CATEGORIES

RFU must learn from Olympic gold rush

THE Paris Olympics should have rammed home an urgent reminder to the RFU that English rugby has to invest in an equivalent of the World Class Programme that has underpinned the significant increase in the number of Olympic medals – especially gold – at the last five games.

Diamond: We'll be fit and raring to go

STEVE Diamond insists Newcastle Falcons will be fit for purpose when they kick off the new Premiership season at home to Bristol on Friday, September 20.

Summerhill in hunt for a new deal

AS he comes to terms with being unemployed, Aled Summerhill admits he has taken a gamble, but is standing by his decision.

I'm at Tigers for the long haul - Cheika

TROUBLE-shooter Michael Cheika has told Leicester fans he is not just a quick fix merchant and is hoping to be in it for the long haul in the Midlands.

Matthews stepping into Pellegrini shoes

REPLACING World Cup star Pat Pellegrini could be perceived as a daunting prospect but Coventry new signing Tommy Matthews is confident he's up to the challenge.

Easter ‘appalled' by Prem Cup exclusion

NICK Easter has described the decision to exclude his Chinnor side and Cambridge from next season’s Premiership Cup as “appalling and astonishing.”

We must all share the blame -Youngs

BEN Youngs insists Leicester’s players only have themselves to blame for last season’s flop and not Dan McKellar who exited as head coach in June.

Halliday: I'm proud of united approach

SIMON Halliday has left his role as chairman of the Championship Clubs’ board both proud and frustrated by his 12 months in the role.

Jaminet appeals against long ban

FRANCE international Melvyn Jaminet is to appeal against a 34week suspension and €30,000 fine imposed by the FFR's disciplinary committee for posting a video to social media during the July tour of Argentina and Uruguay in which he made racist comments.

Good to see women winning more awards

It WAS disappointing that Team GB women's sevens side were unable to get any medals that we all thought they would. With a number of the team from England's World Cup runners-up squad in the 15s game, it was almost unthinkable that they would not get a medal of some sort.

Call me The Stag - but I was stuck with Bambi

IT'S been great watching the Rugby Sevens at the Olympics just now.

Farrell loves it, says Robinson

JASON Robinson always knew that his Wigan Warriors teammate Andy-Farrell would go onto great things as a coach he just did not realise that it would be in a different code.

Why SVNS makes sense for the future

Rugby sevens-or SVNS, as a London-based team of funkily-dressed marketing executives have somehow succeeded in rebranding it used to be known as \"the short game\".

Hastings opens up options for Townsend

IF YOU were to ask different Scottwo land fans for their assessment of the tour of the Americas, you would be forgiven if you thought they hadn't seen any of the same matches.

Golden girls put in final flourish

NEW Zealand proved themselves undisputed queens Olympic 7s by beatof ing Canada at the Stade de France to secure their second gold medal in a row.

Salvi adding steel to Georgia defence

WHEN it comes to taking on a challenge, Julian Salvi has never been backwards in coming forwards and he's relishing his latest one as Georgia's defence coach.

Thomas urges U20s to push on to the next level

AS the anticipation of the new season builds, Haydn Thomas has praised the England Under-20s squad for their impressive talent and potential.

'Sir Dicky' is delighted be knighted by the King

IN terms of Rugby Royalty, Richard Dicky' Evans certainly ranks among the historical greats.

A bundle of energy - the best around

Simon Thomas talks to Sir Gareth Edwards, rated by many as the greatest rugby player of all time, about the brilliance of Antoine Dupont

Uren: We must learn from Olympic setback

EMMA Uren has called on her GB Sevens team-mates to learn from a ground Olympic breaking campaign after they finished seventh at Paris 2024.

Bottom two ruled out of Prem Cup

NEWLY-promoted Chinnor and last year's bottom Championship side Cambridge are to be excluded from the 2024/25 Premiership Cup.

Care calls for more free-to-air TV games

DANNY Care says free-to-air television coverage is essential if rugby is to grow its audience and avoid other clubs going under.

The Bears blueprint: Go and play without fear

WHEN Bristol lost at Saracens last November, they were on a run of eight victories in 25 Premiership matches. For a club that had never hidden its ambition to occupy a prime place on European rugby's top table, it marked a watershed.

Blackheath opt for Fijian power

Ben Jaycock talks to Blackheath head coach James Shanahan about his star signings for the forthcoming season

Davies back in the running for Wales

ALED Davies is the first to admit that being barred from playing for Wales for the past four years was hard to take.

I wanted to finish at the highest level possible

I WAS still in Notts County's football academy when I first took up rugby at Nottingham High School.

We'll benefit from tour - Townsend

HEAD coach Gregor Townsend believes the successful tour of the Americas will bring huge benefits for Scotland in the coming seasons.

Promotion on the agenda as Chinnor move to next level

CHINNOR'S promotion to the Championship brings an end to the uneven number of teams in the division meaning each side will be in action during every round.

Kildunne wants to get teeth into gold

CROSS-CODE star Ellie Kildunne says Great Britain 'would not to be stupid strive for a gold medal' given the quality of their squad.

Bronze for South Africa as Williams steps up at the death

SEAN Williams scored a last-play winner as South Africa overcame Australia to win 26-19 and secure bronze.