Irish ease into semis with Bath win

London Irish…26 Tries: Cornish 19, 43 Scragg 29, Miller 75 Conversions: Atkins 20, 30, 44 Bath……………7 Tries : Ellis 80+1 Conversions : Worboys...

No return for Howley in Gatland’s new Wales

By PETER JACKSON Wales have decided against making any formal move towards renewing Rob Howley’s Grand Slam-winning alliance with Warren Gatland....

Australian deal for Wasps flier Kibirige

By NEIL FISSLER Heading south: Zach Kibirige has agreed a 12-month deal with Western Force in Perth PICTURE: Getty Images Former...

Marler faces long ban for insulting opponent

Joe Marler faces a lengthy ban and possibly the end of his England career after he insulted an opponent’s hospital-bound mother...

Borthwick will stick with captain Farrell – Moody

By GARY FITZGERALD Former England flanker Lewis Moody believes Steve Borthwick will show faith in Owen Farrell by retaining him as...

With Borthwick, we can be world beaters again – Owen

By LUKE JARMYN Perfect: New England coach Steve Borthwick A NEW coach with a new voice picking new young hungry players...

Walker heads to Newcastle

NEWCASTLE have signed Ealing hooker Alun Walker on a short-term loan. Walker, 32, who has been with Ealing since 2014, will...

Yarde wings in at Bayonne

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Former England winger Marland Yarde is back in rugby after joining French Top 14 outfit...

Quins keeping tabs on Volavola

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Versatile: Volavola Harlequins are looking at Racing 92’s versatile Fijian international Ben Volavola as they...

Time to use technology to help out referees

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK The noxious abuse of referees is one of the most urgent issues confronting...

Quartet hoping to impress Gatland

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND It doesn’t take much to change the mood of Welsh rugby. A win here, a...

Turnbull calls for another Welsh scalp as rivals clash

CARDIFF back row Josh Turnbull has been impressed with his side’s strength of character in recent weeks and wants more of...

Domachowski try kills off Dragons

By BEN JAYCOCK Match winner: Cardiff celebrate after Corey Domachowski’s late try downed the Dragons COREY Domachowski proved the unlikely match-winner...

Sad to hear laughter over Traore incident

PETER JACKSON WHEN those at the ‘Secret Santa’ party hosted by the Benetton squad laughed at Cherif Traore unwrapping an over-ripe...

Wales centre Allen, 29, calls time

NEWS EXTRA FORMER Wales centre Cory Allen has retired from professional rugby at the age of 29 because of injury. Allen,...

Lewis hit with injury

CARDIFF prop Dillon Lewis faces a race to prove his fitness ahead of Wales‘ Six Nations opener against Ireland on February...

Forthcoming fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs

Courageous Bears end losing run at The Stoop

Harlequins 12-15 Bristol Bears Bristol Bears produced an impressive defensive display to win a first game in eight as Harlequins missed...

RFU right to get rid of Jones – Cotton

By PETER JACKSON One of England’s all-time greats has backed the RFU over Eddie Jones with one reservation – that they...

Young fears Wales exodus

Some of Wales‘ brightest stars are being allowed to fall through the cracks, while the WRU has leant heavily on player...

Bow: ‘P share’ model needs to be scrapped

By LUKE JARMYN Premiership Rugby’s ‘P share’ ownership model must be scrapped if reforms to the top tier are to have...

Signing Russell isn’t reckless, insist Bath

By JON NEWCOMBE BATH CEO Tarquin McDonald has defended Bath’s signing of Finn Russell as not only being good for the...

Cueto sure Borthwick will do a brilliant job

By GARY FITZGERALD In charge: Steve Borthwick coaching Steve Borthwick used to spend his England training breaks sat in an office...

Falling player numbers the real issue

BURIED deep in the RFU website is its “2022- 23 – Targets”, which is a woefully inadequate document because it fails...

