Len Ikitau: I’m in search of a new beginning at Exeter Chiefs

Listen to Len Ikitau talk for a few minutes and it’s clear he hasn’t come to England to make up the...

Alex Sanderson: Byron McGuigan to stick with Sale Sharks – for now

Alex Sanderson has backed Byron McGuigan to become an international coach – but not just yet.

Joe Batley aiming to be on England’s radar

Joe Batley is putting the frustration of last season behind him as he looks to fulfil his ambition of playing for...

I’ve still got a lot to learn, admits Ospreys’ Dewi Lake

Wales star Dewi Lake insists he has only reached 70-80 per cent of his potential as he outlines the areas of...

Radford accepts chance to coach Scotland

Quality: Lee Radford NORTHAMPTON defence coach Lee Radford will be seconded to Scotland for this season’s international windows and then take...

So, why have these names changed?

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk MY father played the...

James O’Connor: I’m out to reinvent myself again at Leicester Tigers

James O’Connor is eager to show Prem fans the best version of himself after failing to hit peak form in two...

We need more games a season

I READ with interest Peter Jackson’s article regarding the demise of Saturday afternoon rugby and agree fully with his comments. In...

Du Preez to quit Sale for Bayonne

SALE Sharks back Rob du Preez will leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 campaign to join Top 14...

DREAM TEAM

WILL GOODRICK-CLARKE, THE EXETER CHIEFS AND FORMER RICHMOND, LONDON IRISH AND EALING TRAILFINDERS PROP, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED...

Jeremy Guscott: England must unite Ollie Lawrence and Tommy Freeman in midfield

The prospect of England facing Australia at Twickenham in just under three weeks with a backline in which their 2025 Lions...

Bath 38-17 Gloucester: Finn Russell conducts the orchestra for Prem champions

Finn Russell claimed Bath are starting from “ground zero” in their bid to secure back-to-back title successes after they crushed Gloucester...

The whole team were outstanding, says happy Van Graan

BATH boss Johann van Graan was full of praise for his champions, especially Finn Russell. He enthused: “It was a very...

Northampton Saints 32-26 Leicester Tigers: Alex Mitchell’s zest puts Saints in the zone

A second-half surge settled this fluctuating East Midlands derby in favour of Northampton Saints by five tries to Leicester Tigers’ two.

Dowson concern for injured Freeman

NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson reported England wing Tommy Freeman had suffered a bruised hip which forced him off after half-time. Dowson...

Bristol Bears 18-14 Exeter Chiefs: Forward power has Bears on front foot

Bristol Bears are renowned for their champagne rugby but they were more like a fortified stout as they overcame more injuries...

Baxter: We had Zombie mentality

ROB Baxter blamed a Zombie mentality when Exeter enjoyed a player advantage for the defeat at Ashton Gate. The Chiefs led...

Sale Sharks 57-5 Newcastle Red Bulls: Tom Roebuck puts his foot down for Sharks

Sale Sharks’ Tom Roebuck reduced Newcastle Red Bulls to rubble to remind Steve Borthwick of his class ahead of England’s autumn...

Townsend says he’ll flag up any conflict of interest

SCOTLAND coach Gregor Townsend has defended his link with Newcastle Red Bulls after agreeing a new consultancy deal with the club,...

Nick Cain: Absurd rule banning Jack Willis from England

The high esteem in which Jack Willis is held at his club Toulouse, in French rugby circles in general, and regularly...

Bravery and modesty of the ultimate team player

LEWIS Moody’s courage in talking publicly on television this week about being diagnosed with MND was typical of a man who...

O’Connor will need to get act together

JAMES O’Connor will have to make some important adjustments to his recent performances at fly-half for the Wallabies if he wants...

Franchise men have work to do

THE franchise men extolling the virtues of a closed shop Premiership as the most riveting and competitive of leagues will have...

Harlequins v Saracens preview: Will Evans happy to make his mark at Quins

Will Evans would be high on the list of contenders in a poll on the unluckiest player to miss out on...

Harlequins v Saracens preview: Having Marcus Smith back is huge for us, says Jason Gilmore

Marcus Smith has been charged with sparking Harlequins’ attack as he makes his first appearance of the season against Saracens today...

Stuart Hogg; I’ve found peace – I’m living in the now

Mark Stevens talks to Stuart Hogg about how riding a bike to raise money for Doddie Weir’s charity put him on...

Cardiff lock Josh McNally – I’ve still got a lot left in the tank

Josh McNally may be 35 now, but the Wales-based lock who won one England cap in 2021 has no intention of...

