England’s tour of Australia will be a big test

The turnaround in the fortunes of English rugby has been significant since their humiliating group stage exit at their own World...

Brendan Gallagher on the love story between Harlequins and Challenge Cup

The Challenge Cup in its many guises has been good to Harlequins and vice versa. Quins have won Europe’s second tier...

Nick Cain column: Saracens can batter down the gates of Europe

Two years ago Saracens hit the wall. Then, as now, there was a European and Premiership double for the taking, but...

Quins youngster Seb Adeniran-Olule dies in car crash

Harlequins have confirmed the untimely death of Seb Adeniran-Olule in a road traffic collision. The front-rower, 20, was part of the...

Brad Davis leaves Wasps and joins Ospreys

  Defence coach Brad Davis will leave Wasps at the end of the season to join Ospreys. The former Rugby League...

Gareth Anscombe is facing a ‘warm’ welcome home

Gareth Anscombe is braced for a rocky return to New Zealand after turning his back on the All Blacks. Anscombe is...

20 Questions: Greig Tonks – London Irish fly-half

What’s the mood before Harlequins? We had a little bit of a rest so hopefully we will go to the game...

New Worcester deal for Chris Pennell

Worcester Warriors have today announced that Chris Pennell has signed a new contract with the club. The full-back’s career has gone...

London Irish wing Andy Fenby retires

London Irish winger Andrew Fenby has retired from professional rugby. A qualified chartered accountant, the 30-year-old has now set his sights...

Nick Cain column: This jealous snub only undermines the awards

There is something badly amiss in the shortlist for the 2016 Players’ Player of the Year award. The absence of a...

Jeremy Guscott column: New-look backline can tear it up if Leicester’s pack perform

Leicester have plenty of rivalries that stretch back in time, such as those against Northampton and Bath. The rivalry between Bath...

Martin Corry: Sam Underhill must come home to prove himself

Sam Underhill must put aside his loyalty to the Ospreys and join a Premiership club if he is to fulfil his...

My Life in Rugby: Derek Wyatt – former England, Bedford, Bath and Oxford University winger

The England selectors in my day were out of touch, God bless them, and coaches were even worse. I played under...

CONFIRMED: Jack Walker joins Bath

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on November 29, Jack Waler will be leaving Yorkshire Carnegie this summer...

Wales name squad for New Zealand tour

Wales have named an experienced 35-man squad to face England at Twickenham and the All Blacks in New Zealand this summer....

Brexit may threaten overseas signings

Britain’s potential exit from the European Union could have “big implications” for overseas rugby players plying their trade here, according to...

Bristol confirm Jordan Crane signing

As revealed in Blindside by Neil Fissler on April 24, Bristol have brought in Leicester Tigers No.8 Jordan Crane on a...

Dream Team: Alex Rae – Jersey captain and former Bedford & Northampton back-rower

1. Rodrigo Roncero – The former Argentina prop was quality at scrum time. I got the opportunity to face him with...

Bath move for Kahn Fotuali’i

Bath have bolstered their scrum-half options for next seasons with the captute of Kahn Fotuali’i. The Samoan star, 33, will join...

Aulika leaves London Irish to join Sale

Sale Sharks have secured the signing of Tongan prop Halani Aulika from London Irish. The tighthead spent the last four seasons...

Eight uncapped player in England training squad

England Head Coach Eddie Jones has called up eight uncapped players into his squad for a three-day training camp in Brighton...

VIDEO: Premiership Green Flag Forward of the Season Shortlist

Ian Davies blasts RFU as Tier Two attendances dwindle

Outgoing Cornish Pirates rugby director Ian Davies has accused the RFU of “paying lip service” to the Championship. Davies insists there...

Young Gun: Levi Douglas- Bath flanker

Levi Douglas was happy playing in France but an unexpected turn of events has brought him back to England. The 20-year-old...

Premiership round 22 teams

Bath v Leicester Bath: Anthony Watson; Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Ollie Devoto, Matt Banahan; George Ford, Will Homer; Nathan Catt, Rob...

Championship semi-finals teams

Bristol v Bedford Bristol: Luke Arscott; Jack Wallace, Gareth Maule, Ben Mosses, David Lemi (c); Callum Sheedy, Martin Roberts; Jack O’Connell,...

