Top rugby comebacks of all-time

Rugby is a defensive-minded game, and when a team finally breaks through their opponent’s strongholds for a try, there are few...

England statement: Joe Marler

The RFU can confirm Joe Marler has been issued with a formal warning following his comments made on social media about...

Tom Wood named Northampton captain

Northampton Saints have today confirmed Tom Wood as club captain for next season. The back row has led the Saints on...

50th cap for Robshaw as Ford and Nowell return in England XV

Chris Robshaw will win his 50th England cap on Saturday for the second Test against Australia in Melbourne with Eddie Jones...

Wales change two for second NZ Test

Wales have made two changes to their starting XV for the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington with Rhys Patchell...

Shane Williams verdict: Lively Liam Williams is such a joy to watch

What a game and what an effort from Sam Warburton and his boys but yet again, New Zealand showed why they...

Nick Cain column: Slave-driver Eddie Jones will whip squad into shape

Phil Kearns is no shrinking violet, and this week he launched a clever strike aimed at destabilising the England squad coached...

Peter Jackson verdict: The All Blacks got up off the canvas

Peter The cognoscenti had been nodding all over New Zealand all week in agreement with Christian Cullen’s prognosis, that Wales wouldn’t...

Donncha O’Callaghan battles to give war-torn kids better life

Warrior Donncha O’Callaghan brought down the curtain on a gruelling first season at Worcester and then set off on a more...

20 Questions: Alex Gray – England Sevens forward

Do you have the Olympic buzz yet? That’s the only thing we think about now. It was like the first day...

Wade to wing it for Saxons against Emerging Boks

Wasps wing Christian Wade is one of three changes to the England Saxons starting XV for their second Test against South...

Prop changes for Wallabies ahead of second England Test

Michael Cheka has decided to back the experienced James Slipper and Sekope Kepu to sort out Australia‘s trouble at the scrum...

Jeremy Guscott verdict: Ford-Farrell axis is key to an historic Series win

People should not underestimate the magnitude of this first ever Test victory by an England side in Brisbane and it proves...

Jeff Probyn column: England beat the Aussies – and the law changers

England‘s sensational success in Brisbane yesterday was all the more laudable considering they were at a disadvantage because of the ridiculous...

Brendan Gallagher verdict: England claim redemption

Never underestimate the power of redemption and the urgent bloody-minded need to prove yourself right and the other buggar wrong. It’s...

Stuart Lancaster confirms job target

Stuart Lancaster wants to coach in the Southern Hemisphere to prove English coaches are “good enough to work there”. The former...

My Life in Rugby: Andrew Small – former RFU elite panel referee

Refereeing the Army-Navy game in front of a full house at Twickenham, with my wife and kids in the crowd, was...

Exiles make double front row signings

London Scottish have today added depth to their front row by completing the signings of hooker Devlin Hope, and loosehead Jonny...

Wales thumped by the Chiefs

Wales were embarrassed by the Chiefs this morning losing 40-7 to the Super Rugby franchise four days before their second Test...

Mark Bennett plans rendezvous in Rio with Sonny Bill Williams

Mark Bennett is hoping to take on his boyhood hero Sonny Bill Williams at the Rio Olympics. But he has serious...

Dream Team: Ollie Phillips- former England 7s, Gloucester and Newcastle wing

1. Nick Wood – The Gloucester loosehead is such an underestimated prop. He is so effective at what he does. So...

Stander hit with one-week ban

CJ Stander has been banned for a week and will miss Ireland‘s second Test against South Africa on Saturday. The South...

England Series over for David Pocock

David Pocock will miss the last two Tests against England after fracturing his eye socket in the opening clash in Brisbane...

George North ruled out of NZ tour

George North will miss the remainder of the Wales‘ tour of New Zealand after suffering a “significant” hamstring tear in the...

England start strong in Australia

Heading into the first match of its summer Test series against Australia, England was boldly optimistic about a strong showing. Having...

Young Gun: Jack Willis – Wasps and England U20s flanker

An ankle surgery last summer was not in Jack Willis’ plans but a sensational second half to the season means he...

