International Sio signs for Nottingham

Nottingham have announced the capture of Samoan international prop Aniseko Sio on a one-year deal. The 24-year old loosehead had been...

Leicester and Gloucester confirm May and Slater switch

Leicester Tigers have confirmed the signing of England international Jonny May from Gloucester for the start of the 2017/18 season. His...

Tuilagi and Solomona kicked out of England camp

Denny Solomona and Manu Tuilagi have been sent home today from England‘s training camp following breaches of the team culture. While...

Watch: INSANE Danny Care trick-shot during Harlequins training camp

Danny Care has been sharing trick shot from the Harlequins training camp for the past three days but he has taken...

Melville: Premier league will support growth at elite level

THE new Women’s Premiership competition is taking shape with the announcement of the fixtures list as well as the title sponsor...

Money on O’Connor to recapture his best

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I READ with interest...

Women’s Premiership fixtures

Round 1 - September 16/17 Loughborough Lightning v Worcester Valkyries Firwood Waterloo Ladies v Saracens Women Wasps Ladies v Harlequins Ladies...

Old front row club agree, give us back our straight put-ins

A LOT of fans – and especially old frontrowers – are getting increasingly turned off by the time-wasting of scrums. But...

I’m puzzled why women’s game needs a World Cup

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME With the women’s World Cup starting this week, hope is the excitement...

Extra little gem to celebrate Mobbs

I HAVE just read and enjoyed Brendan Gallagher’s article on Edgar Mobbs. Brendan did not mention the long-held belief that Edgar...

Lozowski fine-tuning basics for England bid

By NEALE HARVEY ALEX Lozowksi has declared himself ready to rise to the challenge of retaining his hard-won England place after...

Flood backed to reclaim his England jersey

NEWCASTLEcoach Micky Ward reckons fly-half Toby Flood can stamp his class on this season’s Premiership and fire his way back into...

Academy players granted greater freedom

PREMIERSHIP clubs will have more opportunity to give their youngsters game time next season with the RFU changing the registration rules...

Robson on track to go distance with Wasps

By NEALE HARVEY WASPS scrum-half Dan Robson says he will push the boundaries of endurance in an effort to overcome last...

Sarries fear explosion in wages could wreck team

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS coach Alex Sanderson fears the club may struggle to retain their galaxy of England and Lions stars,...

Williams working hard to put heat on No.9 rivals

TOMOS Williams says he is ready to add more strings to his scrum-half bow as he hopes to make a big...

Halfpenny takes cut of £200k to go home

By PETER JACKSON WALES have brought Leigh Halfpenny home for around £200,000 less than they offered him last season. The Rugby...

England call has given me a new perspective – Buchanan

HARLEQUINS hooker Rob Buchanan reckons his career is ready to peak in the wake of last season’s shock England call-up. Buchanan,...

Watkin about to realise his dreams after year absence

By ALEX BYWATER Fit again: Owen Watkin OWEN Watkin is ready to put more than a year of injury hell behind...

Irish tough guys here to stay now – Kennedy

By NEALE HARVEY BRENDAN Venter’s inspiring leadership will ensure London Irish’s band of callow coaches rise to the task of achieving...

Schoolboys set for physical exam against Boks

Honour: Marcus Street ENGLANDU18s have had to call for back-up ahead of their tour of South Africa following fly-half Marcus Smith’s...

World Rugby may fast-track Pacific franchise says Ryan

By NEALE HARVEY WORLD rugby could be revolutionised by the introduction of a Super Rugby franchise in the Pacific islands as...

Rupert will bring harder edge to Hartpury – Evans

DAN MURPHYreckons the recruitment of former Gloucester prop colleague Rupert Harden will give Hartpury a vital forward edge in this season’s...

Pitman out to prove how good he can be

By NICK VERDIER RORY Pitman is loving his new life in Jersey but the big Welsh No.8 has revealed he needed...

Tuilagi returns to England squad

Manu Tuilagi has been named in the England training squad for their camp at the Lensbury Hotel later this week. The...

Women’s Premiership ready for Crisp new season

The RFU has today announced Tyrrells as title partner for the new women’s domestic competition, with the official name of the...

