Brendan Gallagher: John Bull agenda is robbing England of some top talent

There is much to admire about Stuart Lancaster‘s England but I remain unconvinced by this “Little England” attitude which bars prospective...

Jeremy Guscott: Gavin Henson’s coming back to best – and it’s great to see

Gavin Henson proved the other week against Brive what we have all known throughout his career: the guy can really play....

Now the Turks want to get slice of new European Cup

The new European Rugby Champions’ Cup is preparing for take-off with the airline who signed Lionel Messi during their sponsorship of...

Harry Mallinder strikes to send England U18s to European final

A late Harry Mallinder penalty put England U18s into their fourth successive European Championship final as they beat Wales 11-9 in...

My Life in Rugby: Brett Deacon – former Leicester and Gloucester back-row

I had never played second row in my career and on my Premiership debut I was thrown in at the deep...

Unfair, cry clubs over huge loss at Sarries

Questions have been raised over the state of financial fair play in the Aviva Premiership after huge losses were reported by...

Tavis Knoyle and Sila Puafisi facing RFU hearing tomorrow

Gloucester duo Tavis Knoyle and Sila Puafisi will appear before a RFU Disciplinary Panel in London tomorrow following Saturday’s Premiership match...

Competition: Northampton v London Irish tickets

The Rugby Paper has teamed up with Official Breakdown and Recovery Supplier to Premiership Rugby, Green Flag, to offer fans the...

Dream Team: Jebb Sinclair – London Irish and Canada flanker

1. Tendai Mtawarira – The Beast, there’s no way he was not going to be in my team. But it’s not...

Schoolboy threw bottle at West Country derby

Gloucester confirmed a bottle was thrown at referee Tim Wigglesworth and his assistants on Saturday after an ill-tempered West Country derby...

George Chuter retires from rugby

Leicester Tigers hooker George Chuter has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect. The first man to make 250...

Saracens beat Northampton to stay top

Saracens remained at the top of the table after disposing of Northampton 28-24 at Allianz Park. Sarries are now ten points...

Young Gun: Maro Itoje – Saracens lock

Until the U20s Six Nations, lock Maro Itoje, 19, didn’t list try-scoring among his strengths but after touchdowns in all five...

Sale to play home games on Saturdays

Sale Sharks have confirmed that they will play their home games next season at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday afternoons...

Premiership, Pro12, Championship teams

After a thrilling weekend of European rugby, everyone’s attention returns to the domestic leagues and a thrilling finish is on the...

Jeff Probyn: Why life’s not so simple in this new European utopia

Delays, debates and rows, just another week of life in the sport we recognise as professional rugby. The delays in the...

Brendan Gallagher: Brive and bloody, the short reign of French mavericks

It is 16 years since Brive clashed with Bath in the 1998 Heineken Cup final in Bordeaux and at the time...

England anthem singer to run (and sing) at the London marathon

England rugby’s official anthem singer Laura Wright, one of the UK’s leading classical artists, will be running the 2014 Virgin Money...

The new face of European Rugby

After months of negotiations, the future of European rugby has finally been sorted with all the European stakeholders agreeing the new...

Rugby Regional Wales statement on European Rugby

On behalf of the four Welsh Regions, the Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons, Regional Rugby Wales (RRW) has...

Memo to Stuart Lancaster: Michael Paterson’s available

Not many outside of Wales realised quite what an exceptional bit of business Sale supremo Steve Diamond had done last summer...

Mark Bright became exile after his hopes were dimmed by Thomas Waldrom

London Scottish No.8 Mark Bright has few regrets, but he can still recall how Thomas Waldrom once cost him the chance...

Aviva Premiership round 19 teams

Gloucester v Bath Gloucester: Martyn Thomas; Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Mike Tindall, Jonny May; Billy Twelvetrees (Capt.), Jimmy Cowan; Nick Wood, Dan...

Greene King IPA Championship round 21 teams

Cornish Pirates v Rotherham Titans Cornish Pirates: Kieran Goss; Max Bodilly, Tom Riley, Junior Fatialofa, Craig Holland; Kieran Hallett, Tom Kessell;...

