Summary

  • FT: Leicester Tigers 50-17 Bristol Rugby

  • FT: Bath 22-12 Harlequins

  • FT: Worcester Warriors 32-48 Exeter Chiefs

  1. try

    Try (Simmonds, con Slade)published at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Worcester 18-36 Exeter

    And the tries keep on coming for a relentless Exeter in this second half.

    Sam Simmonds is the man to claim their fifth and their third of this second half.

    Henry Slade on the money again to add the conversion with 25 minutes still to play.  

  2. try

    Try (Thompstone, con missed Williams)published at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Leicester 43-10 Bristol

    Adam ThompstoneImage source, Getty Images

     Seventh heaven now for Leicester Tigers as Adam Thompstone squeezes over against Bristol.

    Oh, and now we can come at you with a great statistic - that was obviously Tigers' seventh try of the day, but also Thompstone's seventh try of the season.

    Symmetry. I like it.

  3. try

    Try (Yarde)published at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Bath 9-12 Harlequins

    Harlequins have started this half as the mean to go on!

    Hooker Rob Buchanan makes a powerful break forwards before brilliantly offloading out of contact into the hands of Marland Yarde

    Marland YardeImage source, Ge
  4. try

    Try (Short, con Slade)published at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Worcester 18-29 Exeter

    James ShortImage source, Rex Features

    Huge turnaround at Sixways after Worcester concede a second try in the space of three minutes.

    James Short is in for his second of the afternoon and one that secures a try bonus for the Chiefs as well.

    Henry Slade makes no mistake this time off the tee and all of a sudden Exeter have an 11-point lead.

  5. try

    Try (O'Connor, con Williams)published at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Leicester 38-Bristol 10

    And we have try number six for Leicester at Welford Road, Brendon O'Connor collecting the ball after charging down a kick from Tusi Pisi.

    Easy, that.

  6. Kick-offpublished at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Bath 9-7 Harlequins

    Both sides are back onto the field at The Recreation Ground and needless to say sharper handling must be the name of the game in this second half. 

  7. try

    Try (Woodburn, missed con Slade)published at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Worcester 18-22 Exeter

    Olly WoodburnImage source, Rex Features

    And Exeter immediately take advantage of that sin-binning for Faosiliva.

    Olly Woodburn is in for their third try and also puts them in the lead for the first time in this game.

    Henry Slade takes over kicking duties from Gareth Steenson while the latter is having an injury treated but the England centre can't find the target.

  8. Sin-bin (Faosiliva)published at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Worcester 18-17 Exeter

    Worcester down to 14 players early in this second half as their number eight Alafolti Faosiliva is penalised for a swinging arm by referee JP Doyle.

    Big test of the home side's narrow lead now.

  9. Kick-offpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Leicester 31-10 Bristol

    And the action is also back underway at Welford Road.

    Can Leicester keep up that stunning first-half form and really put Premiership bottom side Bristol to the sword today?

  10. Kick-offpublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Back under way with the action at Sixways whereas they're still taking a breather at The Rec and Welford Road.

    Still, we're off and running once more....

  11. History makerpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Sara Cox is making history in the men's gameImage source, RFU

    Sara Cox has made history on the rugby field today and hasn't even needed to touch a ball to do so.

    The 26-year-old referee is in charge of Loughborough's National League One match against Plymouth, which kicked off a 14:00 GMT.

    It is the first time a woman has overseen a match at this level - the third tier - of the men's game.

    Before the match, she told Radio 1 Newsbeat she was "excited" about the "great opportunity".

    "I don't see myself as any different to my male counterparts that referee at this level," she added.

  12. Rugby union skills 'miles behind'published at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Ben Ryan (left) coached Fiji to their first Olympic gold meal with victory over England in the 2016 Rio rugby sevens finalImage source, Getty Images

    Skills in rugby union have not advanced in "30 to 40 years" and are "miles behind" other sports, says former Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan.

    Englishman Ryan, who led Fiji to 2016 Rio Olympic sevens gold, joined Welsh Rugby Union as a consultant in January.

    Writing in a blog on his website,, external Ryan said the 15-man game will "become less accurate and based more on size and strength" if skills are not improved.

    He warned that would result in a "dilution of the sport".

    Read more of what Ryan had to say here., external

  13. Postpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    While we await the second half, let's bring you up to date with other news in the rugby union world....

  14. Half-time scorespublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Plenty of action to talk about so far in our three games. Here's how they stand if you've just joined us:

    • Bath 9-7
    • Leicester 31-10 Bristol
    • Worcester 18-17 Exeter
  15. Half-timepublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Bath 9-7 Harlequins

    Well it's fair to say that it hasn't been a vintage affair by any stretch of the imagination. Instead it's been a little bit all over the place handling wise!

    For the hosts Rhys Priestland's boot has been on song while Tim Visser provided the spark for Harlequins. 

  16. Half-timepublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Leicester 31-10 Bristol

    JP Pietersen of Leicester Tigers is congratulated on his first try, by Telusa VeainuImage source, Getty Images

    Well, that converted try from Bristol was the last action of the first half at Welford Road.

    Breathtaking stuff by the hosts as they run in five tries, JP Pietersen with two of them.

  17. Penalty (Priestland)published at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Bath 9-7 Harlequins

    Harlequins are penalised for straying offside and once again Rhys Priestland steps up and delivers. 

    With five minutes to go before the break there's little flow to this game and little to choose between the two sides. 

  18. try

    Try (Hawkins, con Woodward)published at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Leicester 31-10 Bristol

    Well, Leicester with their bonus point already in their pocket get a bit lax late in this first half and Bristol take full advantage as Rob Hawkins goes over  just seconds before the break.

    Jason Woodward converts and now they have a 21-point mountain to climb in the second half. Easier, I guess.

  19. Half-timepublished at 15:45 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Worcester 18-17 Exeter

    Francois HougaardImage source, Rex Features

    A very entertaining first 40 minutes from Sixways.

    Four tries, 35 points and plenty of running, attacking rugby from both sides. More of the same please after a quick cup of tea.

  20. Penalty (Steenson)published at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2017

    Worcester 18-17 Exeter

    Just enough time before half-time at Sixways for Gareth Steenson to slot over another penalty for Exeter to once more bring them back to within a point of Worcester.