Farrell has the game to replace Sexton

2021 LIONS A YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION

At least Dallaglio has a firm grip on reality

Money dominated the rugby headlines last week. In BT Sports’ Rugby Today, Craig Doyle raised the subject of marquee players in the Premiership, and the responses from his guests summed up the current madness.

Bristol get set to welcome back fans

PREMIERSHIP clubs are preparing to welcome back spectators, with Bristol leading the way in being ready to accommodate socially-distanced crowds at Ashton Gate.

Lockdown's Got Lawrence In The Shape Of His Life

England midfield hopeful Ollie Lawrence is revelling in lockdown loneliness as he aims to show Eddie Jones he can be a World Cup 2023 contender.

Rugby must recalibrate by remembering less is more

After a decade at Harlequins in various roles, former head coach and academy guru Mark Mapletoft offers NEALE HARVEY his views on the game.

Six Nations WILL move for global season plan

RUGBY’S global powerbrokers have confirmed that the Six Nations is in the process of being moved out of its winter habitat.

Rugby can learn financial fair play from America

From outside the Premiership circle it seems that if you have a group of clever people running these clubs, who, in their own business lives have been very successful, they should be able to work together to agree on a workable, financially sound way forward.

Rejecting Eddie led to my Test career

EDDIE Jones once rang me up and said I’ll give you a contract at the Brumbies, but on the understanding that you’ll be third or fourth choice and behind George Smith in the pecking order. I said, ‘who is George Smith?’ and he replied, ‘he’s this new kid, he’s pretty good!’.

Premiership is for all – not just the richest, Steve

I fear for the future of the Premiership and the open letter from Bristol Bears owner, Steve Lansdown, has done nothing to ease my concerns. In his letter he sets out his vision for the league, and it contains sentiments that I suspect only the richest owners might agree with. In fact, the Lansdown approach would, in my opinion, run a real risk of driving a number of his rivals out of business.

Overnight success took Chiefs 13 years!

On Tuesday, Exeter Chiefs celebrate the tenth anniversary of winning promotion to the Premiership. NEALE HARVEY marks that momentous day by talking to two of the main personalities

Welsh trio can put pressure on Conor

NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION - THIS WEEK... SCRUM HALVES

Miracle workers keep World Cup dream alive

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

Boyd's trust has seen Fraser grow

SAINTS centre Fraser Dingwall credits the trust Chris Boyd places in his young players for leading him to the fringes of the England team.

How Many Of The Staff Will Be Deemed Key Workers?

When do you think rugby might restart? With lockdown easing just a little, hopes will rise, but I can’t see it happening for a long time to come, despite Wednesday’s announcement that elite sports can return to individual or small groups training.

Symons: Joe will grow Down Under

JOE Marchant’s Super Rugby experience with the Auckland Blues will lay the platform for him to become an England regular, says Harlequins lock Matt Symons.

England In 4 Nations Plan For The Autumn

England and Wales plan to finalise fixtures for an emergency Four Nations tournament this autumn in response to rugby’s worsening global crisis.

Wow! What a thrill to see Ospreys' new chance

I nearly choked on my cornflakes when I read about the new investment coming into the Ospreys. What a turn-around for my old club.

Max eyes triumphant end to horror season

FRUSTRATED Saracens playmaker Max Malins hopes his impending move to Bristol will bring title glory and reignite his international ambitions with England.

Kearney is king of Europe's try scorers

Peter Jackson gets out his stats book to reveal this seaon’s leading scorers in Europe’s top leagues

Even Lomu and Pocock can't get in this team

Assuming you have a little time at your disposal at this benighted moment of infection rates, anti-social distancing and publessness, close your eyes and dream of a match between the best British and Irish Lions of the World Cup era and a rival line-up drawn from all three countries on the current tour rota.

Coltish O'Driscoll oozed class right from the start

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

Chiefs can really be big daddies this season

HENRY Slade is expecting big changes at Sandy Park after lockdown – not least a club creche!

All Blacks must decide to play Beauden at fly-half

THE most recent news from New Zealand has been about the appointment of Sam Cane as the new captain of the All Blacks, but, for me, the biggest decision coach Stu Foster will have to make is where to play Beauden Barrett.

Marti's mission makes the Begles top dogs

PETER JACKSON reveals how many, or how few, watched Europe’s top leagues

Kennedy bankrolls Booster for north west

BRIAN Kennedy spent millions bankrolling Sale’s rise to become Premiership champions in 2006 and now the Scottish businessman is embarking on a very different mission that should prove every bit as uplifting.

Global Game? Germany Are Twenty Years Behind

During the decidedly uncivil English war over control of the nascent professional game, Cliff Brittle had a dream which sounds as impossible today as it did then.

Bill's right, Six Nations owe SANZAAR nothing

THE gnashing of teeth and wailing from the southern hemisphere unions that accompanied the failure of Agustin Pichot to unseat Bill Beaumont as World Rugby chairman was predictable.

RFU need grasroots rescue package

So, as expected, Bill Beaumont has achieved his second term as the head of World Rugby and is promising to raise the stakes by making another attempt to refloat the idea of a Nations League, although not just yet.

South Sea Bubble could provide tonic for rugby

RUGBY has made many false moves and poor decisions over the decades and what is so frustrating is that on quite a few occasions the authorities got incredibly close to absolutely nailing it before making the wrong call.

New kicking law will increase excitement

I was really looking forward to seeing the results of the World Rugby law experiment ‘50:22’, but the abandonment of the season has put paid to any meaningful data coming back from this year’s trials.