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The Non-League Football Paper

KEEPING STAR REES IS NET GAIN FOR MICHAEL

UPBEAT Merthyr Town boss Paul Michael says keeping hold of star striker Ricardo Rees is ‘better than any new signing we could get’.

The Non-League Football Paper

DARYL'S SETTING HIS SIGHTS HIGH

McMahon's made Urchins even stronger

Wales show spirit but Springboks just have too much in reserve

THE Mexican Wave, always an indication of the importance and intensity of the occasion, started as early as the 50th minute as the crowd realised that the first winning of the Qatar Airways Cup was of no real relevance.

Why less might not be more for stars

MARTIN Johnson spent a rugby eternity perfecting his survival skills in the engine room of the scrum – the nearest thing big-time sport has to a circle of Hell, being dark and sulphurous and generally infernal – but, unlike Dante’s damned souls, he emerged into the light with a full set of glittering prizes: domestic titles, European titles, the England captaincy, the Lions captaincy, Triple Crowns, Grand Slams, a World Cup winner’s medal.

Clarke on rampage as Blues take gold

ALL BLACK Caleb Clarke put in an outstanding threetry showing to steal the headlines as the Blues won their first Super Rugby title for 21 years in mesmeric fashion.

Five-day schedule will not be easy

AS A team, we’ve come off a big high of winning the Six Nations, so naturally we have confidence in ourselves going into the World Cup.

We'll get it right this time, insists Darbon

WITH the dust barely settled on their Premiership-winning season, Northampton Saints CEO Mark Darbon has insisted that the mistakes of 2014 won’t be repeated.

Borthwick's England are on the right track

EDDIE Jones praised Japan’s improvement in the set-pieces, and a 100 per cent record tended to back him up.

Borthwick: We must improve discipline

ENGLAND head coach Steve Borthwick warned his side to be squeaky clean in New Zealand after a disciplinary horror show in Japan.

West are best as Joe settles historic clash

IN what is first for rugby in England, North Rugby hosted a State of Origin style game between a select side from Regional 1 NW and NE respectively.

Woodman back to fire up Wales

Wales are thankful they can call upon the services of captain Ryan Woodman for the tournament after the talented back row missed the Six Nations through injury.

Sensational Warriors hold on to defy Bulls

SCOTTISH rugby legend Jim Telfer once spoke of winning in South Africa as toppling Everest, and that’s what Glasgow did in Pretoria last night, showing true heart and determination to be crowned URC champions in spectacular fashion.

Lake gives body and soul to lift Wales

THE sixth best team in Europe against the double world champions on neutral ground in London sounded ominously like another of those embarrassing mis-matches.

Classy May enjoys his day in the sun

THE two sides are synonymous when it comes to style of play and on a sun-drenched late afternoon they both exploited the conditions in an end-to-end encounter that yielded 11 tries and showcased sumptuous skill.

Lawrence ready for All Black challenge

OLLIE Lawrence revealed England’s current tour of Japan and New Zealand is the perfect tonic for his Premiership hangover.

Stylish Smith passes audition at No 10

MARCUS Smith passed his first major audition for a permanent role at No.10 as England shook off their jet lag to put eight tries past a novice Japan team.

I was offered a NFL trial but it was too big a risk

When I was 16, in my first season for Colston’s, I dislocated and broke my ankle and broke my leg playing in a festival up in Tynedale.

5 mins |

SpongeBob glad of his place in the Oldies XV

TWENTY years ago this very week on the banks of the Clyde, New Zealand won the Junior World Cup, trouncing Ireland in the final.

England's hopes are high after Six Nations

Six Nations winners England go into the tournament as one of the clear favourites, with Mark Mapletoft’s side eyeing up a first World Championship title since 2016.

Sing is on song for a double triumph

GLOUCESTER-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn admitted he was ‘over the moon’ after his side made it back-to-back title wins in the Premiership Women’s Rugby with victory over Bristol Bears.