Forget Steffon Armitage, Red Rose needs Matt Kvesic

Matt Kvesic is overdue an England call-up, according to Gloucester legend Andy Hazell, who believes the in-form openside has the potential...

Room 101: Ryan Westren – Cornish All Blacks fly-half

1. Mobile phone signals Okay, being born and living in Cornwall clearly has its plusses, including appreciation of the county’s beautiful...

Brendan Gallagher’s column: Clermont reap benefits from hunting cleverly

Money invariably encourages envy and bad-mouthing but money per se has never guaranteed success in any sport. Winning is much more...

Brendan Gallagher’s feature: Can Saracens exploit scars of 2014?

The two stand-out performances in European Cup history have both come within the last 12 months and on Saturday the two...

Exeter Chiefs bring in Williams from Jersey 

Exeter are continuing their busy period of recruitment for next season with prop Harry Williams the latest name added to the...

George Ford and JJ have given us a cutting edge – Chris Robshaw

England captain Chris Robshaw has welcomed the introduction of George Ford and Jonathan Joseph into England’s backline saying the Bath duo...

20 Questions: Joe Simpson – Wasps scrum-half

Ready to take on the European Champions Toulon? Yes and it’ll be an interesting proposal. We know it’ll take a lot...

George Kruis commits to Saracens

George Kruis has put pen to paper to a multi-year contract extension to remain at Saracens. He follows in the footstep...

England Sevens star Jeff Williams to join Bath

England Sevens player Jeff Williams will join Bath Rugby next season. The 26-year-old has scored 36 tries in his 20 tournament...

Shane Williams’ column: Here’s to next 125 years of Barbarians wizardry

The Barbarians have celebrated their 125th anniversary and are possibly more important to rugby now than ever. People may think that...

Jeremy Guscott’s column: Sam Burgess can be deadly force as Bath’s back-row destroyer

I’ve backed Sam Burgess to make England‘s World Cup squad from the start because I think he is that talented –...

Brendan Gallagher looks back at five gems from the European Cup semi-finals

1999: Ulster 33 Stade Francais 27 The English clubs weren’t involved in the 1998-9 competition but frankly nobody really missed them...

Billy Vunipola free to face Clermont

Billy Vunipola has been cleared of head-butting Matthew Tait last night making him free to play against Clermont in the Champions...

My Life in Rugby: Andy Gomarsall – former Wasps, Bedford, Gloucester, Quins, Leeds & England scrum-half

I’ll never forget getting the phone call telling me I was in the final squad of 30 for RWC 2003. I...

Red-hot Freddie Burns targets World Cup warm-ups

Fly-half believes he could yet earn him a place in England’s World Cup training squad – if he can steer Leicester...

Leicester to play ground-breaking fixture in USA

Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will host the Independence Cup fixture between Leicester Tigers and the National Rugby Football League’s Rough...

Plymouth Albion statement on James Shanahan

Plymouth Albion and head coach James Shanahan have parted company with three games remaining in the Championship season. The news follows...

Dream Team: Tom James – Exeter and former Cardiff Blues wing

1. Cian Healy – The Leinster and Ireland loosehead has an awesome work rate. He loves a carry but he is...

Wales say No to Test against Australia in autumn

Wales have turned down an approach from Australia to play the Wallabies in Cardiff immediately after the World Cup. The Aussies...

Front row quartet commit to London Welsh

London Welsh have announced the re-signing of front rowers Nathan Trevett, Koree Britton, Nathan Morris and Ben Cooper. Today’s announcement follows...

Northampton sign Pat Howard from Stormers

Northampton Saints have today announced that Pat Howard will be joining the club next season. The 23-year-old centre will join from...

Wasps bring in kicking coach Mark Tainton

Wasps have confirmed their coaching line-up for the 2015-16 season with Mark Tainton joining as kicking coach. Tainton will work alongside...

Young Gun: Maliq Holden – Hartpury College wing

Maliq Holden was heartbroken after being dropped for last year’s AASE League final but it might well be the best thing...

Premiership round 19 teams

Exeter v Northampton Exeter: Phil Dollman; Ian Whitten, Jack Nowell, Sam Hill, Matt Jess; Henry Slade, Will Chudley; Ben Moon, Jack...

