Opponents confirmed for 2013 QBE internationals

England will play three consecutive Test matches against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand in next year’s QBE Internationals, The Rugby Football...

20 Questions: Jimmy Gopperth – Newcastle fly-half

Happy with your season so far? Can’t complain. We’re unbeaten in the league and, on the back of a great performance...

Fearless Freddie Burns gets his chance – Mike Tindall

Gloucester player-coach Mike Tindall believes 22-year-old Freddie Burns will have no problem stepping into international rugby should he feature against the...

“We’re getting more and more confident” – Tom Varndell

London Wasps are travelling to Sandy Park tomorrow to face Exeter looking to carry on their good run of form against one of...

Owen Farrell starts against All Blacks for England

As expected, Owen Farrell will lead the England attack on Saturday against New Zealand starting at fly-half. The new IRB Player...

Premiership round 10: previews and predictions

Harlequins v Worcester Harlequins have made three changes to the starting XV that played Bath last weekend for the reception of...

Wales v Australia teams

Wales v Australia teams Wales have made four changes to the side that lost to the All Blacks last weekend for...

RaboDirect Pro12 round 10 preview

Ospreys v Cardiff Blues Samoan international Kahn Fotuali’i return from international duties to start at scrum-half captain the Ospreys as they...

Nick Cain: Thomson’s escape shows bias towards All Blacks

The fawning towards all things All Black by the game’s officials goes on unabated with the latest example being the one-week...

England won’t regret saddling up with Matt Parker

Matt Parker will have no problem in transferring his cycling success to the rugby field, according to one of his key...

My Life in Rugby: Budge Pountney – former Northampton and Scotland back row

When Northampton won the Heineken Cup in 2000 you won’t see a single picture of me and Alan Bateman at the...

Peter Jackson: The force is no longer with Welsh club rugby

There used to be a time when Wales–England matches required a heavier police presence on the field than off it, when...

Lions Greatest XV: full-backs

As the last line of defence, the full-back must be a good tackler with safe hands and a fair bit of...

Dan Carter set to start for the All Blacks

There will be a battle of the IRB player of the year nominees at fly-half between Owen Farrell and Dan Carter...

Manu Tuilagi can turn into a playmaker like Ma’a Nonu

Of all the conundrums Stuart Lancaster needs to solve before the All Blacks come to town, the most pressing is –...

Farrell shortlisted for IRB Player of the Year

England fly-half Owen Farrell has been nominated for the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year award. Farrell has been shortlisted...

Dream Team: Sililo Martens – former Scarlets, Sale and Tonga scrum-half

1. Andrew Sheridan – Lived in the gym and would eat little children for lunch! He was always very dedicated to...

John Mitchell officially joins Sale

As expected and revealed in The Rugby Paper over a month ago, John Mitchell has taken over as a member of...

Jeff Probyn: RFU ‘blazers’ are value for money – unlike others!

The relevance of the RFU Council was brought into question in last week’s paper by former chairman of the management board...

Openside gambit from Luke Wallace: “I’ll oust Chris Robshaw”

Ultra-competitive Harlequins flanker Luke Wallace believes he could provide the long-term answer to England‘s search for a genuine openside. And he...

“We must be the No.1 team in the world now” – Gary Street

With England wrapping up their second consecutive Test-Series win over the Black Ferns last night, Gary Street was adamant his side...

England Women beat New Zealand to seal Series win

England have secured their second consecutive Test Series win over New Zealand with a 17-8 victory in Aldershot yesterday. With the...

Brian Mujati set to leave Saints for Racing with Tonga’uiha

South African Brian Mujati is set to leave the Midlands for Racing Metro at the end of the season. 28-year-old Mujati...

Referee Nigel Owens blocked Chris Robshaw’s call change

Captain Chris Robshaw tried to change his mind over his dramatic decision to kick for the posts rather than chase a...

Live: England Women v New Zealand Women 2nd Test

Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as England Women take on New Zealand in the second of their three-Test...

Premiership round 9 review

Bath (beat Harlequins 21-18) While the talk is all about Gloucester in the West Country, Bath are quietly becoming a force...

Wasps appoint new CEO

London Wasps announced today the appointment of Nick Eastwood as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer. Eastwood, a former Finance Director...

Autumn Internationals week 3 Round up

I’ve never believed in the media hype but if people are wondering the effect of the press on players just look...

Freddie Burns called up by England

Freddie Burns has been called up to the England squad ahead of the clash against New Zealand next Saturday. The Gloucester...

Spirited London Wasps tame Leicester Tigers

London Wasps remained unbeaten at home with a spirited 14-12 win over the Leicester Tigers at Adams Park today. As a...

Room 101: Duncan Bell – Former Bath and England prop

1. Speeding fine injustice Now, don’t get the wrong idea…I’m no ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, nor, by the same token, am I...

Scarlets claim historic win in Cork against Munster

The Scarlets claimed an historic 13-6 win against Munster in dreadful weather conditions in Cork today. The score was close all...

Andy Robinson quits Scotland’s head coaching role

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson has announced today he is stepping down from his role with immediate effect. The decision follows...

Live: Munster v Scarlets

Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as Munster take on Scarlets in the ninth round of the RaboDirect Pro12...

Nick Cain talks to Danny Cipriani about his challenge at Sale, tackling and England

Danny Cipriani has found himself in the headlines over the last few weeks, but they have not been of his own...

Live: London Wasps v Leicester

Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as London Wasps take on Leicester in the ninth round of the Aviva...

England lose to Springboks at HQ

England suffered a 16-15 defeat to South Africa in a bruising battle at Twickenham today. It was all about penalties in...

Young Gun: Ethan Waller – Northampton prop

His brother already has a Heineken Cup final appearance to his name, and was the only player to turn out in...

Saints beat the Exiles at the Gardens

Northampton secured their second win in as many weeks with a 23-16 success over London Welsh at Franklin’s Gardens. Two first...

Gloucester cement place in Top 4 with win over Sale

Gloucester have cemented their place in the Top Four of the Premiership with a dominant 29-3 win over Sale at Kingsholm....

Jeremy Guscott: Wales must act quickly to stop the talent drain

With the news that Jamie Roberts has decided to move on from Cardiff Blues, Roger Lewis chief executive of the Welsh...

Live: England v South Africa

Live running commentary from our man Nick Verdier as England take on South Africa in the third of their Autumn Tests...

Goode gets the goods for Worcester against Saracens

Andy Goode was once again on song with the boot as Worcester secured a try-less 12-3 win over Saracens at Sixways....

Donald boots Bath to victory at The Rec

Stephen Donald won the battle of the boot against fellow All Black Nick Evans to help Bath to a 21-18 over...

England Women beat Black Ferns in first Test

England women have drawn first blood in the three-Test series against New Zealand with a spirited 16-13 win at Esher RFC...

20 Questions: Vasily Artemyev – Northampton wing

How’s your season been so far? It’s been very challenging but very enjoyable. Northampton‘s a good place to be and a...

“We stopped doing the hard graft up front” – Northampton’s Ken Pisi

Last week against the Dragons, Northampton ended a four-game losing streak which saw them go from unbeaten at top of the...

Nick Cain: Bending the ref’s ear should be binned

One of the worst aspects of the new TMO intervention on foul play is the sharp increase in players badgering referees...

“They have thrown the challenge back to us” – Black Ferns’ Brian Evans

Black Ferns head coach Brian Evans is under no illusion over the scale of the challenge ahead as his side begin...

Bryan Redpath is ready to face the Kingsholm abuse

Bryan Redpath will stride through the gates of Kingsholm with his head held high on Saturday, proud of the legacy he...