CATEGORIES

Stokes Driven By Imposter Syndrome

London Irish fullback James Stokes is still locked in a mental battle to convince himself he deserves to be playing in the top flight.

Quins secure play-off spot in ten-try thriller

HARLEQUINS – looking in all sorts of grief earlier this season – clinched their place in the play-offs with yet another spectacular victory which underlined their box office reputation.

Hitt won't let his lack of playing pedigree impede climb to the top

A DECADE ago, Christian Hitt was working at grassroots level as a rugby development officer for the WRU with a passion and desire to go into coaching.

Patriot Josh throws his hat into the ring for Wales

JOSH Turnbull has revealed he once turned down a lucrative offer to join a Premiership team in favour of trying to win more caps with Wales.

Leon's skill lit up the bearpit of Max's Stade

As a boy growing up in Coventry, Leon Lloyd had a dream: “To score the winning goal for the Sky Blues in the FA Cup final.’’ On a May day in 1987, shortly before he could reach the grand old age of ten, he watched someone else beat him to it by accident, Gary Mabbutt’s own goal in extra-time giving Coventry their famous win over Spurs. Leon’s vision of staging an action replay vanished for good a couple of years later when a change of school ‘forced’ him to play rugby.

Falcons aim to put brake on Sam's try scoring run

AS Newcastle prepare to face Exeter, Dean Richards’ verdict on Sam Simmonds is that he is the complete No.8 who should have far more caps for England.

George is pulling up trees

Kyran Bracken reports on his progress of turning Wanstead No.9 George Hardy into a professional inside 12 months

Errol paved way for today's Springboks

WE mark all sorts of landmarks in rugby these days, so much so that we possibly lose sight of the really important milestones, so let’s celebrate today the 40th anniversary of the first black player representing the Springboks in a Test match.

Tempers fray as Bears thwart Tigers' big finish

BRISTOL’S individual brilliance edged this ferocious contest which will be remembered more for the furore of the finale.

Changing of the guard at Bedford but Geoff's built a legacy to last

IT’S a new era for Bedford after Geoff Irvine’s chairmanship officially came to an end this weekend after over 20 years’ of service.

Heady days before the mighty Oaks tumbled

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

Rainbow Cup just isn't worth injury risk

AS we go into the final stages of the domestic season, we will now see the experienced players come to the fore. It is make or break time for many with trophies on the line.

Champions Cup? Now it's taking in also-rans!

If and when the brewing industry calls “time gentlemen please” on its financial support for the European Champions Cup – it is not yet certain that Heineken, the current title sponsors, will extend beyond next season – who might be in the market for naming rights?

Matavesi lies in wait for his Lion pal Luke

SAM Matavesi aims to be the teacher and not the student when he and fellow Truro College graduate Luke Cowan-Dickie get down to some serious front row work today.

Championship is sinking: RFU won't rescue it!

THIS week it emerged that the RFU’s vision for the Championship has plumbed the depths. It was encapsulated by an email exchange between a prolific campaigner against ringfencing, and an RFU Council member.

Malins must force Eddie to make a change at 15

THE England full-back role is up for grabs this summer with Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly away with the Lions in South Africa. There are four players in the selection picture at No.15 for the mainly young England team that Eddie Jones has said he intends to pick for the summer matches against the USA and Canada.

High-tempo Quins' better fit for Wallace than Tigers

LUKE Wallace rejoined Harlequins from Leicester last week and reckons the mood at the Stoop hints at a return to the glory days for the club.

Baa-baas' all-stars go to town in Hong Kong

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

Alun Wyn can prove his doubters wrong, like I did – Matfield

VICTOR Matfield knows what it’s like to have your age questioned on the eve of a Lions series.

Devoto: Leinster Defeat Has Made Us Even Hungrier

Ollie Devoto has warned Exeter’s Premiership rivals that the Chiefs are all the more determined to win back-to-back Premiership titles after being knocked out of the Heineken Champions Cup by Leinster last month.

Toulouse can edge this fascinating French battle

WHEN there are no English, Irish, Welsh, or Scots teams involved in the final of the European Cup it does not usually fire the imagination, but Saturday evening’s all-French final between Toulouse and La Rochelle at Twickenham should be a different matter.

End salary cap and fat cats will take cream

There are plenty of jokes to be cracked about professional rugby’s hot love affair with cold-blooded capitalism, but what’s the point? Ninety-nine per cent of readers cannot afford to get them.

More yellows, but still Sale power onwards

SALE won at The Rec for the first time since March 2014 as Bath lost at home for a record sixth time in a Premiership season.

You need help to ride highs and lows

PAUL REES talks to two Prem stars about the importance of PRL’s Restart charity

Robson blasts lottery over red card decisions

DAN Robson demanded more consistency from referees over red card decisions after Wasps defied going down to 14 men to defeat Worcester at the Ricoh Arena.

Captain Tom promises fight to the finish at Twickenham

NO English club has appeared in more European finals than Leicester, but it will be a first for the Tigers on Friday night when they face Montpellier at Twickenham in front of 10,000 spectators.

Now Pivac must build with some new faces

AS SIX Nations champions, Wales must not let their standards slip this summer. Facing Canada and Argentina in Cardiff in July is a priceless opportunity for Wayne Pivac to build on what has been a fine year and plan ahead for the 2023 World Cup.

Proctor: We still believe we can make top four

MATT Proctor was expecting the Premiership to be a slog when he arrived from New Zealand but the All Blacks centre has felt at home in a league where variety has spiced up his sporting life.

Alex eyes glory finish to iffy start in France

ALEX LOZOWSKI hopes to end a rollercoaster year in France on a high by adding a European Challenge Cup winner’s medal to the two he gained in the Champions Cup with Saracens.

Tomas chasing a champagne finish at Chiefs

TOMAS FRANCIS intends savouring every remaining minute he has as an Exeter player before his summer move to the Ospreys.