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Willis aiming to be the local villain

3 September 2023 0 comments

By ADAM HATHAWAY Jack Willis headed back to France on Thursday with England aiming to go from local hero to villain in his adopted country. […]

Flying Fijians ready to take on the world

3 September 2023 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo says his side are not feeling any pressure as they prepare for their critical World Cup opener against […]

Cotter hopes the Oaks will not be easy to cut down

3 September 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK ROMANIA Coach: Eugen Apjok Captain: Christian-Marian Chirica ROMANIA return to the World Cup after missing out four years ago due to a […]

Shot Clock at the World Cup Warm-Ups! Pools to Change!

28 August 2023 0 comments

The upcoming Rugby World Cup warm-up matches will feature several innovations to enhance the game and the viewer experience for those buying tickets. Among these […]

The cruellest time to suffer an injury

20 August 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER The agony of these eve of World Cup injuries! I thought I […]

It’s time for England to sort out their attack

20 August 2023 0 comments

Q&A Former England flanker Peter Winterbottom talks to Ben Jaycock after a hectic week for the national team and tells us how his Esher side […]

A sense of revenge and destiny in the air

13 August 2023 0 comments

RWC 2023 is nearly upon us and it’s difficult to think of a more eagerly anticipated tournament, for all sorts of reasons the main one […]

At last! Spain show us what they can do

6 August 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S BEEN a bittersweet roller coaster five or six years for Spanish […]

Cov sign up new talent to fill academy void

4 August 2023 0 comments

Coventry Rugby have stepped in to prevent the career hopes of aspiring teenage rugby players in the West Midlands being dashed by the collapse of […]

Codling can’t wait to take on ‘fantastic challenge’

30 July 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Having coached in multiple leagues in Wales, Northern Ireland, England and France, it is fair to say Alex Codling has never shied […]

Treat players well and they will stay here, says RPA’s Day

30 July 2023 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE RPA chairman Christian Day believes making English players the best-looked after in the world will help to combat the player drain from […]

England need to hit the ground running

30 July 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK WHAT England need to happen is for them to play exceptionally well in the World Cup warm-ups which […]

Bordeaux put their faith in Gazzotti

30 July 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN FRANCE U20 sensation Marko Gazzotti has swapped the Alps for the Atlantic and the ProD2 for the Top 14 after agreeing […]

Smith has unfinished business at Quins

23 July 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Marcus Smith wants to repeat Harlequins 2021 Premiership triumph next season insisting he has unfinished business at the club. The England star […]

French starting to believe in miracles

23 July 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Those fearful that France have cornered the market in the supernatural will not be surprised to learn […]

Anger as Biarritz sign up Haouas

16 July 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN TWO weeks ago, the long-awaited sale of ProD2 side Biarritz fell apart, affecting the immediate and longer-term futures of not just […]

Arundell shouldn’t be lost in France

9 July 2023 0 comments

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK HENRY Arundell’s new contract with Racing has been the subject of a lot of speculation, but the overall […]

A man-mountain who needs to be stopped

9 July 2023 0 comments

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Posolo Tuilagi is a force of nature who stands between England U20 and the chance of another […]

Racing 92 rule out move for Smith

9 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Marcus Smith staying with Harlequins beyond the final year of his contract, which ends next summer, moved a step closer after Top […]

French to keep eye on hooker

9 July 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE | Neil Fissler French Top 14 sides will monitor Luke Cowan-Dickie’s progress with Sale Sharks with interest after Blindside can reveal that […]

90 players in search of a new club

9 July 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON | FRENCH COLUMN What links 16 props, 12 hookers, 10 second rows, 15 back rowers, 13 scrum-halves, 11 wingers, eight centres, two full-backs, […]

Dupont is looking to take a sabbatical

9 July 2023 0 comments

Antoine Dupont could take a sabbatical year after the 2024 Olympic Games, reports in France suggest. The France captain, 26, is looking ahead to an […]

Montpellier U-turn blocks Thomas from playing in Wales

2 July 2023 0 comments

By PETER JACKSON Montpellier have done a U-turn on Henry Thomas, slamming the door on the former England prop playing in Wales next season. Thomas […]

Great to see Dupont going for Paris gold

2 July 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS – BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Rather overlooked during a hectic end of season in France which […]

