CATEGORIES

Appleyard unhappy with date clashes

STAFFORDSHIRE head coach Andy Appleyard believes the RFU are ‘stealing opportunities away from quality players’ due to the opening round of the County Championship being played on the same day as the Papa John’s final.

You lived on the edge with Scotland

WHENEVER I cross paths with Paul Ackford, he always shouts across the room, “he taught me everything I knew!” Both of us were called into the England squad on the back of the London division’s famous win over Australia in 1988 but he got into the Test team later that year, and I didn’t.

Red Cows, Gaza And The End Of The World

As the Israel-Hamas war rages on, the Third Temple movement is ramping up its bid to reclaim a contested holy site in Jerusalem currently home to ancient Islamic shrines

An Ecstatic Anniversary

Sarah McLachlan is touring this summer, 30 years after the release of 'Fumbling Towards Ecstasy,' the album that made her a star

'WE ARE FACING THE MOST COMPLEX SECURITY ENVIRONMENT SINCE WORLD WAR II'

Japan's prime minister on security, diplomacy and protecting the rule of law at home, in Asia and around the world

JAPAN'S CALL TO ARMS

As the 'peace-loving nation' doubles its defense spending, Prime Minister FUMIO KISHIDA explains why it needs to take an assertive stance to counter China and North Korea

Leinster's workload merits little sympathy

LEINSTER are worried about the pressure that could prevent them from winning a European Cup and URC double. Any observation like this by a province with a full Ireland international line-up – and more squad players with Irish or Irish U20 caps jostling to be seen than there are patients in an NHS A&E – merits the response, “welcome to the real world”.

England celebrate Grand Slam treble

ENGLAND secured their sixth straight Six Nations title and third Grand Slam in a row yesterday by beating France 42-21 in Bordeaux.

Battle for top four reaching climax

THE battle for the Premieship play-off places heated up yesterday with leaders Northampton losing to Harlequins and a revitalised Bristol Bears launching a stunning comeback to end Leicester’s hopes of making the top four.

Saracens know how to win Tompkins

WITH the Premiership run-in hotting up, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins claims ‘experience matters’ in these blockbuster end-of-season contests and says his side have regained their confidence after enduring a Jekyll and Hyde campaign thus far.

PGP deal is nothing but a waste of time

I CAN’T help thinking that the new Professional Game Partnership (PGP) is nothing but a waste of time as I can’t see how it is going to make any difference to how the game operates or how it will actually help clubs keep players and reduce the financial strain they are under.

It's title delight for the Titans!

ROTHERHAM Titans are the champions!

COMMUNITY WILL UNITE TO HELP HEED ON A LONG ROAD AHEAD

Local pride can heal the pain of play-off snub

Langdon is quick to make his point

NORTHAMPTON have placed an emphasis this season on putting pace in the legs of their players and that suits Curtis Langdon, a hooker in a hurry.

RUSSELL ENDS ON A EURO MISSION

Italy adventure is fitting for Rooks boss

CURFEWS TUNED UP WITH HARPER

OUR TURN TO MAKE A MARK

EMOTION LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Critics gave us no chance, says Cousins

STONES STILL ROLLING ON!

Gist EORGE Elokobi insists his Maidstone United side are not in danger of succumbing to fatigue as they look to complete a marathon season on a high.

MOORS THE MERRIER WHEN IT COMES TO WEMBLEY WAY!

SOLIHULL Moors booked their second trip to Wembley with a convincing victory over a lacklustre Barnet and the scoreline did not lie.

RED ROSES

MADDIE FEAUNATI EXETER CHIEFS BACK ROW

35 years on and Tim's charity still full of hope

IF YOU believe rugby is the ultimate team sport – which I still do – it is tempting to superimpose all its many fine qualities into other team environments.

PILGRIMS' PERFECT DAY SEALED BY CAM

BOSTON United won their second penalty shoot-out in four days as they overhauled second-placed Scunthorpe United to earn their place in the National League North play-off final.

Spirit of Angelo's Iron keeps dream alive

ANGELO HARROP hailed calm heads as Braintree Town hauled themselves off the ropes after Chelmsford City's late comeback to land an extra-time knock-out and reach the Promotion Final.

UNITED BID IS SUNK BY WATERS' WINNER!

ASHTON UNITED'S lingering play-off hopes were finally extinguished at Hurst Cross as the visitors secured their own place with a deserved victory.

Tries galore as Jake leads the Crusaders title party

WITH Dings stalwarts Charlie Taylor and Jake Holcombe reaching the milestones of 250 and 200 appearances respectively, the massive win over Camborne was a fitting end to the season.

Lions survive as Patrick heroics seal late glory

THE final throws of the 2023-24 season saw Sale take on Leicester Lions at Heywood Road, with the visitors looking for a victory to ensure their survival.

YOUNG GUNS

SEANKERR HARLEQUINS & ENGLAND U20 CENTRE

'Ireland in blue' will provide stiffest test

PHIL Dowson and Leo Cullen first crossed paths in European action 10 seasons ago when Northampton did something they had never done before nor since: beating Leinster in Dublin.

ACE JACK LEADS A HORNETS HURRAH

HORSHAM managed to muster the energy in their 60th game of the season to finally breast the tape and secure a topfive finish in what was already the finest season in the club's history.

PREECE'S KEEPING IT REAL!

ANDY PREECE doesn't want his Chorley side to forget how good season has been to this point and urged them to use that belief at Brackley Town.