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...

London Irish sign Dan Leo

London Irish have announced the signing of Samoa International Dan Leo for next season. Making the move from Top 14 side...

League restructuring vote faces two-month delay

Opponents of RFU plans to reduce the size of leagues below the Champi- onship have scored a crucial victory fol- lowing...

RFU fail in bid to get All Blacks Test switch

Concerted attempts by the RFU to change the Test schedule for England’s summer tour of New Zealand in June have failed.

WIN tickets for the Stinger!

The Rugby Paper and London Wasps have teamed up to offer our readers the opportunity to win a pair of tickets...

Making a difference for the Aaron Lewis Fundation

Does your club want to gain £1,000 by winning a 10s tournament, which also celebrates the life of a very special...

London Wasps and Bath set up all-English Amlin Cup semi-final

London Wasps have set up an all-English Amlin Cup semi-final against Bath after beating Gloucester 36-24 at Adams Park tonight. The...

Toulon beat Leinster to march on to Heineken Cup semi-final

Brian O’Driscoll has played his last Heineken Cup game as Leinster crashed out in the quarter-finals losing to Toulon 29-14 at...

London Welsh commits to Oxfordshire

London Welsh confirmed its long-term commitment to play in Oxfordshire, as revealed in The Rugby Paper back in November, with the...

VIDEO: The rise of rugby in Japan

Christina Macfarlane looks at the rise of rugby in an unlikely place. Video courtesy of CNN’s International’s ‘Rugby Sevens Worldwide’, sponsored by...

London Wasps v Gloucester teams

London Wasps v Gloucester London Wasps: Andrea Masi; William Helu, Elliott Daly, Chris Bell (Capt.), James Short; Andy Goode, Joe Simpson;...

Richard Wigglesworth: Saracens have to embrace not fear Ravenhill

Mark McCall’s Saracens travel to Ulster tomorrow for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth hopes they can embrace the...

Young Gun: Seb Adeniran-Olule – Harlequins hooker

Young English props moving to hooker are all the rage and in Seb Adeniran-Olule, Harlequins hope they have unearthed yet another....

Jeff Probyn: Penalties are becoming too important in rugby

Some interesting ideas have come from Australia this week as they prepare to launch the new National Rugby Championship which they...

Brendan Gallagher: Balm before the storm: England’s 1914 Slam

Exactly 100 years ago the rugby season in England was fast drawing innocently to a close. In those days, with most...

James Hook can freshen up Warren Gatland’s game-plan

Sonny Parker believes Wales are going stale under head coach Warren Gatland and calls for a return of James Hook.

Sir Ian McGeechan urges SRU To nurture talent with London Scottish

Sir Ian McGeechan has called on Scotland Rugby to utilise London Scottish in order to create greater depth in its national...

Billy Vunipola fit to face Ulster?

Billy Vunipola could make his return for Saracens as they face Ulster in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals on Saturday. The No.8...

Room 101: Adam Cave – Moseley hooker

1. OAPS Old Age Pensioners have a terrible habit of wasting yours and everybody else’s time when you or they least...

England U18s name squad for European Championship

England U18s have named their squad to compete in the FIRA/AER European Championship in Poznan, Poland, later this month. England have...

Joe Marler to make 100th appearance for Harlequins

Joe Marler will make his 100th appearance for Harlequins tomorrow as they face Stade Francais in the Amlin Cup quarter-finals. The...

Marseille, Dublin or London to host Heineken Cup semi-finals

Toulon will host their Heineken Cup semi-final in Marseille if they beat Leinster on Sunday. The 41,000-seat Stade Vélodrome could become...

Nick Cain talks to Saracens lock George Kruis

George Kruis believes that Saracens have an edge when it comes to the business end of the season because they know...

Size no problem for elusive Kyle Eastmond

Kyle Eastmond is confident size will not count against him as he targets a place in England’s increasingly congested midfield.

20 Questions: Jake Cooper-Wooley – Wasps prop

Enjoying your first top-flight season? Loving it. Never expected to play as much but Wasps threw me in the deep end,...

Joe Marler commits his future to Harlequins

Harlequins announced today that England prop Joe Marler has committed his future to the London club until at least 2016. Marler,...

Jeremy Guscott: Manu Tuilagi and Luther Burrell would be a true force of nature

The impact that Manu Tuilagi has had to date in 23 England matches – including scoring 11 tries – gives him...

Nick Cain: Wembley bonanaza shows the way ahead

If anyone had had the temerity to suggest 20 years ago that a game between Saracens and Harlequins would set a...

Sale and Northampton rest stars for Amlin Cup quarter-final

Sale and Northampton have rested most of their star players ahead of tomorrow’s Amlin Cup quarter-finals at the AJ Bell. While...