Burns impressed by the new generation

By PAUL EDDISON IF those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it, then the future is promising for...

Saracens land Spink

FORMER Wasps centre Sam Spink will join Saracens from Western Force for next season. Spink, 24, has scored three tries in...

New deal for Obatoyinbo

NEWCASTLE full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo has signed a two-year extension. The 25-year-old joined initially on a short-term deal from Saracens in 2022...

Marshall to call it a day

ULSTER and former Ireland centre Luke Marshall will retire at the end of the season. The 31-year-old made his senior Ulster...

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, April 14, 2024 ... Continue reading... Access all our premium content from as little as 14p per day!...

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 14/04/24

The Women’s Six Nations returns as a record Scotland crowd host England and Ireland look to end their long losing streak...

Investec Champions Cup quarter-final preview

La Rochelle head to Dublin looking to end Leinster’s hopes of a fifth Champions Cup title for the fourth consecutive season...

George has inspired England improvement – Dawson

Former England captain and scrum-half Matt Dawson has praised skipper Jamie George as the “catalyst” for the country’s recent turnaround, and...

EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final preview

Eight countries from seven different nations remain in the Challenge Cup as it reaches the quarter-final stage, with an Anglo-Welsh clash...

Series 3, Episode 33: Matt Dawson on England, Northampton and the Champions Cup

This is a big one! Plenty on the menu for host Ollie Little and columnists Nick Cain, Brendan Gallagher and Chris...

Super Rugby Americas Review: Week Seven

By JOE SANTAMARIA The Super Rugby Americas season resumed after the Easter break with a mouthwatering repeat of last season’s final...

Man prosecuted for abusing World Cup official

A man in Australia has been prosecuted for abusing TMO Brian MacNiece on social media during Enlgand’s match against Samoa in...

Strawbridge appointed to England on permanent basis

Andrew Strawbridge will join Steve Borthwick’s England coaching staff on a permanent basis as an assistant coach and coaching advisor. Strawbridge,...

Northampton Saints player ratings vs Munster

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints produced a memorable display to earn their first Champions Cup knockout victory in 13 years against...

The Unmatched Sporting Display of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

Sports have the power to unite people from across the globe and no other event stands as a testament like this...

Dowson impressed by ‘freak athlete’ Hendy

Northampton Saints head coach heaped praise on George Hendy after his two second half tries sealed a 24-14 win over Munster...

Saints battle past Munster to secure quarter-final spot

By TOM JEFFREYS Northampton Saints……………………………….24 Tries: Ramm 10, Freeman 35, Hendy 60, 72 Conversions: Smith 10, 36 Munster………………………………………………..14 Tries: O’Brien 15,...

Top Chief Vintcent’s whirlwind continues

By MARK STEVENS Exeter fought back to beat Bath and seal a place in next weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-finals in a...

Bath left sweating on injury to Russell

Fly-half Finn Russell limped off after 14 minutes with a groin injury in the defeat to Exeter at Sandy Park and...

Baxter: All these law changes are madness

By MARK STEVENS Rob Baxter believes World Rugby’s latest proposals to make further law changes will end up alienating supporters, rather...

Hooper helps Aussies reach HK semi-finals

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper made his sevens debut for Australia in their 12-0 win against Fiji at the Hong Kong...

Grayson now has Japan in his sights

By BEN JAYCOCK The demise of Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish has left just 10 starting fly-half spots across a...

Leicester ace adds power to Ospreys midfield

By SAM JACKSON Ospreys have signed Phil Cokanasiga from Leicester Tigers for the 2024-25 season. Cokanasiga, the younger brother of England...

Quirke has his heart set on return to England fold

By BRENDAN McGILLIGAN Most Mancunians aspire to represent Manchester for either United or City – but this never enticed a young...

Saracens confirm signing of two fly-halves

Saracens have confirmed the signing of Newcastle Falcons fly-half Louie Johnson on a “long-term deal”. The 20-year-old has made 16 appearances...

