Mitchell planning to stay a Saint

England scrum-half Alex Mitchell has opted to remain loyal to Northampton after being offered the chance of jumping ship and moving...

Bristol and Bath chasing Welsh prop

BY NEIL FISSLER West Country rivals Bath and Bristol are battling over Wales loosehead Nicky Smith, who could activate a get-out...

Quins looking out to the wings

Harlequins are looking to see which wingers are available for a move this summer if they are unsuccessful in persuading Louis...

Dream Team with Mark Mapletoft

Mark Mapletoft, the former England, London Irish, Harlequins, Saracens and Gloucester fly-half, now England U20s head coach, chooses the best XV...

England’s attack has to have a revamp

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK The England attack has been mediocre since 2019 – and that’s giving it some...

Saints go top after thrilling fightback

By ROB WILDMAN Northampton.................... 21pts Tries: Furbank 54, Mitchell 66, Penalty 70 Conversions: Smith 54, 66 Sale ..................................... 17pts Tries: Carpenter...

Furbank enjoys move to captain

Northampton's George Furbank believes captaincy has made him a better player and he hopes his good form will bring an England...

Quins take honours in Big Game showdown

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Harlequins ....................... 32pts Tries: David 7, 19, Dombrandt 23, Lamb 45, Care 54 Conversions: Smith 46, 55 Drop...

Wilson: Good to get the job done

Harlequins coach Danny Wilson was delighted with the team performance as his side got over the line at Big Game 15....

Saracens pushed all the way by Falcons

By PAUL REES Saracens .......................... 37pts Tries: Dan 10, van Zyl 30, Gonzalez 40, Penalty 63, Mako Vunipola 70 Conversions: Manu...

Beaten again but Codling ‘incredibly proud’ of his team

Newcastle go into the new year still seeking their first victory of the season, but ahead of Friday’s home encounter with...

Baxter: We gave away soft penalties

Rob Baxter believed his Chiefs should have won more comfortably after their 24-14 win at Bristol. “We started well and gained...

Chiefs enjoying life on the road for once

By ROGER PANTING Bristol .................................14pts Tries: Oghre 11, Heward 36 Conversions: Sheedy 11, 36 Exeter ................................ 24pts Tries: Iosefa-Scott 6, Feyi-Wasobo...

We’ve got a long way to go-Van Graan

■ By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Leicester vBath Today. Kick-off 3pm, Welford Road BATH head of rugby Johann van Graan insists his...

McKellar looking forward to the Welford Road buzz

ACADEMY graduate Ollie Chessum will make his 50th appearance in Tigers colours against the current leaders, with fellow pathways product Dan...

RFU has utterly failed to bring the game together

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK HERE’S wishing The Rugby Paper’s loyal readers, and fans of the game everywhere,...

Too little in reserve for Manu

Problem area: Another injury to Manu Tuilagi highlights England’s lack of strength in depth at inside-centre PICTURE: Getty Images THE groan...

Stunner from Duhan sends Edinburgh over the line

■ By BRYN PALMER Edinburgh........19pts Tries: Currie 26, Van der Merwe 71 Penalties: Healy 52, 64, 77 Glasgow...........14pts Tries: Matthews 4,...

Dragons suffer Boxing Day drubbing at hands of Blues

By BEN JAYCOCK Kicking on: Tomos Williams scored twice for Cardiff PICTURES: Getty Images CARDIFF claimed their 18th league win in...

Ospreys on a mission as derby day Pt 2 gets ready to rumble

Preview ■ By BEN JAYCOCK FOLLOWING the intense rivalries on Boxing Day, another round of derbies are to take place on...

Cabango’s out to leave injury woes behind him

By ROB COLE Speed merchant: Cardiff flyer Theo Cabango THEO Cabango is hoping his New Year’s wish comes true and he...

Reasons to be cheerful for rugby’s year ahead

Paul Rees canvasses the views of Premiership directors of rugby and finds there is a fair amount of optimism IT IS...

Pellegrini on target to impress the crowds

By BEN JAYCOCK Coventry...........37pts Tries: Martin 9, 58, Pellegrini 17, Wilson 26, Poole 46 Conversions: Pellegrini 18, 27, 59 Penalties: Pellegrini...

