FEATURES

I was preparing for battle and needed to be ready

14 January 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Steve Ojomoh – The former England, Bath, Gloucester, Parma, Newport & Moseley back rower talks about his life in the […]

Red Roses: Connie Powell

14 January 2024 0 comments

RED ROSES HARLEQUINS HOOKER Birthplace: Ipswich Date of birth: 13/07/00 Community club: Sudbury RFC Red Roses debut: 2021 vs USA Caps: 11 Why I play […]

Young Guns: Newcastle centre Oli Spencer

14 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Now back to full fitness Oli Spencer is hoping to repay the faith shown in him by England and Newcastle Falcons, while […]

Happy players are more likely to stay

14 January 2024 0 comments

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill talks to Cai Griffiths, the ex-Ospreys prop now director of rugby at London Welsh who play at Level […]

Dream Team with Fraser Honey

7 January 2024 0 comments

The Rams, Cornwall and former Redruth, Plymouth, Bury St Edmunds & Launceston fly-half, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Tommy […]

Lyon set to swoop for pair of Sharks

7 January 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Lyon are eyeing up a double raid on Sale Sharks to take their England and Lions stars Luke Cowan-Dickie and […]

Bath win battle to keep Redpath

7 January 2024 0 comments

Bath have won their tug of war with the Scottish Rugby Union and will be keeping Scotland centre Cam Redpath at The Rec for the […]

Rees-Zammit in line for big Japan payday

7 January 2024 0 comments

WALES superstar Louis Rees-Zammit could be set to jump aboard the oriental gravy train after Mie Honda Heat made an offer to sign him when […]

Red Roses: Emma Sing

7 January 2024 0 comments

GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY FULL-BACK Birthplace: South Molton, Devon Date of birth: 11/03/01 Community club: South Molton RFC Red Roses debut: vs Scotland March 2022 Caps: 6 Why […]

Call for more diversity among referees

7 January 2024 0 comments

Jon Newcombe talks to high-level ex-ref David Rose On Boxing Day, Sam Allison became the first black referee to take charge of a Premier League […]

When the selectors made the right calls

7 January 2024 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S 2024 – a belated Happy New Year by the way – […]

Sir Dicky’s New Year honour is hugely deserved

7 January 2024 0 comments

Everybody west of the Tamar, and indeed way beyond, was delighted that Dicky Evans was elevated to Sir Dicky in the New Year Honours list […]

The day Bancroft created history

7 January 2024 0 comments

TODAY sees the 130th anniversary of the first successful penalty kick in Test rugby with Billy Bancroft, below, landing a tricky 30m effort from wide […]

Cheika brought an axe in and wielded it about

7 January 2024 0 comments

My Life in Rugby with Jono Lance – the former Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, Worcester and Western Force utlity back talks about his life in […]

As a coach, you are learning all the time

7 January 2024 0 comments

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill talks to Matt Cairns, the ex-England and Harlequins hooker who is head coach at Caldy RFC in the […]

Young Guns: Harlequins centre/wing Ben Waghorn

7 January 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Ben Waghorn could have become a rugby league player rather than playing the 15-a-side game but the Harlequins and England U20s centre, […]

Series 3, Episode 20: 2023 in review with Jeff Probyn

3 January 2024 0 comments

Happy New Year from the Rugby Paper Podcast! As 2024 dawns, host Ollie Little and Rugby Paper columnists Nick Cain, Chris Hewett and Brendan Gallagher […]

Wiese on course for Japan

31 December 2023 0 comments

Urasayu D-Rocks have emerged as favourites to sign Leicester No.8 Jasper Wiese when he leaves Welford Road at the end of the season. Tigers thought […]

Sutherland set to return

31 December 2023 0 comments

Glasgow are set to switch their attention to bringing Scotland Rory Sutherland back north of the border at the end of the season. Sutherland, 31, […]

Mitchell planning to stay a Saint

31 December 2023 0 comments

England scrum-half Alex Mitchell has opted to remain loyal to Northampton after being offered the chance of jumping ship and moving to France. Mitchell is […]

Bristol and Bath chasing Welsh prop

31 December 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER West Country rivals Bath and Bristol are battling over Wales loosehead Nicky Smith, who could activate a get-out clause written into his […]

Quins looking out to the wings

31 December 2023 0 comments

Harlequins are looking to see which wingers are available for a move this summer if they are unsuccessful in persuading Louis Lynagh to stay. Lynagh, […]

Dream Team with Mark Mapletoft

31 December 2023 0 comments

Mark Mapletoft, the former England, London Irish, Harlequins, Saracens and Gloucester fly-half, now England U20s head coach, chooses the best XV he has played with… […]

When Merlene Ottey’s leotard grew nine sizes

31 December 2023 1 comment

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points NEW Year’s Eve and rugby always brings to mind England’s slightly eccentric […]