Poor start by Scarlets is no crisis, insists Peel

■By ROGER PANTING Scarlets .............. 0pts Stormers .......... 34pts Tries: Roos 11, de Villiers 39, van Heerden 56, Feinberg-Mngomezulu 65, Khan...

Bowen leads the way to calm Cardiff on nervy night

■By ROGER PANTING Cardiff ..............14pts Tries: Bowen 14, 76 Conversions: Sheedy 15, Lloyd 77 Connacht ...........8pts Try: O’Connor 80 Penalty: Forde...

Ospreys in charge as they break their duck

■By SIMON THOMAS Ospreys .............................24pts Tries: Cokanasiga 15, Morse 18, Ratti 74 Conversions: Edwards 16, 19, 75 Penalty: Edwards 59 Zebre......................................0pts...

Smith rocket gets Glasgow in mood

■By BRYN PALMER Glasgow ........... 49pts Tries: Steyn 10, Horne 24, 61; Brown 42, Hiddleston 47, Matthews 67, Penalty Conversions: Hastings...

Munster get the job done

■By BRYN PALMER Munster...........20 Edinburgh........19 MUNSTER will head to Croke Park to tackle Leinster on Saturday buoyed by a bonus-point win...

Leinster enjoy Lions boost

■By KEVIN FALLON Leinster............31 Sharks................ 5 LEO Cullen said this was like starting the season all over again as the champions...

Ulster cash in on extra man

■By JOHN FALLON Ulster................28 Bulls.................... 7 ULSTER made the most of an extra man for ten minutes in the third quarter...

Benetton……….41 Lions……………..15

LOUIS Lynagh scored four tries as Benetton produced a commanding performance to secure their second win of the season. Rhyno Smith...

Thomas is on target to make sure for Coventry

■By PAUL SMITH Coventry ...........35pts Tries: Bacon 8, Sullivan 36, Strong 47, Thomas 54 Conversions: Thomas 8, 36, 54 Penalties: Thomas...

Gallagher hat-trick topples Richmond

■By LUKE JARMYN Caldy ................................ 27pts Tries: Gallagher 11, 38, 45; Thomas 27, Hearn 65 Conversion: K Wilkinson 46 Richmond ........................21pts...

Champions Trailfinders extra quick

■By JOSEPH TERRY E Trailfinders ..55pts Tries: Oliver 1, Collins 9, Hampson 19, Buckley 35, 56; Hatherell 37, Bailey 43, Montgomery...

Ampthill find another gear as they deny brave Pirates

■By BEN WHITE Ampthill ............26pts Tries: Caluori 9, 61; Smith 28, Wilson 48 Conversions: Grimoldby 10, 29, 49 C Pirates ...........21pts...

Tait and Fox link up to enjoy 50th celebrations

■By GUY WILLIAMS Doncaster ........ 42pts Tries: Veainu 34, Murphy 40, Fox 44, Tait 49, Kerr 54, 65 Conversions: Bennett: 34,...

Dead-eye Bazalgette guns down Warriors

■By ED HARTLEY Hartpury ............28pts Tries: Holiday 9, Morgan 56, Trevett 66 Conversions: Bazalgette 56, 66 Penalties: Bazalgette 24, 54, 61...

Archers too good for Scottish

■By BLUEBELL NICHOLLS L Scottish ........... 7pts Try: Shephard 36 Conversion: Honey 37 Nottingham ......26pts Tries: Williams 1, Dickinson 16, Graham...

It was great to see so much full-on attack

CHARLES RYLANDS AMPTHILL BACK ROW AFTER the longest pre-season in history, Champ Rugby finally returned and what a weekend it was....

Peter Jackson: David Bishop in search of the final reckoning

Of all the Test scrum-halves in all the world, David Bishop stands apart from the rest. He is the only one...

Questions that R360 need to answer

AN awkward week for R360 and their mysterious mix of supposed US-Middle East investors prompted the organisers to ask a rhetorical...

When stats don’t tell whole story

NEW Zealand (population 5.33m) sounded a fanfare of trumpets over attendances for the All Blacks’ sold-out ‘blockbuster’ six home matches totaling...

Paul Rees: Springboks now the ones to beat

Paul Rees looks back on South Africa’s Rugby Championship triumph and ahead to the Autumn Series.

Scarlets keen on hooker

DWAYNE Peel says Scarlets are fighting to keep hooker Marnus van der Merwe after his club exploits made him a Springbok....

Ban for Michelow

SARACENS flanker Nathan Michelow has been banned for four matches following his dismissal in their Prem win against Newcastle. The flanker...

Rhys Tudor: We are one big family at Caldy

New Caldy winger Rhys Tudor says he’s been “blown away” by life at Paton Field and how well the humble Wirral...