Greene King IPA Championship round 20 teams

Bedford v Moseley Bedford:  James Pritchard; Pat Tapley, Mike Le Bourgeois, Viliami Hakalo, Henry Staff; Jake Sharp, Luke Baldwin; Tom Williams,...

Peter Jackson’s column: Justice has arrived late for victim Rhys Patchell

Rhys Patchell would have been appearing in his first European quarter-final yesterday had he not been bludgeoned out of it.  The...

Room 101: Kane Palma-Newport – Bath prop

1.Not defending mauls Not defending a maul – and trying to get something from the opposition without directly engaging them immediately...

Tom Cruse to join London Irish

Rotherham Titans have today confirmed that hooker Tom Cruse will London Irish next season. Cruse, 26, who will play his 50th...

Exeter swoop for Northampton’s Hooley

Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their attacking options for next season with the acquisition of Will Hooley from Premiership rivals Northampton Saints....

Shane Williams’ column: George North will be fit and firing for World Cup if he’s well looked after

I fear for George North and Wales that one of the game’s biggest stars could miss the greatest tournament. It has...

Jeff Probyn: Simple way to solve head cases and score more tries

As the concussion story grows and grows with more and more high profile players suffering the effects of serious blows to...

Ian Ritchie right to say it’s ‘unacceptable’ – Billy Twelvetrees

RFU boss was right says England centre.

Stuart Hooper: Dave Attwood was deflated but he’ll rise for World Cup

Bath captain backs club colleague to reclaim his place in the Red Rose boiler room ahead of the World Cup.

20 Questions: Scott Lawson – Newcastle hooker

What do you make of the Falcons’ season so far? Really good in terms of performances. We’ve improved as a team...

Elliott Daly named Premiership Player of the Month

Elliot Daly has today been named the Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Month for March. After finishing second in February,...

Jacques Burger cited for striking

Jacques Burge will appear in front of a disciplinary hearing for allegedly striking Racing Metro scrum-half Maxime Machenaud in Saracens‘ Champions...

Brendan Gallagher feature: 125 years of Barbarians

It was 2am on the morning of April 9 1890 that the Barbarians Football club officially came into existence which in...

Worcester bring in Sevens ace Heem

Worcester Warriors today announced the signing of All Blacks Sevens flyer Bryce Heem from the Chiefs. The 26-year-old, who spent three...

Harlequins confirm Tim Swiel return

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on Sunday, Harlequins have brought back Tim Swiel on a full-time contract...

My Life in Rugby: Terry Fanolua – former Gloucester, Brive and Samoa centre

Terry FanoluaI’m currently back at my home from home, Gloucester, coaching in schools as part of the club’s community programme. It’s...

Munster sign All Black Francis Saili

Munster Rugby have announced the signing of Blues centre Francis Saili on a two-year contract. The 24-year-old has made 33 Super...

Dream Team: Carl Fearns – Bath and former Sale back row

1. Nathan Catt – As a loosehead he is very good at the scrum but he is also a skilful ball...

Extra Test with Ireland on agenda for England

Old rivals to meat at HQ four times next season.

Wellington College win Rosslyn Park 7s in style

It took them a year to adapt but Wellington College entered Schools Sevens history on Friday by lifting their first Open...

Champions Cup quarter-finals teams

Clermont v Northampton Clermont: Nick Abendanon; Noa Nakaitaci, Jonathan Davies, Wesley Fofana, Naipolioni Nalaga; 10. Brock James, Ludovic Radoslavjevic ; Vincent...

Challenge Cup quarter-finals teams

Exeter v Newcastle Exeter: Byron McGuigan; Tom James, Ian Whitten, Sam Hill, Matt Jess; Henry Slade, Will Chudley; Ben Moon, Jack...

Neil De Kock is backing Ben Spencer for the top

Cup hero is well on the way to becoming “world class” according to fellow Saracens scrum-half.

Wasps to appeal against Nathan Hughes ban

Wasps today confirmed that the club will appeal against the three week ban given to No.8 Nathan Hughes at an RFU...

Samoa to play Wasps in RWC warm-up game

Samoa will take on Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on September 5 as a warm-up to their World Cup campaign. The...

Harlequins’ Kyle Sinckler out for the season

Harlequins have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Kyle Sinckler is out for the remainder of the season....