Ludlam: It’s all coming together

LEWIS Ludlam insists England are not behind the

Anscombe the latest to head for Japan

FLY-HALF Gareth Anscombe is the latest Wales player

Fed-up Falcons angry over limited telly time

NEWCASTLE Falcons are said to be seething after

Sale Sharks part company with chief exec Sutton

SALE Sharks CEO Sid Sutton has left the

Hill keen for a new adventure Stateside

BORED with the Premiership rugby landscape, former Exeter

Smith has unfinished business at Quins

MARCUS Smith wants to repeat Harlequins 2021 Premiership

Kolisi in line to face Wales

SOUTH Africa captain Siya Kolisi is set to

Farrell’s favourite to lead the Lions

THERE has been little cheer for rugby in

O’Brien: Sexton ban won’t affect World Cup prep

IRELAND captain Johnny Sexton has been given a

Hansen’s hungry for another ‘first’

MACK Hansen has loved linking up with his

Edinburgh appoint ex-Sharks supremo Everitt

EDINBURGH have appointed experienced South African Sean Everitt

Libbok deserves a chance at No.10

FORMER SARACENS AND SPRINGBOKS SCRUM-HALF

Season’s starter for 10! Champions travel to Exeter for the big kick off

PREMIERSHIP Rugby is hoping that less will turn

Underhill and Rodd cut by Borthwick

ENGLAND head coach Steve Borthwick has cut two

Fiji too strong for Tonga

FIJI scored five tries to three to beat

Bears keeping an eye on Gonzalez

BRISTOL are believed to be showing an interest

Postlethwaite waits

EXETER Chiefs are set to offer former Sale

Tigers in line to keep Watson

LEICESTER Tigers have emerged as the favourites to

Slade testing the (housing) market

HENRY Slade, out of contract at the end

Steward in name mix-up

RFU media bosses were left with egg on

Under-20s proved the future is bright

GUEST COLUMNIST

Eddie’s a head honcho in a hurry

EDDIE Jones is not a man to let

Pooley’s paddlers rise to the challenge

Hero: Nigel Pooley CROWBOROUGH rugby veteran Nigel Pooley

Cambridge confident they can match Caldy

Stepping up: Cambridge celebrate their National One success

Pre-season fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs

Attention! Get ready for the phoney war

WALES AND LIONS LEGEND

Ikitau may miss World Cup with shoulder injury

AUSTRALIA centre Len Ikitau faces a race to

Joseph bows out of Bath after a decade

FORMER England centre Jonathan Joseph’s departure from Bath

Italy prop Turani makes switch to Harlequins

HARLEQUINS have swooped to snap up Italy prop

Hogg exit opens door for McConnochie

RUARIDH McConnochie has been called up to Scotland’s

Proud skipper Fryday calls time on Ireland

IRELAND captain Nichola Fryday has retired from international

Lewis gets the nod for England U20s

FORMER Wasps Women director of rugby Laura-Jane Lewis

Exeter’s Benjy eyes more super success

Ecstatic: Exeter Uni celebrate and, below, Benjy Joseland

Trailfinders make Gwala statement

Dynamic: Lindelwa Gwala PREMIERSHIP Women’s Rugby newcomers Ealing

Arendse can light up the World Cup

A weekly look at the game’s other talking points

Modern-day Lions seem to be tone deaf

SO the Lions itinerary is out for their

French starting to believe in miracles

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW

New shirts which fair take your breath away

THE RFU and WRU reacted to the cost-of-living

Through thick, thin …and now thinner

THE Gallagher Premiership could hardly have chosen a

Still silent over Dai

CARDIFF suspended Dai Young without a word of

Exeter sign O’Connor from Munster

EXETER Chiefs have signed Munster second row Eoin

Southern Hemisphere given big advantage

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME

Fans left in dark as Viaplay row back

FRENCH COLUMN

Dynamic No.9 is a must for England

I HAVEN’T been able to find out why

Byrne the go-to man

WITH Johnny Sexton’s absence I can think of

Governance to blame

I HAVE read numerous articles, listened to many

DREAM TEAM

MARK NELSON, THE FYLDE CHAIRMAN OF RUGBY AND FORMER LANCASHIRE WINGER & COACH, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST...

New faces can turn Quins into contenders

Ben Jaycock talks to 54-time England No.8 Nick Easter about his optimism for former side Harlequins following their coaching changes and hears his verdict on the Red Rose chances at the World Cup

Lewis has his sights set on higher honours

Ben Jaycock talks to England’s second row starlet Lewis Chessum on his return from the Junior World Cup in South Africa

CONNORSLEVIN

HARLEQUINS & ENGLAND U20 FLY-HALF

Exeter’s back to back delight

EXETER, NATIONAL LEAGUE 3 CHAMPIONS 1996-97 SPECIAL REPORT

Going up was huge moment, says Rob

THE captain of Exeter’s 1997 promotion-winning side was

I’d take the rough with the smooth every time

THE FORMER BRITISH & IRISH LIONS, SCOTLAND, BORDERS,

South Africa know right recipe

PAUL REES MAKES HIS CASE FOR WHY SPRINGBOKS WILL BE A VERY DIFFERENT ANIMAL COME THE WORLD CUP

All that glitters isn’t necessarily gold...

Paul Rees looks at the big name players who have been on the move in the Premiership during this close season

McCaw breaks pain barrier to deliver gold for All Blacks

»BRENDAN GALLAGHER LOOKS BACK AT THE PLAYERS WHO SHONE ON THE BIGGEST STAGE

Nervy night as unfancied France fight till the death

AFTER staging the inaugural World Cup in 1987,

Scotland get set for Uruguay test

SCOTLAND, Spain and Uruguay maintained their unbeaten records