Knights appoint former Scotland star Smith

NEWS EXTRA ■By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Scotland and Lions prop Tom Smith is the surprise choice as Doncaster’s new head coach....

Lane offers variety and Gats loves a bolter

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Exciting prospect: Cardiff Blues wing Owen Lane The World Cup has been in all our...

Premier 15s final: Saracens v Harlequins preview

It's a repeat of the 2018 final at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday

Rugby World Cup Japan 2019: Six of the biggest host venues

The Rugby World Cup Rugby 2019 will be held in Japan from September 20th until November 2nd. There are twelve venues...

Guy Thompson: Exeter’s example will always be the argument against ring-fencing

Leicester Tigers back row Guy Thompson wants promotion and relegation to remain in the Premiership

Job Vacancy: Wallingford RFC require new Head Coach

Matt Moulds follows Blues teammate Melani Nanai in Worcester move

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons’ raid of Super Rugby outfit Blues has continued with the signing of hooker Matt...

Slater mystified by England freezing out Danny Cipriani

Gloucester lock joins the calls for Cipriani to get a seat on the plane to Japan

Northampton Saints add Henry Taylor to scrum-half options

"He has all the qualities to stake a claim for regular first-team rugby" – Chris Boyd

Anthony Watson to make first start for Bath after 13 months out

England international on the comeback trail after ruptured Achilles

Sale Sharks complete signing of Springbok Lood de Jager

Joining Rob du Preez and Akker van der Merwe in moving north

A record £44.4m in losses, Premiership club finances in deeper detail

But Exeter Chiefs, who were the only club to turn a profit, chairman Tony Rowe says CVC money has boosted balance...

‘I walked off after the 2003 World Cup hating rugby’ says Jonny Wilkinson

England's superstar of 2003 reveals his disillusionment with winning the game's top prize at the age of 24

London Irish record appearance holder Topsy Ojo to retire

The one-club man is calling it a day at the conclusion of the Exiles Championship-winning season

David Strettle to hang up his boots

Where does the Saracens wing sit among the Premiership's top tryscorers?

Dan Jones sticking close to home with new Scarlets contract

Nearing 500 points for his home region

Lawrence Dallaglio’s scathing condemnation of Billy Vunipola

Former England no.8 slams Vunipola's post-match interview after being asked about his social media comments

Ospreys ready to move for £400k Moriarty

■By ALEX BYWATER ROSS Moriarty is an early transfer target for the Ospreys as they look to further strengthen their squad...

Edwards gets coach offer from Wasps

■By PETER JACKSON THE Shaun Edwards saga has taken another twist with Wasps revealing their bid to bring him back into...

We ll d one Nick, for your commonse nse

WELL done Nick Cain for talking some sense on the matter of the tweets by Israel Folau and Billy Vunipola. While...

Ambitious Ampthill just keep on getting promoted

AMPTHILL rugby director Mark Lavery admits being ‘surprised’ by the quality of players looking to join if promotion to the Championship...

Burrows aims to keep Cov on the up

■By JON NEWCOMBE RYAN BURROWS still has designs on playing more Premiership rugby even though he will drop back into the...

Welch: I’ll play on in Championship

■By NEALE HARVEY Loyal: Will Welch makes a break against Saracens PICTURE: Getty Images DEFIANT Newcastle captain Will Welch is determined...

Ring-fence wrong says Tigers hero Thompson

■By NEALE HARVEY LEICESTER survival hero Guy Thompson believes Premiership Rugby and the RFU would make a huge error of judgement...

Williams: Don’t read bad social media if it upsets you

ENGLAND prop Harry Williams has urged young people affected by the words of social media bigots like Israel Folau to ignore...

Now CVC bid £120m for a chunk of PRO14

■By PETER JACKSON PRO14 organisers are negotiating a £120m deal with the potential to change the face of the British and...

Warriors set to lose Te’o

ENGLAND centre Ben Te’o is among eight players leaving Worcester Warriors at the end of the season. Former Samoa back row...

Hartley’s back to stake England claim

Remember me: Dylan Hartley in England action DYLAN HARTLEY will have a chance to prove his fitness for England after Northampton...

We’ll have no problems with Billy insists Shields

■By NEALE HARVEY BRADShields foresees “no issues” between social media rebel Billy Vunipola and his England teammates once World Cup preparations...

Keep views to yourself says Care

DANNY Care has urged his England team-mates not to risk their careers by making controversial comments on social media`. The Harlequins...

Give owners a break says Rowe as clubs lose £44m

■By NEALE HARVEY EXETER chairman Tony Rowe insists Premiership Rugby’s under-pressure owners deserve praise rather than vilification in the face of...

Subscriptions…

You can subscribe to The Rugby Paper. Just fill out the form below and send your cheque for £20, £40 or...

UK registered 66 doping violations in ten years

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Bradshaw highlights the potential drugs problem in English rugby RUGBY runs the risk of players taking performance- en hancing...

Cipriani is world class – can’t Eddie see that?

■By NEALE HARVEY In the title hunt: Ed Slater is driving Gloucester on GLOUCESTER enforcer Ed Slater admits he is among...

RFU face grassroots revolt over cash cuts

■By NEALE HARVEY THE RFU are facing a grassroots revolt over plans to slash their Community Rugby budget. In a letter...

One rule for Tige rs, one for the re st…

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk IN TRP April 14,...

Sexton versus Sexton in PRO14

■By JON NEWCOMBE JERRY SEXTON is set to come face to face with his older brother, Ireland and Leinster fly-half Johnny,...

Fan comes on pitch to call out Billy

Afters: Munster fan confronts Sarries No.8 Billy Vunipola PICTURE: Dan Sheridan BILLYVunipola was confronted by a spectator after his man of...

Cain misse s the p oint, this is not faith, it’s b igotry

NICK Cain spectacularly misses the fundamental point in his article regarding Israel Folau. This is not an issue about a person’s...

Lowe: Joe Marchant has played as well as Jonathan Joseph ever has

George Lowe talks to TRP about the player who stepped into his shirt at Harlequins

Jonathan Joseph back in peak physical shape ahead of World Cup

On Henry Slade's heels

Chris Ashton back for Sale’s European dream

Read Steve Diamond's thoughts ahead of the Challenge Cup semi-final trip to La Rochelle

Mark McCall names Saracens side for Champions Cup semi-final

Brad Barritt is back to lead Sarries against Munster

Shut down grounds to beat the racists, says Maro Itoje

The Saracens and England lock airs his support for Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose who have been victims of abuse at...

The Rugby Paper Awards 2019: Who are your players of the year?

We want your votes for two outstanding individuals from the world of rugby: your Professional Men’s Player of the Year and...

British & Irish Lions appoint Jason Leonard as new chairman

Lions legend succeeds Tom Grace as chairman

Rugby World Cup will be the last hurrah for Rory Best

Ireland and Ulster captain to retire from rugby after the Rugby World Cup

Ruaridh Jackson re-signs with Glasgow Warriors

“I love this club and I’m very happy to have extended my stay here"

Todd Blackadder to leave Bath ahead of schedule

A shock announcement coming out of the Rec

Jonny Arr to leave Worcester after more than two decades at Warriors

A homegrown product who has almost spent as much time in Worcester as Chris Pennell