Fear of drop brought real buzz -Thompson

Tyro Tiger Reffell set for Test baptism

WALES are all set to pick Tommy Reffell

Top-flight clubs to keep £5m salary cap

Ball watching: Ben Earl pounces to score for

Furbank hopes playoff bid can land him in Oz

GEORGE Furbank is keeping his fingers crossed Eddie

Falcons swoop in for two Championship stars

NEWCASTLE Falcons have added a second Championship player

I loved it! Taylor the best goal hanger in the league

ON the last day of the season, Nathan

Champ Cup isn’t financially viable – Cattle

CORNISH Pirates co-head coach Gavin Cattle claims the

Gloucester seek compensation

GLOUCESTER will seek compensation from Worcester for calling

Speedy Segun striving to turn Eddie’s head

ROTIMI Segun hopes his emergence as a key

Crucial mission to make game global ramps up as USA get to host party

WORLD Rugby has stealthily moved from an organisation

Tyro Welsh No.8 Strong set for Championship

AMPTHILL are set to sign former Wales U20s

Boks test kicks off Ireland’s autumn

IRELAND will host world champions South Africa in

Let Arundell show what he’s got against Australia

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK

New laws adopted to reduce injuries

FIVE laws aimed at improving player welfare have

Hastings treated for cancer

SCOTLAND and Lions legend Scott Hastings revealed that

Thomas to state his case for defence

Gone: Julian Salvi EXETER Chiefs are likely to

Willis set for contract talks

WASPS are looking to tie down highly-rated England

Gloucester are pack leaders in Mercer chase

Wanted in West Country: Zach Mercer GLOUCESTER are

TV rights could boom after BT Sport merger

PREMIERSHIP Rugby could land a massive cash windfall

Aussie RL ace Smith now open to offers

Winner: Tony Smith TONY Smith, who is leaving

England ace Watson opts for Leicester

Heading to Leicester: Anthony Watson LEICESTER have confirmed

Puma Lezana signs Scarlets extension

ARGENTINA flanker Tomas Lezana has extended his stay

High-scoring hookers not good for the game

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK

Europe’s best too hot for England

IT took the 2022 European Cup until the

The Boks are here, there and everywhere

GUEST COLUMNIST

Now’s the time for the French revolution

AS a rule of thumb, English teams good

Young banks on Timani to be king of collisions

DAI YOUNG insists the signing of former Wallaby

Wayne will need all his big guns to battle Boks

WALES AND LIONS LEGEND

Beer test put Glyn on his way to Widnes

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW

Declining European crowds a cause for concern

LA Defense Arena, Racing’s indoor home some six

Chiefs are form team, they’re real contenders

ENGLAND’S MOST CAPPED PLAYER AND WORLD CUP WINNER

The academy which is envy of the world

A weekly look at the game’s other talking points

Reunited with a piece of history

ANNIVERSARY dinners not only see old stories dusted

Hammond hopes extra training can level playing field

NOTTINGHAM will move to a three-day training week

England rugby still has a long way to go

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME

Now is our time to shine, insists Curry

HULL captain Cam Curry describes winning the National

Cozens: Kicking is a lost art – it’s a seven-pointer

CLIFTON player coach Luke Cozens describes kicking to

Bayonne win battle for home semi-final

FRENCH COLUMN

Sansus is the fans’ favourite

FRANCE scrum-half Laure Sansus has been named Women’s

Ioane injury adds to All Blacks injury woe

ALL BLACKS head coach Ian Foster has been

Lions fight to retain players

LIONS CEO Rudolf Straeuli is ‘hoping’ for an

Battle for survival is the most thilling bit

I GREW up in a football city (Liverpool)

Cup requires stricter rules

THE Premiership Cup is a great vehicle for

European playing field is not level

I AM a neutral fan, but whilst the

High-hit pardons could see referees next in the dock

HAVING attended the Gloucester v Saracens game last

Henry is a rare talent

ENGLAND must cap London Irish full-back Henry Arundell

Fan prejudices are not always rational

Split loyalties: Saracens clash with Gloucester last weekend

Sexton leads the way as Leinster gun for fifth star

Leinster ............40pts Tries: Lowe 15, 50; Van der

Furlong should be fit for final

LEINSTER coach Leo Cullen said the ankle injury

Ground switch ‘unacceptable’ blasts O’Gara

PREVIEW... Racing 92 v La Rochelle Today. Kick-off

Wasps left regretting wasted opportunities

Lyon ....................20pts Tries: Berdeu 48, Charcosset 53 Conversions:

Kpoku chasing dream finish

FORMER S aracens lock Joel Kpoku is dreaming

Toulon too strong as Saracens crash out

Toulon ................25pts Tries: Villiere 2, 39; Wainiqolo 60

I preferred the game when it was slower!

