CATEGORIES

World class De Klerk sparks Sharks attack

IF THIS is the season that Sale Sharks finally challenge for the Premiership title, it will be done with a distinctly South African flavour and is likely that Faf de Klerk will play a pivotal role.

Gloucester character survives red card

GLOUCESTER produced a fine performance while being down to 14 men for nearly an hour to get their first back-to-back win of the season and lift themselves off the foot of the table.

Ealing believe it's mission possible

CRAIG HAMPSON says Ealing Trailfinders go into the Championship with “no fear” as they set out to try and upset the odds and beat Saracens to promotion to the Premiership.

Guildford make history in Daily Mail U15 Cup

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools

Marquee men mock the salary cap principles

THE Premiership salary cap regulations are one of the biggest cons in sport, despite the claims by Lord Myners that they represent a “gold standard framework”.

Furbank excited to ‘Front up' for Saints

VERSATILE George Furbank leads Northampton into battle from fly-half once again as his side aim to finish ‘Front-up February’ with a flourish.

They will all be coming for us but we're ready – Wray

SARACENS stalwart Jackson Wray says his side are primed and ready to resist anything thrown at them as they begin their intended march back to the Premiership.

Player welfare is priority issue in any talks of expansion

Ethan Waller, the Worcester prop who, at 28, has just become chairman of the Rugby Players’ Association, tells NEALE HARVEY why he has taken on the role and offers his views on the state of the game at a crucial juncture.

Centre or wing, I'm ready for next level

Joe Marchant tells Dan Gallan how time in New Zealand helped him find his voice

Concussion threatens Carwyn's French idyll

Carwyn Jones has been playing rugby professionally since the season before he appeared in the only World Cup final between Wales and England, the junior version eight years ago. From hometown Haverfordwest, Jones’ career began moving in an easterly direction to Llanelli where the 18-year-old lock signed a contract with the Scarlets. It went on moving eastwards, to London and then across the Channel to France.

World Cup win left me totally shattered

JAPIE MULDER THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICA, LIONS AND LEEDS TYKES CENTRE

At last, Slattery gets the title his amazing skill deserved

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Why Spend If Academy System Works So Well?

It seems to me that Premiership Rugby has got rather too full of its own importance.

Dupont The Star Again As France Run In Seven

How good is Antoine Dupont? France counted the ways at least three times in the opening half-hour.

Vickery calls for greater variety

PHIL Vickery has told England to make better use of their “embarrassing” array of talent or risk defeat by a rejuvenated Wales.

These red cards could be shown every game

With the first break in the Six Nations this weekend, there’s a chance to review how the teams are performing and whether the matches are bringing what the game needs at this time.

Young Harry found his feet – and voice – in Wales...

Harry Randall belts out Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau as the 16-yearold captain of Wales against England at The Gnoll on a spring Saturday afternoon seven years ago.

Shaun is just latest proof that League ideas work

What have the Romans ever done for us?” asks Reg, the anti-imperialist Judean revolutionary, during one of the many quotable scenes in Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

Perese card sees the Reds run free

THE Waratahs’ will not only have to contend with suffering a heavy loss to the Reds to kick off their Super Rugby AU campaign, but are also sweating on the injury to captain Jake Gordon and a possible ban for Izaia Perese following his red card.

Red cards can end clear-out madness

SO two rounds into the 2021 Six Nations and already we can reflect on two red cards for illegal, dangerous clear-outs, which frankly is one of the more predictable outcomes in this year’s tournament.

Guscott becomes pride of the Lions in Brisbane

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Covid can't keep Tuala down long

DESPITE having played just seven games, Ahsee Tuala is having an eventful season.

BT must not hold the Premiership to ransom

BT Sports has been good for Premiership Rugby, investing a lot of money, and a lot of time and effort in providing excellent coverage, but when it comes to major issues in the game, should they be reporting the facts, or expounding their views?

Super Louis Got A Nation Off Their Sofas And Roaring

The sight of Jonathan Davies and Jeremy Guscott drooling over the performance of Louis Rees-Zammit in their post-match analysis on BBC said it all. It didn’t even need Jonathan to say, “a star is born” to emphasise how good he had been.

It's Time We Delivered Alun Wyn Tells Wales

Alun Wyn Jones has told Wales they will have no excuses if they don’t perform in the Six Nations.

Parton try lands the KO for Irish fighters

LIKE two sluggers without much care for their own wellbeing, London Irish and Gloucester traded blows throughout a nine-try thriller in Brentford.

Jones aims to develop Harlequins' mean streak

ADAM Jones has urged Harlequins to adopt the sort of hard edge possessed by the Wales teams he played for under Warren Gatland if they are to achieve success.

Return of the ruck will save our game

It is 16 long years since the large England lock Danny Grewcock planted one of his size umpteens on the head of Dwayne Peel while the Wales scrum-half was still standing upright – a feat of loose-limbed athleticism so impressive, it made Bruce Lee look arthritic by comparison.

It could go pear-shaped for Eddie very quickly

YOU could, literally, count the onlookers at a deserted Twickenham yesterday on the fingers of one hand but one solitary figure hunched against the rain and cold was Lions coach Warren Gatland and wouldn’t you just give a penny for his thoughts this morning.

The world leaders in prevarication!

There’s an old adage, ‘When you’ve nothing to say, say nothing’, and it’s one that World Rugby would do well to take to heart. When you see a Press release entitled ‘Rugby united in approach to optimising the men’s international calendar’ it’s reasonable to think it might be followed by something of substance, but what we got was waffle and management-speak of the most ridiculous kind.