CATEGORIES

Rae: Good to see promotion back

WITH promotion a realistic possibility for Championship clubs heading into the new season it has created renewed excitement levels across the league.

Robertson needs to redress the balance

IT WAS a cheap shot, admittedly, but only a pacifist or a fool would spurn the opportunity to kick the New Zealanders when they're down. \"What's the difference between the All Blacks and an arsonist?\" your columnist asked a radio host during a breakfast broadcast in 1998, eventually breaking an unnervingly long silence with the punchline: \"No arsonist would lose his last five matches.\"

PGP deal is looking good for all - Baxter

EXETER Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter remains hopeful that plans being drawn up as part of the new Professional Game Partnership between the RFU and Premiership Rugby will ultimately prove fruitful for all sides.

Move to Glasgow suits Schickerling

IT wasn't all that long ago that Patrick Schickerling was being ear-marked as a potential England bolter, a player who was set for an exciting and dazzling career on the international stage.

It's going to be a thriller van Graan

JOHANN van Graan is predicting a Gallagher Premiership 2024/25 season to set pulses racing.

Blow for England as Jones quits

BACK-TO-BACK World Cup-winning defence coach Felix Jones has left his role with England after sources revealed he was unsettled by an unstable working environment.

Racing Ahead

Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters

Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.

August 2024

No scrums? No problem Springboks for

LAST week in Brisbane Pieter Steph Du Toit famously asked Luke Pearce: \"Where's the scrum?\" when presented with a choice of three separate penalties.

Once again, Pumas fail to back it up

ONE of the question most able truisms in rugby is that wet weather is a great leveller.

Ewers: I'm thrilled to be joining Stormers

AS the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain, Dave Ewers stepped off the plane, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and nostalgia.

Bath out to go one step further this time around

TWO years after finishing bottom of the Premiership, Bath were a score away from the title.

8 mins |

An age-old problem for Farrell and Lions

THIS time next year Andy Farrell will know if he got his selection matrix right for the 2025 Lions series against Australia, because it will either be a triumphal return for the head coach - or the Wallabies springing one of the biggest upsets in sport.

Prop Tayack returns after horror year

JAY Tayack, grateful to be back fit and healthy, was unveiled to supporters as Cornish Pirates' latest signing at their Meet The Players evening on Thursday.

South American sides facing unfair hurdles

AFTER World Rugby confirmed the qualification process for the 2027 World Cup, among frustration South American nations was tempered only by the fact that they were expecting nothing better.

Aussies on a long road to recovery

EXPECTATIONS in Australia will be pretty low after back-toback defeats to South Africa in the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship, but, given the way the Wallabies played in the 2023 World Cup, there was no reason for them to be sky-high heading into the tournament.

4 mins |

Classy Jordan shows the way as All Blacks get back in old routine

WILL Jordan continued his try-a-game scoring spree as the All Blacks avenged last week's reverse to Argentina and made it 50 undefeated matches at their Garden of Eden.

4 mins |

Titans hit six ahead of return to National One

FOLLOWING their enthralling National Two North title race last season, Rotherham and Leeds Tykes met once again with the Titans coming out on top 40-7.

I'm delighted we are opening title race against Saints, says Russell

BATH were inches away from Premiership glory despite playing almost an hour of the final with 14 men, and with their title rivals waving goodbye to household names, talismanic fly-half Finn Russell believes they are in great shape to claim the trophy this time around.

4 mins |

13 years on and Yeandle's fire is still burning bright

WHEN it comes to the Exeter Chiefs' success story, Jack Yeandle has never been too far away from the main headlines.

All Blacks gear up for Springbok showdown

Unbeaten run at Eden Park extends to 50

Leatherbarrow banks on a third tier future

TEDDY Leatherbarrow's decision to drop down to the third tier of English rugby is very much a tale of the times in rugby.

Premier Sports to cover Champions Cup

THE Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be shown on Premier Sports in the UK next season, with tournament organisers EPCR agreeing a three-year deal with the subscription channel who already own the UK rights to the URC and Top 14.

Charity cricket goes with a swing

A BUMPER crowd turned out for an entertaining charity all star cricket match between The Matt Gallagher Foundation XI and a Knowle & Dorridge Cricket Club Xl last week, raising funds to help people with Motor Neurone Disease.

Playing England 7s was an incredible experience

I KNOW I'm going to be on the sidelines for a very long time after I retire so while the body is still willing-which it is at the moment just about at 45 then I'm going to continue playing as long as I can.

5 mins |

Women aiming to hit 100,000 mark by World Cup

ENGLAND women returned to their roots, visiting local clubs across the country with Alex Teasdale, executive director of the women's game at the RFU, revealing they hope to reach 100,000 female participants in the build-up to next year's World Cup.

Caluori grabs his chance but Ireland on top

NOAH Caluori burst onto the scene on his international debut but his wonder try wasn't enough as England were well beaten by Ireland in the opening round of the series on Monday.