CATEGORIES

Barbeary double has Bath in joyful mood

IT’S certainly been a bleak few years for Bath, but with Christmas on the horizon the festive cheer was certainly flowing back around the famous old Rec.

Good on Farrell for putting his family first

OWEN Farrell’s decision to step away from England duty was a surprise, but almost all of the comments we’ve seen are support- of his announcement.

Lawes delays decision on his future until Six Nations

COURTNEY Lawes will make a decision on his Northampton future during the Six Nations window in February.

Malins is looking to shine at Bristol

IT WAS typical of fate that Max Malins’s first start for Bristol since signing for them permanently came at the club where his career had started eight years before, Saracens.

Schoeman keen to stay at Bath

JUAN Schoeman admits he is fighting for his place in the Bath squad with his current contract running out at the end of the season.

Murley is aiming for England comeback

CADAN Murley made a late start to his Premiership campaign when he returned from a knee injury in the last round and is set on making up for lost time as he targets a place in England’s Six Nations squad.

Pirates rule out move for new Truro stadium

CORNISH Pirates have sold Truro City FC to the Canadian sports consortium that owns Cornwall Rugby League FC, Ontario Inc (OI) meaning hopes of a new stadium for Pirates in Truro are over.

Boden backing for minimum standards

DONCASTER Knights head coach Steve Boden believes it’s important Championship clubs meet the Premiership’s minimum standards criteria for promotion – but says he is isn’t talking about his side’s chances of going up to the top flight.

Vickery & Regan named in lawsuit

TWO of England’s 2003 World Cup winners, Phil Vickery and Mark Regan, are among the 295 players taking legal action against rugby authorities over brain injury claims.

Bath move for World Cup star Snyman

WORLD Cup winner RG Snyman is set to reunite with Johann van Graan, with Bath on the verge of completing a deal for the lock after it was announced he is leaving Munster when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

Cockerill goes out, Collazo comes in

TIME was very firmly called on Richard Cockerill’s brief run as Montpellier manager six days ago, after just five months and a total of seven Top 14 matches.

Another maximum for flying Drovers

CHAMPIONS Llandovery made it five successive bonus point victories and nine wins out of 10 after winning 29-7 in their top of the table clash with Newport at Church Bank.

Since the year dot, I have been involved with Saints

EIGHTEEN months after turning out as a 17-year-old for Kettering 4s at Wellingborough Borstal, I found myself making my debut for Northampton against Harlequins.

Court case that could define game's future

AS WE approach what could be a defining moment in the future of the game with a head injury case about to have its first outing in the High Court on the December 1, there is still so much we don’t know.

Returning from the 'dead' to play again

HAVING gone into cardiac arrest and having been resuscitated four times back in August, Wales 7s international Morgan MacRae is hoping a medical device will breathe new life into what was a hugely promising rugby career.

Foxes hold on but must improve their discipline

CANTERBURY edged to a fourth win on the bounce, despite almost giving the game away due to their constant ill discipline.

Straight down the Hatch for visitors!

CLIFTON gatecrashed Bournville’s party with a last-gasp winning try from replacement hooker Tom Hatch which decided a tense encounter at Avery Fields.

Tykes win the battle of top two

LEEDS Tykes claimed victory in the muchanticipated top-ofthe-table clash between the two teams who were both unbeaten ahead of the encounter.

Ace Worboys takes the plaudits with star show

CHINNOR produced a scintillating performance of expansive 15-man rugby to storm to a convincing win over Richmond.

Hardwick power has Ealing storming past Coventry

INSPIRED by storming displays from prop Will Goodrick-Clarke and flanker Richard  Hardwick, Ealing extended their unblemished start to the league season to five games with a hard - earned bonus point win over Coventry.

Litterick's late show steals it for Cardiff

A LAST-minute try from prop Rhys Litterick saw Cardiff win a pulsating game at the Arms Park.

A game in desperate need of some answers

IF THERE is one thing I have learned over the last six years dealing with neurologists as they grapple with a complex and changing case of my own, it is that nothing is simple in their world. Or rarely.

Abbie on England road

ABBIE Ward hopes her try-scoring return to action for Bristol Bears Women last week can act as the launchpad for her to regain her place in the England Women’s squad for the 2024 Six Nations.

Coventry show right style to pull in crowds

RUGBY attendances are mostly on the decline in the top two divisions in England, but Coventry’s scintillating style of play is getting fans in their droves through the gates at Butts Park.

Sing on target as champions kick off defence in fine style

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY started their title defence with a comprehensive victory over PWR newcomers Leicester Tigers at Kingsholm.

Stay patient and results will come - McDonald

IT has been an eventful four months for Kiran McDonald. The second row joined Wasps last year from Glasgow only for the club to fold four months later. A shortterm contract with Munster followed before he signed for Newcastle.

Dupont deserves to be on Olympic stage

THERE are exceptions to the general rule – the best three-minute pop songs, James Joyce’s stories in Dubliners, the wonderful actor Toby Jones – but, all things considered, long is better than short. Test cricket versus T20? No contest. Test rugby against the seven-aside version. Please.

Ford keeps his cool to seal it for Sharks

GEORGE Ford stepped up with ice in his veins to slot the match winning penalty and maintain pacesetters Sale Sharks’ position at the top of the table.

Furbank in control as Saints hold on

IT WAS pretty much inconceivable that Saints and Quins would lay on anything other than an entertaining try fest and so it proved at Franklin’s Gardens with the home side just squeezing home.

Seven-try Saracens too good for Bears

SARACENS, misfiring at times, nonetheless claimed their fifth win on the trot to climb to second in the table while Bristol will think this was an opportunity missed.