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.

Energetic thinking urgently required

CRITICAL supporters of Bristol in the late amateur era believed their team was being straitjacketed by a rigidly traditional committee structure driven primarily by the pursuit of a better yesterday.

Holmes hoping to make his mark with Scottish

WHEN it comes to player movement this summer, English rugby’s normal merry go round has been somewhat of a slow spin, a reminder of the fragility the game still has as it looks to work its way out of the woes left by Covid.

Barker determined to hit the heights at Bristol

Paul Rees talks to Steele Barker, a young player who was once told he was too small to make it in the second row

Round 1 to Boks in battle of the big beasts

RASSIE Erasmus won the battle of the coaches against Scott Robertson as his South African Bomb Squad – headed by Malcolm Marx – got the Springboks over the line and kept them on track for the Rugby Championship.

England must find answers ...and fast

THE coaching churn that was a canker during the Eddie Jones’ tenure as England head coach has now spread to Steve Borthwick’s regime.

Students too good for Esher

THIS weekend’s preseason encounters presented National League coaches with a final opportunity to test their squads ahead of their season openers on Saturday.

Cavalry comes to rescue for Bath

REMARKABLY this was the first meeting of these clubs since October 2020 when they contested a double-header in the European Cup competition.

Relentless Tigers run in six as Cheika era starts in style

WILL Wand, one of Leicester’s newbies, summed up this hectic friendly, which launched Tigers’ Michael Cheika era, by saying: “I played for 40 minutes but it felt like 80.”

Working together is name of the game

ONCE upon a time, when the game went pro, the astute national rugby unions took control of their biggest asset, which was the players, by contracting them.

Warrior Macqueen shooting for gold

A FORMER rugby prodigy turn paralympic archer could fulfil a life’s ambition today and complete a unique sporting journey for Team GB in Paris.

We must get used to life after Lawes, urges Dowson

NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson has told his squad to get used to life without Courtney Lawes and co in a hurry ahead of their Premiership title defence.

Fit-again Anscombe can't wait to pull the strings for Gloucester

GARETH Anscombe has been charged with helping propel Gloucester up the Premiership table, a task the Wales outside-half is relishing nearly a year after he played his last match.

Goodrick-Clarke aiming to add his power up front for Chiefs

DUBBED ‘Mr Incredible’ by the club on his official unveiling, Exeter Chiefs have not been shy in promoting the physical prowess of summer signing Will Goodrick-Clarke.

Bailey: I'm just happy to get on and play

ORLANDO Bailey is happy to do whatever it takes to fulfil his dream of becoming a Premiership winner with Bath.

Rees-Zammit's dream still alive

LEGENDARY American sports agent Leigh Steinberg believes Louis ReesZammit has a good chance of playing in the NFL this season despite being cut by Kansas City Chiefs.