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Llanelli have the right mix
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The grand traditions of the Heineken Cup look certain to be upheld at the Walkers Stadium when Leicester and Llanelli Scarlets do battle for a place in the final at Twickenham on May 20. By Mick Cleary.

Northampton hit by Hartley 'gouging' ban
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Dylan Hartley is to be prevented from appearing for Northampton in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Wasps. By Brendan Gallagher.

Saracens sign Jack
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Saracens, seeking to reach their first major final since 1998, confirmed that their improving squad would be joined next season by Chris Jack, the formidable New Zealand lock.

White out for Scots
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Jason White may have only two games in which to prove his fitness for the Rugby World Cup later this year after being left out of the preliminary Scotland A squad for the Barclays Churchill Cup.

The contest that calls for superheroes
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Llanelli, a team of mighty men, have gone even further towards that extreme and are playing with an abandon and ambition that is rare and exciting, writes Will Greenwood.

Wasps name Cipriani, Spencer ruled fit
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:33:00 GMT

Wasps have named 19-year-old Danny Cipriani as their starting fly-half for Sunday's all-English Heineken Cup semi-final against Northampton at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

Hipkiss happy to run with the Tigers
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

If Danny Hipkiss needed any proof that he might one day feature in England colours, then it came in the form of the merciless stick he's been receiving from his Leicester team-mates since receiving the man-of-the-match award against Ospreys last Sunday at Twickenham.

Borders slammed by SRU chief
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

As attempts to save the closure-threatened Border Reivers appeared to be running out of steam, Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Gordon McKie has denied that the governing body had been guilty of pulling the plug on the Galashiels-based side.

Leslie's inner strength an inspiration to us all
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

In that Test rugby taxonomy where wingers are classified by their speed, scrum-halves by their craftiness and prop forwards by their raw strength, loose forwards might best be measured by their courage and David Leslie had that quality in abundance.

Sale seek new backs coach
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Sale are looking to recruit a new backs coach following the decision to break up their Guinness Premiership-winning team by the departure of long-serving Mark Nelson.

Marshall staying with Ospreys
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:54:00 GMT

Former All Blacks star Justin Marshall has agreed a contract extention that will keep him at the Ospreys until mid-2009.

Black clouds gather for Sky
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The New Zealand Rugby Football Union were staying tight-lipped this week - the matter could yet end up in court - when Sky issued calamitous viewing figures for this season's Super 14. Brendan Gallagher reports.

Northampton vow to go at Wasps with sink
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Northampton, as you always hoped they might despite their relegation woes, have confirmed that they would be throwing the kitchen sink at Wasps on Sunday in an effort to reach the Heineken Cup final for the second time.

Saracens out to keep full-back
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Saracens, set to follow Newcastle and Leicester in signing a top All Black, are hoping that Thomas Castaignede will agree a new deal after he admitted he was having second thoughts about retiring after the Rugby World Cup.

Cusiter in move to Perpignan
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The curtain closed a little tighter on professional rugby in the Borders yesterday when it was confirmed that Border Reivers captain Chris Cusiter, the Scotland and British Lions scrum-half, has signed a two-year deal with French side Perpignan.

A bruising in Bulgaria like no other
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Asked to help raise funds for a hospice in Sofia, Will Greenwood tells of his great trip to play rugby there.

All Blacks' Hayman to join Newcastle
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:57:00 GMT

New Zealand prop Carl Hayman will join Newcastle Falcons after the World Cup.

Llanelli convinced of champion quality
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

For the outsider, it has become increasingly difficult to pinpoint the precise moment when Llanelli Scarlets became realistic contenders for the Heineken Cup.

Corry wants to play, not strike
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Martin Corry has expressed his dread about the possibility of being forced to take strike action over the dispute between the Rugby Football Union and the Premiership clubs. Mick Cleary reports.

New Gloucester contract for Azam
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:33:00 GMT

Hooker Olivier Azam has signed a new two-year contract with Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester.

PRA consider ballot as Baron warns top clubs
Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The Professional Rugby Players' Association will consider strike action if they cannot broker a settlement between the warring factions on the Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby Ltd. By Mick Cleary.

Tindall undergoes surgery
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 11:32:00 GMT

Gloucester centre Mike Tindall will miss the rest of the season and England's summer tour of South Africa after undergoing surgery on his broken leg, his club have confirmed.

Williams keeps title hopes alive for Blues
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Cardiff Blues 48 Edinburgh 0Despite the ignominious charge of being Welsh rugby's also rans this season, come judgement day, Cardiff Blues might just have the last laugh, writes Graham Clutton.

Ma'asi leads Cornish charge as Pirates overhaul Exeter
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Cornish Pirates 19 Exeter Chiefs 16Cornish Pirates stirred themselves from their lethargy at Twickenham just in time to win the EDF Energy National Trophy.

Leicester last pace in breathless affair
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Leicester 41 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 35There was little chance of a gentle Sunday slumber for the thousands who thronged Twickenham. In a madcap match Leicester had enough solidity up front to secure their first trophy in five years and close out the opening part of a tantalising treble, writes Mick Cleary.

