CATEGORIES

We need strong finish - Ludlow

GLOUCESTER have been a cup team this season but skipper Lewis Ludlow is demanding a strong finish to the Premiership campaign which resumes this weekend after an at eight-week break.

Band of brothers grab the glory

ENGLAND overcame an experienced Junior World Cup-winning France side littered with Top 14 talent as Mark Mapletoft's 'band of brothers' secured a dramatic title win in Pau that showcased why the future of English rugby looks so bright.

Gloucester end long wait for silverware

GLOUCESTER won their first Premiership Cup title - and first trophy in nine years after scoring 17 points while Tigers had hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas and full-back Mike Brown in the sin-bin.

Sorry end for North as Italy hand wooden spoon to Wales

WHEN the anguish over the first Welsh whitewash in a generation dies down, George North will be entitled to ask a rhetorical question: \"What did I do to deserve this?\"

Champions! Ireland do enough to quell Scots

A VISIBLY nervous Ireland encountered Scotland at their bravest and best but still found just enough to get over the finishing line and back up last year's Grand Slam with a second Championship on the bounce.

Pollock is set for take-off at Saints

WHEN Henry Pollock signed his first professional contract with Northampton last year at the age of 18, he was hailed as a generational talent.

'Change the laws for men and women'

INTERNATIONAL should be rugby played under different rules for the men and woman, says the head of Six Nations.

England unleash taste of things to come

THIS was one that got away from a brave England side in a seesaw match full of pendulum swings which eventually fell France's way as their ace marksman Thomas Ramos nailed a longrange penalty one minute from time to clinch victory.

So close but heartbreak for England

GUTTED skipper England Jamie George suffered a case of déjà vu as his side were downed 33-31 by a late penalty in France - again.

Oyonnax have to keep on believing

OYONNAX manager Joe El-Abd promised last week that his side would 'fight to the end' following their so-near-so-far 35-39 home defeat against fellow Top 14 lowlanders Montpellier.

Slick Drua continue Penney's nightmare

CRUSADERS' miserable start to their new era continued with a third straight defeat as Fijian Drua picked up their first win of the season.

Tom Jones is on song as good Lucs in for leaders

LUCTONIANS overcame difficult playing conditions to notch up a bonus point win against a depleted Camborne side who nevertheless went toe-to-toe with the table toppers.

Signorini inspires Oaks to top win

SUPER Sevenoaks Rugby secured an important five-point, 22-13 victory over rivals Wimbledon RFC at Knole Paddock on a throughly enjoyable weekend for the hosts.

Mulchrone is main man as super Sale impress

RAMS' six-match winning run came to an end as a clinical Sale FC claimed a deserved victory at Old Bath Road.

Reid: We want to build new legacy

COMBATIVE Bath back rower Miles Reid is hellbent on putting the halcyon days of the 1980s and 90s firmly in the past - if only to keep his old man quiet by winning major silverware this season.

Military's finest ready for battle

THE win we had in 2019 is the highlight of my career.\" When a 72-cap, Premiership-winning face of the national women's game-not to mention a scorer of a Rugby World Cup final hat-trick - says a comment like this it is worth listening to.

Ealing are stunned by brave Coventry

INSPIRED by a brilliant display Coventry individual from skip clinched per Jordon Poole, a thrilling win over leaders Ealing in a tension-packed finale.

Bath get in the mood for restart

BATH got their preparations for the return of the Premiership underway with a big win against Gloucester in a special Foundation Day derby.

Ireland deny England title in a thriller

IT ENDED in heartbreak at The Rec as England, after thinking they had secured the title in the dying seconds, were forced to lick their wounds following Luke Murphy's last-gasp try which ended the home side's chances of a first Grand Slam since 2021.

Gatland on a mission to avoid whitewash

Nations WALES are on their worst run in the Six since the year Warren Gatland was first summoned from New Zealand to put puff back into the dragon.

Scotland stunned by Italian fightback

IF this was one of the great days for Italian rugby, it was a ruinous Roman afternoon for Scotland, whose hopes of breaking through their glass ceiling in the Six Nations were shattered by a thunderous Azzurri comeback.

Smith's drop of magic revives England

MARCUS Smith and Danny Care, the 37-year-old centurion in his 100th Test, managed to keep their heads when all around were losing theirs to clinch this pulsating match by conjuring a text-book drop-goal finish with seconds left on the clock.

Redshaw ready to lead from the front

BEN Redshaw trained with England during last year's World Cup before he had made his Newcastle debut, already marked out as a player to watch.

Matavesi: We need to hit the ground running

NORTHAMPTON hooker Sam Matavesi wants normal service to be resumed after what has been \"a weird year\" in the Premiership and an unusual week all round.

For me, this was their finest Six Nations win

COULD have beaten England. Should have beaten France, finally did the business against Scotland Italy took the major scalp that this particular group of players needs and the rugby community throughout Italy have craved for so long. Italian rugby is well and truly on the march and that can only be good for the game.

Play with tempo and Wales could steal it

WALES are rebuilding, and most people accept that.

Watkin's ready to stake his claim

OWEN Watkin plays week in, week out with George North but today he gets his big chance to stake a claim to become the long-term replacement for his Ospreys team-mate in the Welsh midfield.

One of the greatest days ever - George

JAMIE George last night admitted that derailing Ireland's Slam hopes Grand was one of the greatest days of his career after their Twickenham upset.

McHenry grabs his lifeline from Dax

ALEX McHenry scored Jersey’s third try against Exeter in September, yet eight days later was selling nearly all his possessions and left “fearing the worst” – but a ‘mystery’ figure helped him turn his fortunes around.

Waratahs prove too strong for Crusaders

THE Crusaders suffered back-to-back defeats to begin their title defence after the impressive Waratahs secured a stunning 37-24 upset victory.