20 Questions: Ben Pienaar – London Welsh captain

ow’s pre-season been? We’ve been back for 10 weeks now and it’s been a hard one but a good one. We’re...

IRFU statement on Ruan Pienaar

Following the news that an IRFU rule has prevented Ruan Pienaar from signing a new Ulster deal the IRFU released the...

Rulebook forces Ruan Pienaar to leave Ulster

Ruan Pienaar will leave Ulster at the end of the season because the IRFU would not warrant another a contract extension...

Saracens bring in French hooker

France international hooker Christopher Tolofua will join the Saracens on a two-year deal from the beginning of next season. The Toulouse...

Harlequins confirm signing of Alofa Alofa

Harlequins have confirmed the signing of Samoan international Alofa Alofa. The news, revealed on Sunday by The Rugby Paper, follows the...

Jeremy Guscott: Saracens set for dynasty – like Bath, Wasps and Tigers   

Every new season brings renewed excitement, and with it changes in the pecking order in terms of who qualifies for Europe,...

Nick Cain column: Matt Burke’s law on summer season is good sense

Matt Burke was not only a great Wallaby full-back, he is a measured and respected commentator on the game. That’s why...

Guy Mercer will keep Bath honest

So here’s a question. You’ve just jetted in from New Zealand tasked with turning around the talented but clearly underperforming rugby...

Move Six Nations to the summer says Gerald Davies

Gerald Davies today makes an impassioned plea for the Six Nations to be taken out of its winter habitat and rescheduled...

WRU in talks to take over the Cardiff Blues

Welsh Rugby Union bosses are considering a shock take-over of Cardiff Blues. Blues chairman Peter Thomas has held talks with the...

My Life in Rugby: Sam Smith – former Harlequins and Worcester wing

By rights I should have been a Wasp. My dad played for the club and I had a few training sessions...

Dream Team: Darryl Veenendaal – Nottingham scrum-half

1. Alan Paver – He played so many games for the Pirates over the years and ruled the roost in the...

Late Iglesias penalty help Argentina beat South Africa

Replacement back Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias kicked a penalty two minutes from time to give Argentina a 26-24 Rugby Championship victory over...

James Davies up for a scrap over that Wales No.7 shirt

James Davies returned to Llanelli this week with an Olympic silver medal in his back pocket and only one thing in...

Young Gun: Cameron Orr – Gloucester prop

As a young prop, improving at the set piece is paramount for Cameron Orr so it is no surprise he jumped...

Jeff Probyn: What’s to stop Tier Two teams from taking the import route? 

Money, money, money. Why are the clubs surprised that the highly publicised new deal between the RFU and PRL has seen...

Nick Easter: When you start thinking of retirement, you’re ready to retire

Not many players are fortunate enough to retire on their own terms – and knowing when to do it can be...

Nick Williams puts his faith in Danny Wilson’s Blues rebuilding job

Nick Williams admits he hardly ever “sang the Blues” but is ready to help Cardiff hit the right note. The former...

Room 101: Harry Cochrane – Hartpury College scrum-half

1. Moaners  I know this is a bit ironic but it’s probably my biggest pet hate. I’m a glass half-full type...

Doncaster sign Super rugby winner

Doncaster have announced that former Australian international and Super XV winner Beau Robinson has signed a one-year contract with the club....

Peter Jackson: Jamie Cudmore’s crusade to curb risk of concussion

Jamie Cudmore has hurled himself into a crusade this season on behalf of rugby players all over Europe, to raise millions...

Sean Maitland: Saracens made an offer I couldn’t refuse

Sean Maitland has described joining Saracens as “too good an opportunity to pass up” as he targets a repeat of last...

Simon Amor – Heart, guts and unyielding belief made my boys Olympic heroes

Team GB’s Sevens men confounded all odds to win silver at the Olympics. Head coach Simon Amor, below, now back in...

Guy Mercer named Bath captain

Guy Mercer has been named Bath captain ahead of the new season. The 26-year-old openside spent much of his childhood watching...

20 Questions: Josh Bassett – Wasps wing

Happy with your win in the Premiership 7s? It was great to win the club’s first silverware since 2008, especially to...

