Bath next season as medical dispensation for Ollie Lawrence, who suffered a ruptured Achilles during the Six Nations.

Memories are made of this, says coach Rae

DELIGHTED Coventry head coach Alex Rae praised his departing players after they turned on the style to run in eight tries against Scottish.

Play all Six Nations games on Saturdays

WHY have the powers that be allowed a Six Nations game, France v Ireland, to be scheduled for a Thursday evening? There is no justification for this decision which takes loyal supporters, of both countries, for granted.

Doncaster make it ten out of ten to secure third

PAUL Turner's last game as Ampthill head coach ended in defeat on The Olney Field.

Farrell return would not be a huge shock

ANY day soon, a pie may be falling out of the sky above Champions' Way, North Hendon, London NW4. Those in the vicinity could do worse than keep their eyes peeled and their radar radiant.