Nick Cain column: Ninja Eddie Jones slew Boks with lethal planning

Welcome to Ninja rugby, the brainchild of Eddie Jones. The Japan coach borrowed from the methods of the covert mercenaries feared...

Hooper and Pocock start for Australia against England

Michael Hooper and David Pocock will both start for Australia on Saturday in their crucial World Cup Pool of Death clash...

Steve Borthwick turns Japan into Land of Rising Scrum

Japan’s pack, once the butt of jokes and considered little more than a speed-bump on the way to the try-line by...

20 Questions: Phil Dowson – Worcester back-row

How’s pre-season going? The boys are working hard. We had a ten day break in Tignes which was brilliant and the...

Wales forced to change three against Fiji

Injuries have forced Wales to make three changes to their starting XV ahead of their game against Fiji on Thursday. With...

Jonathan Joseph fit to play Australia

Stuart Lancaster and England have been given a major boost ahead of their must-win World Cup match against Australia on Saturday...

Peter Jackson column: Don’t be a man, stay down says Jonathan Thomas

Jonathan Thomas began wondering whether something might be wrong when he spoke to the Worcester Warriors‘ squad one day last October. ...

Nick Cain: England need a Raging Bull to down these cocky Aussies

Michael Cheika has not made many slip-ups since his appointment as Wallaby coach last year, but his decision to play down...

All Blacks by far the best 31 says Sean Fitzpatrick

England have no world-class players according to All Black legend.

Fallen Northampton Saints will be seeking redemption

Lee Dickson has vowed to scrap his way back into England contention after revealing his deep disappointment at being omitted from...

My Life in Rugby: Neil Kelly – Romania defence coach

As defence coach of Romania I’m really looking forward to the World Cup, it should be a great opportunity for Romania...

Cowan replaces Gilchrist in Scotland squad

London Irish back rower Blair Cowan has been named as a replacement for Grant Gilchrist in Scotland‘s Rugby World Cup squad....

Double injury blow for Australia

Australia have suffered a double injury blow with the news that Will Skelton and Wycliff Palu have bot suffered World Cup...

Billy Vunipola ruled out of World Cup

Billy Vunipola has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a knee ligament strain. The Saracens No.8...

Hook and Anscombe called up by Wales

James Hook and Gareth Anscombe have been called up by Wales following injuries to Scott Williams and Hallam Amos. Williams picked...

Peter Jackson’s verdict: Who needs Leigh Halfpenny when you’ve got Dan Biggar?

They paid £20,000,000 to be ringside at Twickenham last night, a suitably monstrous sum for a neighbourly battle billed as the...

Shane Williams’ comment: Dan Biggar was the man and not just for his boot

What a performance and what a result. It certainly wasn’t pretty but no Welsh fan will care when England are beaten...

Laurie Fisher: Can Wallabies win five on the trot?

Gloucester coach questions Wallabies’ ability to turn up for consecutive big games ahead of two gruelling weeks in the Pool of...

Rugby World Cup teams

Tonga v Namibia Tonga: Vungakoto Lilo; David Halaifonua, Siale Piutau, Sione Piukala, Fetu’u Vainikolo; Latiume Fosita, Sonatane Takulua; Soane Tonga’uiha, Aleki...

Dream Team: Tom Court – London Irish and former Ireland and Ulster prop

1. Rodrigo Roncero – The former Argentina prop is exactly how a loosehead should be – horrible, aggressive and mobile. In...

Wales ranked second in the world

Wales have climbed to second in the World Rugby rankings following their 28-25 win over England on Saturday at Twickenham. It...

Grant Gilchrist out of Rugby World Cup

Grant Gilchrist has been ruled out of the rest of Scotland‘s World Cup campaign after sustaining an injury yesterday. The 25-year-old...

Broken jaw forces Jean de Villiers to retire

Jean de Villiers has retired from international rugby after being ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a...

Manu Tuilagi to meet with Toulouse

Manu Tuilagi will reportedly meet with Toulouse next week to discuss a possible move to the South of France next year....

Young Gun: Theo Brophy-Clews – London Irish fly-half

Theo Brophy-Clews has become a school sensation over the past two seasons and he is now looking to make his mark...

