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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain: Premiership gets richer; others can go swing!
Salary caps are causing strife again, with dire warnings emanating from the Premiership elite as well as from clubs in National...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoAbsent stars? No problem says Eddie Jones, there’s more!
There was a moment at Twickenham on Friday when Eddie Jones demonstrated why he is being paid a king’s ransom by...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott: Manu Tuilagi’s injury means it’s all in the balance in midfield
International rugby is about having options and balance in your squad, and Eddie Jones is the same as any other coach...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn: Why we should’ve taken heed of those dinosaurs
Well, who would have believed it? It may have taken more than 25 years but the main protagonist for a move...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 9 years agoStrong-man Scott Sio wants smooth finish to patchy Australia season
Last Autumn Australia‘s powerful prop Scott Sio made no fewer than four Test appearances in a month at Twickenham and as...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams column: Keep that smile on your face, Keelan!
It has been a tale of three wings this week – the good, the used-to-be-bad and the downright ugly – in...
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Peter Jackson
/ 9 years agoPeter Jackson: Try the new Premiership game: Spot an Englishman!
When Newcastle and Leicester squared up at Kingston Park last Sunday, they set a record of sorts, one that appeared to...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott: Chris Ashton plays on the edge and sometimes falls off
Chris Ashton‘s decision not to go with the Saxons to South Africa last summer was the biggest indication that his England...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain: Referees must stop favouring All Blacks
All international teams bend the rules in order to accentuate their strengths and hide their weaknesses, it’s just that New Zealand...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn: I won the ball; took the punch … and Brian Moore got the credit!
Sometimes it’s difficult not to feel a slightly nostalgic tinge when you hear of the French having a mass brawl during...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott: Clubs must be included in global season talks
There have been some sensible thoughts on a global season from World Rugby, a body that we are usually concerned is...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain: Fears grow for Manu Tuilagi, the Tiger in a trap
Manu Tuilagi has probably gone into freefall further and faster than with any high profile international currently playing the game. Furthermore,...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams: Scarlets are in need of grunt to go with the gas
Johnny McNichol must be wondering what he has signed up for judging by the Scarlets‘ start to the season. The Crusaders...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 9 years agoBrendan Gallagher takes a look at the 1930 tour to New Zealand
In many ways the 1930 Lions tour epitomised everything we have grown to love, and occasionally curse, about the trips down...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn column: Right or wrong, I’m pleased Luke Pearce took responsibility
The first games of the season are always a bit of a mess and last week was no exception as all...
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Peter Jackson
/ 9 years agoPeter Jackson column: The Cardiff flier forced to abandon his dream
Billy Boston now has a life-sized statue of his very own in Wigan, a bronze creation for which the town clubbed...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams column: Inspiring Alun Wyn Jones my man to lead Lions
Alun Wyn Jones embodies everything that the British & Irish Lions will need to succeed in New Zealand next summer and...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain column: Time for old Lions heroes to fade way
The 1971 and 1974 Lions were the greatest touring teams that have departed these shores, but the monopoly they appear to...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott column: Warren Gatland can turn this crazy schedule to his advantage
The 2017 Lions head coach job in New Zealand was Warren Gatland’s to turn down, and I’m pleased that he has...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn column: Gracie Matthews deserves support from Injured Players fund
The second National Rugby Awards took place on Thursday and what a day it was, as professional clubs, grassroots clubs, schools...
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Peter Jackson
/ 9 years agoPeter Jackson column: Solution is needed to get Ospreys flying again
According to people who know about these things, the last confirmed flight of an Osprey over Wales took place some 12...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain: Yes, I believe England can rain on New Zealand’s parade
The All Black procession is in full marching order again, with the usual array of tub-thumpers and cheerleaders proclaiming them as...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams column: Get Stephen Jones on board when Lions confirm Warren Gatland call
When it comes to leading the British & Irish Lions, it’s all about experience and that’s why Warren Gatland is the...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott column: Scene now set for Danny Cipriani to realise his full potential
Today’s clash at the Ricoh Arena thrusts Danny Cipriani into the spotlight once again and there will be huge pressure on...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn column: Shadow of court cases hangs over new season
Usually when we get this close to the kick-off of a new season there is an air of anticipation of all...
