Oh Brother, The Fords Roll Back The Years

GEORGE Ford was a boy when he left Leicester in 2013, but he is back at Welford Road as England flyhalf and with his return the odds on a first Tigers Premiership title since that year have been slashed.

Wasps Will Fly That Extra Yard This Season Warns Jimmy

JIMMY Gopperth insists Wasps are ready to push the boundaries of endurance, skills and physicality in order to end the club’s nine-year wait for silverware.

Welcome Back Manu, It's Going To Be Interesting!

MANU Tuilagi will want to hit the ground running when Leicester open their campaign against Bath today at Welford Road. However, after virtually three years out of the game with injury it will not as easy as it sounds.

Fearns In Les Bleus? C'est Un Outrage!

The sweaty basics pay dividends for new-look Gloucester.

Woodward Try Rewards Gloucester's New Spirit

We fought for full 80 says coach Ackermann

Majestic Scarlets Put Kings To Sword

IT WAS a baptism of fire for new PRO14 recruits the Southern Kings as they found the reigning champions in no mood to relinquish their crown.

Twickenham Night Of Heroes

David Emery reports on the third National Game Awards at Twickenham, supported by The Rugby Paper

Big Victory Gets Sale Back In The Groove

SALE put the disappointment of their near-miss last season firmly behind them with an impressive opening win at home to Leicester Lions.

Vickers Expecting More Reasons To Be Cheerful

Vickers Expecting More Reasons To Be Cheerful

Brew Back On The Boil After Dragons Blowout

Brew Back On The Boil After Dragons Blowout

Falcons Hold On As It Goes To The Wire

Falcons Hold On As It Goes To The Wire

Obano's Call-up Shows Eddie Still Has Slots To Fill

Obano's Call-up Shows Eddie Still Has Slots To Fill

Seven-try Quins Serve Up Christmas Cracker

Seven-try Quins Serve Up Christmas Cracker

Sharpshooter Billy Finds Range To Torpedo Sharks

Sharpshooter Billy Finds Range To Torpedo Sharks

Eddie Must Get England Playing At A Higher Tempo

SCOTLAND have good cause to feel confident going to Twickenham based on their home victories over Ireland and Wales.

Brilliant Beale Keeps Wasps Buzzing On Top

KURTLEY Beale may have cost Wasps a king’s ransom, but he gave a regal display to score two sumptuous touchdowns as the league leaders inflicted Bath’s worst Premiership defeat at the Recreation Ground for four years.

Yes, Rugby Is Physical But It Is A Force For Good

The thing about a bandwagon is that once it starts to roll, more and more people want to jump on. That’s what’s happening with rugby and concussion.

French Giants No Match For Runaway Red Army

MUNSTER marched into their 12th European Cup semi-final and if their victory wasn’t quite as emphatic as the score line might suggest, they still look well capable of winning this year’s tournament.

Warburton Still The Pick Of Captaincy Candidates

The clock is ticking in the run up to Warren Gatland’s Lions squad announcement, but for me there’s only one man to lead the touring party – Sam Warburton.

Brothers In Arms Keep Kiwi Sides Riding High

THE Barrett and Ioane brothers were on fire yesterday with standout performances to hand the Hurricanes and the Blues wins over Australian opposition.

I Doubt That Gatland Will Be Giving Out Lions Wildcards

Optimism, hypocrisy and concern.

Cipriani Is Capable Of Pulling All The Strings

Eddie Jones’ comments this week regarding Danny Cipriani and the England fly-half situation are to be expected because as manager of the national side, you don’t want to say anything publicly that could compromise you in times to come.

A Roman Holiday Jaunt for Ireland as Sorry Italy Surrender nine Tries

A DETERMINED and fluent Ireland ripped a desperately poor Italian side to shreds in Rome with an irresistible nine-try display which yielded hat-tricks for CJ Stander and replacement wing Craig Gilroy, the latter’s taking just 14 minutes.

Farrell Can Lead Lions Like Johnno Says Telfer

OWEN FARRELL has emerged as a candidate to captain the Lions this summer according to one of the game’s most revered figures.

North faces his moment of truth in Eternal City

Throughout his obsessive quest for perfection, Jonny Wilkinson used a stark piece of pragmatic philosophy: “Treat every match as if it’s going to be your last.’’ George North, for one, could do a lot worse than remind himself of that before Wales line up in Rome this afternoon even if the fixture has become an excuse for filling their boots since they fell victim to a dodgy piece of time keep ten years ago.

Surely We Can All Agree On What ‘Straight' Means

With six weeks to go until the start of the Premiership season, it has been announced that some Law amendments will come into force on August 1.

Proud Aussie But I'd Love To Keep Working With England!

NEALE HARVEY talks to Australian backline guru Glen Ella about his recent England experiences and how Eddie Jones has inspired a dramatic change in his players’ thinking.

Pisi's Pacy Tricks Too Sharp For Dragons

KEN PISI set alight Northampton last night to help his team end a miserable run of five defeats.

At Last, Sarries Show Class Of Champions

WITH Mako Vunipola wielding the cudgel up front and Owen Farrell slipping the dagger in when Northampton had been battered, this try beating might yet be enough to see Saracens defend their European title.

I Thought My Career Was Over, Says Luke

FRUSTRATED Harlequins back rower Luke Wallace has revealed the gruesome extent of last summer’s horror hip dislocation that wrecked the first half of his campaign and left him fearing the worst.