The scrum has decided the last two World Cups

Q&A Ben Jaycock speaks to Northampton scrum coach Matt Fergurson about their victorious Premiership campaign and the game’s issues around the...

Jack’s philosophy? Win today, win tomorrow…

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Of all the enduring memories from Jack Rowell’s tumultuous time in charge of...

Wales keep dream alive

U20S WORLD CUP By BEN JAYCOCK POOL A Wales................ 31 Spain ................ 10 WALES have a shot at qualifying for the...

New-look England put Fiji to the sword

By WILLIAM GUPWELL POOL C England............... 48pts Tries: Issacs 6, Halliwell 14, Hall 20, 37; Pollock 25, Cousins 31, 75; James...

Simpson hits late winner

By SAM JACKSON France..............26 New Zealand....27 RICO Simpson converted a wide left, match winning penalty in windy conditions to guide New...

Argentina stun hosts with devastating driving maul

By JAMES ORPIN South Africa... 12 Argentina........ 31 ARGENTINA bounced back from their opening round defeat against England to dominate tournament...

POOL B

Ireland.............22 Georgia............. 16 By BEN JAYCOCK FINN Treacy’s late-minute try denied Georgia a historic victory over last year’s runners-up Ireland. Ireland...

CHARLIE MYALL

YOUNG GUNS LEICESTER & ENGLAND U20 CENTRE Charlie Myall has put his injury woes behind him and is on a mission...

Playing high stakes game to stay alive

OLAMIDE SODEKE ENGLAND U2O SECOND ROW We’re coming off the back of another good win against Fiji this week and one...

There’s more than money to Toulouse

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER There have, rightly, been acres of words written...

Dangers of brain trauma not new

The perceived wisdom is that rugby was not overly aware of the dangers of concussion and brain trauma back in the...

‘It’s about being the best player you can be’

Paul Rees finds out what drives new Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and what he plans to do at Welford Road...

Three hat-tricks for the Baa-Baas was a peak

MY LIFEIN RUGBY DEREK STARK THE FORMER SCOTLAND, BARBARIANS & GLASGOW WING Scoring for Scotland with my first touch of the...

Borthwick happy to go back for future

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME So it looks like Steve Borthwick has learned a lesson and decided...

Scratch XV that downed Boks

Brendan Gallagher was at Sixways when a National League One team caused a big upset - here he looks back to the...

THE VICTORIOUS TEAM

15 Ben Hinshelwood (Bedford): Rangy utility back with plenty of gas. Ben is the Australian-born son of former Scotland and Lions...

Jalibert is top of the ‘wanted’ list again

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Never mind that the words ‘Stade Toulousain’ have only just been meticulously punched into the plaque on...

We can do better, says skipper

Women’s U20 Summer Series By PAUL EDDISON England u20s skipper Lille Ives Campion believes her team are only ‘scratching the surface’...

19-try Scotland set points record

Men’s U20 Trophy SCOTLAND smashed the U20 Trophy points-scoring record with a 123-15 win over Samoa in Pool A at Hive...

I’m proud of the culture we have created here

Coach to coach Steve Hill puts the questions to Anthony Howcroft, below, head coach at Sale FC Why did you get...

Bordeaux-Begles swoop for Gray

Allez: Jonny Gray agrees French deal SCOTLAND second row Jonny Gray has joined Top 14 runners-up Bordeaux-Begles following his exit from...

Mako agrees two-year contract with Vannes

Probyn: Recalls for Marler and Cole is good news for England By SAM JACKSON Legend: Mako Vunipola is on his way...

Boden is happy to take on Coventry challenge

By JON NEWCOMBE STEVE Boden is enjoying being back in rugby in a more hands on coaching role in an environment...

Fresh faced Les Blues wrestle past Los Pumas

By Ben Jaycock Argentina……………………… 13 Tries: Montoya 60, Orlando 76  Penalties: Carreras 25  France…………………………. 28 Tries: Serin 35, Frisch 46, Attisogbe...

Marcus Smith urges England to ‘show the best of themselves’ against New Zealand

The All Blacks will provide a gauge of just how far England’s attack has come. Marcus Smith is ready for England’s...

