The good, the lads and the ugly, by Burger

Clermont Auvergne v Saracens Saturday. Kick-off 5pm, BT Murrayfield Stadium Still going strong: Schalk Burger Schalk Burger has scaled most of...

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Now Springboks must head north says veteran Burger

By NICK CAIN SCHALK Burger has called for South Africa to join the Six Nations and European Cup as soon as...

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Keep in touch with The Rugby Paper wherever you are at home and abroad! It is now available as an online...

Alun Wyn and Justin deserved places in PRO12 XV

IT WAS great to see two Welsh players in the Guinness PRO12 Dream Team named this week, but I thought it...

Don’t rely on just kids, this tour will be tough

No token gesture: Gethin Jenkins merits tour place PICTURE: Getty Images Wales’ Tests with Tonga and Samoa this summer are vitally...

Corker gives Parker a Welsh seal of approval

By NEALE HARVEY SONNY Parker is the ideal man to spearhead London Welsh’s charge back to the National Leagues, according to...

Burgess: I’d have been worth weight, like Ardie

By NICK VERDIER Hand off: Phil Burgess takes on Samoa for England in Hong Kong this season PICTURE: Getty Images Mobile:...

Mikalcius can put heat on big names at Quins

By NEALE HARVEY IMPOSING Hartpury wing Jonas Mikalcius possesses the “world-class” physical attributes necessary to challenge Test stars Marland Yarde and...

Warriors flop on Gregor’s farewell

Glasgow 18 Edinburgh 29 EDINBURGH ended their season of turmoil with a surprise victory over rivals Glasgow despite two firsthalf yellow...

Departing heroes sign off in style from Ulster

Ulster 17pts Tries: Wilson 9, Trimble 55 Conversions: Jackson 10, 56 Penalties: Jackson 41 Leinster 13pts Tries: Penalty try 62 Conversions:...

Anscombe penalty ensures Blues’ spot in Euro playoff

By JOHN ARKLESS Dragons 24pts Tries: Meyer 2, Beard 80 Convversions: O’Brien 80 Penalties: O’Brien 8, 21, Meyer 67, 73 Cardiff...

Ospreys grounded without Alun-Wyn

Scarlets 40pts Tries: Boyde 35, S Evans 38, Shingler 60, McNicholl 72, J Davies 75 Conversions: Patchell 37, 40, 61 Penalties:...

Murray back fit and firing with second half cameo

Munster 50pts Tries: Earls 8, O’Donoghue 28, Conway 33, 54, Cronin 43, Saili 70, Oliver 80 Conversions: Keatley 9, 29, 34,...

Irish ace McKinley stars again for Treviso

Zebre 3 Treviso 19 IAN McKinley celebrated his Test call-up with a stand out performance as Treviso downed Italian rivals Zebre...

League ace Harris back in Union

IESTYN Harris is back in Rugby Union for the first time since he returned north to play for Bradford Bulls in...

Eadie: I can’t wait to learn from Saints stars

By NEALE HARVEY NORTHAMPTON bound Mitch Eadie is ready to put Bristol’s relegation nightmare behind him as he prepares to do...

Prop star left with mixed emotions

NORTHAMPTON-bound Jamal Ford-Robinson was disappointed he could not sign off with a win for the Bristol fans. He will move to...

Agony as Newcastle miss play-off spot despite try bonus

Bristol 27pts Tries: Ford-Robinson 53, O’Connell 63, Tovey 76, Eadie 79 Conversions: Woodward 53, 63 Penalty: Henson 40 Newcastle 39pts Tries:...

Blackadder: Work to do for top four

BATH director of rugby Todd Blackadder admits that they must improve their away form if they are to challenge the top-four...

Sale scrap it out thanks to cameo from Stringer

By COLIN NEWBOULT Red hot: Ben Curry of Sale Sharks scores a try PICTURES: Getty Images IT has certainly not been...

We must improve from here – Gold

WORCESTER head coach Gary Gold lamented: “We could have won that game! “Our scrum needs to improve and silly errors cost...

Tigers’ inspiring spirit carries them through

By ROGER PANTING No go zone: Worcester’s tryscorer Chris Pennell is tackled by Brendon O’Connor and Jack Roberts PICTURE: Getty Images...

The haka in danger of losing its ability to intimidate

BRACE yourselves for a haka fest… with the 2017 Lions having to watch the All Blacks go through their war dance...

