Hard to pin the blame on unions

AS IF things in the game aren’t bad enough, the BBC’s Rugby On Trial shown on Monday looks set to impact on the number of new and current players across the game.

I couldn't let my old club go to the wall

I’M Hartlepool born and bred and grew up on a council estate three-quarters of a mile from West’s old ground, Brierton Lane.

Barnes treble helps TJs to dominate Dorking

AN excellent opening-day performance from Tonbridge Juddians saw them dominate a Dorking side who had finished third for the previous two seasons.

Cozens can see selection headaches on Clifton horizon

PLAYER-COACH Luke Cozens has had to make way for Clifton’s new batch of fly-halves who aim to provide a fast, exciting brand of rugby at Station Road this season.

Anderson steps up to secure top draw

CLIFTON produced a brilliant second-half performance to stun Exeter University after they came from behind to earn a draw at the Topsham Sports Ground.

'Full circle' moment for Hayes with Chester gig

RHYS Hayes has hung up his boots and entered the coaching world aiming to take “sleeping giant” Chester back to National One.

Sheffield's Posa is left proud as punch

SHEFFIELD head coach Anthony Posa was a happy man as his side kicked off the campaign with a six-try bonus-point victory over Fylde yesterday afternoon.

Richmond's defensive efforts deny Club joy

A CONTROLLED and clinical performance from Richmond who, despite a couple of moments of excellence from Blackheath midway through each half, were able to stretch to a relatively comfortable victory in this latest installment of the oldest fixture in club rugby.

Nucifora shows the way forward

THE 1991 edition of the Rugby Annual for Wales has long been a collector’s item.

Time we stopped indulging the haka

THERE is so much disingenuous hypocritical twaddle surrounding the Hollywood production that has become the modern-day New Zealand haka that in some ways I am reluctant to raise the subject again.

When it really matters, Pollard gets the vote

SO in the week that we learnt a proper All Blacks tour of South Africa is likely in 2026, the two sides contested what felt like a series decider in itself after their intriguing back-to-back Rugby Championship fixtures which have brightened up our viewing recently.

Marx on parade to make it four in a row

NEW Zealand picked a bench to ensure they finished the match strongly, but once again they squandered a lead as South Africa all but clinched the Rugby Championship with a fourth successive victory over the All Blacks for the first time in 75 years.

Too much of a good thing can be overkill

PEOPLE might think it’s arrogant,” said Rian Oberholzer, the chief executive of the Springbok domain, just the other day, “but we think it’s the greatest rivalry in rugby.”

Super Holly shows why she's No.1 for Mitchell

HOLLY Aitchison produced a superb performance at flyhalf to guide England to their 16th consecutive victory.

Nayacalevu shows he's going to be real deal

THE past met the future at Sale Sharks’ ancestral home Heywood Road, where international star Waisea Nayacalevu scored a double to help claim the spoils for his new side against Newcastle Falcons in an end-toend battle that went right to the wire.

Leinster make Saints pay for their errors

NORTHAMPTON were beaten in their first game since claiming Premiership glory as Leinster secured an impressive pre-season success at Franklin’s Gardens.

Intense rivalry which never loses its edge

SOUTH Africa and New Zealand are never far away from being the top one or two in the world rankings, but what makes their games against each other so unmissable is not just how closely matched they are, but the sheer strength and intensity of the rivalry.

Do nothing and another Prem team will collapse

THE game of rugby football in England hangs by a thread.

Wilkinson pleased to follow in some famous footsteps

NEWCASTLE fans haven’t had much to make them smile in recent years but whatever happens this season the sight of a Wilkinson back in the No.10 jersey will remind them of former glories.

Bears have the strength to with the Prem, says Luatua

STEVEN Luatua believes Bristol can became the first West Country team to win the Premiership – if they start where they left off last season.

Cokanasiga out to make his mark at Ospreys

GETTING the better of his big brother in the back garden was always the goal for Phil Cokanasiga and his celebrated sibling remains an inspiration today.

Brothers ready to rumble for Chiefs

FOR all good things to grow, you need strong roots.

Day: Phoenix clubs must pay off debts

RPA chief Christian Day insists collapsed clubs should pay debts to their players before being reintroduced to the top tiers of the league structure.

Pick a 10 and stick with him - Biggar

DAN Biggar has urged Warren Gatland to back one fly-half with an extended run in the Wales team – just as he did with him.

RFU chiefs considered a move to Midlands

TWICKENHAM chiefs considered moving the home of rugby to the Midlands last year before deciding to stay put and revamp the stadium.

Tykes out to get it right this time

LEEDS Tykes are embracing their big club mentality and heavy favourites tag ahead of the new season getting underway on Saturday.

Devoto to make the difference for Titans

TWO sides have dropped down from National One into the West meaning it would be hard to look past one of Cinderford or Taunton Titans bouncing straight back up.

Heald predicts a four-way battle

THIS season is a golden opportunity for one of last season’s title contenders to take advantage and win promotion as no team has dropped down from National One into the East.

Shanahan: We need to create fear factor

NATIONAL One gets underway next weekend and supporters will expect another enthralling campaign with jeopardy throughout.

Price glad he played under old regime

AT Pontypool Park on September 24, 1986, with the sweet chestnut trees in full autumnal regalia, the faithful rolled up without the foggiest clue that they were about to see something they had never seen before. And would never see again.