Samoa v New Zealand teams

Samoa: Tim Nanai-Williams; Alofa Alofa, Paul Perez, Johnny Leota, Alesana Tuilagi; Tusiata Pisi, Kahn Fotuali’I; Sakaria Taulafo, Wayne Ole Avei, Census...

‘One more blow and George North has to quit’

One of world rugby‘s leading medical figures is advising George North to retire should he suffer another head injury. The Welsh...

Dream Team: Paul Rowley – Uister and former London Welsh, Plymouth Albion & Munster scrum-half

1. Nathan Trevett – A great guy who reminds me of Nessa from Gavin and Stacey. He is a lot more...

Exeter Preparations for 2015-16 Season Pleases Baxter

Exeter City players appear to be determined about improving on last season’s fifth place finish. They have been hitting the training...

Zach Mercer – England U18s and Bath No.8

Zach Mercer has been a sensation at school level this year but he is about to take on his greatest challenge...

Premiership fixtures REVEALED

Saracens will open the defence of their Premiership title at home to Sale on Saturday October 17 as the 2015-16 fixtures...

Nick Cain gets out his crystal ball and the form book to pick his 2017 Lions

Two years from now the Lions will be in the midst of a three Test series against a New Zealand side...

Nick Cain’s column: Time for Lions to show claws over intinerary

The 2017 Lions itinerary, which was due to be announced in May but is now expected later this summer according to...

Jeff Probyn: Heading off to the hills on another mission from God

Training camps and altitude training in far-flung foreign fields do make you wonder what the game is coming to. As big...

Tom Youngs backed to become the best hooker in world

England man now rivals Bismarck du Plessis as the world’s best hooker according to Lee Mears.

Room 101: Will Chudley – Exeter scrum-half

1. Supermarket till etiquette I’m always conscious not to keep people behind me in the supermarket queue waiting for any longer...

Giteau, Mitchell and Mumm called up by Australia

Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Dean Mumm have all been included in Australia‘s 40-man training squad for the Rugby Championship. The...

Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu – Let’s have a Jerry Collins rule over eligibility

  The late great Jerry Collins would be best remembered by an easing of the existing World Rugby regulations to make...

Peter Jackson’s column: Accept it, Gatland’s Law is now a nonsense

Like Mo Farah’s front doorbell when the drug testers came calling, Warren Gatland‘s eponymous law has much to answer for. As...

Shane Williams’ column: Liam Williams’ loss gives the likely lads a chance

There’s no hiding from the fact that losing Liam Williams would be a major blow to Wales.  It would have been...

Brendan Gallagher speaks to Firebrand Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu about preaching the message of alofa

As well as being a cracking Test centre and fly-half and a ‘have boots will travel’ professional for a decade or...

Why Danny Care is gearing up for the father of all battles in pursuit of his World Cup dream

Quins star is on a mission to re-establish himself as England’s first-choice scrum-half for the World Cup.

Play-offs? Not Jersey says cagey boss Harvey Biljon

Jersey rugby director has poured scorn on Justin Burnell’s belief that his side can be Championship play-off candidates next season.

20 Questions: Drew Locke – London Scottish centre

Enjoying the off-season? I went to Ibiza for a few days with some friends which was nice. It’s a great place...

VIDEO: Graham Rowntree discusses England hookers and Sam Burgess

Video credit: Nick Heath @rugbymedia.

Gloucester prop Shaun Knight joins the Dragons

Gloucester today confirmed that tighthead Shaun Knight has moved across the border to sign for the Newport Gwent Dragons. The 25...

Jeremy Guscott’s column: In-form Matt Banahan would be my first choice wing

Wingers are try-scorers first and foremost, as they always have been, but in the modern Test arena they’ve had to develop...

Nick Cain talks to England captain Chris Robshaw

Chris Robshaw does not come from the Eric Evans school of England captaincy. Evans, who was captain of the 1957 Grand...

Anthony Allen’s dazzling ride on whirlwind ends too soon

Leicester Tigers centre reflects on the ‘whirlwind’ of his rugby career that promised so much yet ultimately ended last week at...