PAUL REES speaks to Worcester Warriors lock Matt Garvey about why the time is right to step away from rugby

Never regret choosing Bath over NFL career

THE FORMER US EAGLES, BATH & LEICESTER BACK

Ireland end 111 year wait against All Blacks

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

OLLIEALLAN

LONDON IRISH SCRUM-HALF

DREAM TEAM

CORNISH PIRATES AND FORMER NEWCASTLE & SCOTLAND U20s SCRUM-HALF RUARIDH DAWSON CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST

Cardiff scrape home in fiery Welsh derby

Dragons..............18pts Tries: Griffiths 39, Dixon 63 Conversions: S

Rhyno gets Benetton charging to victory

Benetton ........39 Zebre ................17 RHYNO Smith scored 29

No.9’s clock has changed to ruck time

PAUL REES LOOKS AT THE CHANGING FACE OF SCRU M-HALF PLAY SINCE THE 2019 WORLD CUP

All eyes are on Arundell after his wonder try

PREVIEW... London Irish v Worcester Tuesday, May 17.

Cup success can be launchpad for Warriors revival

Ambitious: Ted Hill TED Hill believes winning the

Taufoou’s late strike clinches win for Lightning

Loughborough..22 Harlequins ......17 Vital try: Hallie Taufoou A

Sarries leave it late to edge out spirited Wasps

Saracens ........31 Wasps ..............26 SARACENS pipped Wasps in

Exeter relieved to secure home semi

Exeter ................29pts Bristol ................26pts ‘RELIEF’ was the overriding

Underwood hits four in emphatic 11-try rout

DMP Sharks ......0 Gloucester-H ..67 GLOUCESTER-Hartpury rounded off

Nine-try Warriors produce powerful finish

Worcester ......51 Sale ..................26 WORCESTER Warriors made it

Five-try Ealing put Pirates to the sword

Ealing ................36pts Tries: Terry 10, 25, Johnson 36,

Reds fightback falls short as Coventry physicality

Jersey ................17pts Tries: White 29, Doolan 75,

Houghton close to costing hosts

Cumbria................... 21 East Midlands....... 17 CUMBRIA held onto

Staffordshire’s Elliot runs riot

Staffordshire.........52 Warwickshire........35 NEWPORT’S Ben Elliot scored 32 points

Shepherd guides his flock past Hampshire

Cornwall...........78 Hampshire....... 12 CORNWALL began the defence of

Last-gasp pen settles pulsating Roses tie

Yorkshire...........33pts Lancashire........ 31pts LEWIS Minkin was the toast

Leicestershire put to the sword by a rampant Cheshire

Leicestershire....... 12 Cheshire................ 101 LEICESTERSHIRE battled with great

Eastern Counties show huge heart

Eastern Counties..47 Essex County.........43 EASTERN Counties mounted a

Cidermen do not Wilt in the sunshine

Somerset.................33 Dorset & Wilts....... 19 ON A sun-drenched

Bill Beaumont County Championship

N Midlands....... 31 Notts, L & D....... 15

Results

RESULTS

Bulls keep the pressure on unbeaten Cheetahs

CURRIE CUP THE BULLS maintained the pressure on

Mo’unga inspires Crusaders to vital win

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC RICHIE Mo’unga moved to 1,000

Potent McKenzie targets glory finish at Sungoliath

JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE DAMIAN McKenzie is thriving

Gilgronis and Free Jacks lead the way in US MLR

GOING into the halfway point in Major League

Mountain Ash finish season with perfect 10 out of 10

National 1 round-up MOUNTAIN Ash maintained their unbeaten