England need to hit the ground running

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK WHAT England need to happen is for them to play exceptionally well in the...

We let everybody down out there, admits devastated prop Bell

A DEVASTATED Angus Bell said the Wallabies had let Australia down after another miserable night in front of a huge crowd...

De Beer signs to ease Cardiff’s fly-half strife

NEWS EXTRA CARDIFF have completed the signing of former South Africa U20 fly-half Tinus de Beer. De Beer has been a...

Wales still hopeful for Faletau’s return

NEWS EXTRA WALES say No.8 Taulupe Faletau remains in contention for the World Cup as he battles a calf injury. Faletau...

Jones is Ospreys target to succeed Edwards

NEWS EXTRA OSPREYS are keen to bring in Mark Jones as defence coach. Jones, 43, recently led Wales U20s to sixth...

Bemand takes reins of Ireland women

NEWS EXTRA FORMER England attack coach Scott Bemand has become head coach of the Ireland women’s team. Bemand, 44, joins on...

Young heads for exit following investigation

NEWS EXTRA DAI Young has left his role as Cardiff director of rugby despite an investigation into bullying allegations finding “insufficient...

Cleall set for dual role at Harlequins

NEWS EXTRA ENGLAND prop Bryony Cleall has signed a new contract with Harlequins. The 31-year-old scored five tries in nine league...

All Blacks pull Wallabies apart

By BEN JAYCOCK Australia.............................. 7pts Tries: Valetini 7 Conversions: Gordon 8 New Zealand .................. 38pts Tries: Frizell 3, Taylor 34, Jordan...

Summer Tests use ‘Bunker’ review system

NEWS EXTRA A FOUL play Television Match Official ‘Bunker’ review system is one of a number of innovations set to be...

Argentina send out World Cup warning

By PAUL REES South Africa .................... 22pts Tries: Etzebeth 19, de Allende 26, Libbok 69 Conversions: Libbok 27, 70 Penalties: Libbok...

No room for deals – time to get serious

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK MAKE no mistake, the 2023 World Cup starts for England this weekend. Even...

We should not wait so long for RFU review

NICK CAIN IT is inconceivable that in any other era in English rugby a vote of no-confidence in the governance of...

Scotland get best out of a mixed bag

By BEN JAYCOCK Scotland ........................... 25pts Tries: Graham 13, 56; Bayliss 80 Conversions: Healy 57, 81 Penalties: Healy 48, 74 Italy........................................

Gregor: We have to cut out the errors

SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend recognised that his side has work to do despite the win. He said: “Darcy (Graham) is...

The greatest tour ever? Not likely…

CHRIS HEWETT THINKING ALLOWED IT IS no exaggeration to place exaggeration very high on the list of rugby’s deadly sins. It...

Always room for Bakkies and Co

CHRIS HEWETT SAY what you like about Bakkies Botha – most people don’t, for reasons of self-preservation – but there are...

Howley keen on replacing Young

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Rob Howley is interested in replacing Dai Young as the next...

Proudfoot gets the call from Namibia to join up

FORMER England assistant coach Matt Proudfoot, left, is going to the World Cup after all now that he has been confirmed...

Toulon still on lookout

TOULON are looking for another scrum-half after they were forced to pull the plug on signing out of favour Wallaby Jake...

Saudis may bid for 2035 World Cup

SAUDI Arabia are looking to step up their programme of hosting major sporting events with a sensational bid for the 2035...

Top French sides in the hunt for jokers

TOP 14 outfits Lyon and Pau after looking for World Cup cover at tighthead and could look towards the Premiership to...

Halfpenny deserves to join illustrious 100 club

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND IHOPE that Leigh Halfpenny’s name is the first put down on the team sheet by...

England need to think on their feet

PAUL REES LOOKS FORWARD TO THE PRE-WORLD CUP FRIENDLIES AND URGES BORTHWICK’S MEN TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES AFTER weeks of working...

‘Time England had central contracts’

Q&A Ben Jaycock talks to former Ireland captain Rob Saunders, who won 12 caps between 1991 and 1994 before venturing into...

