Rugby Union
Europe peace deal drafted but clubs stay wary
Published: 09 May 2007
The future of next season's Heineken Cup remained shrouded in a fog of doubt last night, despite a largely positive meeting of the tournament stakeholders in Dublin aimed at lifting the threat of an Anglo-French boycott that would cause untold damage to the credibility of cross-border European competition and leave four countries - Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales - in acute financial distress. The English Premiership clubs will meet the Rugby Football Union immediately to discuss the detail of a conditional agreement brokered at the weekend. If the talks collapse, the boycott will go ahead.
Newport G Dragons 13 Ospreys 27: Williams' sparkle leaves Dragons chasing shadows
Published: 09 May 2007
Just as the lights threatened to go out on the Ospreys' title hopes, Shane Williams produced a moment of pure opportunism to take the Magners League race to the wire. The Ospreys had been pegged back to 10-6 and were fortunate not to be behind before the break after a stirring response from the under-strength Dragons.
Ospreys title bid boosted by Henson's late return
Published: 08 May 2007
Gavin Henson, the celebrity centre from Wales who has spent more time honing his tan than tanning opposition hides in recent months, will return for the Ospreys this weekend when the regional side play their final Magners League match against Borders at Netherdale. Knee problems have made Henson's season a non-event, but the midfielder has been included in a 28-man Test squad for the trip to Australia and now needs all the meaningful activity he can get.
Gloucester 50 Saracens 9: Hazell shines as Saracens plumb depths
Published: 07 May 2007
There was an issue with the plumbing at Kingsholm on Saturday: major building work on the grandstand side of the famous old arena meant there was a pile of rubble where the dressing-rooms once stood, with the usual knock-on effects. Saracens were less than impressed on arrival and were positively flabbergasted when they learned there was no running water.
Llanelli Scarlets 38 Cardiff Blues 10: King's regal display makes Leinster champions elect
Published: 07 May 2007
Last week's Welsh and Scottish Assembly elections were mere child's play compared to the twists being thrown up by the Magners League title race.
Leicester 26 Bristol 14: Ellis injury puts pressure on Tigers
Published: 07 May 2007
The England scrum-half Harry Ellis looks certain to miss the final two legs of Leicester's bid for a treble after injuring his left knee at Welford Road on Saturday. If serious, the injury - and one club insider said yesterday that initial signs were not encouraging - may also throw into doubt his chances of making the World Cup in the autumn.
Leicester 26 Bristol 14: Ellis twist puts Tigers in a spin
Published: 06 May 2007
Ruddock's return: The Slam man ready for the Warriors' way
Published: 06 May 2007
The removal last Monday of John Brain as Worcester's director of rugby, two days after his team finished the Premiership in second-to-last place, emphasised that the game's ethos of kinship and sticking up for your mates has been kicked into touch in the open era. "Every board of every club wants success," said Mike Ruddock, Brain's replacement, whose qualifications for the job pre-date the season he has just spent coaching in the equivalent of Wales's fifth division.
Scarlets 38 Blues 10: Jones ensures Llanelli have the bragging rights
Published: 06 May 2007
Cardiff Blues, chasing long-awaited silverware, saw their Magners League title hopes dented by defeat at Llanelli Scarlets. Stephen Jones, the Wales fly-half, helped the Scarlets to the bragging rights with 18 points to throw the championship wide open. It now means the Blues have to beat title rivals Leinster next week and hope the Ospreys slip up in one of their remaining two matches.
Tim Glover: Rapid rise of a new marvel at the back
Published: 06 May 2007
Gloucester 50 Saracens 9: Sarries led to the slaughter by Lamb
Published: 06 May 2007
A semi-demolished Kingsholm, awaiting the construction of a new stand, witnessed the total demolition of Saracens as Gloucester bulldozed their way into next Saturday's Guinness Premiership final at Twickenham. Gloucester, the only club to remain unbeaten at home in the process of finishing top of the league at the end of the regular season, scored seven tries to zip yesterday, as eloquent a statement as possible.