Barmiest fixture list that makes no sense

YOU don’t get to be Jake White if you’re wrong more often than you’re right. The South African, currently in charge...

Wasps are staying in Midlands for the long run

■ By BEN JAYCOCK NEW Wasps CEO Andy Scott has ruled out a return to London and says that the club...

Representative body for match officials

THE first representative body for international high-performance match officials launched this week. Supported by World Rugby and led by Wayne Barnes,...

Coach who put heart and soul into north

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Steve Borthwick‘s anointment revives England‘s tradition of northern head coaches, the most colourful...

Archers gear up for red hot Cov

Preview Nott’ham v Coventry Monday December 26. KO 3pm NOTTINGHAM coach Craig Hammond is relising Monday’s challenge at home to in-form...

Red Army prevail in feisty affair

By NATHAN EDWARDS Northampton S ……. 6 Munter………………… 17 MUNSTER battled past Northampton Saints in a great defensive display in the...

Sharks given a reality check

By SAM JACKSON Toulouse …………….45 Sale Sharks ……….. 19 ANTOINE Dupont scored two tries in Toulouse’s bonus-point thumping of Sale Sharks,...

Andre the giant wins it for Quins

By NATHAN EDWARDS Harlequins …………. 14 Racing 92 …………… 10 ANDRE Esterhuizen scored a crucial second-half try for Harlequins to edge...

Fixtures

Borthwick prioritises passion over style

Steve Borthwick wants to create an England team who fight for each other and give supporters something to be proud of....

Episode 46 – Reviewing 2022

The Rugby Paper Podcast rounds off 2022 with another special episode! Host Ollie Little is rejoined by panellists Nick Cain, Brendan...

“I’m incredibly excited to be here” – Borthwick revels in new role

By Imogen Ainsworth Steve Borthwick is determined to restore the England roar as he takes on the head coach role. “I...

Moody: We can rescue our World Cup dream

By GARY FITZGERALD England‘s World Cup dreams can still be salvaged if the new head coach keeps an “open mind” over...

Players in Wales face 50% pay cuts

By PETER JACKSON Welsh rugby‘s cure to its financial crisis will include pay cuts of up to 50 per cent for...

England pair commit futures to Saracens

JAMIE George and Elliot Daly have signed new contracts at Saracens. England hooker George, 32, has made 263 appearances since making...

Axed Eddie set for Twickenham return

FORMER England head coach Eddie Jones will return to Twickenham next year to lead the Barbarians in a match against a...

Fagerson injury doubt for Six Nations opener

SCOTLAND tighthead Zander Fagerson is a doubt for the start of the Six Nations with a hamstring injury. Fagerson, 26, sustained...

North ruled out after cheekbone operation

WALES centre George North has had an operation after suffering a facial injury during the Ospreys‘ defeat to Leicester Tigers last...

Falcons ace Maddison banned until New Year

NEWCASTLE hooker Charlie Maddison has been suspended for three weeks. Maddison, 31, was cited for striking Connacht scrum-half Caolin Blade with...

Pau coach hit with 10-week suspension

PAU head coach Sebastien Piqueronies has been given a 10-week suspension for making inappropriate physical contact with referee Sam Grove-White in...

Quins double-header hits buffers

HARLEQUINS‘ doubleheader at Twickenham on December 27 has been rescheduled for March because of the impact of rail strikes. The club’s...

Bears put name on it

By IMOGEN AINSWORTH BRISTOL Bears women have become the first team in the Premier 15s to put players’ names on the...

Back row Dainton set for Rhinos

Wale an c t d o in t WALES openside Bethan Dainton, below, has left Premier 15s side Harlequins to pursue...

Gatland: I can turn Wales into winners

WARREN Gatland believes he can get Wales back to winning ways following his return as head coach following the sacking of...

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, December 18, 2022 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs

Eight teams in for new-look Premier 15s

The RFU have confirmed eight teams have been successful in their application to join the 10-team Premier 15s league from 2023/24...