Murley out to make mark with England

By JON NEWCOMBE Written off at a young age for being too slow and too small, Cadan Murley has since proved...

Malins on his marks for sprint to the line

By MARK STEVENS Max Malins says he’s gearing up for what promises to be a ‘sprint finish’ in the race for...

Loader still has England in sight

Ben Loader still dreams of playing for England and is hoping his performances in Cape Town for the Stormers will one...

Christie out for season

Saracens flanker Andy Christie has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken arm. The 25-year-old suffered...

RFU sorry for sin-bin mistake

The RFU has apologised after Harlequins lock Irne Herbst spent seven minutes in the sin-bin instead of 10 during a win...

Salary cap fine for Tigers

Leicester Tigers have again been fined for exceeding the Premiership salary cap. The club have been handed a £47,000 overrun tax...

England could be an option for Green

Harlequins full-back Tyrone Green will qualify for England in 2025 and while he still harbours hopes of playing for South Africa...

Care set to stay at Quins

ON THE BLINDSIDE Veteran scrum-half Danny Care is set to snub lucrative offers from France and sign a contract extension at...

Montpellier lead chase for Munster ace Frisch

Montpellier are leading the chase for Munster centre Antoine Frisch, who has declared his allegiance to France over Ireland. Born in...

Kitshoff set for return to Stormers

After weeks of speculation South Africa’s two-time World Cup winning prop Steven Kitshoff has decided to leave Ulster at the end...

Dream Team with Peter Scrivener

The former Wasps no.8 chooses the best XV he has played with or against... 1. Paul Rendall – I had the...

England need access to their overseas stars

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK ENGLAND and New Zealand, who meet in a two-Test series this summer, find themselves...

Manny stars for Baxter’s battling Chiefs

By MARK STEVENS Exeter ...............................21pts Tries: Vintcent 23, Fisilau 56, Roots 66 Conversions: Slade 23, 56, 66 Bath ...................................15pts Tries: du...

Champions keep threepeat dream alive as Libbok fires wide

By GARY FITZGERALD Stormers........... 21pts Tries: Jantjies 27, Hartzenberg 79 Conversions: Libbok 29 Penalties: Libbok 3, 21, 45 La Rochelle ......22pts...

‘It came down to small margins’

Disappointed Bath boss Johann van Graan insists his side will ‘regroup’ in the wake of their Champions Cup exit. “We are...

Riley crashes over to snatch Stoop thriller

By NICK POWELL Harlequins ....................... 28pts Tries: Esterhuizen 23, Smith 34, Murley 40+2, Riley 76 Conversions: Smith 25, 35, 40+3, 78...

‘We dug deep to find way to win’

Quins head coach Danny Wilson felt the result was all that mattered as his side booked a place in the last...

Leinster march on to face old foes

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Leinster............................. 36pts Tries: Gibson-Park 12, 23, 29; Henshaw 49, Conan 71 Conversions: R Byrne 13, 30, 50; H...

Powerful Bulls lay down a marker

By BEN JAYCOCK Bulls ..................59 Lyon................... 19 The Bulls reached the Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history...

Bordeaux put sorry Sarries to slaughter

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Bordeaux .......................... 45pts Try: Garcia 36, 48; Depoortere 61, 66; Bielle Biarrey 63, 75 Conversions: Lucu 27, 49,...

George: We must learn from this to go hard at Premiership

Disappointed captain Jamie George said Saracens will get over their defeat to Bordeaux and refocus on the Premiership run-in. “It’s a...

James relishing the Munster challenge

■By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Northampton Saints v Munster Today. Kick-off 12.30pm, Franklin’s Gardens IT is games like this after noon’s Champions...

Dowson brings in Ludlam & Graham

IT will be the first time Saints have hosted a home knock-out clash in Northampton in the competition since 2000 with...

Ntamack back for heavyweight clash

By PAUL REES PREVIEW… Toulouse vRacing 92 Today. Kick-off 3pm, Stade Ernest Wallon ROMAIN Ntamack starts his first match since suffering...

Ban wholesale replacement of the front row

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I READ with interest...