GK IPA Championship round 4 teams

Ealing Trailfinders v Cornish Pirates Ealing Trailfinders: James Love; Rhys Crane, Toby Howley-Berridge, Joe Munro, Phil Chesters; Tristan Roberts, Alex Davies;...

Jeff Probyn’s column: Stuart Lancaster must try to keep his own emotions in check

What was Stuart Lancaster thinking of when he thought it would be necessary to address the players and explain to them...

VIDEO: James Haskell is bleeding for England

NHS Blood and Transplant released yesterday the first in a series of ‘Blood Substitute’ films for its ‘Bleed For England‘ campaign....

EXCLUSIVE: London Welsh have ‘initiated discussions’ about switching to Pro12

The move that could happen next year.

England v Wales PREVIEW

As expected, England have opted to alter their midfield for Saturday night’s pivotal World Cup clash against Wales at Twickenham on...

New Zealand made to work to beat Namibia

Neve Milner-Sukker and Julian Savea both scored twice as New Zealand recorded a eight-try 51-14 win over Namibia to make it...

Wales have NOT breached of World Cup regulation 

Wales were warned by World Rugby for having non-squad player train against them yesterday. The investigation comes after reports that players on...

Nick Cain’s column: The haka’s a sideshow not a sacred ceremony

Holy cow! The haka defence brigade were out in force last week with the England 2003 World Cup winner, Matt Dawson,...

Wales name team to take on England

Gareth Davies has been named at scrum-half for Wales‘ crucial World Cup clash against England at Twickenham on Saturday. The Scarlets...

Julian Salvi is happy to be let off leash

Flanker will relish playing with greater freedom at Exeter after his acrimonious departure from Leicester.

HIGHLIGHTS: Lacklustre France make it two from two with Romania win

Two tries from Sofiane Guitoune helped France recorded their second win of the World Cup as they beat a plucky Romania 38-11 at...

Argentina lock banned for eye gouging

Mariano Galarza’s World Cup is over after the Argentina lock was found guilty of eye-gouging against New Zealand on Sunday. The...

HIGHLIGHTS: Australia beat tired Fiji in Cardiff

Australia made the best of Fiji frantic schedule and recorded a 28-13 win in Cardiff. While the Wallabies only kicked off...

My Life in Rugby: Chas Cusani – former Orrell lock

My reputation as a ‘no-holds barred’ player may have gone before me during 20 years with Orrell, Lancashire and the North,...

HIGHLIGHTS: Scotland open RWC account with win over Japan

Scotland kicked off their World Cup campaign with a comprehensive 45-10 win over Japan in Gloucester today. Following their exploit against South Africa...

Ben Morgan out of Wales clash

England have suffered another injury blow with the news that Ben Morgan has been forced to withdraw with a knee injury....

Mike Brown is the rock to build fortress on says Ugo Monye

Mike Brown can emulate his boyhood hero Peter Schmeichel and be England’s rock during the World Cup according to Ugo Monye....

Brendan Gallagher talks to Wallaby legend Michael Lynagh

Michael Patrick, Thomas Lynagh – yes there are some Irish antecedents there for sure – doesn’t really ‘do’ drama. As a...

Jeremy Guscott: Slammin’ Sam will deliver – I’d start him against Wales

The lack of big match international experience showed on Friday night and England cannot afford another performance like that in this...

VIDEO: Bryan Habana and his match-day preparation

Springbok centre Wynand Olivier joins Worcester

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on August 23, Worcester Warriors have captured the signing of South Africa...

England sweat on Jonathan Joseph

Centre Jonathan Joseph is a doubt for England‘s crucial World Cup clash with Wales on Saturday due to a chest injury....

Rob McCusker signs for London Irish

London Irish have bolstered their back row options for this season with the signing of Welsh international Rob McCusker from the...

Gavin Henson is even hungrier now after final heartache

Gavin Henson has been backed to be  Bristol‘s promotion catalyst by head coach Sean Holley, following the fly-half’s return from serious...

20 Questions: Fraser Brown – Scotland hooker

How’s the Scotland camp one week away from the World Cup? Everyone was pretty happy to go through the warm-up games...