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Peter Jackson
/ 9 years agoPeter Jackson column: Connacht haven’t lost hunger to retain title
Even when the whole of Galway let its collective hair down for days and nights on end, John Muldoon never lost...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams column: Regions must take lead from Connacht
The Welsh regions have a massive point to prove in the Guinness Pro12 this season and I’m expecting there to be...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott: Saracens set for dynasty – like Bath, Wasps and Tigers
Every new season brings renewed excitement, and with it changes in the pecking order in terms of who qualifies for Europe,...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain column: Matt Burke’s law on summer season is good sense
Matt Burke was not only a great Wallaby full-back, he is a measured and respected commentator on the game. That’s why...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn: What’s to stop Tier Two teams from taking the import route?
Money, money, money. Why are the clubs surprised that the highly publicised new deal between the RFU and PRL has seen...
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Peter Jackson
/ 9 years agoPeter Jackson: Jamie Cudmore’s crusade to curb risk of concussion
Jamie Cudmore has hurled himself into a crusade this season on behalf of rugby players all over Europe, to raise millions...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott: Wallabies’ walloping shows up Bernard Foley’s frailties in attack
What a difference a year can make in international sport. Michael Cheika’s Wallaby side were riding a crest of a wave...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams: Fit and firing Gavin Henson can earn himself Wales recall
People may think I’m crazy for saying this but do not put it past Gavin Henson getting himself back in contention...
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Peter Jackson
/ 9 years agoPeter Jackson: The day Newport felled the ‘Pinetree’
Over the course of more than 50 matches for the All Blacks all over the British Isles, Colin Meads only lost...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoAll Blacks will have to dig deep to keep that No.1 tag
By the time England are next scheduled to play New Zealand in the autumn of 2017 it will have been three...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 9 years agoBrendan Gallagher: Beware the All Blacks ‘in transition’
It seems barely five minutes ago that the Rugby Championship was first mooted and then established and now here we are...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain: Fiji were fab but 7s is a glorious sideshow
Congratulations to Fiji for winning their first medal of any sort at the Olympics, and making it gold by dominating the...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott: All Blacks for the title, but Wallabies will come again
This Rugby Championship is the start of a new cycle for the Southern Hemisphere, which leads to Tokyo and the next...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams: James Davies proved he is the man for a big occasion
I’m sure I’m not the only person who has been gripped this week by the Olympic Sevens. Any doubts over whether...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn: Big yes to a Sevens World Cup in between Olympics
As the dust settles on Fiji‘s fantastic Olympic win and World Rugby looks forward to what it believes will be a...
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Peter Jackson
/ 9 years agoPeter Jackson column: Star-finder Paul Turner can give Wales fresh hope
England‘s 45-man training squad this weekend included ten born in the Southern Hemisphere – four in New Zealand, three in Australia,...
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Shane Williams
/ 9 years agoShane Williams column: Steve Tandy and his Ospreys need to get a fast start
We are just a month away from the start of the new Guinness Pro 12 season and one side I expect...
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Jeff Probyn
/ 9 years agoJeff Probyn: Academy rejects must have a Championship bolthole
As usual, the letters to The Rugby Paper bring up some interesting points that would otherwise be missed and Jeff Gage...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 9 years agoBrendan Gallagher remembers the 1908 Lions who halted the rise of Rugby League
The 1908 ‘Lions‘ tour of New Zealand was, at first glance, a miserable failure with humiliating drubbings in two of the...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoNick Cain column: Feed the Championship before it dies of neglect
There are very few players in the England squad who have not benefitted from the time they have spent with a...
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Nick Cain
/ 9 years agoTom Youngs in? Richard Cockerill must have Eddie Jones’ ear
Tom Youngs was a surprise addition to the Provisional England Elite Player Squad of 45 announced last Monday. That’s because when...
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Jeremy Guscott
/ 9 years agoJeremy Guscott: If Todd Blackadder’s ruthless he can transform Bath
Todd Blackadder arrives at Bath with a great playing pedigree and a good coaching CV, although he has not won much...
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Shane Williams
/ 10 years agoShane Williams column: Answers to this Pro12 predicament lie within
Is the world going mad or are the Pro12 administrators really considering sending players to the United States, South Africa or...
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Peter Jackson
/ 10 years agoPeter Jackson: Misery in Wales has moulded Steve Hansen
As head coach of the All Blacks, Steve Hansen has lost three Test matches in five years. In the same position...
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Brendan Gallagher
/ 10 years agoIntroducing the reigning Olympic rugby champions
15. Charles Doe (Stanford University): Basketball was his first love but he quickly took to rugby. Vice-captain in Paris in 1924...
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