February 2002 .......... continued from the main Rugby World page............Frankie Deges reports from Argentina on how the Pumas’ recent success is taking Buenos Aires by storm, hotshots – profiles of Andrew Powell (Newport and Wales A) and Daniel Leek (Wasps & England Under 18), Canada – you thought it was all over…and it is now – fired coach Dave Clark is back, there’s a new board and the players’ strike is over as Ian Kennedy reports, Eddie O’Sullivan – the new Ireland coach is used to sleepless nights says Tom English, Jeni Sheerin – Nicky Goodwin finds the Scotland No 8 in ebullient mood, Mike Harrison – the former England captain is still playing at 45 as Alan Pearey reports, Brack in the spotlight – Kyran Bracken has endured more ups and downs than most – has he finally made the top spot his own? – Ian Stafford reports, a year at one hundred miles an hour – there’s hardly time for a breather in modern rugby…has it become a grind? asks Mick Cleary, figured out – England now have such depth they could pick five different test teams – Stuart Barnes wonders if this will bring them trophies, regrets, I have a few – Adrian Hadley shocked British rugby with his “warts and all” book – the new Bridgend boss tells Gavin Mortimer how he feels now, the Likely Lads – Lewis Moody and Ben Kay – as Leicester lead the way in the Heineken Cup and Zurich Premiership, Alan Pearey meets two talented young Tigers, Irish ghostbusters – Leinster are putting past traumas behind them and are beating all comers – Tom English discovers the secret of their success, the big debate – substitutes – is the to-ing and fro-ing of endless substitutes across the touchline spoiling our beautiful game? – two experts air their contrasting views – Yes says former England prop Jeff Probyn but No says Leicester coach John Wells, Malta’s alter egos – when Malta cried out for new international players a group of Brits answered the call – Gavin Mortimer found out what it was like to win that first cap, review of the year – with a split Six Nations, a Lions tour and much more to celebrate for English clubs and European nations, 2001 was a year to remember, down on the farm – Gavin Mortimer visits Stewartry RFC who are rebuilding a year after the players’ lives were devastated by foot-and-mouth disease, focus on World Cup 2003 – Czech in for round three – Katie Field tracks Europe’s teams with World Cup hopes, Fraser Neill – Katie Field catches up with the man holding the key to the World Cup, Trinidad on top – will calypso or samba triumph in a World Cup showdown? – Katie Field reports, you are what you eat – if you need to get back in shape after the festive season then chew on this advice from the country’s leading rugby nutritionists, fitness guide – let the Rugby World fitness panel answer your queries, club round-up – Tetley’s Bitter Team of the Month – Novocastrians, nationwide news from Wales and England with spotlights on Wharfedale, Ruskin Park, Gateshead, Withycombe, Wells, Broadstreet, Longton, Brighton and Stowmarket, all the latest action from the schools circuit with Huw S Thomas, School of the Month – Oakham, Mizuno Player of the Month – David Rees (Bradford Grammar School), the backs – a look at the fixtures for the month ahead plus book and video reviews, happy return of old friends – rugby’s sage heralds two revivals but pours cold water on the latest fashion says Frank Keating.