Simon Turnbull: Gala is over as Gregor heads for the hills
Published: 06 May 2007
Parks strife for the Ospreys
Published: 06 May 2007
The high-flying Ospreys were dealt a hefty title jolt as the great Glasgow revival continued in an epic encounter at Hughenden on Friday night, with the Scottish outfit coming back from a 10-point half-time deficit to win 29-26.
Hill's underdogs build for the final push
Published: 05 May 2007
"Strange things can happen." So said the Bristol coach Richard Hill yesterday, and he was speaking with complete authority. Nothing has been stranger - or more heart-warming - than the West Country club's savaging of those pre-season prophets who had them finishing 11th at best, one position off relegation. By making it all the way to third, largely through possession of the meanest defence in the Premiership, they did English sport a service by proving that professional leagues do not necessarily create self-perpetuating elites.
Cohen puts career on hold
Published: 05 May 2007
Ben Cohen has withdrawn from England's summer tour to South Africa and the World Cup in order to spend time with his wife, Abby, who is expecting twins.
Premiership chief holds aces as he seeks to talk board round
Published: 05 May 2007
Dermody's Irish move darkens All Blacks' mood
Published: 04 May 2007
New Zealand may not be running scared of any rival contenders for World Cup success in France this autumn - who would be, with Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw on board? - but the All Black fraternity are concerned at the way they are haemorrhaging players to professional club rugby in England and France. Yesterday, London Irish rubbed Antipodean noses deeper in the dirt by signing Clarke Dermody, the 27-year-old Southland prop who won three caps against northern hemisphere opposition last year.
Grayson pays the price for Northampton relegation
Published: 03 May 2007
Paul Grayson has been sacked as the head coach of Northampton, with the forwards coach Peter Sloane, formerly in charge at Auckland, taking over from him. Grayson, who has been with Saints for 20 years, has been demoted to backs and skills coach just days after the club's relegation from the Premiership.
Ashton summons dads' army to the veld
Published: 02 May 2007
South Africa is just the place for old warhorses - the Springboks themselves have been known to field the odd veteran in home fixtures, not least in the World Cup campaign of 1995, when the venerable Balie Swart helped scrummage them to victory - but England will be stretching a point when they arrive for the forthcoming two-Test series on the high veld. Darren Crompton and Roy Winters, two uncapped forwards from Bristol, have made the cut at the combined age of 65; Mark Regan has been recalled at 35; and Kevin Yates is back on the beat at 34. Pray God the temperatures stay cool.
Ruddock in frame after Worcester sack saviour Brain
Published: 01 May 2007
John Brain was sacked as Worcester's head coach yesterday, with Mike Ruddock expected to be confirmed as his replacement.
Northampton 27 London Irish 22: Disciples queue to support Saints
Published: 30 April 2007
There were more cheers than tears at Franklin's Gardens after the final whistle had blown time on Northampton's Premiership existence.
Worcester 22 Saracens 7: Worcester take final step to safety
Published: 30 April 2007
Anyone strolling past the Sixways stadium last Thursday morning might have been startled, not to say discombobulated, by the sound of laughter from a heavily populated corner of the players' inner sanctum. One of bolder sporting projects in recent memory - the establishment of a top-drawer professional rugby team in the West Midlands, less a union backwater than a rivulet - was at risk, thanks to the chronic underperformance of the Worcester team, yet the people responsible were laughing. By comparison, Andrew Flintoff's recent voyage aboard HMS Pedalo seemed entirely appropriate.
Gloucester 35 Bristol 13: Hazell happy to be heading back home
Published: 30 April 2007
Andy Hazell holds out little hope of an England call-up tomorrow, even though Brian Ashton will name a significantly under-strength squad to tour South Africa.
Dean flies again after surviving wreckage
Published: 29 April 2007
Jonathan Davies: The class divide - now the Welsh have their work cut out to cross it
Published: 29 April 2007
Having put their Welsh challengers to the sword over the past two weekends, the way looks clear for Leicester to march on to complete the treble by adding the Heineken Cup and the Premiership to the EDF Energy Cup