Stafford McDowall shocked to be leading Scotland against Canada

It will be only a third Scotland appearance for the Glasgow centre. Stafford McDowall revealed his shock at being told he...

Dewi Lake says Wales spurred on by chance to end miserable record in Australia

Wales last beat Australia Down Under in 1969. Dewi Lake insists that records are “meant to be broken” as Wales target...

The British & Irish Lions are back!

And they promise to bigger and better than ever when they hit Australian shores a year from now. It will have...

Argentina coast past hosts South Africa in u20s World Championship

Argentina…………………………………….. 31 Tries: Revol 3, 21, Bernasconi 7, Elias 47, Penous 68 Conversions: Di Lucca 4, 48, 70  Penalties: South Africa…………………………………....

Clinical England u20s dismantle Fiji

By Will Gupwell England u20s…………………………………………48 Tries: Issacs 6, Halliwell 14, Hall 20, 37, Pollock 25, Cousins 31, 75 James 60 Conversions:...

History to be made in first-of-its-kind women’s u20s series

By Sebastian Barrett England coach LJ Lewis believes the inaugural Women’s Summer Series will give young players something to aspire to...

Rugby Video Games: A New Way to Engage Fans

When you think about sports video games, titles like FIFA and Madden probably come to mind first. But for rugby fans,...

Ellis Bevan ready for Australia challenge after facing Faf de Klerk on debut

The Cardiff scrum-half relished the challenge posed by the Springboks star. Ellis Bevan is ready to push for a Wales starting...

George Furbank says ‘very exciting’ England backline ready to attack All Blacks

The first of two Tests against New Zealand takes place in Dunedin on Saturday. George Furbank insists England will hunt for...

Freeman ready to roast the All Blacks

By ADAM HATHAWAY in Auckland Tommy Freeman has one more box to tick before he packs his golf clubs for a...

Bracken keeps England on course

By BEN JAYCOCK Mark Mapletoft commended his England U20s side for continuing to find solutions and adapting to their problems but...

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Follow us at: @therugbypaper Follow us at: therugbypaper Follow us at: @therugbypaper Keep in touch with The Rugby Paper wherever you...

Cheika will be good for Tigers – Richards

EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE Dean Richards, the most decorated coach in Leicester Tigers’ history, has given Michael Cheika’s appointment the big...

Premiership final tickets for 2025 going fast

By JON NEWCOMBE Ticket sales for next year’s Premiership 2024/25 final are double what they were at this stage last year,...

Aaron on a mission as he hits 50 mark

By SIMON THOMAS AARON Wainwright is set to win his 50th Wales cap against Australia in Sydney next weekend – a...

Ex-England centre calls time on career

FORMER England playmaker Billy Twelvetrees has retired at the age of 35 after helping Ealing Trail-finders lift the Championship crown. The...

Falcons move for Gordon

NEWCASTLE Falcons have signed flanker Tom Gordon from Glasgow Warriors on a two-year deal. New Zealand-born Gordon, 27, made 76 appearances...

Hunter-Hill joins Smith at Saints

PREMIERSHIP champions Northampton Saints have signed Callum Hunter-Hill after the second row left rivals Saracens earlier this week at the end...

Vakatawa to leave Bristol

FRANCE centre Virimi Vakatawa will leave Bristol this summer following the end of his contract. The 32-year-old signed on a one-year...

Coventry swoop to sign Mathews

COVENTRY have signed fly-half/centre Tommy Mathews from Championship rivals Hartpury. The 23-year-old who will hook up with his new club when...

Youngs backing his old mates to deliver

By GARY FITZGERALD Ben Youngs is backing his old England pals to upset the odds and “do something special” in the...

Savea gets on the right track

By ADAM HATHAWAY Star man: Ardie Savea in action for the Steelers PICTURE: Alamy WORLD Player of the Year Ardie Savea...

Robertson will have the All Blacks back to their bestDeans

By GARY FITZGERALD ENGLAND have been warned to expect a recharged and pumped up All Blacks side when they clash in...

I’m hoping Ireland can channel their frustrations in SA

NOW you don’t need me to remind of you of the dominance and skill of the Springboks but not to do...

DREAM TEAM

HARRY SLOAN, THE AGEN AND FORMER HARLEQUINS, LONDON SCOTTISH, EALING AND SARACENS CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...