ERC Statement on European Rugby

As European rugby’s stakeholders today (Thursday, 10 April) confirm an agreement for a new phase in the development of the European...

RFU statement on European Rugby

RFU Chairman Bill Beaumont CBE said: “The benefits will be seen far and wide, from the clubs to the supporters, sponsors...

Premiership statement on European Rugby

Premiership Rugby today commented on the confirmation by all parties that an exciting new set of European club competitions will start...

European Rugby Broadcast Statement

BT and Sky have reached an agreement in principle concerning arrangements for the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby...

European Rugby Statement

After months of negotiation, the future of European rugby has been decided today with the release of the following statement from...

Room 101: Karl Dickson – Harlequins scrum-half

1. IKEA We moved into our new home three weeks ago and I’m up to my ears in IKEA boxes and...

Mallinder to captain England U18s against Portugal

England U18s have named their side to take on Portugal tomorrow as they kick off their defence of the European Championship...

RaboDirect Pro12 round 19 teams

Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues Edinburgh: Jack Cuthbert; Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Matt Scott, Andries Strauss, Tom Brown; Harry Leonard, Grayson Hart; Alasdair Dickinson,...

Nick Cain talks to Joe Launchbury about Wasps’ late season challenges and his advancement with England

Joe Launchbury does not conform to the old school second row stereotype. His face doesn’t look as if it’s been flirting...

Peter Jackson: Village that beat the All Blacks is rotting away

Of all the villages in Britain, only one can lay claim to a dual role in a victory over the All...

Exeter sign Mitch Lees from London Welsh

London Welsh forward Mitch Lees will be joining Exeter Chiefs next season after signing a two-year deal with the Devon club....

New Bath deal for Gavin Henson

Bath announced that Gavin Henson has signed a one year extension to his contract. The 32-year-old, who was named man of...

“Year long slog left me in dip,” says Mako Vunipola

Mako Vunipola has revealed how post-Lions fatigue caused his form to dip dramatically.

20 Questions: James Shanahan – Plymouth Ablion head coach

Enjoying your first season in charge? Lots of ups and downs but good fun. It’s a new team and a new...

Jared Payne banned for two weeks

Jared Payne has been suspended for two weeks following his red card against Saracens in the Heineken Cup quart-finals on Saturday....

Danny Cipriani voted Premiership player of the month

Danny Cipriani has been voted the March Premiership player of the month following his recent form with the Sale Sharks. The...

Dream Team: Paul Burke – Leicester backs coach and former Harlequins & Ireland fly-half

1. Jason Leonard – Played together at Harlequins and he is simply incredible. He is the most capped prop in the...

Peter O’Mahony to have shoulder surgery

Munster Heineken Cup hopes have been dealt a big blow with the news that captain Peter O’Mahony is to undergo reconstructive...

Geoff Parling set for Leicester return

Geoff Parling could be in line for his first game in four months on Saturday against London Wasps after recovering from...

Newcastle sign Worcester back row Semesi Taulava

Newcastle Falcons have landed Semesi Taulava from Worcester Warriors on a two-year deal. The 31-year-old is the second new signing to...

Anthony Watson will be star for England says Nick Abendanon

Nick Abendanon admits that Anthony Watson’s emergence proved a decisive factor in taking the plunge with European giants Clermont.

Nick Cain: Here’s how All Blacks Test could have moved

There are times when it is blatantly obvious that the standards of excellence now demanded of England‘s professional rugby players are...

Brendan Gallagher: Steve Diamond has more polish but can still spot a gem

There was a time Sale boss Steve Diamond might have brooded for a week or more after the disappointing Amlin Cup...

Jared Payne red card hearing

Jared Payne will appear in front of a disciplinary committee tomorrow over the red card he received during the Heineken Cup...

Newcastle head coach leaves

Newcastle Falcons head coach Peter Russell will be leaving the club for personal reasons at the end of the current season....

My Life in Rugby: Hendre Fourie – former England, Sale, Leeds & Rotherham flanker

The pinnacle of my career came in the summer of 2010 – Leeds had just stayed in the Premiership and Martin...