Red Roses: Sadia Kabeya

31 December 2023 0 comments

ENGLAND FLANKER Birthplace: Lewisham Date of birth: 22/02/02 Community club: Streatham & Croydon RFC Club: Loughborough Lightning England debut: v Canada November 2021 Caps: 13 […]

One XV that would challenge the best

31 December 2023 0 comments

Joe Santamaria selects his Tier Two Team of the Year While the major nations were battling for sporting immortality at the Rugby World Cup, the […]

Young Guns: Scotland U20s prop Callum Smyth

31 December 2023 0 comments

BY BEN JAYCOCK Scotland U20s prop Callum Smyth enjoyed the ‘best six months of his life’ this year when he took part in the Macphail […]

Coach to Coach with Martin Webdale

31 December 2023 0 comments

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill, below, talks to Martin Webdale, the head coach at Loughborough University, above Steve Hill: How and why did […]

Ewels in talks with Sharks

31 December 2023 0 comments

Charlie Ewels could be on the move at the end of the season after having a meeting with Sale Sharks about a switch to the […]

Gloucester close in on deal for Atkinson

24 December 2023 0 comments

By NEIL FISSLER Gloucester are in talks to do a deal that will see them sign former Wasps fly-half Charlie Atkinson from Premiership rivals Leicester […]

Chiefs ace Tom set for Hanazono

24 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Tom Hendrickson has signed a deal with Osaka-based Japanese League One side Hanazono Kintetsu Liners after leaving Exeter Chiefs […]

Everitt in talks at Edinburgh

24 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDEBY NEIL FISSLER EDINBURGH have opened talks with Sean Everitt about extending his stay in the Scottish capital after he arrived on an […]

Saracens in hunt for big name wing

24 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Saracens have held informal talks with England wingers Jonny May and Joe Cokanasiga about a move to London at […]

Quins offer Care new contract

24 December 2023 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Danny Care has been offered the chance to extend his contract with Harlequins until after his 38th birthday with […]

Glasgow keen for Hastings return

24 December 2023 1 comment

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Scotland international Adam Hastings has been speaking to Glasgow Warriors about a return north of the border when his […]

Dream Team with Damian Welch

24 December 2023 0 comments

The former Exeter Chiefs, Llanelli, Scarlets, Cardiff & Pontypridd second row, chooses the best XV he has played with or against… 1. Gethin Jenkins – […]

It’s been incredible to be here for so long

24 December 2023 0 comments

Jon Newcombe catches up with Saracens DoR Mark McCall, who has been the boss since 2011 With his 13th calendar year as director of rugby […]

Being called to the bar was my proudest day

24 December 2023 0 comments

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER WORCESTER AND HARLEQUINS SECOND ROW TURNED NFL PLAYERCHRISTIAN SCOTLAND-WILLIAMSON Crashing home: Scotland-Williamson scoring for Worcester against Leicester PICTURE: Getty Images […]

Time of goodwill to all (well, nearly all)

24 December 2023 0 comments

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER hands out his Christmas goodies… HO HO HO. I’m normally more of a scrooge than a Santa at Christmas but, to […]

Red Roses: Morwenna Talling

24 December 2023 0 comments

RED ROSES ENGLAND NO.8 Birthplace: Northallerton, Yorkshire Date of birth: 05/08/02 Community club: Malton & Norton RUFC Club: Sale Sharks Red Roses cebut: vs Italy […]

Whatever the level, make coaching fun

24 December 2023 0 comments

Steve Hill talks to Anastacia Long, Director of Rugby at Old Rutlishians, below, who also teaches at Trinity School, Croydon and started England prop Kyle […]

Young Guns: Leicester Tigers Prop Cameron Miell

24 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Cameron Miell is South African born and bred but the Leicester prop is fully committed to England, eagerly anticipating his first opportunity […]

Cycling from Land’s End all the way to Twickenham

24 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Former Premiership player Ed Jackson and his trusty companion Ross Stirling have travelled more than 500km this week, synchronised pedalling their way […]

Series 3, Episode 19: Champions Cup recap and Big Game preview with Joe Launchbury

20 December 2023 0 comments

The Rugby Paper Podcast’s final episode of 2023 looks back at two thrilling weekends of Champions Cup action as well as looking ahead to the […]

Surprise U-turn by Snyman

17 December 2023 0 comments

Bath appear to have missed out on signing Springbok World Cup winner RG Snyman, who it seems has changed his mind about a move to […]

Russell in the running

17 December 2023 0 comments

Finn Russell has led Bath to six wins in eight games prior to this weekend, while a horse named after the Scotland international has enjoyed […]

Boost for Quins and Tigers as Horne gets job

17 December 2023 0 comments

BY NEIL FISSLER World Rugby high performance director Peter Horne is set to become the Australian Rugby Union’s new head of high performance, which could […]