Jersey boys happy to stay on island

By LUKE JARMYN Despite it being three months since Jersey Reds collapse and the club’s dream of climbing to the Premiership...

Rayer: Our defence must be in working order

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW... Bedford vCoventry January 1. Kick-off 3pm, Goldington Road BEDFORD are chomping at the bit after winning their...

All Blacks destined to regain top spot

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED IT USED to be said in New Zealand that failure to win the World Cup endangered the...

At last we are going in right direction

It is always easier to bury English rugby’s alleged leaders than to praise them, but it would run counter to the...

Tynedale player dies after fall

RUGBY SHORTS TYNEDALE centre Rory Cramb, below, died on Christmas Eve at the age of 26 following a fall. A statement...

Flanagan gets backing from owners

DRAGONS coach Dai Flanagan has been backed by the club’s owners to fast-track a rebuild of the region after their 55-21...

Duhan signs new deal

SCOTLAND winger Duhan van der Merwe has extended his contract with Edinburgh until June 2025. The 28-yearold South Africa-born player returned...

We need ‘whole game solution’

IT is significant that the latest statement by the Championship clubs, seeking to protect their position in the English rugby hierarchy,...

County champs should return

BEN Coneybeare describes the ‘scintillating atmosphere’ at the recent Redruth versus Camborne Cornish derby in front of over 3,000 fans. Thanks...

TV deal for Tier Two

WITH Coventry attracting a record crowd of 5,047 to Butts Park Arena for the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham, Ampthill RFC...

Playing against best in the world is good test

NOW we’re into the second year of the expanded Champions Cup, I thought I’d reflect on just how the inclusion of...

It’s time to address selection

WITH only 10 Premiership clubs – nearly all cash strapped with a salary cap to boot – does the England selection...

When Merlene Ottey’s leotard grew nine sizes

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points NEW Year’s Eve and rugby always brings to...

Red Roses: Sadia Kabeya

ENGLAND FLANKER Birthplace: Lewisham Date of birth: 22/02/02 Community club: Streatham & Croydon RFC Club: Loughborough Lightning England debut: v Canada...

Cornish rivals play out another pulsating draw

CAMBORNE and Redruth played out another pulsating draw in the traditional Boxing Day clash in front of a bumper crowd of...

Champions crash Harlequins party

By EDDIE MCATEER Harlequins .............. 19pts Tries: Sims 33, Scott 41, Latsha 57 Conversions: Tuima 34, 58 Gloucester-H..........31pts Tries:Jones 3, Monaghan...

Biden steals the show in RAG awards

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Contrary to common belief, rugby’s event of the year did not happen in...

Farewell to these fine men of rugby

Come hell or high water, The Grim Reaper never fails to take a day off from scything through his grisly business....

Proud men who graced the game

Brendan Gallagher recalls the achievements of those from across the globe that the world of rugby lost in 2023 Sydney Millar...

Launchbury’s impressed by French fitness

TRP Podcast By NICK POWELL Joe Launchbury feels giant Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou’s form reflects a growing trend of Top 14...

One XV that would challenge the best

Joe Santamaria selects his Tier Two Team of the Year While the major nations were battling for sporting immortality at the...

Talented players will still miss out

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME With the start of a new year, it’s the beginning of a...

Young Guns: Scotland U20s prop Callum Smyth

BY BEN JAYCOCK Scotland U20s prop Callum Smyth enjoyed the ‘best six months of his life’ this year when he took...

Coach to Coach with Martin Webdale

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill, below, talks to Martin Webdale, the head coach at Loughborough University, above Steve Hill:...

Steelmen show grit to hit back against Ponty

Premiership round-up By ROB COLE EBBW VALE completed a smash and grab raid in the second half at Sardis Road to...

Ewels in talks with Sharks

Charlie Ewels could be on the move at the end of the season after having a meeting with Sale Sharks about...

Dunvant pile pain on Tata

Championship round-up DUNVANT were able to jump into fourth place in Championship West as they picked up a three-try triumph from...