Jeremy Guscott: Wallabies’ walloping shows up Bernard Foley’s frailties in attack

What a difference a year can make in international sport. Michael Cheika’s Wallaby side were riding a crest of a wave...

Shane Williams: Fit and firing Gavin Henson can earn himself Wales recall

People may think I’m crazy for saying this but do not put it past Gavin Henson getting himself back in contention...

Louis Picamoles out to sink Premiership big guns

Louis Picamoles is only a few weeks into his new life in Northampton but already feels at home and can’t wait...

Future’s looking Bright now at Ealing – Alex Codling

No nonsense Ealing head coach Alex Codling says slackers will not be tolerated as the Championship outfit bid to improve their...

My Life in Rugby: Tony Buckley – former Munster, Sale and Ireland prop

Up to the age of 16 my shoe size correlated with my age, meaning I had to have rugby boots specially...

Ryan Bevington agrees Bristol switch

Bristol have bolstered their front row options with the arrival of Wales international Ryan Bevington. The 27 year-old prop, who joins...

I’d suffer the pain again for England says Jack Nowell 

Fearless Jack Nowell has revealed how he battled through the pain barrier to help England clinch June’s 3-0 series win over...

Captain Jack Lam vows to get mean in bid for survival

Rock solid new Bristol captain Jack Lam wants his side to get mean in their defence this season to avoid becoming...

Exeter Chief Cowan-Dickie targets new season ahead

Luke Cowan-Dickie admitted it was nice to “dust off the cobwebs” as he helped Exeter Chiefs make it two wins from...

Worcester Cavaliers fixture dates confirmed

Monday night rugby returns to Sixways in September as Worcester Cavaliers look forward to the 2016/17 Aviva A League campaign. The...

Dream Team: Tom Catterick – Newcastle fly-half

1. Mako Vunipola – I played England age goups with him and he’s an all-round ball carrier. He’s a proper scrummager...

Q&A with Gloucester DoR David Humphreys

David Humphreys is entering a defining third season as director of rugby at Gloucester. The Ulsterman tells NEALE HARVEY why it’s...

I’m not here for a holiday says new Chief Dave Dennis

Exeter marquee signing Dave Dennis reckons a stint in the Premiership will improve him as a player as he sets out...

Young Gun: Jonas Mikalcius – Harlequins wing

Fortune favours the brave and Jonas Mikalcius is the perfect example of where chasing your dream can lead you. The big...

Peter Jackson: The day Newport felled the ‘Pinetree’

Over the course of more than 50 matches for the All Blacks all over the British Isles, Colin Meads only lost...

Jack Lam confirmed as Bristol captain

Bristol have confirmed Jack Lam as first team captain for the upcoming season. The back rower takes on the leadership duties...

Lucozade looter breaks into Brent’s only rugby club

While Team GB are still celebrating winning silver in the Olympic rugby sevens in Rio, Brent’s only rugby club Kilburn Cosmos,...

Kyle Sinckler sets new goal to be world’s best tighthead

Kyle Sinckler is determined to leave his promising youngster tag behind and break into Eddie Jones‘ England team en route to...

Room 101: Matt Price – Coventry hooker

1. Limp handshakes I struggle to think about someone in a positive light for quite a while if their handshake is...

All Blacks will have to dig deep to keep that No.1 tag

By the time England are next scheduled to play New Zealand in the autumn of 2017 it will have been three...

Brendan Gallagher: Beware the All Blacks ‘in transition’

It seems barely five minutes ago that the Rugby Championship was first mooted and then established and now here we are...

Meteor man Maro Itoje ready for England’s next mission

Maro Itoje claims he is mentally strong enough to cope if his incredible fairytale rugby world suddenly explodes in his face....

Q&A with Pacific Rugby Players Welfare founder Dan Leo

Former Samoa, Wasps, London Irish, London Welsh and lock Dan Leo has founded Pacific Rugby Players Welfare and was recently appointed...

20 Questions: Seb Negri – Hartpury College lock

You had quite an eventful summer, tell us about it?  It was unbelievable! I managed to come back from a pectoral...

Gregor Townsend to become Scotland Head Coach in June 2017

Scottish Rugby has today confirmed Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Gregor Townsend will replace Vern Cotter as Scotland head coach at the...