Brendan Gallagher on Italy and Scotland’s summer scrutiny

Most eyes will inevitably be looking south this summer with England, Wales and Ireland going head to head with the Southern...

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the career of Imanol Harinordoquy

So it’s farewell to Imanol Harinordoquy who will be an ex-rugby player by the end of the month, perhaps sooner. His...

The incredible story of Connacht sensation Niyi Adeolokun

Tony Smeeth was watching the Pro12 Grand Final from his father’s hospital bedside in Dorchester when a familiar figure flashed across...

Wide boys will worry Wallabies says Jonathan Joseph

Jonathan Joseph believes England‘s cut-and-thrust style is perfectly suited to the fast grounds of Australia as they aim for a first...

Room 101: Matt Garvey – Bath loose forward

1. “You’re tall aren’t you?!” When people say that it really breaks me – as if I didn’t know I was...

Mike Brown to win 50th England cap against Australia

Mike Brown will win his 50th England cap when he runs out against Australia for the first of their three Tests...

Andy Symons joins Gloucester 

Gloucester have added to their back line resources for next season with the signing of Worcester centre Andy Symons. The 24-year-old...

Nick Cain looks at the Wallabies’ key personel

All’s fair in love and war – and baggage searches – when England play Australia in any sport. That’s why, after...

Peter Jackson column: Wales, it’s time to give All Blacks a real Test!

When Wales touched down in Auckland the other day, the All Blacks did their level best to ensure them a soft...

Shane Williams column: That Twickenham horrow show will be a blessing in disguise

The only positive for Wales to take out of their pretty desperate performance against England last Sunday was at least that...

Will Fraser: We can double up just like Leicester

Will Fraser says Saracens are determined to make their critics eat humble pie by becoming first side since Leicester in 2002...

20 Questions: Ollie Thorley – England U20s wing

How’s the Junior World Cup preparation going? We’ve spent the week in camp in Newcastle and it’s been good. With Martin...

The positive impact of the Rio Olympics on Rugby

The inclusion of rugby in the Olympics in Brazil and the 2020 Games in Japan will have a stronger impact on...

Nick Cain column: Self-policing the salary cap wrong from the off

The salary cap “investigation” surrounding Saracens and Bath last season, and the stampede by almost every other club in the Premiership...

Jeremy Guscott column: Ford’s bad day shouldn’t stop him driving England

Before George Ford played against Wales last weekend, Eddie Jones was asked whether Bath‘s sacking of his father as their director...

Jeff Probyn column: Your players have stepped it up Eddie Jones, now it’s your turn

While reading another interview with Eddie Jones imploring his players to raise the bar yet higher, I must admit to being...

HIGHLIGHTS: England U20s open JWC with Italy win

England got their World Rugby U20s Championship off to a winning start with a six-try 48-10 bonus point victory over Italy...

We’re backing England insist Wasps, despite foreign legion

Wasps insist they remain committed to developing England-qualified players despite falling well short of RFU targets for season 2015-16. The Coventry-based...

My Life in Rugby: Tom Guest – former Harlequins and London Irish back-rower

I don’t think any player is truly happy with what they have done when your days have been cut short through...

VIDEO: Meet Virimi Vakatawa – the Fijian who plays for France

*Video courtesy of CNN’s International’s ‘CNN World Rugby”, sponsored by DHL

EXCLUSIVE: Championship playoffs  set to be scrapped

By NEALE HARVEY The controversial Championship play-offs are set to be discarded as part of a new £220m, eight-year agreement between...

Mallinder to captain England U20s in JWC opener

Harry Mallinder will captain England U20s against Italy in their opening game of the Junior World Championship at the Manchester City...

Dream Team: Simon Hammersley – Newcastle Falcons full-back

1. Rob Vickers – Known as Mr Reliable in the Falcons squad. A very good player who just scores too many...

Vincent Koch and Sean Maitland join Saracens

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper in recent weeks, Saracens have secured the signings of South African prop...