Brain focuses minds as survival fight goes to wire
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

London Irish 26 Worcester 16A gruelling match in the Reading hothouse left Worcester struggling to keep a hold on London Irish and the stamina-sapping race for Premiership survival, writes Rob Wildman.

Players' strike would end this bitter feud
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Dissension between club and country in rugby does not merely continue, it is now on 'Code Red'. If things carry on like this, it may be down to the players to enter the argument decisively by taking strike action, says Brian Moore.

Teams wring the changes
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Rotherham and Newbury have filled coaching vacancies for next season. Rotherham have appointed New Zealander Phil Werahiko from Irish First Division club Clontarf, who takes over from Andre Bester, writes Paul Bolton.

Saracens stay upwardly mobile
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Saracens 33 Harlequins 19Four tries put a smile on the faces of Saracens at Watford and a Premiership play-off place is well within their grasp, writes Barrie Fairall.

Narrow defeat leaves Grayson in Cup quandary
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Wasps 35 Northampton 29The dog-eat-dog fight for survival, as it has done all season, continued to provide splendid excitement and drama at Adams Park, and the bonus point that Northampton somehow quarried out of this defeat may yet be the key to their Premiership survival.

Injury forces Thompson to retire
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:59:00 GMT

England's World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson has announced his retirement from all rugby.

Secrets of ruling dynasty
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Paul Ackford's spotlight falls on Leicester Tigers.

Time to end damaging club-country discord
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

A document landed in my inbox this week aimed at ending the 10-year row which has besmirched rugby union in England, writes Paul Ackford.

Guinness Premiership: Big match guide
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

It's that time of year when the rugby fraternity runs thick with schadenfreude. Someone has got to be relegated and those not involved in the battle revel in the pains of those who are.

Double injury blow for England
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

England were hit with a double injury blow when it was revealed that two of their World Cup-winning team, fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and centre Mike Tindall, look likely to miss the summer tour to South Africa.

Billy Whizz signs off in style
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Sale 25 Bath 23Jason Robinson delivered a story-book ending to his home games for Sale when the England World Cup winner scored a last-minute try to rescue a fraught evening.

World Cup fears for Tindall over leg injury
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Newcastle 19 Gloucester 12England centre Mike Tindall suffered a suspected broken leg that has put his chances of playing in this summer’s World Cup in doubt.

Fans turn out in force but Borders future still bleak
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The Melrose Sevens tournament at the Greenyards is expected to attract Scottish domestic rugby's largest crowd of the season, an ironic achievement in the heart of the Border country where professional rugby looks set to be extinguished by local indifference.

Tigers put their faith in Burke
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Leicester will rely on Paul Burke, their elder statesmen, to out-think the Ospreys' young No 10 James Hook on his Twickenham debut, writes Rob Wildman.

Clarke lifts Northampton hopes
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The relegation issue could come to a dramatic conclusion as Northampton and Worcester fight to prevent the drop into National League One, writes Brendan Gallagher.

Robinson leaving sweet memories
Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Jason Robinson has a secret addiction and he has peddled his illicit substances to the England rugby team. I am not proud of the fact that I was one of his clients, writes Will Greenwood.

Gear on Sale's wish list
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Sale have started the search for a big-name player to replace Jason Robinson, who plays his final home game for the Guinness Premiership champions against Bath.

Borders playing for their future
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

With the clock ticking for his closure-threatened side, Border Reivers coach Steve Bates has taken the unprecedented step of selecting some of his more peripheral, out-of-contract players for Friday's Magners League match against Ulster at Netherdale, in the hope that the exposure could help them continue their professional careers with other clubs.

Jones gets serious for cup final
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

After spending the early stages of this season bemoaning the criticism Ospreys received after a summer of heavy investment, Neath-Swansea Ospreys coach Lyn Jones admits that his cosmopolitan side want to be "loved a little too"ahead of Sunday's EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester.

Gear on Sale's wish list
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Sale have started the search for a big-name player to replace Jason Robinson, who plays his final home game for the Guinness Premiership champions against Bath.

Cup talks end in stalemate
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Another day at the battleground that has become the Heineken Cup saw a seemingly premeditated entrenchment of known positions, rather than any serious attempt at problem-solving, as the future of a credible European competition for decades to come lay in the balance.

O'Driscoll wins Six Nations vote
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:45:00 GMT

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has been voted Six Nations Player of the Championship for the second year running.

Heineken's tour de force
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The possible demise of the Heineken Cup would be a savage blow indeed so just to remind one and all exactly what is at stake here, this column, after much hazy cogitation, reveals its own top five all-time Heineken Cup venues. By Brendan Gallagher.

Corry shrugs off fixture pile-up
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

Martin Corry will tell Brian Ashton, the England coach, that he wants to play in both of England's forthcoming games against South Africa, despite Leicester's crowded fixture list that could see him lead the Tigers in three cup finals, writes Rob Wildman.

ERC determined to save European Cup
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:01:00 GMT

The serious talking is finally getting underway among the powerbrokers of European rugby to rescue the Heineken Cup. A series of meetings in the coming days should determine the issue, writes Brendan Gallagher.