A phoney war that has little to tell us

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER AND suddenly the World Cup warmups, or the...

Hasta la vista! It’s a Spanish decider

RUGBY MATTERS THE World U20 Trophy final today in Nairobi is an all Spanish speaking affair between Uruguay and Spain with...

Financial squeeze sees Welsh exodus

Ben Jaycock reports on the problems faced by the Welsh regions as international stars and young talent head for exit Benetton...

Northumbria born but I’m Scottish at heart

MY LIFEIN RUGBY SRU PERFORMANCE TRANSITION MANAGER AND FORMER SCOTLAND, NEWCASTLE, NORTHAMPTON AND GOSFORTH BACK ROW PETER WALTON WHEN we beat...

How the £1m man found true love in Llanelli

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW THE sorrow of Trevor Francis’ sudden death extended beyond the cavernous theatres of...

The day Sir Gregory tore Wales to shreds

PETER JACKSON LONG before they began losing their way on the field at the Arms Park, England once endured the absurdity...

King Carter writes a fairytale finish to his World Cup story

LOOKS BACK AT THE PLAYERS WHO SHONE ON THE BIGGEST STAGE BRENDAN GALLAGHER DAN Carter’s career seems so golden and laden...

Calamity as hosts England crash out at the first hurdle

RUGBY World Cup was going to be the launching pad of English rugby and a brave new world, that was the...

Young Guns: Ealing Trailfinders wing Epi Rokodrava

By BEN JAYCOCK After being made redundant at Wasps last year, Epi Rokodrava fell off the radar of England U20s but...

Matthews striving for more medals

By BEN JAYCOCK HAVING hoisted the Premier 15s title in June, Alex Matthews has ticked off virtually ever accolade in the...

Scots suffer shock defeat to Uruguay

By BEN JAYCOCK UNDER-20s rugby in Scotland hit a new low on Tuesday when their promotion-chasing side lost to Uruguay at...

England can be the dark horses at this World Cup

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME AS Aformer player, I find it difficult to understand the way the...

When the Saints marched on

MOMENT IN TIME NORTHAMPTON COURAGE LEAGUE DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONS 1989-90 SPECIAL REPORT BY NEIL FISSLER Where are they now? BACK ROW...

The day the Gang of Seven took over

AT the end of the 1987-88 season, Northampton were staring straight into the abyss after finishing bottom of the Courage League...

Bordeaux put their faith in Gazzotti

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN FRANCE U20 sensation Marko Gazzotti has swapped the Alps for the Atlantic and the ProD2 for the...

Easter targets top six finish with Chinnor

By BEN JAYCOCK CHINNOR director of rugby Nick Easter is optimistic that his side can compete at the top of an...

Bright eyes return to Championship

By BEN JAYCOCK Going strong: Richmond No.8 Mark Bright RICHMOND captain Mark Bright recognises the challenge his side faces in an...

Pre-season fixtures

It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs To add your club’s fixtures email newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk MORE fixtures...

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 30/07/23

At last the World Cup warm-up matches are getting underway after a long summer of build-up, and you can find reports...

Allan desperate to be starter at 10 for Italy

Tommaso Allan agrees his Italian side will have a tough job to get out of Pool A in the Rugby World...

The Rugby Championship final round preview

A resurgent New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to retain The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, but Eddie Jones‘ Australia will be...

Darge in charge as Scotland take on Italy

By Nick Powell, Online Editor Rory Darge will captain Scotland as they get their World Cup warm-up campaign underway against Italy...

Series 3, Episode 1: Italy’s World Cup prospects with Tommy Allan

The Rugby Paper Podcast has officially entered its third season as we begin the run-up to the 2023 World Cup. The...

Young leaves Cardiff following investigation

Dai Young has left Cardiff Rugby despite being cleared after an independent investigation into bullying allegations against him. Young was suspended...

Ludlam: It’s all coming together

By ADAM HATHAWAY Lewis Ludlam insists England are not behind the eight-ball heading into the World Cup despite facing a race...