March 2002 -continued from the main Rugby World page............ Katie Field reports on the rise and rise of County Carlow, Tens rugby – stars to return for Hong Kong – Paul Morgan finds some former rugby stars looking for one last tilt at the game in this year’s Hong Kong Tens, Nations Cup – Romania start healing process – the Nations Cup offers a chance for Romania to put recent pain behind them – but Georgia are waiting – Stuart Farmer reports, subs-4-clubs – earn money for your club – in a unique offer, here’s your chance to win your club a free rugby tour to Europe and raise funds for your club, hotshots – profiles of Matt Parr (sale & England Under 18) and James Brooks (Northampton), Sevens – golden dream drives England – Frankie Deges reports from Santiago on the World Sevens Series and England’s plans to win Commonwealth Gold, Joe Worsley – Katie Field meets the dynamic Wasps and England forward, Eric Miller – Tom English reveals the secret to the Irish flanker’s devastating form, Nigel Whitehouse – Gavin Mortimer gets a talking-to from the whistling Welsh policeman, the quest for perfection – Jonny Wilkinson, England’s brilliant fly half has achieved much in his life but Grand Slam glory still eludes him – Ian Stafford finds out if this rankles, will England’s castle be stormed in 2002? – England are determined to make it fourth time lucky but it’s going to be hard says Mick Cleary, Harris in wonderland – Ian Stafford catches up with Welsh rugby league convert Iestyn Harris who still can’t quite believe what has happened to him, the growing pains of Irish rugby – Keith Wood is the veteran of the Ireland side and, as he tells Ian Stafford, he believes the men in green have finally grown up, leading man – Scotland’s flanker and captain Budge Pountney has a point to prove after being overlooked for the Lions tour – Iain Morrison meets the Saints star, Dallaglio’s endurance test – Gavin Mortimer reports on how the England No 8 has been making the most of his enforced absence from the rugby field, new life at the coalface – he’s got arguably the worst ears in rugby but this hasn’t stopped Graham Rowntree playing the best rugby of his life this season, the Six Nations Championship – warm up for the greatest tournament outside the World Cup with interviews with all six national coaches – what are Woodward, Henry, McGeechan, O’Sullivan, Laporte and Johnstone planning?, rise and shine – Nicola Goodwin previews what promises to be the best ever women’s Six Nations with England starting as firm favourites, the missing link – Alan Pearey meets the members of the National Rugby Supporters Association who are campaigning for fans across England, all for one and one for all – Gavin Mortimer visits Toulouse to meet three young French Musketeers, focus on Super 12 – who can beat the Brumbies? – Gavin Mortimer previews the new Super 12 season, focus on Women’s World Cup – Vanessa Cootes – James Gordon meets the Maori winger England have cause to fear, let the Rugby World fitness panel answer your queries, club round-up – Tetley’s Bitter Team of the Month – Hull, nationwide news from Wales and England including spotlights on North Walsham, Rossendale, Blackpool, St Agnes, Sherborne, Peterborough Thirds, Burton Juniors, Saffron Walden and Dartfordians, all the latest action from the schools circuit with Huw S Thomas, School of the Month – Dollar Academy, Mizuno Player of the Month – Tom Biggs (Hymers College in Hull), the backs – a look at the fixtures for the month ahead plus book and video reviews, drama from first ‘til last – Frank Keating, the doyen of rugby writers, looks forward to sampling a vintage Six Nations.

May 2002  -continued from the main Rugby World page............  women’s rugby – Frost warms Sarries’ hearts, watch this face – Matthew Williams (Rugby), Braam van Straaten (Leeds & South Africa) and Helen Clayton (Saracens & England), how England win the big ones by Stuart Barnes, they’ll be crying in the streets of… Alison Kervin catches up with the voice of rugby Bill McLaren as he hangs up his microphone, Ian Stafford looks ahead to the Leicester v Llanelli Heineken Cup semi-final at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, mad for it – Ian Stafford chats with Llanelli prop Martyn Madden, Cappamore Kid – Tom English meets Munster and Ireland prop John Hayes, walking on water – Andy Johnstone with Gregor Townsend of Castres, in at the deep end – Katie Field chats with Gloucester boss Nigel Melville, under doctor’s orders – Ian Stafford talks with Dr Brendan Venter of London Irish, Devon cream – Mark Stephens with Plymouth Albion supreme Graham Dawe, focus on South Africa, watch this face – Colin Hawke (New Zealand referee), focus on Yugoslavia, fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), Tetley’s Team of the Month – Painswick, news from Wales, nationwide news from England including spotlights on Esher, Welwyn, Newick, Luctonians, Macclesfield, Bridgwater & Albion, Abbey, Ponteland Under 16 and Telford Hornets Under 15, schools news with Huw S Thomas, School Team of the Month – Merchiston Castle (Edinburgh), Mizuno Schools Player of the Month – Cai Griffiths (Welsh Schools and Welsh Youth), fixtures for April and May, Heineken’s happy families – this year’s Heineken Cup semi-finalists share a common and worthy philosophy says Frank Keating.

