ON THE BLINGSIDE

Sharks in the market for Wallaby Latu

Why England need to be the fittest team in France

EVERY coach is going to say there is room for improvement and, just as Steve Borthwick has done recently with England, one of the areas they are most likely to target is fitness.

England hold on to deny France

ENGLAND marked a historic day with a thrilling win over France to secure the Grand Slam and their fifth straight Six Nations title in front of the largest-ever crowd in women’s rugby.

CVC's influence may not be in the best interests of clubs

TWICKENHAM is the jewel in English rugby’s crown, and there are grave concerns that the mismanagement of the RFU’s finances is putting the future of the stadium at risk.

Toulouse all at sea as Leinster take it

WITH an air of inevitability, Leinster marched into next month’s Champions Cup final but fell someway short of the context we all hoped for.

Sio keen for Chiefs to go out on a high

HAVING suffered heartache in his swansong appearance for the Brumbies, Scott Sio is determined that this summer’s Exeter leavers don’t suffer the same fate.

Glasgow power on to first Euro final

GLASGOW deservedly qualified for their first European final by scoring five tries to one against injury-ravaged Scarlets.

This time, two into seven just might go

ENGLAND’S campaign at the home World Cup in 2015 was a big enough joke in itself, but that didn’t stop the smart arses rolling out their laughter-in-the darkness lines.

Project Exiles: Italy's new hunt for talent

SEBASTIAN Negri is not the only member of his family doing good things for Italian rugby, his elder brother Thomas is also playing a key role in the Azzurri revival.

With so many leaving, we must give youth a chance

THE strange goings on in Welsh rugby continued on Thursday night when Cardiff Rugby took to Twitter to announce the 16 players who will be leaving the club this summer.

Sanderson annoyed by Ashman's move north

ALEX Sanderson is unhappy with the departure of Ewan Ashman to Edinburgh next season, adamant the hooker would be better off staying at Sale.

Jeff's right, we must support grassroots

JEFF Probyn is absolutely right in stating that the future of rugby in England depends on more resources being made available by the RFU to support grassroots rugby than the disastrous Professional Game Agreement has allowed over the last seven years.

Treviso standing on the edge of history

AT the last count, Benetton Treviso had won 15 Italian Championships and, lest we forget, walked away with the hurriedly organised Rainbow Cup in the teeth of Covid disruption in 2021 but I would nonetheless suggest their European Challenge Cup semi-final at Toulon this afternoon represents the highwater mark in their history.

Champion finish for Red island in the sun

JERSEY Reds held their nerve in recovering from an early wobble to cruise to the victory over Ampthill that delivered the RFU Championship title to a small island in the English Channel.

I looked confident but, inside, I was a mess

THE FORMER NEW ZEALAND, WELLINGTON, HURRICANES, SALE GLOUCESTER FLY-HALF WHO HAS COACHED AT RACING 92, MUNSTER AND PAU

Arresting sight of Coulman's solo gallop

AT Twickenham more than 50 years ago, Mike Coulman did something that had not been seen there before or since: a prop galloping ‘fully 30 yards’ for a solo try.

We need to rebuild in the north

A RADICAL move to bring together Sale Sharks with Newcastle Falcons – and potentially Doncaster or Leeds Tykes – to create a new Premiership team called ‘The North’ has been proposed by Mick Hogan.

A brilliant ten out of ten as Cambridge take title

CAMBRIDGE director of rugby Richie Williams confessed to being pretty much lost for words as his side made it ten wins in a row since their home defeat to Rams on January 28 to clinch the National One title.

It's a family affair for Havant as they get set for Twickenham

Papa John's Cup final preview

Toulouse look set to lead from the front

AS the French Top 14 takes a week’s break for the Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals, here’s a look at the remainder of the domestic campaign for every team.

Magical McKenzie puts Chiefs on top

A LATE surge saw the Chiefs edge the Crusaders 34-24 in a thrilling contest to extend their unbeaten run to nine games and equal a club record for their longest win streak ever.

Chiefs hit 50 ahead of Crusaders showdown

THE Chiefs’ unbeaten streak continues as they secured another bonus point victory to strengthen their grip on top spot and extend their franchise record start to eight wins on the bounce.

More money needs to go to the grassroots

AS THE Premiership, Champions Cup and Women’s Six Nations hog the headlines, the crisis of the Championship and grassroots game seems to have been forgotten.

Students sign off in best way possible

A BUMPER crowd filled the stands for the second half of Loughborough’s double header, following on from the Lightning (women’s) side fixture with Harlequins earlier in the day.

Powerful Park show champion qualities

SUPER Sedgley Park Tigers finished off their season with another bonus-point win, although they didn’t have it all their own way.

Cardiff show their class to overcome problems

CARDIFF overcame a month of turmoil with a superb performance by destroying Ospreys to pick up the Welsh Shield and with it European Champions Cup rugby next season.

Red Roses stay on course for Grand Slam

ENGLAND stayed on track for the Grand Slam with an eighttry victory over a resilient Ireland side.

Irish must be sharp, says Van Rensburg

PUTTING a kitchen accident to one side, Benhard Janse van Rensburg has always put his best foot forward for London Irish this season and the South African intends to do so again against Saracens.

Collins double keeps Saints in the running

TOM Collins’ deadly first-half double kept Northampton’s play-off challenge alive as they destroyed Newcastle with a 10-try blitz.

Sounds like Lam putting someone else's money in his mouth

PRECISELY none of the owner-investors who finance professional club rugby in England are in obvious need of a tin of beans from the local food bank, which may explain their inability to embrace the spirit of togetherness in securing a sustainable future for a domestic game on the breadline.