Smith’s backing Cov to get better

Coventry secured their highest ever finish in the Championship last season and young second row George Smith knows there’s added pressure...

‘I’ve given everything I could to the game’

Ben Jaycock sits down with Stuart Hogg to discuss his career and his plans for the future Scotland centurion Stuart Hogg...

At last! Spain show us what they can do

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER IT’S BEEN a bittersweet roller coaster five or...

The time that Dixon bolted out of the blue

RUGBY MATTERS Bolters seem to be less common in top rugby these days but as teams finalise their World Cup squads...

My Life in Rugby with Gary Pearce: ‘All Blacks victory left me needing plastic surgery’

The former England and Northampton prop talks about his life in the game Knackering Fran Cotton’s knee in a training session...

Top Cat: charisma, sermons and style

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW IF ONLY Mark Twain had been born half a century later, on the...

Norton never forgot his friend Murdoch

PETER JACKSON Tane Norton never lost sight of one image from his first UK tour as an All Black, that of...

The Rainbow Nation enjoys day of history

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage Rugby World Cup has spawned many iconic moments...

Japan host great party as Boks snatch the glory

Japan, having been thwarted at the death in their efforts to stage RWC2011, finally achieved their aim in 2019 and made...

Young Guns: Harlequins & England U20 back row Zach Carr

Zach Carr was planning a holiday in Asia with his family this summer but was drafted into the England U20s camp...

Honey aiming to make his mark at Rams

By BEN JAYCOCK Dead-eye goal kicker Fraser Honey has taken the step up to National 1 side Rams and is hoping...

Pre-season

By BILL HOOPER Redruth ............ 17 Plymouth A .... 64 ALBION ran in ten tries as they overcame a valiant Redruth...

Spain join top tier after Uruguay win

By BEN JAYCOCK SPAIN have been promoted to the top tier of U20s rugby for the first time after winning a...

Borthwick deserves a chance to learn

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME WITH England’s first warm-up game taking place this weekend, it brings home...

Twelvetrees keen to get Ealing firing

Ben Jaycock talks to the former England star as he prepares to help his new club fight to regain the title...

Playing numbers game at Castres

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN "Guys, you’re trying to replace Giambi. I told you we can’t do it. Now, what we might...

Chester ready for test against best in West

A re-shuffle of National Two meant much confusion during the off season for Chester but after receiving confirmation of a place...

Bercis buzzing for a shot at big boys

By BEN JAYCOCK Joe Bercis is set to become the all-time appearance holder for Ampthill this season and aims to put...

Cov sign up new talent to fill academy void

Coventry Rugby have stepped in to prevent the career hopes of aspiring teenage rugby players in the West Midlands being dashed...

Online Casinos Invested in Rugby Fans: Here’s How

With online casinos and bookmakers expanding into sports sponsorship, rugby teams are not being left in the dust. Instead, these platforms...

Series 3, Episode 2: Ireland’s World Cup Prospects with Willie Anderson

As we continue our overview of how the major nations are shaping up for the World Cup in France later this...

How the All Blacks can line up for the Rugby Championship

The All Blacks have announced their 36-man squad for The Rugby Championship, which includes seven newcomers to the surprise of the...

Jack: I’m ready for furnace

By ADAM HATHAWAY Jack van Poortvliet insists England’s dismal Six Nations will help him cope with the furnace of the upcoming...

Humphreys backing Plumtree to play major role for Wales

By BEN JAYCOCK Wales forwards coach John Humphreys says that new signing Taine Plumtree from New Zealand could play a big...

England can go all the way, says Ojo

By BEN JAYCOCK Topsy Ojo believes England have a great opportunity in the World Cup to go deep in the tournament...

Dowson sets sights on Champions Cup success

NORTHAMPTON director of rugby Phil Dowson is targetting the Champiins Cup this season after what he admits have been a couple...

Codling can’t wait to take on ‘fantastic challenge’

By JON NEWCOMBE Having coached in multiple leagues in Wales, Northern Ireland, England and France, it is fair to say Alex...

Treat players well and they will stay here, says RPA’s Day

By JON NEWCOMBE RPA chairman Christian Day believes making English players the best-looked after in the world will help to combat...

Amateur game in need of extra help

“PLEASE Sir! Can I have some more?” Oliver Twist’s plaintive cry in Dickensian times. Now, in the 21st century it is...

Glad to see attempts to speed up the game

I WELCOME the new laws in trying to speed up the game, with time limits for conversions, penalties, scrums, lineouts getting...

Time for Champ clubs to lead way

IN last weekend’s Rugby Paper, Chris Hewett wrote how Fiji, Samoa, Georgia, and others are cheated by the way in which...

Exeter are just taking a shrewd approach to business

IN response to the comments made by Neil Fissler in last week’s paper and numerous others recently, is there any actual...

Dream Team with Mouritz Botha

The former Bedford, Saracens, Sharks, Newcastle & England lock, chooses the best XV he has played with or against... 1. Tendai...

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...