June 2002  -continued from the main Rugby World page............  personality or person – Will Greenwood (Harlequins, England & Lions), Hong Kong Sevens, Finals Day at Twickenham – London Irish 38 Northampton 7 (Powergen Cup), Halifax 43 Gosport & Fareham 19 (Powergen Intermediate Cup), Heath 16 Bromley 10 (Powergen Junior Vase), watch this face – Trevor Woodman, Andrew Henderson and Warren Gatland, World Cup countdown – Alison Kervin chats with England manager Clive Woodward, great expectations – Alison Kervin with new Welsh coach Steve Hansen, rugby special – Frank Keating looks back at the last 40 years of the Five/Six Nations Championship, the Six Nations rundown 2002 – every player, every score, every sin-bin, every sub, every team, every turning point, every stat you will ever need to know, the big debate – should Italy be kicked out of the Six Nations by Nick Cain, heads you win – head guards with Shaun Rusk, helping hands – Alison Kevin talks win John Broadfoot and his help for Romanian children to take up rugby, Women’s World Cup – Paula George’s England, new-look USA and win a trip to Barcelona, Welsh legend Liza Burgess, Canada’s jet set and the doughty Scots, the holders New Zealand and Australia plus all the fixtures, blazing a trail – Katie Field visited Poland to take a ride on the World Cup bandwagon, fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), Tetley’s Team of the Month – King’s Cross Steelers, Welsh club news, nationwide news in England with spotlights on Barking Colts, Bletchley Youth, Old Saltleians Under 16, London Nigerian, North Bristol, St Benedicts, Keyworth, Old Caterhamians & Pontefract, school news with Huw S Thomas, School Team of the Month – Outwood Grange CS Under 15, Mizuno Schools Player of the Month – James Tideswell (Old Swinford Hospital), National Schools Sevens, fixtures for May, June and July, walking the tightrope – to rest or no to rest – that is the question for this summer’s World Cup hopefuls says Frank Keating.

November 2002 -continued from the main Rugby World page............ Heineken Cup - is Austin Healey the perfect 10 asks Ian Stafford, six of one…Katie Field visits Gloucester and the battle in the back row, hearing the Scarlets – Graham Clutton on how Llanelli plan to bounce back in the Heineken Cup, Tom English on Leinster captain Reggie Corrigan, home from home – Richard Bath meets up with Edinburgh’s former All Black skipper Todd Blackadder, road to success – Ian Borthwick visits Biarritz and chats with French international flanker Serge Betsen, Eastern inspiration – Wayne Shelford cracks the whip at Saracens, better by half – Ian Stafford talks scrum halves with former England No.9 Dewi Morris, Stephen Jones discusses the advantage law, hidden Talent – Ian Stafford meets Phil Christophers (Bristol & England), the big debate – should relegation be scrapped asks Nick Cain, top of the form – Greg Campbell chats with Aussie No.8 Toutai Kefu, focus on Canada, watch this face – Cristobal Berti (Chile), focus on Uruguay, fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), Welsh clubs guide, nationwide news in England including spotlights on Hull Ionians, Charlton Park, Old Anselmians, Garstang, Mersea Island, Deepings, Syston, St Day and Prince Rock Woodland Fort, schools rugby with Huw S Thomas, fixtures for October and November, no room for Euro sceptics – the Heineken Cup holds a special place in the hearts of rugby supporters says Frank Keating.

December 2002 -continued from the main Rugby World page............  watch this space – Robbie Morris (Northampton), Rhys Williams (Cardiff & Wales) and Daryl Gibson (Bristol & New Zealand), it’s time to get ruthless Lawrence Dallaglio tells Ian Stafford, a crazy night in Georgia – Katie Field witness Georgia beat bitter rivals Russia, turning the corner – things are looking up for Scott Quinnell as Ian Stafford found out, Mitchcraft – Keith Quinn chats with All Black coach John Mitchell, back to the wall – Aussie coach Eddie Jones faces a dilemma says Greg Campbell, Zulu dawn – Dan Retief on Lawrence Sephaka – the first Zulu to play for the Springboks, tragedy & triumph – Keith Wood talks with Ian Stafford, sink the subs – the plethora of substitutes that routinely trot on in modern rugby is an insult to the game’s ethos and drastic action is required by the IRB says Stephen Jones, race for No.10 – Iain Morrison and Scott Hastings discuss who should play fly half for Scotland, the big debate – who should host the World Cup asks Nick Cain, Alan Pearey previews the Dubai Sevens, focus on Romania, focus on Spain, fitness with Darren Grewcock (Fitness Editor), Team of the Month – Worthing, club round-up, Club news from Wales, nationwide news from England including spotlights on Old Colfeians, Pilning, Camp Hill, Helsby, British Airways, Old Dunstonians, Carnforth, Buckinghamshire Chilterns University and Hinckley, schools rugby with Huw S Thomas, School Team of the Month – RGS Guildford, Mizuno Schools Player of the Month – Alistair Simmie (St Edward’s School, Oxford), a longing for longer tours as Frank Keating makes the case for a return to the one-nation trips of old.