CATEGORIES

Since the year dot, I have been involved with Saints

EIGHTEEN months after turning out as a 17-year-old for Kettering 4s at Wellingborough Borstal, I found myself making my debut for Northampton against Harlequins.

Court case that could define game's future

AS WE approach what could be a defining moment in the future of the game with a head injury case about to have its first outing in the High Court on the December 1, there is still so much we don’t know.

Returning from the 'dead' to play again

HAVING gone into cardiac arrest and having been resuscitated four times back in August, Wales 7s international Morgan MacRae is hoping a medical device will breathe new life into what was a hugely promising rugby career.

Foxes hold on but must improve their discipline

CANTERBURY edged to a fourth win on the bounce, despite almost giving the game away due to their constant ill discipline.

Straight down the Hatch for visitors!

CLIFTON gatecrashed Bournville’s party with a last-gasp winning try from replacement hooker Tom Hatch which decided a tense encounter at Avery Fields.

Tykes win the battle of top two

LEEDS Tykes claimed victory in the muchanticipated top-ofthe-table clash between the two teams who were both unbeaten ahead of the encounter.

Ace Worboys takes the plaudits with star show

CHINNOR produced a scintillating performance of expansive 15-man rugby to storm to a convincing win over Richmond.

Hardwick power has Ealing storming past Coventry

INSPIRED by storming displays from prop Will Goodrick-Clarke and flanker Richard  Hardwick, Ealing extended their unblemished start to the league season to five games with a hard - earned bonus point win over Coventry.

Litterick's late show steals it for Cardiff

A LAST-minute try from prop Rhys Litterick saw Cardiff win a pulsating game at the Arms Park.

A game in desperate need of some answers

IF THERE is one thing I have learned over the last six years dealing with neurologists as they grapple with a complex and changing case of my own, it is that nothing is simple in their world. Or rarely.

Abbie on England road

ABBIE Ward hopes her try-scoring return to action for Bristol Bears Women last week can act as the launchpad for her to regain her place in the England Women’s squad for the 2024 Six Nations.

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.