Young Gun: Jack Dixon – Dragons and Wales U20s centre

If it wasn’t for an untimely foot injury, Jack Dixon, 19, could have been preparing for a trip to South Africa...

WIN TICKETS TO PREMIERSHIP FINAL WITH GATORADE

The Rugby Paper has teamed up with Gatorade, Official Performance Partner of Premiership Rugby, to offer a pair of tickets for...

Jeff Probyn: Less use of the TMO? Then stop these ref witch-hunts

Hard to believe that it is just a week since Leicester‘s Richard Cockerill called for referees to be less reliant on...

Peter Jackson: Warren Gatland’s Law takes a mauling from WRU!

Warren Gatland made a strange announcement last Tuesday over the resurrection of the Welsh trial match, buried long ago with other...

It’ll be a whole new ball game if Bath’s supremo has his way

The battle over Europe has been won but Bath chairman Bruce Craig believes the war over global season structure and how...

Room 101: Barry Davies – Coventry and former Welsh international full-back

1. Poor service I eat out a lot. To be fair I don’t think I’ve cooked a meal for myself in...

“There won’t be many chips in Toulon’s armour” – Richard Wigglesworth

Saracens take on Toulon in the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff of Saturday and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth is fully aware of...

Nick Cain talks to Rob Baxter about the Heineken Cup final 

Rob Baxter is in the unique position for an English coach of having done the surgery on the victims-in-common of Heineken...

Brendan Gallagher: So, it’s farewell Heineken, you were already just champion!

Rather in the way journalism is often considered the first draft of history, the Heineken Cup was effectively European Rugby’s first...

Amlin Challenge Cup final – Northampton v Bath preview

Northampton have made five changes to their starting line-up for tomorrow’s Amlin Challenge Cup final against Bath in Cardiff. With two finals in...

Leicester confirm arrival of Freddie Burns

Leicester Tigers have confirmed the arrival Freddie Burns as well as four other international players. It was the worst kept secret...

Gloucester announce signing of Jacob Rowan

Gloucester today announced the capture of the highly rated back rower Jacob Rowan from Leeds Carnegie. The 24-year-old flanker, who captained...

Ben Foden can’t wait to link up with old pal Chris Ashton

Northampton full-back Ben Foden admits he misses his pal Chris Ashton – and is thrilled at the prospect of a reunion...

George Ford out of New Zealand tour?

George Ford could miss England‘s tour of New Zealand with reports suggesting he requires shoulder surgery. The Bath fly-half should play...

Experienced trio sign on at Leicester

Ed Slater, Louis Deacon and Anthony Allen have agreed new contract Leicester Tigers. Slater captained the team through the final third...

20 Questions: Glenn Delaney – London Irish forwards coach

Enjoyed your two years at Irish? Challenging, but excellent. I moved from Nottingham at the right time and with the future...

Worcester Warriors stuck by me so I’ll stay on, says Chris Pennell

The Premiership player of the year nominee has been a model of consistency in an otherwise disastrous Warriors campaign, the only...

Gareth Anscombe told to come now or miss World Cup

Warren Gatland has opened the door for Gareth Anscombe to play his way into Wales’ World Cup squad.

Jeremy Guscott: Chris Pennell would find a place on loan in any Premiership squad

It’s not often that a back stands out in a side that hasn’t performed, but Chris Pennell has done so for...

Nick Cain: Good to see Danny Cipriani back – now it’s all  up to him

Danny Cipriani has been thrown a lifeline by Stuart Lancaster, but it remains to be seen whether it is long enough...

Nick Cain picks his Premiership Dream Team

Selecting a Team of the Season is always a subjective business, and although statistics tell part of the story, they can...

Welsh regions join Premiership Sevens

Wales will stage the first leg of the Premiership Rugby 7s Series after it was announced the four Welsh regions will...

Nick Kennedy to retire and coach London Irish academy

As revealed in The Rugby Paper on April 20, Nick Kennedy will retire from rugby at the end of the season...

One-week ban for Salesi Ma’afu

Salesi Ma’afu has received a one-week ban for punching Leicester‘s Tom Youngs during last Friday’s Aviva Premiership semi-final. This means the...

My Life in Rugby: Trevor Woodman England, Gloucester & Sale prop

I was talking to Mike Teague one evening after a few beers when I was going to have to retire and...

