Concussion forces Andy Hazell to retire

Gloucester stalwart Andy Hazell is to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect after failing to recover from a concussion he...

England women ring the changes for Scotland

England Women Head Coach Gary Street has made wholesale changes for Sunday’s clash against Scotland in Aberdeen. Only skipper Katy Mclean,...

Worcester sign four more players

Northampton No.8 GJ van Velze is among four players who signed for Worcester ahead of next season. The South African back...

Billy Twelvetrees and Joe Marler head the Haywards Heath talent factory

Haywards Heath may be languishing in the sixth tier of English rugby but it hasn’t stopped the London 1 South side...

Dream Team: Nathan Hines – Clermont and former Scotland and Leinster lock

1. Tom Smith – A very good player who was underestimated for being small. Always did a great job in the...

Bath confirm Nick Abendanon’s Clermont move

Bath confirm today that Nick Abendanon will leave the club at the end of the season and take up a contract...

Six Nations teams

Teams for the RBS 6 Nations openers.

Young Gun: Jack Carty – Connacht fly-half

Fresh from the first Pro12 and Heineken Cup starts of his career, fly-half Jack Carty is already being tipped as one...

Peter Jackson: Dr Ron still at the head of Grand Slam pack

It has been said of Dr Ronald Cove-Smith that he never turned up on a Saturday afternoon without his little black...

Dai Young fears that weary Welsh Lions will suffer in Six Nations

Dai Young feels the after-effects of a gruelling Lions tour could hinder Wales’s chances of becoming the first side to claim...

Room 101: Ben Prescott – Cornish Pirates prop

1. Team info sheets At the start of the season Pirates distribute an info sheet with details of all players and...

Jeff Probyn: All shapes and sizes should play rugby

Money, money, money, it’s a rich man’s sport. The increase in the salary cap, up by £500,000 to £5 million, will...

Sale Sharks still expect bite from lock of ages Nathan Hines

Nathan Hines will be 39 by the time his newly-signed Sale contract finishes, but retirement is still far from the mind...

20 Questions: Nicky Robinson – Bristol fly-half

Describe your season to date? Torn pectoral muscle and calf injuries made it difficult to get a run of games but...

Nick Cain: England need Saxons to be battle-hardened

The Saxons should be a huge influence in building an England team, so that the head coach never runs out of...

Marlan Yarde would be top signing says Tom Williams

Tom Williams says speculation linking Marland Yarde with a move to Harlequins is a positive sign of ambition and would welcome...

Chris Ashton dropped by England

As expected, Chris Ashton has been dropped by England ahead of their Six Nations opener against France on Saturday.

My Life in Rugby: Tim Stimpson – former Newcastle, Leicester, Perpignan & England full-back

The Lions tour in 1997 was the pinnacle of my career. It was a phenomenal experience. I was 23, just come...

Worcester snap-up Gloucester duo

As revealed in The Rugby Paper last Sunday, Worcester have signed Matt Cox and Ryan Mills from Gloucester.

Priestland at 10, Warburton on bench for Wales

Rhys Priestland will lead Wales attack on Saturday as they kick off their Six Nations campaign against Italy at the Millennium...

England women name side for Six Nations opener

England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has named his team for Saturday’s Six Nations opener against France in Grenoble.

Deadline looms for Anglo-Welsh league plan

England’s elite clubs and the four Welsh regions have signed contracts for a 16-team Aviva Premiership from next season and will...

Rugby stars deliver ‘Number Cruncherz’ scheme to young people

Sale Sharks have teamed up with UK credit card lender MBNA and PFEG to launch a brand-new scheme that uses rugby-themed...

Saxons call on three players for Scotland A fixture

Adam Thompstone, Dan Robson and Kieran Brookes have been called up by the England Saxons to prepare their clash against Scotland...

Join TRP’s Six Nations prediction league on SuperBru

The Rugby Paper running prediction leagues for the upcoming RBS Six Nations which starts on Saturday and we’d love you join...

