Leicester Tigers prop Nicky Smith makes Sale Sharks move ‘for family’

Nicky Smith is bidding a reluctant farewell to Leicester Tigers at the end of the month having agreed a move to...

Bath 26-27 Exeter Chiefs: Rob Baxter’s heroes knock out the reigning champions

Exeter Chiefs produced one of the great Prem comebacks courtesy of a herculean defensive set against Bath, surviving 40 phases with...

Northampton Saints 45-31 Leicester Tigers: George Furbank says his farewell with a final flourish

Northampton Saints booked their place in Saturday’s Twickenham showdown with an exhilarating performance against rivals Leicester Tigers to lift the spirits...

England boss Steve Borthwick leads the praise for Sir Kevin Sinfield

Steve Borthwick led the congratulations for Kevin Sinfield after the England defence coach was awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday...

Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson urges joint player welfare plan

Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson insists it’s up to both club and country to take a long-term view when it comes...

Macclesfield ‘anger’ after shock relegation from National Two North

Despite finishing third in National Two North this season, Macclesfield have been left ‘disappointed and angry’ after being relegated to Regional...

Saracens’ Tom Willis is crowned Prem player of the year ahead of France move

Saracens No.8 Tom Willis leaves England for France as the Prem player of the year.

Phil Morrow: England would love players to take a break

Phil Morrow, England’s head of performance, would love to mimic New Zealand’s sabbatical model – but admits it is a non-runner.

Rugby World Cup 2027: James Ramm sets his sights on making the Australia squad

James Ramm is returning to Australia at the end of the season after four years with Northampton Saints to put himself...

Scotland boss Gregor Townsend calls up two uncapped hookers for the Nations Championship

Gregor Townsend has called up two uncapped hookers in Scotland’s 36-man squad for the Nations Championship with George Turner and Dave...

Why I’m right behind this new Nations battle

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK THE Nations Championship, which will be contested by the world’s top tier international teams...

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Trailfinders: Barney Maddison’s side look to upset the champions

Table toppers Gloucester-Hartpury will look to put recent setbacks behind them when they host Trailfinders today in their PWR semi-final at...

Saracens vs Exeter Chiefs: Marlie Packer wants to leave on a high

Marlie Packer could be playing her final Saracens game today as they host Exeter Chiefs in the last four at the...

‘Project Shaun Edwards’ must be activated

THE paranoia surrounding coaches leaving one international camp and moving to another with a swagbag of “intellectual property”, including top-secret moves...

Super Saints at their swashbuckling best

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK JUSTICE was done at a packed Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night when Northampton,...

Leinster vs Bulls: James Lowe leaves with parting tribute to club

James Lowe aims to sign off in style by helping Leinster defend their URC crown before he departs after nine years...

Leinster vs Bulls: Handre Pollard – It’ll be all right on the night this time from the tee

Handre Pollard admits he was ‘terrible’ off the tee against Glasgow Warriors last weekend but backs himself to respond in Friday’s...

Boomerism which is likely to end in tears

YOU may have noticed that the Trump-Infantino Personality Cult Bonanza, aka the FIFA World Cup, has seized control of our television...

It could be a golden age for our best refs

GOOD news from the shop window: rugby is doing right by its referees by picking the right referees. Luke Pearce, the...

Kyle Moyle: Don’t let county rugby die

Cornwall’s Kyle Moyle revelled in bowing out from rugby by hoisting the Bill Beaumont Division 1 title at Twickenham.

From death row to a born-again belief

WELSH rugby‘s unholy civil war has broken old ground and obliterated a grass square in Swansea made sacred by two of...

Giorgi boy is setting a high bar for try scoring

GIORGI Melikidze did something in Paris a fortnight ago which barely caused as much as a ripple on this side of...

Fijian lock shows how to finish in style

THE botched contract deal which gave James Lowe a yen for joining Suntory Goliath instead of staying in Ireland on a...

My 15 to follow had some hits – but selection’s a tough game

THE regular season is done and it’s time to quickly review my eclectic 15 to follow which I offered up back...

Bonus point system just plain nonsense

ICAN’T claim to have studied the bottom of the Premiership table much this season. Why would you? Nothing at stake, zero...

FANTASY RUGBY 2025/26

Welcome to the final update of this season’s TRP Fantasy Rugby, covering the eight day period between Sunday 31st May 2026...

FINAL LEADERBOARD

FANTASY RUGBY TEAM TOTALS

Fixtures

Results

Paul Williams: I, for one, am glad South African teams are in the URC

Paul Williams argues the presence of South African teams has improved the URC and that Welsh rugby’s problems run far deeper...

Rising Toulouse star injured again

LESS than a month ago, France full-back Pauline Barrat was named breakthrough player of the 2026 Women’s Six Nations. Last weekend,...

Galthie’s handed selection present

FABIEN Galthie is expected to unveil an initial list of 28 players on Monday, after this weekend’s ‘barrage round’ play-off matches...

McKenzie leads Chiefs home

By BEN JAYCOCK CRUSADERS missed out on the final for just the second time in nine years after falling victims to...

Hurricanes make final move

By WILLIAM BULL Fast start: Cam Roigard breaks to set up the opening try for Jordie Barrett Barrett 3, Kirifi 14,...

2026 Super Rugby Americas – Round 14 summary: Pampas seal home semi-final as play-off line-up confirmed

In Round 14 of the 2026 Super Rugby Americas season, Pampas ensured they will play their semi-final in Buenos Aires with...

Ireland wing James Lowe departs Leinster without “fairytale ending” in emotional farewell

James Lowe reflected his time with Leinster and Ireland in an emotional farewell as he prepares for a new chapter in...

England to make late call on Maro Itoje’s summer involvement

England will assess Maro Itoje’s workload after the Prem play-offs before determining whether he features in July’s Tests against South Africa,...

New Rugby Paper Roundup: Who wins the Prem semis? Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers & Bath v Exeter Chiefs

In this week’s episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by Northampton Chronicle rugby writer Tom...

Maro Itoje left out of England squad for latest training camp

Maro Itoje misses England’s latest training squad as uncertainty continues over his involvement in next month’s Nations Championship.

The winner takes it all! Exeter Chiefs snatch final Prem semi-final spot

Exeter Chiefs grabbed the final Prem semi-final place with victory over Saracens yesterday and will take on Bath next weekend.

Nick Cain: RFU must move fast to sign up Shaun Edwards for England

Whether Shaun Edwards is in the process of disentangling himself from a French Federation contract which extends until 2028, or is...

Harlequins skipper Alex Dombrandt keen to prove his worth for England

It has been a taxing season for Alex Dombrandt with Harlequins languishing near the bottom of the Premiership and the No.8...

Paul Rees: Will England grab the man of steel, Shaun Edwards?

Paul Rees considers whether Shaun Edwards may end up on Steve Borthwick’s staff if he parts company with France...

Sale Sharks are looking for some French tips

Alex Sanderson plans for a makeover at Sale Sharks over the summer will take him to French champions Toulouse.

South Africa star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu picked as best in the URC

Stormers fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been crowned the URC’s players’ player of the season in a poll of the captains and...

Worcester Warriors boss Matt Everard says Champ triumph is “as special as it gets”

Worcester Warriors completed one of rugby’s great resurrection stories with a 27-14 victory over Bedford Blues at Goldington Road last Sunday...

Matias Alemanno heads list of Gloucester departures

Argentina lock Matias Alemanno will leave Gloucester this summer along with another 11 other first players.

England international Haineala Lutui delights in her quick rise to the top

From starring for Loughborough Lightning in her first PWR campaign to making her England debut in front of a record crowd...