My Life in Rugby: Paul Dodge – former Lions, England and Leicester centre

When I first started playing for Leicester at the grand old age of 17 we were lucky to get 200-300 people...

Northampton sign centre on short-term deal

Northampton Saints have today announced that Luke Eves will be heading to the club over the summer on a short-term deal....

George Ford is key to England success – Martin Johnson

Martin Johnson believes Stuart Lancaster should build a successful World Cup winning side around George Ford. Johnson, who lifted the Webb...

Dream Team: Sam Harrison – Leicester scrum-half

1. Logovi’i Mulipola – He’s a huge ball carrier offering a lot more than a lot of other looseheads. He can...

VIDEO: Chris Robshaw and Alex Payne preview the National Rugby Awards

For more information about the inaugural National Rugby Awards, click here.

Inside this week’s edition of TRP

Another busy week in the world of rugby, another brilliant issue of The Rugby Paper! TRP will have all the action and...

London Welsh to return to Old Deer Park

London Welsh have confirmed today that they will leave Oxford next season and return to Old Deer Park from the start...

VIDEO: Martin Johnson – “Home tournaments are a double edged sword”

Video credit: Nick Heath @rugbymedia.

Leicester coach banned for betting

Former Leicester defence coach Phil Blake was banned for six months for betting on two Tigers games this season. The 51-year-old...

Jeff Probyn: Let’s hope Ian Ritchie’s warning does not stop team bonding

As England prepare to jet off to their Colorado training camp the words of RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie must be...

Peter Jackson: When Bill Samuel kept Gareth Edwards from lure of football

The making of Gareth Edwards as a rugby superstar, humble human being and now knight of the realm, would probably never...

VIDEO: Chris Ashton opens up ahead of the World Cup

Video credit: Nick Heath @rugbymedia.

Glasgow’s stardust can light up Scotland says Gregor Townsend

Scotland will prosper at this year’s Rugby World Cup, according to Gregor Townsend, who believes the dark blues can capitalise on...

Ireland name World Cup training squad

Ireland have named their World Cup training squad with fly-half Ian Keatley being a surprise omission. The Munster fly-half has found...

Nick Cain casts an expert eye over last week’s European Champions Cup draw

The recruitment rosters of the Premiership and Pro12 teams make them look like a pop-gun parade compared to the heavy artillery...

Shane Williams’ column: Will even champs Toulon escape the Pool of Death?

What a draw we saw for the European tournaments this week – and what a vindication of the decision to move...

Stephen Myler will be my guru but I want his place, says JJ Hanrahan

JJ Hanrahan has fired the first warning that he will be snapping at the heels of Stephen Myler next season. Hanrahan...

Wasps sign Alex Rieder

As revealed by Jon Newcombe in The Rugby Paper on Sunday, Wasps have signed Alex Rieder from Rotherham ahead of next...

Liam Williams blow for Wales?

Liam Williams faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup after undergoing foot surgery. The Scarlets flyer...

Jeremy Guscott: You can bet Richie McCaw and Dan Carter will be ready

One of the big stories so far in the Super 15 is the Crusaders failing to make the play-offs for the...

Nick Cain’s column: Megabucks Toulouse give Manu Tuilagi a dilemma

Manu Tuilagi has one year left on his Leicester Tigers contract and Toulouse have sounded out the 24-year-old England centre about...

Brendan Gallagher’s feature: The day South Africa was cleared for take-off

It’s 20 years ago today that President Nelson Mandela presented Francois Pienaar with the World Cup at Ellis Park to bring down...

Anthony Allen announces retirement from playing

Leicester Tigers centre Anthony Allen has announced his retirement from professional rugby due to a knee injury at the age of...

Sam Burgess is pure gold to have in the camp says Dave Attwood

Cross-code star is a “live contender” to make England’s final World Cup squad according to Bath teammate.

Harlequins’ Jordan Burns joins Bedford Blues

Harlequins today confirmed that Academy scrum-half Jordan Burns will join Greene King IPA Championship side Bedford Blues. The former sprinter, 21,...

Wales MUST hold onto Alun Wyn Jones warn Ospreys

Wales urged to secure the longer-term future of their ‘most valuable asset’