Peter Jackson column: Little big man Harry Robinson joins list of mini victims

Harry Robinson’s first tour as a newly-capped international three years ago ended with a glowing report from the Wales management.  Despite...

Shane Williams column: Great Scott Williams will keep Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies on toes

Warren Gatland will have been grinning from ear to ear at the sight of Scott Williams back at the Principality Stadium...

Billy Vunipola will rise to challenge of Nathan Hughes

Billy Vunipola will see off the challenge of Nathan Hughes and prove he’s the best No.8 in world rugby, according to...

Room 101: Magnus Lund- Sale back-rower

1. Parsnips I’ve never been a big fan from an early age. I don’t like the taste at all. I remember...

Jeff Probyn column: Quotas undermine teams rather than build them

Oil and water, vinegar and milk…there are certain things that just don’t mix and should always be kept separate.  Another is...

Brendan Gallagher laments the passing of rugby’s great occasion – the Middlesex Sevens

For decades the last weekend of April/first weekend of May always meant the Middlesex Sevens and although time moves on I’m...

Nick Cain column: Andrew Cosslett’s new broom sweeps out Rob Andrew

Rob Andrew’s departure from the RFU as their professional rugby director may have been presented as a long-planned exit, but his...

CONFIRMED: Mike Phillips joins Sale

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on April 17, Sale Sharks have secured the signing of Mike Phillips...

Leicester Tigers have given me back my roar – Telusa Veainu

Leicester‘s try-wizard Telusa Veainu reckons he owes the Welford Road outfit a huge debt of gratitude for handing him a post-World...

20 Questions: Jack Tovey- Bristol center

How do you approach three consecutive games against Bedford? It is a funny and unique situation to play them three games...

Bath bring in hooker Van Vuuren

South African hooker Michael van Vuuren will join Bath next season. The 24-year-old moves to the West Country following a stint...

Jeremy Guscott column: Saracens have weaponry to conquer Europe now

It doesn’t matter whether you’re going for singles, doubles or trebles in terms of trophies and titles at the end of...

Nick Cain column: Joe Lauchbury is fixing a steely gaze on his new challenges

Joe Launchbury knows what it is like to be the young, blue-eyed boy of the England pack. The Wasps lock also...

Eddie Jones tells Christian Wade to work on defence

Eddie Jones says Christian Wade must keep  improving his defence if he wants to break back into the Test side. Wade...

My Life in Rugby: Aadel Kardooni- former Wasps, Leicester and England ‘A’ scrum-half

I don’t think I had ever seen, let alone held, a rugby ball until I came over to the UK from...

Ruaridh Jackson to join Harlequins

As revealed by Neil Fissler in Sunday’s TRP, Ruaridh Jackson will leave Wasps at the end of the season to join...

Saracens sign Bedford lock Mark Flanagan

Saracens have bolstered their second row option for next season with the signing Bedford Blues lock Mark Flanagan on a two-year...

Wales look for Warren Gatland stand-in as Lions wait

Warren Gatland‘s almost certain invitation to lead the Lions has led Wales to make the first move towards appointing a caretaker...

Northampton sign Stormer Nic Groom

As suggested by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper last Sunday, Northampton Saints have secured the signing of South African scrum-half...

Exeter Braves win the A League

Kai Horstmann’s try double capped a memorable 24 hours at Sandy Park as Exeter Braves clinched the Aviva A League with...

Dream Team: Alex Cheesman- Cornish Pirates and former Wasps flanker

1. Ricky Lutton – He is now playing at Ulster as a tighthead, but I played with him at University at...

Wasps hooker Edd Shervington retires

Wasps have confirmed that Edd Shervington will retire at the end of the season. The 31-year-old hooker has made 31 appearances...

Young Gun: James Grayson- England U18s and Saints fly-half

James Grayson is only at the start of what he hopes will be a successful career but whatever happens the past...

Premiership round 21 teams

Exeter v Wasps Exeter: Phil Dollman; Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ian Whitten, Olly Woodburn; Gareth Steenson (c), Will Chudley; Ben Moon,...