Ex-Saracens prop on way to Waratahs

ON THE BLINDSIDE Former Saracens loosehead Hayden Thompson-Stringer is joining the ever-growing list of former Premiership players who will be plying...

Slade testing the (housing) market

ON THE BLINDSIDE Henry Slade, out of contract at the end of the forthcoming season, has just put his five-bedroom house...

Steward in name mix-up

ON THE BLINDSIDE RFU media bosses were left with egg on their faces after an embarrassing blunder when they announced England’s...

Under-20s proved the future is bright

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST DID you hear the one about the trainee fortune teller who gave up because he couldn’t see...

Eddie’s a head honcho in a hurry

CHRIS HEWETT Eddie Jones is not a man to let the grass grow under his feet, even if his most trenchant...

New faces can turn Quins into contenders

Q&A Ben Jaycock talks to 54-time England No.8 Nick Easter about his optimism for former side Harlequins following their coaching changes...

Pooley’s paddlers rise to the challenge

By SAM JACKSON Crowborough rugby veteran Nigel Pooley has completed an extraordinary journey of paddling 68 miles along Scotland’s Great Glen...

Cambridge confident they can match Caldy

By BEN JAYCOCK Championship newcomers Cambridge are using Caldy’s performance last season as inspiration ahead of their debut campaign in tier...

Pre-season fixtures

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

Attention! Get ready for the phoney war

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND THE phoney war is about to start next weekend when the northern hemisphere sides get...

South Africa know right recipe

Paul Rees makes his case for why Springboks will be a very different animal come the World Cup In this instant...

Ikitau may miss World Cup with shoulder injury

NEWS EXTRA AUSTRALIA centre Len Ikitau faces a race to be fit for the World Cup after fracturing a shoulder blade...

Joseph bows out of Bath after a decade

NEWS EXTRA FORMER England centre Jonathan Joseph’s departure from Bath has been confirmed. After ten years at The Rec, Joseph has...

Italy prop Turani makes switch to Harlequins

NEWS EXTRA HARLEQUINS have swooped to snap up Italy prop Silvia Turani from fellow Premiership Women’s Rugby club Exeter Chiefs. The...

Hogg exit opens door for McConnochie

NEWS EXTRA RUARIDH McConnochie has been called up to Scotland’s latest World Cup warmup camp following the retirement of star full-back...

Proud skipper Fryday calls time on Ireland

NEWS EXTRA IRELAND captain Nichola Fryday has retired from international rugby at the age of 28. Fryday took over as Ireland...

Lewis gets the nod for England U20s

NEWS EXTRA FORMER Wasps Women director of rugby Laura-Jane Lewis has been appointed head coach of the England Women’s U20s. Lewis...

Exeter’s Benjy eyes more super success

By BEN JAYCOCK Exeter University winger Benjy Joseland is hoping his side can go back-to-back and secure another BUCS Super Rugby...

Trailfinders make Gwala statement

Premiership Women’s Rugby newcomers Ealing Trailfinders have signed South Africa international Lindelwa Gwala. The 25-year-old hooker has scored five tries in...

Arendse can light up the World Cup

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER NO sooner had it started than the abbreviated...

Modern-day Lions seem to be tone deaf

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER So the Lions itinerary is out for their 2025 Australia tour and, although there is much to...

All that glitters isn’t necessarily gold…

Paul Rees looks at the big name players who have been on the move in the Premiership during this close season...

Lewis has his sights set on higher honours

Ben Jaycock talks to England’s second row starlet Lewis Chessum on his return from the Junior World Cup in South Africa...

French starting to believe in miracles

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Those fearful that France have cornered the market in the supernatural will not...

New shirts which fair take your breath away

PETER JACKSON THE RFU and WRU reacted to the cost-of-living crisis by joining forces in a display seen by many fans...

Through thick, thin…and now thinner

PETER JACKSON The Gallagher Premiership could hardly have chosen a more challenging week for the release of next season’s fixtures than...

Still silent over Dai

PETER JACKSON CARDIFF suspended Dai Young without a word of explanation just before their last match of the season on April...

McCaw breaks pain barrier to deliver gold for All Blacks

Brendan Gallagher looks back at the players who shone on the biggest stage IT WAS close to midnight on a filthy...

Nervy night as unfancied France fight till the death

After staging the inaugural World Cup in 1987, there was a feeling of now or never for New Zealand in 2011....

Young Guns: Harlequins & England U20 fly-half Connor Slevin

Having made the recent transition from 15 to 10, Connor Slevin is hoping for consistent rugby next season with Harlequins and...

Exeter sign O’Connor from Munster

By BEN JAYCOCK Exeter Chiefs have signed Munster second row Eoin O’Connor. The 22-year-old moves to Sandy Park after four years...

Scotland get set for Uruguay test

By BEN JAYCOCK Scotland, Spain and Uruguay maintained their unbeaten records on day two of the U20s World Trophy. POOL A:...

Southern Hemisphere given big advantage

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Well, if ever there was a sign of a true bias in...

Exeter’s back to back delight

MOMENT IN TIME: EXETER, NATIONAL LEAGUE 3 CHAMPIONS 1996-97 SPECIAL REPORT BY NEIL FISSLER Exeter had just achieved one promotion from Courage...

Fans left in dark as Viaplay row back

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN THE future of live Top 14 – and United Rugby Championship – rugby coverage in the UK...

My Life in Rugby with Chris Cusiter: I’d take the rough with the smooth every time

The former British & Irish Lions, Scotland, Borders, Perpignan, Glasgow and Sale Sharks scrum-half talks about his life in the game...

What’s in The Rugby Paper: 23/07/23

It’s been another busy week in rugby news despite preparation fixtures for the Rugby World Cup still a few weeks away,...

Lions 2025 schedule released including game against Australia-New Zealand XV

The British and Irish Lions have confirmed their schedule for their 2025 tour of Australia, including a match against a joint...

Smith signs new Quins contract

Marcus Smith has signed a new contract extension with Harlequins that will see him stay at The Stoop beyond the end...

No Six Nations overlap as Premiership Fixtures released

Champions Saracens will head to Exeter Chiefs in the opening round of a Premiership season that will see no games clash...

Home of Premiership Rugby TNT Sports goes live

TNT Sports goes live today throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland, replacing BT Sport and is the new home of...

Sexton escapes World Cup punishment in hearing

Johnny Sexton has been handed a three-match ban for his conduct after the European Champions Cup Final but will be available...

Odds of Scotland Winning the Six Nations in 2023

The last time Scotland won the Six Nations was 24 years ago, in 1999. The tournament was called the Five Nations,...

Itoje: We can go all the way

By ADAM HATHAWAY MARO Itoje insists England have buried their Six Nations nightmare and are ready to be a force at...

Jones back on job market after success with U20s

By ROB COLE Mark Jones earned a lot of plaudits for the way he turned around the Wales team at the...

Now Bears to stage ‘Big Game’ in Cardiff

By JON NEWCOMBE EXCLUSIVE Bristol Bears are set to be the latest club to adopt the ‘Big Game’ concept by taking...

Delighted Searle on his way to Toulouse

By JON NEWCOMBE EXCLUSIVE Billy Searle’s patience has finally been rewarded with a dream move to European aristocrats Toulouse, and the...

Neild sets his sights on the next challenge

By NEIL FISSLER Former Sale and Worcester flanker Cameron Neild believes he still has a lot to give at the top...

McKellar’s tough opening with Tigers

By PAUL REES Dan McKellar has vowed to bring success to Leicester, but they will have to do it the hard...

Champions Cup fixtures

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