THE RFU has launched a new performance academy, sponsored by BMW, that will provide 30 young players with tailor made support to help them progress onto the elite England team.…

“MICHALAK IS back” screams the headline in this week’s Midi Olympique, alongside a photograph of Toulon’s Freddie, a player for whom the word ‘mercurial’ could have been invented. Michalak played…

HERE’S a bit of statistical analysis to kick-off this week’s Championship blog, writes Richard Grainger. In the Championship — which doesn’t have a sponsor — 355 points were scored in…

THE SEASON is here and the hard work isn’t over, writes John Dams. Don’t get stuck in the gym doing things you’re good at; get on the pitch and WORK…

Bakkies Botha

THEY SAY Lourdes is where you go in search of a miracle cure, but if you’re a thirty-something Englishman Toulon seems to be the place in France that has healing…

IT’S VERY frustrating for a player to present the ball perfectly on the floor – only for an opponent to steal it before one of his own team-mates arrives on…

The Wales wing talks racing, rom-coms and Rosie with Sarah Mockford RUGBY WORLD: What are the happiest and saddest moments of your life to date? ALEX CUTHBERT: The happiest was…

Video: Ben Youngs’s try against Australia

BEN YOUNGS scythed through the Australian defence from the back of a lineout to score a try in England’s 21-20 victory in Sydney in 2010. It was a memorable way…

Today marks three years to the kick-off of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and with that milestone, those tasked with bringing the tournament to the millions of rugby…

TONGA INTERNATIONAL loose-head Ofa Fainga’anuku has signed with Glasgow Warriors on a short-term contract. Subject to medical, the former Waratahs player will ply his trade at Scotstoun Stadium until the…