What a mess, all RFU’s own doing

RATHER than act like gentlemen and play by the rules, England seem to think they can manipulate them for their own...

So uplifting to read Pearce’s life story

IN these days of the incompetent 12-strong RFU Board, the English 2nd XV’s dismal showing in Cardiff, ring-fenced Premiership, defunct Premiership...

No sympathy from me

WHY are so many people coming out in sympathy for Owen Farrell and England. Farrell has been playing Rugby Union for...

Alarming indiscipline

A WIN is a win, but England’s indiscipline is alarming a few weeks out from the start of the Rugby World...

England must get the ball to the wide men

FOR four years, Sir Clive Woodward in his matchday analysis in his newspaper column always states that the coaches pick the...

Tigers turn to Du Plessis for World Cup cover

NEWS EXTRA LEICESTER Tigers have brought in Petrus du Plessis as their interim scrum coach. The South African will remain in...

Van Velze signs on for another season at Bath

NEWS EXTRA GJ van Velze has rejoined Bath for the new season. The 35-year-old South African forward made 10 Premiership appearances...

Ospreys put Jones in charge of the defence

NEWS EXTRA MARK Jones is joining the Ospreys as defence coach. The interim Wales U20s head coach has notable experience in...

French centre Vakatawa returns for Barbarians

NEWS EXTRA VIRIMI Vakatawa’s premature retirement is over as the former France centre started for the Barbarians against Samoa last night...

Dream Team with Scott Rawlings

Scott Rawlings, the long-serving Fylde, Lancashire and former England counties, Manchester and Longton centre, chooses the best XV he has played...

The cruellest time to suffer an injury

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER The agony of these eve of World Cup...

This rugby apartheid must stop

Rugby Matters I WAS going to write 1,500 words of incredulous, outraged fury over the Owen Farrell decision but frankly my...

It’s time for England to sort out their attack

Q&A Former England flanker Peter Winterbottom talks to Ben Jaycock after a hectic week for the national team and tells us...

B Moseley ……28 Darlington …. 24

By JON MEADOWS MOSELEY played the last 10 minutes with 14 men afger a high tackle red card but held on...

Sale FC…………… 7 Caldy ……………14

By SAM BYTHEWAY CALDY got their pre-season campaign underway with a hard-fought win over their old rivals. The Championship side’s forward...

Hinckley ……… 19 Sheffield ……..68

By CHRIS CAMPBELL A POWERFUL Sheffield outfit put in a strong performance against an experimental Hinckley side. Hinckley started much the...

Doherty try seals victory for Blackburn

By MO SHER Blackburn........ 19 Fylde ................. 17 DESPITE the difference in league level – Blackburn play at rung five in...

Moyle quick off the mark as Pirates find their feet

By MIKE SINCLAIR Cornish P ........... 45pts Tries: Andrew, Nelson, Penalty (2), Relton, McNab (2) Conversions: Pittman, Jenkins (2) Plymouth A...

Tait finishes in fine style

By LUKE JARMYN Hawick ...........37 Tynedale .......14 Fifield. HAWICK winger Morgan Tait dashed between two Tynedale defenders to score his second...

Dings C …………28 Bargoed……….. 17

By BAZ JOHNSON BARGOED played an expansive game with numerous line breaks to make Dings Crusaders work hard for the win....

Chinnor………….67 Wimbledon….. 12

By ANDY HASTINGS BARGOED played an expansive game with numerous line breaks to make Dings Crusaders work hard for the win....

St Austell …….. 19 Camborne ….73

By BILL HOOPER CAMBORNE proved too strong in this pre-season encounter running in 11 tries against a brave St Austell. Josh...

Coventry……….33 Leicester L ….. 21

By JOHN JENKINS NEWLY promoted Leicester Lions showed they will be a force to be reckoned with in National 1 this...

O Albanians … 31 Bishops S………52

By RICHARD HOMER STORTFORD took the Hertfordshire bragging rights with a hard fought win over OA. A hot afternoon at Woollams...