Dream Team: Shane Geraghty – London Irish and former Northampton & Brive fly-half

1. Davit Kubriashvili – I played with Davit at Brive and the guy was unbelievable, one of the very best in...

Jonny Wilkinson to hang up boots

As revealed in The Rugby Paper on March 23, Jonny Wilkinson will retire at the end of the season. Seventeen years...

Matt Kvesic and Henry Slade play O2 Touch at The University Of Exeter

Matt Kvesic and Henry Slade hosted taster sessions at the new University of Exeter O2 Touch Centre in an effort to encourage...

England add 18 players to training squad

England have added 18 players to their training group ahead of the match against the Barbarians on June 1 and the...

Ireland name Argentina touring party

Ireland have name a 30-man squad for the two-Test tour of Argentina next month. Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Gordon D’Arcy and...

Young Gun: Louis Grimoldby – Harlequins fly-half

English fly-halves with rugby league backgrounds are all the rage at present and in Louis Grimoldby, Harlequins look to have unearthed...

Peter Jackson: A couple of England-Wales tickets, sir? That’ll be £630

The last England–Wales match at Twickenham grossed around £5m in ticket money. The next one will top £20m. For the World...

Jeff Probyn: Worcester and Dean Ryan still have a mountain to climb

The failure of Worcester to survive in this year’s Premiership season was probably the most anticipated relegation since the leagues began....

Charlie Matthews making up ground on old pal Joe Launchbury

Harlequins second row Charlie Matthews believes he is finally coming of age after putting his injury hell behind him to start...

Danny Cipriani earns England recall

Danny Cipriani has been recalled by England for the first time since 2008 ahead of the the summer tour of New...

Room 101: Mark Cueto – Sale winger

1. Messiness I’m quite OCD. I like everything to be neat and tidy so it winds me up when the kids...

Aviva Premiership semi-final preview: Northampton v Leicester

NORTHAMPTON Story of the season For much of the season Saints were the model of muscular consistency losing just one in...

Nick Cain discovers what England can expect in New Zealand

Jimmy Cowan has such an intimate knowledge of the workings of All Blacks that it’s surprising Steve Hansen hasn’t had him...

Focus on short game has put Gillies Kaka & Co on top

New Zealand lifted their 12th World Sevens Series on Sunday at Twickenham and their hegemony is not going to stop anytime...

Ambitious Bismarck du Plessis targets Welsh scrum

Wales beware, Bismarck du Plessis says the Springboks’ front row aims to be the most formidable in the world and will...

Gavin Henson not released for Wales trial

Bath will not release Gavin Henson and Paul James for the ‘Probables’ v ‘Possibles’ trial match on May 30. Under Premier Rugby...

20 Questions: Niall Morris – Leicester winger

Good to be back after injury? Yes, hopefully I can get a run of games now. I dislocated my thumb and...

Canterbury unveils new RAF Spitfires Rugby 7s kit for 2014

Leading rugby brand Canterbury has today unveiled its brand new kit range for the RAF Spitfires Rugby 7s. The team, which...

Nick Cain: Malakai Fekitoa case shows IRB are letting down world game

New Zealand protests that they do not poach from the Pacific Islands should always be taken with a block of salt,...

Jeremy Guscott: Super George North can help Northampton Saints reach another Premiership final

The bridesmaid tag is an easy one to hang on Northampton, and it’s there because although they have attracted some big-name...

Brendan Gallagher: Why I’ve learned to love the Premiership play-offs

How quickly time moves on and blazing rows of yesteryear recede. For many it was the blackest of days midway through...

Newcastle sign Italian international lock

Newcastle Falcons have completed the signing of Italian international lock Josh Furno from French Top 14 side Biarritz. Capped 18 times...

Ugo Monye backs Manu Tuilagi to wing it for England

The auditions are in full swing but Ugo Monye believes Manu Tuilagi’s X-factor means he should line up on the wing...

Aviva Premiership semi-finals preview: Saracens v Harlequins

  SARACENS Story of the season The dominant and most consistent team of the regular season, so much so that in...

My Life in Rugby: James Hanks – former Exeter lock

After some time in the hospital I was told that I couldn’t play rugby again. That was a devastating moment for...