Riley crashes over to snatch Stoop thriller

SAM Riley's late score gave Harlequins their first win in a Champions Cup knockout tie at the seventh time of asking in a thrilling contest at The Stoop.

Manny stars for Baxter's battling Chiefs

IT'S not just Storm Kathleen that was causing quite the stir at Sandy Park, so too were Rob Baxter's young Exeter Chiefs side who progressed into the quarter-finals of this season's Champions Cup with a hard-fought victory over rivals Bath.

England need access to their overseas stars

ENGLAND and New Zealand, who meet in a two-Test series this summer, find themselves in similar places due to the RFU and NZ Rugby imposing a national team ban on players who decide to take up contracts overseas.

Malins on his marks for sprint to the line

MAX Malins says he's gearing up for what promises to be a 'sprint finish' in the race for this season's play-offs in the Premiership.

Murley out to make mark with England

WRITTEN off at a young age for being too slow and too small, Cadan Murley has since proved the critics wrong and then some.

Quirke has his heart set on return to England fold

MOST Mancunians aspire to represent Manchester for either United or City - but this never enticed a young Raffi Quirke. The 22-year-old has always aspired to represent Sale on the grandest stage.

Grayson now has Japan in his sights

THE demise of Wasps, Warriors Worcester and London Irish has left just 10 starting fly-half spots across a congested Premiership, leaving the likes of Japan hopeful James Grayson to opt for a new challenge in a thriving domestic league.

Baxter: All these law changes are madness

ROB Baxter believes World Rugby’s latest proposals to make further law changes will end up alienating supporters, rather than attracting them.

Top Chief Vintcent's whirlwind continues

EXETER fought back to beat Bath and seal a place in next weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-finals in a Sandy Park thriller.

Borthwick now spoilt for choice at 15, says Piutau

CHARLES Piutau feels England’s decision to drop Freddie Steward in favour of George Furbank at full-back shows the embarrassment of riches Steve Borthwick has at his disposal.

Newport take over at the top

NEWPORT are the new leaders in the Welsh Premiership after they toppled Llandovery 24-6 to go four points clear.

Latsha is just loving her life at Harlequins

HARLEQUINS prop Babalwa Latsha is relishing the opportunity to play in the Women's Premiership and hopes to transfer her skills and knowledge to her international side, South Africa.

Rebel life is just the thing for Maunder

JACK Maunder had always been a name synonymous with Exeter Chiefs. Born and raised in the heart of Devon, rugby ran through his veins like the nearby River Exe carving its path through familiar landscapes.

McNicholl at double as Crusaders break duck

FORMER Wales wing Johnny McNicholl scored a try in each half to help Crusaders coach Scott Penny secure his long-awaited first win in charge.

Esher set to bounce back to third tier

AS the National Leagues take a pause over Easter, Peter Winterbottom’s Esher are looking on course to earn promotion back to the third tier.

Bazalgette dreaming of shot at big time

HARTPURY playmaker Harry Bazalgette believes he’s put himself in the shop window for Premiership outfits as he aims to follow in his fore fathers’ footsteps and make the grade at the highest level.

Putting 50 points on the Aussies was a highlight

IT was only through an accident of birth that I was born in England (in Northampton) while my dad was travelling around the country working in the oil industry.

'I'm playing again after near death experience'

HENLEY Hawks forward Morgan Macrae has fulfilled his goal of playing again just seven months after nearly dying from a cardiac arrest.

Japan rugby full of talent, warns Savea

ARDIE Savea has issued a warning to England not to underestimate Japan in the two side’s first ever meeting in Tokyo this summer.

Schreuder happy to be Spencer's back-up

LOUIS Schreuder wasn’t the only South African scrum-half smiling when it was announced at the end of February that he would be staying on at Bath for at least another year.

Eight-try England turn on the style

ENGLAND’S quest for a sixth successive title rolls on after blowing winless Wales away once more, in front of the Red Roses’ largest home crowd for a fixture away from Twickenham.

O'Flaherty: We need to learn from our inquest

SALE’S players had good old northern, say it how it is, conversations with one another earlier this week as the inquest into yet another defeat took place at Carrington.

Sharp Smith gives Saints extra edge

AN assured display from Fin Smith helped Northampton to maintain their play-off push after that 52-21 thrashing at Bristol last week.

Exeter flyer on the fast track to top

ROB Baxter has warned opposition defences that England sensation Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will only get better with time after impressing for both club and country this season.

Dingwall has his eye on All Blacks

FRASER Dingwall is set on helping Northampton finish the season on a high and putting himself in contention for England’s summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.

I've loved my time at Bath Gallagher

MATT Gallagher admits it will be a wrench to leave Bath at the end of the season and is doing so to pursue his dream of playing international rugby.

Lam: I understand Sinckler decision

PAT Lam understands Kyle Sinckler’s decision to turn his back on England and join the exodus to France next season.

Bath fume at Irne's short time in the bin

MARCUS Smith and Harlequins just edged this crazy game and moved into the play-off spots but there could be repercussions following a yellow card storm.

Time for club owners to come clean on plans

SEETHING financial undercurrents are undermining the main pillars of the game in England, with the professional club top tier increasingly in peril-mostly due to the consistent administrative failings which have led to a broken Premiership structure.

Bath will have to go full metal jacket all the way

BATH have got a very good shout of winning the Premiership for the first time in almost 30 years, for all the reasons we've seen this season - and which were on display again against Sale at The Rec last weekend.