Dream Team: Jamie Noon – former Newcastle, Brive and England centre

1. Andrew Sheridan – He’s what we call a rugby mute. Very big, very strong, not that outspoken but very, very...

Heineken and Amlin Cup QFs schedule revealed

ERC today announced the schedule for the Heineken Cup and Amlin Cup quarter-finals. The heavyweight confrontations in the Heineken Cup last...

England win Plate in Las Vegas Sevens

England survived a late scare but beat Australia 26-24 to win the Plate at the Las Vegas Sevens yesterday. Captain Tom...

Grass root club helps local community

The recent storms that have battered the south coast of England and caused severe flooding has left community’s with massive cleanup...

Young Gun: Rhodri Williams – Scarlets scrum-half

The Scarlets have been awash with Williams but while he stands at just 5ft 9in, scrum-half Rhodri is determined to be...

Alun Wyn Jones signs new Ospreys deal

Alun Wyn Jones Jones has ended speculations on his future by putting pen-to-paper on a contract that will see him remain...

Gloucester sign son of Wasps boss

Gloucester have signed Thomas Young until the end of the season with the possibility of extending his stay if he impresses....

LV=Cup round 3 teams

Bath v Cardiff Blues Bath: Horacio Agulla; Richard Lane, Matt Banahan, Ollie Devoto, Tom Biggs; Tom Heathcote, Micky Young; Anthony Perenise, Ross...

Peter Jackson: Rookie 10s can shape outcome of Six Nations

The Six Nations cast for 2014 includes seven fly-halves who have yet to play in the tournament and seven more who...

Jeff Probyn: Italians have a lot to gain by forming their own league

The comments of Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) president Alfredo Gavazzi  that they may remove their two professional teams from the Rabo...

Greene King IPA Championship round 13 teams

Bedford v Nottingham Bedford: James Pritchard (Capt.); Pat Tapley, Corey Hircock, Mark Atkinson, Aaron Morris; Jake Sharp, Darryl Veenendaal; Darren Fearn,...

Richard Parks proves he is Poles apart from rest

For the first time in a long while former Wales flanker Richard Parks will be sitting back next month and necking...

Room 101: David Strettle – England & Saracens winger

1. Splash! Has there ever been a more pointless TV programme than the Saturday night light ‘entertainment’ offering Splash? We had...

Leigh Halfpenny to leave Blues and join Toulon…

As revealed in The Rugby Paper by Peter Jackson on December 8, British & Irish Lions full back Leigh Halfpenny will...

…but Jamie Heaslip turns them down

Despite being heavily linked with Toulon in recent weeks, Jamie Heaslip has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal...

Ian Evans suspended for 12 weeks

Wales lock Ian Evans will miss the entire Six Nations after being hit by a 12-week ban. The Ospreys lock was...

Christian Wade commits his future to London Wasps

England International Christian Wade has signed a contract extension with London Wasps. The news comes following a season in which he...

England Sevens captain Tom Mitchell: Sevens in Sin City

When people think of Las Vegas they think of high rollers, world famous shows, Caesar’s Palace and the MGM Grand. It...

Brendan Gallagher: George Chuter is the face of professional game

He looks and sounds like a London publican and certainly a job for life awaits on the EastEnders set should luvviedom...

Nick Cain: French cash pile could bury international game

Ben Mowen’s decision to quit Australian rugby at the end of this year to take up a contract with a Top...

Bath confirm Henry Thomas signing

Neil Fissler revealed it exclusively back on December 22 but Bath today confirmed the arrival of Sale Sharks prop Henry Thomas next...

England Saxons v Ireland Wolfhounds preview

Anthony Watson will make his international debut on Saturday after being named on the wing for the England Saxons as they...

England Sevens must keep in touch warns Tom Mitchell

Tom Mitchell, the newly-appointed captain of England Sevens, believes they have to lift a trophy in either Las Vegas or Wellington...

France name 23 for England

Philippe Saint Andre has named his 23-man squad to take on England in the opening round of the Six Nations in...

20 Questions: Schalk Brits – Saracens hooker

Enjoying the season so far? Loving it! I share the workload with Jamie George so I’m feeling fit and fresh and...