Don’t bleed for All Blacks, they don’t care about us

THE growing list of New Zealand injuries is starting to worry Steve Hansen. The All Black coach usually does a passable...

Mallinder: Picamoles is staying with us

HARLEQUINS boss John Kingston said defeat felt like a win given that it ensured European Champions rugby next season. “It’s an...

Quins go into Europe but Saints must wait

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER HARLEQUINS lost the battle but won the war with a massive defensive shift at Franklin’s Gardens earning them...

Family tragedy rules Ben out of NZ

By SAM JACKSON BEN YOUNGS has pulled out of the Lions tour to New Zealand after the wife of his brother...

Lions snub ‘gutted’ me admits an angry Brown

By NEALE HARVEY RAGING England fullback Mike Brown has vowed to take out his frustrations on Argentina after revealing his anger...

McGeechan: Lions have quality to win

No one speaks with more authority and knowledge about the British & Irish Lions than Sir Ian McGeechan, who was head...

Young Gun: James Lasis – Loughborough Students lock

James Lasis started the season as a loosehead but it is at lock that he is looking to turn professional next...

Jeff Probyn: Will double-chasing Sarries’ Test stars remain focused?

I love this time of the season, with all the phoney wars over and teams now settled on just one thing:...

Peter Jackson: Whitcombe dynasty now propping up England

When he left Cardiff before the Second World War, Frank Whitcombe could have had no idea he would be creating a...

Only way to beat the All Blacks is all out attack – Robbie Fruean

As a proud Kiwi, Robbie Fruean would never bet against the All Blacks, but he reckons their downfall against the Lions...

Room 101: Robin Hislop – Doncaster prop

1. Foreign meat I grew up on a farm in the Scottish Borders rearing sheep and cattle so it pains me...

Shane Williams: It pains me but Scarlets will shade my Ospreys

It’s business time in the PRO12 as the season reaches the run-in and I think Wayne Pivac‘s Scarlets are in the...

Nathan Earle speaks out after his surprise England call-up

Nathan Earle says he is glad he was horizontal in bed when he got the news of his selection for the...

Tigers No.1 legacy safe with Genge says Ayerza

Leicester prop legend Marcos Ayerza has revealed how the joy of entrusting his beloved No.1 jersey to tyro loosehead Ellis Genge...

20 Questions: Nick Selway – Jersey hooker

What did you make of the Championship season? It was disappointing to miss out on the play-offs but we’ve got to...

Sale sign tighthead prop

Sale Sharks have secured the signing of tighthead WillGriff John from Doncaster Knights. Born in Plymouth, John, 24, started his playing...

Northampton prop off to Gloucester

Gloucester have confirmed that prop Gareth Denman will join the club in the summer from Northampton Saints. The 26-year-old Rotherham-born front...

Nick Cain: McCafferty cannot be allowed to cage Lions

Mark McCafferty is making a serious mistake in trying to push the Lions into a five-week cage while, at the same...

Jeremy Guscott: Mallinder must make sure he is not this year’s Devoto

Eddie Jones has gone left field by announcing a next-generation squad to tour Argentina. In many ways what Jones is doing...

Hartley’s Lions hopes ‘were stifled by Saints’

Dylan Hartley‘s failure to win a Lions call had its roots in Northampton‘s restricted game plan, according to former England and...

Four highly-rated youngsters sign for Bristol

Bristol Rugby have added four highly-rated young players to their ranks as plans for next season continue. Samoa international lock Chris...

My Life in Rugby: Andrew Turnbull – former Scotland Sevens and Rotherham wing

When I turned up for my first World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in Hong Kong in 2004, I couldn’t believe my...

Rugby Continues Seeing an Increase in Popularity Worldwide

AN increase in popularity was seen after the announcement of rugby getting a place in the 2016 Olympic Games, the first...

Falcons bring in Fijian lock

Tevita Cavubati will bolster Newcastle Falcons’ pack next season having agreed terms to join from Worcester Warriors in the summer. The...

Rob Buchanan commits Harlequins

Hooker Rob Buchanan has re-signed for Harlequins. The Harlequins Academy graduate has made 116 appearances for the Club since making his...

Dream Team: Teimana Harrison – Northampton flanker

1. Mako Vunipola – The guy is a ridiculous carrier. He is good at the scrum like any prop should but...