Biarritz are left sweating on future

2 July 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN By the time you read this, ProD2 side Biarritz were supposed to be under new management after a deal finally brought […]

Agen on the trail of top Welsh trio

25 June 2023 0 comments

By NEIL FISSLER French ProD2 outfit Agen, who are in the middle of a takeover battle, are courting a trio of Welsh internationals as they […]

Toulouse duo use trophy to ride the waves

25 June 2023 0 comments

Toulouse playmakers Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack took their Top 14 title celebrations to the beach this week, attempting to use the famous Bouclier de […]

‘Tofty’ on mission to improve the pathway for England

25 June 2023 1 comment

By PAUL REES Mark Mapletoft had no hesitation when he was last month offered the chance to take the England Under 20s to the Junior […]

Willis: I’d never have left Wasps

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER England back row Jack Willis admits that he would never have left Wasps if they hadn’t become one of […]

Witty looks set to sign for Rouen

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs lock Will Witty is set for another move this summer with a drop-down from the Top […]

Toulon have No.9 White in their sights

25 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Top 14 giants Toulon are courting a move for Scotland scrum-half Ben White, who has been looking for a new club since […]

A new trophy, same old tricks …

25 June 2023 0 comments

CHRIS HEWETT It is one thing for a populist Prime Minister to ride a wave of duplicity before crashing head-first into the rocks: if a […]

Hill keeps climbing the peaks in France

25 June 2023 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to top coach Richard Hill after he secured yet another promotion in the French leagues Former Bath and England scrum-half Richard Hill […]

Champions Cup reverts to multi-pool

18 June 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Triumph: La Rochelle celebrate victory THE Heineken Champions Cup reverts to a multi-pool format next season, but teams from the same league […]

Teague keen to be heading home

18 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Former England attack guru Rory Teague, below, is ready to explore options nearer to […]

Ealing confirm deal with Williams

18 June 2023 0 comments

Ealing Trailfinders have confirmed their signing of Wales scrumhalf Lloyd Williams from Cardiff. The 33-year-old ends a 13-year career at Cardiff Arms Park which has […]

Who will be next on the production line?

18 June 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER The Junior World Cup makes a welcome return after a four-year hiatus next week down in South Africa and I for […]

Garbajosa joins list of axed coaches

18 June 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN It has been a busy week in various corridors of power in French rugby – with, in chronological order, the removal […]

Abendanon: French rugby is far more fun

11 June 2023 0 comments

By NICK POWELL Former England full-back Nick Abendanon says that the Premiership is not entertaining enough to compete with the French club game and worries […]

There’s no stopping Ramos

11 June 2023 0 comments

PETER JACKSON Thomas Ramos is en route to finishing the season 100 or so points clear of his nearest challenger across Europe’s three major Leagues. […]

Top two get set to put on the glitz

11 June 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN It’s the final the Top 14 wanted and needed. Toulouse and La Rochelle – the two best sides in the French […]

Cardiff facing battle for prop Rae

4 June 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Cardiff are keen on signing Bath tighthead prop D’arcy Rae, below, but they are facing a late bid for […]

Sleeping giant that is struggling to wake up

4 June 2023 0 comments

Peter Jackson consults his stats book to see which teams are the best-supported in Europe’s big leagues Crowd pleasers: Leicester Tigers No.9 Jack van Poortvliet […]

Exeter’s Simmonds signs for Pau

4 June 2023 0 comments

TOP 14 side Pau have signed Exeter Chiefs fly-half Joe Simmonds on a twoyear deal. The 26-year-old, who captained Exeter to the 2020 European Champions […]

Kremer’s red gives Racing easy ride

4 June 2023 0 comments

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Argentinian back-row Marcos Kremer’s last act for Stade Francais was to get sent off – for the third time this season […]

Ireland mustn’t copy this breakdown flaw

28 May 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER The tumultuous happenings in Dublin last week were on such a large […]

Colombe try leaves the Aviva stunned

21 May 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES Leinster……………………….. 26pts Tries: Danty 19, Seuteni 37, Colombe 71 Conversions: Hastoy 20, 38, 72 Penalties: Hastoy 42, 49 La Rochelle …………………. 27pts […]

Falcons set for freshen up after turbulent time

21 May 2023 0 comments

By PAUL REES NEWCASTLE finished bottom of the Premiership after heavy defeats in their last three matches, but they are confident of avoiding the drop […]