By MIKE SINCLAIR CHAMPIONS Exeter shrugged off the spluttering start to the defence of their title as they handed newlypromoted London Irish a punishing welcome […]

HENRY SLADE, who graduated from Exeter’s production line to the England squad, paid tribute to the youngsters aiming to follow in his footsteps. A glut […]

By COLIN NEWBOULT FOR ALL the zip and zest of the previous weekend, where attacking rugby thrived and defences were deemed surplus, this brought the […]

NEWCASTLE boss Dean Richards praised their lineout defence after locks Calum Green and Will Witty caused severe problems for the Sale set-piece. “I thought our […]

NEALE HARVEY talks to Wasps’ South African centre about the 2019 World Cup Wasps centre Juan de Jongh reckons he still has a shot at […]

By NICK VERDIER WORCESTER fly-half Tom Heathcote admits high-flying Wasps are far from the dream opponents for a team in need of a confidence boost […]

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND DAN BIGGAR is a colossal loss to Welsh rugby. It was no surprise to see his move to Northampton […]

By NICK CAIN COURTNEY Lawes said before this East Midlands derby that Saints would be looking for redemption after last weekend’s drubbing by Saracens, and […]

JIM Mallinder said his England internationals Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley had risen to the challenge to restore Northampton’s pride. “Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley, […]

From NICK CAIN at Twickenham Saracens 55pts Tries: Barritt 9, Wigglesworth 11, Maitland 20, 31, 35; Lozowski 28, Kock 38, Brits 52, Spencer 68 Conversions: […]

Control: Alex Lozowski SARACENS boss Mark McCall paid tribute to a stellar performance by 36-year-old hooker Schalk Brits after the European champions’ resounding win over […]

From BRENDAN GALLAGHER at Twickenham London Irish 39pts Tries: Ojo 23, Bell 30, Treviranus 58, McKibbin 78 Conversions: Bell 31, 59 Penalties: Bell 4, 7, […]

LONDON Irish flanker and man of the match Blair Cowan: “We weren’t surprised at that performance, we have been building for this for the last […]

By NEALE HARVEY Gloucester 28pts Tries: Thrush 25, 39; Morgan 56, Woodward 80 Conversions: Burns 25, 39, 56, Twelvetrees 80 Exeter 21pts Tries: Simmonds 4, […]

EMOTIONAL new Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann credited his side’s spirit after getting his reign off to the best start. He said: “We showed fight […]

By STEVE KENNY Wasps 50pts Tries: Robson 3, 13, 33, 44, Wade 16, Rowlands 70, Rieder 73 Conversions: Gopperth 3, 13, 16, 33, 70, 73 […]

SALE boss Steve Diamond admitted his team had no answer to the invention of Wasps in a brilliant firsthalf display. But Diamond praised his team […]

By COLIN NEWBOULT Newcastle 35pts Tries: Tait 5, Vickers 52, Cooper 62, Socino 75 Conversions: Takulua 6, 53, Willis 76 Penalties: Takulua 21, 50, 67 […]

WORCESTER director of rugby Gary Gold is concerned by the injury sustained by British and Irish Lions international Ben Te’o. Te’o, who starred in New […]

PREVIEW… By NICK VERDIER Leicester v Bath Today. Welford Road. Kick-off 3pm Power: Matt Toomua is tackled by Finn Russell on his debut for Leicester […]

Leader: Matt Garvey MATT GARVEY knows he will have to play chess while he plays rugby when Bath take on Leicester in the Premiership opener […]

MANU Tuilagi will make his first competitive start since January after being named in Leicester’s XV to take on Bath at Welford Road today. The […]

Director of Rugby: Dai Young Captain: Joe Launchbury Ground: Ricoh Arena Capacity: 32,600 Regular crowds of up to 25,000 at the Ricoh are testament to […]

Brendan Gallagher looks at James O’Connor’s challenge Stade Felix Mayol or the AJ Bell Stadium? The dazzling Med or misty Manchester? T14 aristocracy or Premiership […]

Director of Rugby: Gary Gold Captain: Donncha O’Callaghan Ground: Sixways Stadium Capacity: 11,499 There is a reluctance to write off a side that has a […]

JEREMY GUSCOTT’S VERDICT The competitiveness of the Premiership is what gets me excited every year and this season is no different. It is a great […]

Head Coach: Todd Blackadder Captain: Matt Garvey Ground: Recreation Ground Capacity: 14,500 Bath are the Premiership’s great pretenders, having not won a title in 21 […]

NEALE HARVEY looks at the tussle for the No.9 spot at Exeter Chiefs Big future: Jack Maunder clears the ball for Exeter PICTURE: Getty Images […]

Director of Rugby: Rob Baxter Captain: Jack Yeandle Ground: Sandy Park Capacity: 12,600 Having won the crown for the first time in May, Chiefs rugby […]

Director of Rugby: David Humphreys Captain: Willi Heinz Ground: Kingsholm Capacity: 16,500 The arrival of tightheads Fraser Balmain and Gareth Denman and loose-head Val Rapava- […]

Under John Kingston there’s been tilting of the tactical axis at the Stoop, with more emphasis on the systematic and less on the speculative. Given […]

Director of Rugby: Matt O’Connor Captain: Tom Youngs Ground: Welford Road Capacity: 25,800 Leicester have assembled one of the most potent back-lines in their history, […]

Director of Rugby: Nick Kennedy Captain: TBA Ground: Madejsk Stadium Capacity: 24,200 Brendan Venter’s coaching record is a warning that promoted London Irish should not […]

Head Coach: Dean Richards Captain: Will Welch Ground: Kingston Park Capacity: 10,200 Newcastle were the surprise package of the last campaign, pulling clear of the […]

NEALE HARVEY talks to Saints about the loss of Picamoles Northampton coach Phil Dowson has challenged his No.8s Teimana Harrison and new signing Mitch Eadie […]

Director of Rugby: Jim Mallinder Captain: Dylan Hartley Ground: Franklin’s Gardens Capacity: 15,500 Saints rugby director Jim Mallinder will be hoping that some cherry-picking from […]

Director of Rugby: Steve Diamond Captain: Will Addison Ground: AJ Bell Stadium Capacity: 12,000 Sale have strength-indepth after making some choice summer signings. New owner […]

Director of Rugby: Mark McCall Captain: Brad Barritt Ground: Allianz Park Capacity: 10,000 The reigning European Champions want a hat-trick of titles – and to […]