CATEGORIES

James at his best as Sale keep in the race

SAM James might be departing for pastures new but Sale’s Mr Dependable produced a nigh on immaculate performance at full-back as they continue to battle for a play-off place.

Russell masterclass has Bath in top gear

FINN Russell scored eight points, pulled the strings for three of Bath’s tries and barely put a foot wrong in a classy display that will send shivers down the spine of their Premiership title rivals.

Superior Saints go on 14-try rampage

THE good times keep on rolling at Franklin’s Gardens as Northampton put their Champions Cup heartbreak behind them to secure a home Premiership semi-final with a ruthless demolition of a Gloucester side with one eye on their Challenge Cup final later this month.

Saracens closing in on finishing line

JUST like Manchester City, Saracens become remorseless when the finishing line looms into view.

Tiueti out to make most of Cov move

INSPIRED by his old Uni mate Will Rigg, Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti is hoping that joining Coventry this summer will do wonders for his career.

Graham: Guys were in tears after that defeat but we'll fight ba

SAM Graham believes Northampton can turn the heartache of losing last weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final to their advantage as they set their sights on the Premiership title.

I want to win title before I leave Bristol - Luatua

FEW overseas signings have had a more lasting impact in the Premiership than Steve Luatua who looks like finishing his career at Bristol seven years after joining the club.

It's been a crazy six months, says new Welsh star

ALEX Mann is the first to admit his “crazy” journey over the past six months hasn’t really sunk in yet.

New-boy Roots has his eye on NZ return

ONE OF England’s Test debutants this year has a big incentive to make the summer tour to New Zealand – he would be returning to his roots.

I'm still supporter of relegation - Diamond

NEWCASTLE may be adrift at the bottom of the Premiership but Steve Diamond remains an advocate for promotion and relegation.

Dominant Chiefs set up shot at the semis

OVER the years Rob Baxter has unearthed some gems at Sandy Park, but none so precious as Exeter’s latest wonderkid Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Game in England is good, says Ford

GEORGE Ford feels English rugby is on the up after a testing couple of years on and off the field and has to use this season a springboard.

Leicester have the class to rule again

LEICESTER are not where their fans want them to be – and a minority have been warned by the club about the level of social media abuse directed at players and coaches after their home Premiership defeat by Bristol two weeks ago.

'Play big matches at neutral venues'

'Play big matches at neutral venues'

Time to put an end to marquee players

ARE marquee players, or coaches, worth it -- or are they just a Premiership owners’ vanity project?

Perenara tops try list as 'Canes march on

TJ PERENARA became the all-time top Super Rugby try scorer as his table topping Hurricanes demolished the Waratahs.

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.

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.

Delighted to see Titans stand tall

THERE are some teams you grow particularly attached to over the decades and I make no apologies in numbering Rotherham Titans among those.

At 61, Daran calls it a day

DARAN Poppy was one of the oldest players in the RFU pyramid this season, reaching double-digit appearances for Old Gravesendians at the tender age of 61 but has decided to call time on his rugby career.

Louis has sights set on Kansas gold rush

THE latest phase of his footballing reincarnation took Louis Rees-Zammit to a school run by an American superstar whose contract runs from seven figures into nine.

Nayalo steers Army to thrilling fightback

THE British Army’s men pulled off a thrilling comeback that will live long in the memory to keep their hopes of regaining the Inter Service Championship alive, and dash the Royal Navy’s dream of a first back-to-back title in 50 years.

Eadie has the last laugh for Hartpury

MITCH Eadie went from sinner to saint in a double try-scoring display as Hartpury won in style to keep their hopes alive of finishing the season in the tophalf of the Championship table.

Roebuck out to impress England

SALE’s Tom Roebuck is a man on a mission as he looks to use the final weeks of the Premiership season to give England’s selectors a push to select him for the summer Tests against Japan and New Zealand.

Masuku hits the target for Sharks

THE Sharks turned Twickenham ‘Stoep’ into a mini South Africa as a partisan crowd roared their side to a dramatic victory over three-time winners Clermont to reach their first European final courtesy of deadeye goal kicking by Siya Masuku.

Leinster made to fight all the way

UNDERDOGS Northampton will be rueing a disappointing error strewn opening 55 minutes because after that they were clearly the stronger side as Leinster clung on desperately to reach another final.

Smith: I'm better at handling mistakes

FIN SMITH credits his superb form this season to a mental mind-shift that enables him to now take the rough with the smooth.

I'd love to coach at top level, says Biljon

IT IS one of rugby’s cruel ironies that Harvey Biljon, who has transformed the careers of so many players, is still waiting for his own shot at the big-time.

Quins have to climb very steep mountain

WHEN Harlequins face Toulouse this afternoon in their first European Cup semi-final in south-west France, it will be one of the biggest games in their history, and the overriding emotion the English club and its supporters will be one of excitement.

Saints so close to stunning Leinster

NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson was left to rue the one that got away after Saints went down 20-17 to Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final.