Roberts: New Bok challenge is step up

JAMIE Roberts has warned his Dragons side and the rest of the Guinness PRO14 they must be ready for a significant step up in quality when the division officially expands further into South Africa.

Monye and Obano put World Rugby to shame

As a year that has been like no other draws to an end, it’s timely to reflect on what needs to be done to ensure that rugby can continue to thrive.

Tragedy on the Andes became story of heroism

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Turnbull try completes Blues' late comeback

CARDIFF Blues captain Josh Turnbull praised the resilience of his side after they ground out a narrow victory over archrivals the Dragons in horrible conditions at Rodney Parade.

Try these hidden joys of the Championship

THERE has been plenty of flack flying about recently for rugby administrators as they struggle to find a way through the Covid maze but a hat tip to all concerned for keeping the faith and coming up with an attractive looking format for an abbreviated Championship which, touch wood, will get underway early in March, a year after the action ground to a halt.

Exciting to see how far George can go in a year

Kyran Bracken unveils his big challenge for 2021 – to turn Wanstead scrum-half George Hardy, 28, into a professional in 12 months

Furious Lam spurs his Bears into the mood

PAT LAM’S half-time dressing room tirade worked as Bristol picked up a bonus-point win and finished the year second in the table behind Exeter.

Festive fun as Henson overcomes Fearns KO

An escalating class-action lawsuit over concussion, a European Champions Cup bent out of shape by the pandemic, a low-rent bunch of administrators who disappeared up their own contradictions long before arriving at their current state of paralysis: truly, the Ghost of Christmas Rubbish is having its malevolent way with us.

Waller working to steady Saints ship

NORTHAMPTON stalwart Alex Waller denies Saints have “been found out” despite a record run of 13 consecutive defeats.

Falcons respond in style but miss bonus

THREE tries in an improved second-half performance at Stade Pierre-Fabre put Newcastle into the qualifying spots for the knock-out stages.

Wales miss out on the great SA invasion

When it comes to wrapping South Africans up in their national colours, Wales stand apart from the rest of the Six Nations. They have not picked one in seven years.

Gloucester white flag disrepects a great Cup

Gloucester are in the process of forgetting all about Danny Cipriani, that exquisitely gifted memory-maker of a No.10 who, when the gods were smiling upon him, persuaded even the most unreconstructed thud-and-blunderer in the darkest corner of the Kingsholm Shed that rugby could be a game of artistry and wonderment.

Player welfare is more than concussion alone

During the week Sir Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby, issued an open letter in response to the ongoing debate about the affect of repeated concussions, and in it he outlined the various steps made by his organisation to try to make the game safer.

French mean machine generate masterpiece

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Durham have shone since rugby's dawn

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools

Breakdown clearouts have made risks worse

There’s an old saying that trouble always come in threes and as far as rugby is concerned that certainly seems the case. First, we had the limited game of pick up and go with the inevitable box-kick finish which is boring and driving fans from the game.

Consistency key for high jumper Freddie

RANGY Leicester fullback Freddie Steward has vowed not to be a ‘ten-game wonder’ as he fights to be the latest Norfolk-born star to excel for club and country.

Alex sheds the pounds to cash in with Eddie

SLIMMED-DOWN and more mobile Harlequins No.8 Alex Dombrandt believes he is in tip-top condition for a New Year assault on winning his first England cap.

Diamond rescued Sharks from abyss but courted controversy

After Steve Diamond’s shock departure, Jon Newcombe looks at the highs and lows of his time as DoR of Sale Sharks

Reigate's renowned 56 Club were unbeatable with 15 on the pitch

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools

I'd love to play for Tonga with my brother Charlie

Daniel Gallan talks to Bristol Bears star Siale Piutau about passion and punch-ups

Wonderful to sign off as a winner at Twickenham

CHARLIE AMESBURY THE FORMER HARLEQUINS, NEWCASTLE, SALE, BRISTOL AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY WINGER RUGBY

Sweeney: Six Nations could go to pay TV

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has not ruled out some of the Six Nations games disappearing behind a paywall.

North v South games have set us up well for Six Nations

Q&A ALAN DICKENS ON THE RECORD

Matera must face punishment insists horrified Hewitt

ASHTON Hewitt has slammed World Rugby and the game in general for paying lip service to the issue of racism after Argentina captain Pablo Matera returned to action.

Lipman's concussion diary shows the problem

By his own admission, Michael Lipman estimates to have been knocked out 30 times over the course of a 13-year professional career. During his last season in the Premiership, the former England flanker suffered five bouts of concussion.

French feelgood factor is shortlived

French rugby really should still be basking in the moral-winners’ glow of last Sunday’s Autumn Nations’ Cup final – but, these days, reality comes at you harder than a Georgian prop at an attacking 5m scrum.

Blues fly-half Jarrod wanted at Kingsholm

GLOUCESTER are weighing up a move for Wales and Cardiff Blues playmaker Jarrod Evans.

Irish must up tempo to sap Sharks power

TOM Homer has warned London Irish to front-up or be smashed by a power-packed Sale side who in recent years have routinely embarrassed the Exiles.

Records fail to hide Tri-Nations letdown

26th edition of the annual southern hemisphere Rugby Championship