8 reasons why it’s worth betting on rugby

The year 2017 places rugby second only to football regarding global popularity. The game with a rich and occasionally controversial history...

EXPLAINED: How the new Pro14 will work

REACTIONS to the Pro12 expansion

Martin Anayi, CEO of the Guinness PRO14, said: “The arrival of the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings marks a bold...

CONFIRMED: South African teams to join Pro12 this season

Celtic Rugby and the South African Rugby Union have today confirmed that the Toyota Cheetahs and the Southern Kings will join...

Gold excited to have captain GJ back to lead battle

WORCESTER hope concussion problems to a trio of key players are a thing of the past as they look set to...

Lean, keen and ready to fight for England dream

By NEALE HARVEY World beaters: Johnny Williams scores against South Africa at last summer’s U20s World Cup, with Joe Marchant in...

Captain Sam gets Wembley honour

SPURS have invited Sam Warburton to be guest of honour at Wembley for their opening home match of the new Premier...

‘World class’ Vunipola flying again – Sanderson

Rested: Billy Vunipola BILLYVunipola is ready to brush off his Lions disappointment and reassert his position as the world’s dominant No.8,...

Joseph has to reinvent himself now says Mears

Critic: Lee Mears LIONS flop Jonathan Joseph must take a leaf out of Brian O’Driscoll’s book by re-evaluating his game in...

Sarries rocket helps Nick hit new heights

By NEALE HARVEY Impressive start: England boss Eddie Jones congratulates Nick Isiekwe after his debut against the Barbarians PICTURES: Getty Images...

Top Boks will follow ‘exodus to Europe’

By NEALE HARVEY Views: Edward Griffiths SUPER Rugby’s fading appeal is likely to provoke South Africa’s major provinces to follow the...

O’Connor: Sale culture can get me back to top

By JON NEWCOMBE Trust: Steve Diamond STAR signing James O’Connor says he wants to follow in the footsteps of good mate...

Lydiate ready for action at Ospreys

By PETER JACKSON Gimme some skin: Christian Wade, left, and Dan Robson helped Wasps retain their Premiership Sevens title PICTURE: Getty...

Wallaby skipper steps down

AUSTRALIA captain Stephen Moore has decided to call time on his 12-year international career at the end of the season. Moore,...

Robinson: I couldn’t quit even after club axed Dad

BRISTOL flanker Olly Robinson has revealed why he decided to stay at the club in the wake his father’s sacking as...

Smith taking a breather

ALL Blacks star Ben Smith is set for a sabbatical following next month’s back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests against the Wallabies. Smith...

Old pals Catrakalis and Swiel set to battle it out

By NEALE HARVEY Order of the boot: Demetri Catrakilis shows his kicking repertoire for Montpellier against Quins PICTURES: Getty Images NEW...

Wales still a target for new Scarlet Prydie

TOM Prydie is relishing the start of a new chapter at the Scarlets after joining the PRO12 champions from Newport Gwent...

Ball targeting leadership role for club and country

By ALEX BYWATER Calling the shots: Jake Ball JAKE Ball says the pain of missing out on the Scarlets’ PRO12 title...

Kalamafoni confident he’ll crack it at Tigers

By NICK VERDIER Physical specimen: Sione Kalamafoni PICTURES: Getty Images New boss: Matt O’Connor POWERHOUSE back row Sione Kalamafoni will not...

Navidi charged for positive season after Test recall

JOSH Navidi insists he’ll play anywhere for Cardiff Blues if it helps him add to his three Wales caps. Back rower...

New recruits could get Bristol home by Xmas

Nick Verdier assesses the Championship squads after another summer of high activity Exiled: Ben Mosses left Bristol for London Scottish this...

Whatever the price, they aren’t machines

DAVID Short’s letter about Premiership club owners is rehearsed at every gathering of supporters. Whatever they get paid, the players are...

Gloucester honing killer instinct says Woodward

By NEALE HARVEY Aiming high: Jason Woodward GLOUCESTER full-back Jason Woodward reckons squad depth and the discovery of a killer instinct...