Slade out to inspire the next generation

HENRY Slade says he will use the heartbreak of missing out on selection for this year’s Rugby World Cup as the driver to help inspire a new golden generation at the Exeter Chiefs.

Sweeney backing for a strong second tier

BILL SWEENEY has pledged Twickenham’s support for the Championship but said the level of funding for the second tier, which will be renamed Premiership 2, will not be decided until the agreement with the Premiership clubs is renewed.

De Beer keen to drive Cardiff forward

TINUS de Beer is relishing being out of his comfort zone as he looks to make his mark with Cardiff Rugby.

Vintcent looking good for Exeter

THERE’S long been a rich tradition of Exeter Chiefs unearthing hidden gems to don the famous No.8 jersey at Sandy Park.

Pepper: I like to cause some chaos

DOMINIC Cummings would definitely have needed his eyes testing had he gone to Barnard Castle and not seen the potential of Guy Pepper.

Lam moves quickly to sign up Vakatawa

PAT Lam has re-established the French connection to the Premiership by signing powerful centre Virimi Vakatawa following a chance conversation in August.

The Tank ready to roll for Bath

THOMAS du Toit remains on standby for the Springboks but, for now, his focus is on quickly learning the ropes at Bath.

Los Teros fight back to deny Namibia

NAMIBIA’S 24-year wait for a World Cup win continues as Uruguay fought back with a dominant second half display in Lyon to secure their first win of the tournament with a bonus point.

Scotland set up an Ireland decider

JOB done Scotland's task of qualifying from Pool B has always been herculean and almost every scenario involved them beating Ireland in their final pool game and this bonus point victory over Romania duly set that up.

Georgia make Fiji battle to the end

FRANK Lomani came off the bench to fire flat Fiji and take them to within a point of a likely quarter-final against England, but they nearly lost it at the death as Georgia remained defiant to the end.

24-team World Cup would suit MacGinty

AJ MACGINTY is pumped to fire Bristol’s potent back division this season, but after having a rare full pre-season this summer admits he has been watching the World Cup with mixed feelings.

Despair and anger as Jersey collapse

PLAYERS and staff at Jersey Reds have reacted with despair and anger at the news that the Championship club has ceased training due to unsustainable debt.

This is no way to run a pro sport Halliday

SIMON Halliday says the decision of Jersey Reds to go into administration, while criticising the RFU leadership for a lack of support, has resulted in a growing sense of turmoil and discord in English club rugby.

Spain flanker Super Mario's hat-trick tears up fourth tier

RATHER than scoring a hat-trick in Loughborough Students’ big win last weekend, Mario Pichardie should have been turning out for Spain at the Rugby World Cup.

Ambitious Roux vows: We're not finished yet

HAVING secured the highest ever finish in their 102-year history, Dorking director of rugby Armand Roux is setting his sights on an unprecedented promotion to National One.

I refused to let injuries ruin the career I loved

THE thing I took most pleasure from in my playing days, apart from obviously all the friendships I made, was being part of the Sale Sharks squad that won the Premiership in 2006. To be honest, I didn’t have a clue where Sale was when my agent told me they were interested in signing me after Ospreys had let me go. I knew it was in England, that was about it. So when I checked on the map and found it was in Manchester, being a massive Man Utd fan, I was made up.

James on target as Cardiff down Newport

HARRISON James kicked 18 points as holders Cardiff dispatched Newport 38-15 when they clashed in the first round of the Welsh Premiership Cup in a repeat of last year’s final.

Unbeaten Tykes put the heat on Hull

LEEDS Tykes continued their unbeaten start to the season with a fourth bonus point victory over a spirited Hull side.

Shillcock lives his dream of being a Tiger

IT’S been a long time coming but Jamie Shillcock has finally experienced the joy of running out at Welford Road as a Leicester Tigers player.

Classy Kildunne fires up England

THE fancy footwork of Ellie Kildunne helped pave the way for England to see off Canada at Sandy Park.

Ibitoye steals it for Bears in a thriller

BRISTOL defence coach Jordan Crane admitted his nerves were shredded after the thrilling 39-38 win against Northampton.

Saracens break their Cup duck with dominant display

SARACENS put in a dominant performance to thrash Nottingham 73-29 and get their first Premiership Rugby Cup win of the season.

Bath run rings around Scottish

BATH scored seven tries to pick up a bonus-point victory and close in on second place as they keep chase with Exeter and Jersey in Pool C in the Premiership Cup.

Reid aims to be Bath enforcer

MILES REID is looking to raise his game to new heights and play the role of Bath’s enforcer in attack and defence.

Ryan's ready to help US get back on track for 2031

PADDY RYAN’s career has taken off in a big way in the last few months and the Coventry and US Eagles player is hoping he can help both club and country reach for the stars.

Boffelli puts on a show for Argentina

EMILIANO Boffelli racked up 16 points as Argentina kept their quarter-final hopes alive in a disjointed win over Samoa.

Wallabies battling to avoid early exit

EIGHT years ago, England failed to qualify for the World Cup knock-out stage for the first time after losing to Australia at Twickenham. It led to the appointment of Eddie Jones as head coach and tonight he will suffer the same ignominy if his Wallabies lose to Wales in Lyon.

Scots want to put on dancing shoes

NEVER mind a Springbok-style Bomb Squad – Gregor Townsend is planning to deploy a Dance Squad to run rings around tiring Tongan legs in today’s must-win Pool B encounter.

Aki gives Ireland reason to believe

IRELAND aren’t world champions yet but they struck a massive psychological blow in Paris last night by defeating the reigning world champions more comprehensively than the score suggests.

Arundell drives England revival

HENRY Arundell looked in need of a big infusion of confidence having been starved of game time, and on his first World Cup start in England colours the winger filled his boots to overflowing by scoring five of England’s 11 tries in Lille.