Stirling signs on for second stint at ambitious Pirates

By JON NEWCOMBE DEPARTING Yorkshire Carnegie DoR Chris Stirling will return to the UK in six weeks’ time excited to be...

Wage inflation not the way forward

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk NEIL Fissler reports that...

Bye weeks help you to plan for the season says Boyd

NORTHAMPTON rugby director Chris Boyd claims player welfare concerns being peddled over the prospect of a 13-team Premiership are unfounded. With...

Budget cuts could be death knell for some local clubs

IT IS devastating to see that the RFU are even considering slashing their Community Rugby budget. I am afraid to say...

Wilson feels equipped to keep ahead of the curve

■By NEALE HARVEY Improving: Mark Wilson puts in another big shift for Newcastle PICTURES: Getty Images MARK WILSON believes he is...

Size all that matters in this ‘thug’ rugby

YOUR article on the potential problem with drugs in Rugby Union stressed that players come under pressure to become ‘bigger and...

Ulster survive after McFadden let off

By RONAN O’BRIEN Ulster…………….14 Leinster ……….13 IN the only dead rubber of the final round of PRO14 games, with both teams...

Henson looking for a new club

GAVIN HENSON is fighting to save his colourful career after being told by the Dragons that his contract will not be...

It’s still ring fencing …by the back door

COLIN Boag reports that ‘the thorny question of promotion and relegation looks likely to be resolved by a twoleg play-off between...

Munster use Euro pain to get home

■By DARAGH SMALL Munster ……….27 Connacht ……14 MUNSTER will host Benetton in the quarterfinal next weekend as they missed out on...

Moon knows he must shine in Chiefs run-in

By NEALE HARVEY UNSUNG England hero Ben Moon reveals why the dream of representing his country at the World Cup is...

Anscombe miss lets his new club escape to victory

By ROGER PANTING A LAST minute penalty from Sam Davies gave Ospreys a Champions Cup play-off spot after Blues made two...

Ryan emerges as last contender for Dragons top job

By STEFFAN THOMAS DEAN Ryan is a late contender to take charge at struggling Dragons. The Gwent region parted company with...

Late Screech try puts skids on Scarlets

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Postman: Josh Lewis scores for Dragons DRAGONS overturned an 11-point deficit to stun the Scarlets and record their...

Warriors make light of Gray’s absence

By SCOTT JAMES Glasgow……….34 Edinburgh……10 GLASGOW Warriors booked themselves a home semi-final with a convincing bonus-point victory over Edinburgh at a...

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...

Saints ace Reinach back on Boks radar

By NEALE HARVEY SOUTH Africa World Cup hopeful Cobus Reinach has hammered out a warning to compatriot Faf De Klerk by...

Blues to launch third appeal to keep hold of veteran Williams

By NICK WILLIAMS CARDIFF Blues have been left frustrated as their attempts to tie down No.8 Nick Williams to a new...

Kidney urges RFU to give Tier Two foundation its due

By NEALE HARVEY LONDON Irish supremo Declan Kidney has described the Championship as a “nugget of English rugby” that deserves full...

Bristol look to explore American investment

EXCLUSIVE By NEALE HARVEY Stunned: Bristol celebrate Harry Thacker’s late winner against Leicester PICTURE: Getty Images STEVE Lansdown, majority shareholder of...

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Wales wait on French verdict from Edwards

By ALEX BYWATER SHAUN Edwards will this week decide between a firm offer to join France or the option of staying...

World Cup misery big motivator for Davies

By ALEX BYWATER Putting in the effort: Jonathan Davies tries to break away from England’s Owen Farrell PICTURE: Getty Images JONATHAN...

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

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...

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...

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...

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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...