Rugby League has taken over says Campese

By NICK POWELL AUSTRALIA legend David Campese is concerned that rugby union is starting to mimic traditional rugby league and is...

‘You had to earn the right to wear the shirt’

My Life in Rugby with Jackson Wray The former Saracens and Bedford Blues back row talks about his life in the...

Hardly the sound of a world in harmony

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE majority of the all-Australian trio responsible for clearing Owen Farrell will be...

Hesford built on the family tradition

Bob Hesford did more than his bit to extend and enhance the family’s unique tradition of appearing in cup finals across...

All Blacks aiming to peak at right time

New Zealand head into Friday’s match against South Africa in top form having won their last 11 Tests and were crowned...

De Klerk: We’re out to prove a point

By BEN JAYCOCK Faf de Klerk says South Africa have a point to prove against New Zealand when they clash at...

Champions Crusaders begin with Chiefs tester

SUPER Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season with a repeat of last year’s final when...

England’s discipline now a major concern

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WELL it has to be said, the win last week was certainly...

Lyon take the heat to topple Toulon

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN A "heat dome" settled over France last weekend to send temperatures soaring as the new Top 14...

French go on the rampage with 13 tries

By JACK TREGONNING W Province ............20 France......................85 FRANCE U18s scored 13 tries to blow away Western Province and round off their...

S Africa ward off England fightback

By BEN JAYCOCK South Africa ..............33pts Tries: Mars 12, Cupido 25, Jooste 28, Theron 51, Nell 56 Conversions: Smith 13, 26,...

Bracken at his brilliant best

By NICK POWELL W Province ............ 15 England...................76 ENGLAND built on their opening 47-0 win against France by hammering a Western...

Young Guns: Bristol Bears full-back Matt Jones

After enduring a brutal pre-season, Matt Jones is hoping to capitalise on the mass exodus at Bristol Bears and become a...

South Africa .. 24 France……………37

FRANCE bounced back from their humbling by England to beat the hosts on Tuesday. France took an early lead as Diego...

What’s in The Rugby Paper this Sunday (20/08/23)

As the summer of warm-up games continues, we’ll have all the action as England travel to Ireland and Wales host South Africa in...

Campese: Union and League are swapping sports

Australian legend David Campese is concerned that rugby union is starting to mimic traditional rugby league and is a poorer sport...

Ireland and England name strong teams for crucial warm-up clash

Ireland and England have both named strong sides in what is set to be the best indicator of the progress they...

New twist in Farrell tackle saga as World Rugby launch appeal

World Rugby have lodged an appeal against Tuesday’s independent judicial committee (IJC) decision to rescind Owen Farrell‘s red card for a...

Jones labels press conference ‘worst ever’ in airport rant

Australia coach Eddie Jones criticised the media in a press conference at Sydney Airport before heading off to France for the...

Super Rugby fixtures: Crusaders begin title defence with a repeat of last year’s final

Reigning Super Rugby Pacific champions the Crusaders will begin their title defence next season with a repeat of last year’s final when they take on...

Countdown to the Rugby World Cup – More switches & NO 20 min Red Card 

Despite recent reports and speculation, the “20-minute red card” law variation, also known as the “orange card,” will not be implemented...

Tonga do the double over Canada

Tonga 36-12 Canada Tonga completed the double over Canada, running in six tries for a comfortable 36-12 victory at Teufaiva Stadium. ...

Canterbury unveil purple speed infinite elite pack

Off the back of the launch of the Speed Infinite Elite boot, which at 217 grams, is Canterbury’s lightest rugby boot...

Derby Rugby legend remembered at charity match this Sunday

A charity rugby match is being held this Sunday in memory of a former player and inspiring coach at Derby Rugby...

Series 3, Episode 4: Australia’s World Cup prospects and Owen Farrell’s red card with David Campese

The Rugby World Cup 2023 draws ever closer and following another weekend of preparation fixtures, things are hotting up. Eddie Jones...

Superb Bracken hat-trick gives England another thumping win

England U18s 76-15 Western Province XV U18s Jack Bracken’s second-half hat-trick England continued their free-scoring tour of South Africa as they...