Flier MacDonald back to her best after neck injury

By BEN JAYCOCK Having once feared she’d never be able to play rugby again, Claudia Mac-Donald enjoyed a dream England return...

Robinson magic spurs Red Rose fightback

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful Iconic Rugby...

Turnbull determined to bring change at Cardiff

By STEFFAN THOMAS Josh Turnbull is hoping to spearhead a revival at Cardiff while also laying the foundations for a career...

BRITISH RUGBY RESULTS AND FIXTURES

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Powerful Wizards ease to another big win

WELSH PREMIER By ROB COLE Swansea ........17 Aberavon ........39 The Wizards sit happily on top of the Premiership table after two...

Racing 92 hit hard by Vakatawa retirement

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN For Racing 92, this is the first weekend after the unexpected retirement before. A matter of days...

Forthcoming fixtures

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 NATIONAL LEAGUES Premiership (3pm kick-off) Gloucester v Wasps Sale v Northampton WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 INTERNATIONALS Women’s England v...

White keen to prove he’s good enough for Scotland

By GARY FITZGERALD Ben White has set his heart on a dream trip to France next year and he hopes turning...

WRU ban on trans women

THE Welsh Rugby Union has banned transgender women from competing in female-only matches. The move follows similar decisions by the English...

English Rugby on, Scottish and Welsh games postponed following Queen’s death

All rugby in England can go ahead this weekend following a decision taken by the RFU to play on despite the...

World of rugby mourns death of Queen Elizabeth II

The world of rugby at all levels were united as they mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday evening....

“Wait and see” on Salary Cap reduction – Lynagh

Former Australian legend Michael Lynagh believes fans should not rush into judgement about the impact of the reduction of the Premiership’s...

One year to go until the Rugby World Cup 2023 kicks off in France

The countdown to the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, which kicks off on 8 September next year, is well and...

England stars pair up as props as Bristol launch their new season against Bath

The returning Ellis Genge joins Kyle Sinckler in all-England prop pair as Bristol Bears get their Premiership campaign underway against Bath...

Tuilagi and Beaumont return as Sale host Saints in Prem opener

Manu Tuilagi and Josh Beaumont have been named in a strong Sale Sharks side to host Northampton Saints in their first...

Sarries name strong side for Thursday night Prem Cup match at Saints

Saracens have named a very strong squad as they kick-off their campaign with a Thursday night Premiership Rugby Cup match at...

WRU join English and Irish unions in banning transgender women

Welsh rugby‘s governing body the WRU has become the latest union to ban transgender women from playing all forms of rugby....

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Thirty with Michael Lynagh

Another full house for your 30th edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast! The guys welcome an Australian World Rugby Hall of...

‘Worcester as a rugby club will be as competitive as ever’ – Kidney

London Irish boss Declan Kidney has said he sympathises with Worcester's situation, but will be approaching their opening fixture like any...

All Blacks Coach Ian Foster Endorsed Through 2023 Rugby World Cup

According to Betonmobile.ru, The New Zealand Rugby Union has today announced All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster will remain in his...

2009 champions Wales name men’s squad for Rugby World Cup Sevens

Head coach Richie Pugh has confirmed his 12-man Wales squad for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town, getting underway...

England men and women name squads for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

England's men's and women's teams have named their squads for the Rugby World Cup sevens getting underway this Friday in Cape...

England and Top 14 star Mercer first name in Razor-rog Barbarians squad

England, Bath and Montpellier star Zach Mercer has been named in the Barbarians squad for November’s Killik Cup 2022 match against...

Robertson on list for Eddie job

By PETER JACKSON England are compiling a dossier on Scott Robertson as part of their global search for Eddie Jones‘ successor....

WRU’s £30m funding deal expected to face stiff opposition

By STEFFAN THOMAS The Welsh Rugby Union are set to table a six-year multi-million pound deal for the professional game which...

Blackett is confident Wasps are over worst

By PAUL REES WASPS are among the clubs who have been counting the cost of Covid, but Lee Blackett is confident...

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World Cup carrot will inspire us – George

By GARY FITZGERALD Jamie George admits it will be “difficult” pushing thoughts of France to the back of his mind but...

Relton returns home to take the Pirates route

Arthur Relton is returning to his Cornwall rugby roots this season keen to follow a well-trodden path into a Premiership career....

Callard predicts brighter future for Leeds

By NICK POWELL LEEDS Tykes head coach Jon Callard is aiming high for this season. In the 2019/20 Championship season Leeds...

We must get off to a faster start this time, says Dowson

By PAUL REES Phil Dowson wants Northampton to take their form in the latter stages of last season into the new...

Sanderson: Ford’s best days to come

By GARY FITZGERALD Star man: George Ford, pictured playing for Leicester, has joined Sale PICTURES: Getty Images George Ford has “the...

Worcester wage payments finally under way

WORCESTER owners said wage payments to players, coaches and staff were under way on Friday after resolving an electronic banking issue...

Smith backing Fifita to light up Scarlets

By STEFFAN THOMAS Vaea Fifita has been tipped to take the United Rugby Championship by storm following his highprofile move from...

Mercer on his way to Gloucester

GLOUCESTER have signed Zach Mercer from Montpellier for the 2023-24 Premiership season. The 25-year-old No.8 made 21 starts for the French...

We need to know when RFU can restore support

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk IT IS good to...

Let’s hope we still have 13 teams come Friday

COLIN BOAG After 11 long weeks, at last the Premiership returns on Friday evening. Yes, we’ve had summer tours and the...

Dream Team with Christian Lewis-Pratt

Christian Lewis-Pratt, the former England Sevens, Northampton, Leeds & London Irish fly-half, chooses the best XV he has played with or...

England’s Jersey trip leaves RFU all at sea

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK English club rugby has never been more in need of coherent, strong, farsighted...

Trying to fool the officials is no joke

AND the Oscar goes to…Nic White! That was the reflex reaction last weekend when Wallaby scrum-half White responded to an innocuous...

Bath prepare well for derby

Jersey..............17 Bath ..................38 By TOM INNES Bath tuned up for a derby date with Bristol Bears in the opening round of...

Bears leave it late to round pre-season off in style

Scarlets ............28pts Bristol ..............34pts By RICHARD PHELPS Bristol Bears rounded off their preseason campaign with another fightback victory. It was a...

Gloucester turn on the power but work to do

Gloucester........42pts Cardiff ................17pts By ROGER PANTING Try time: Ben Morgan scores for Gloucester PICTURE: Martin Bennett Gloucester go into next week’s...

Leinster take their chances as they prove too strong for Quins

Harlequins........21pts Leinster ............26pts By ALAN ROBINSON Leinster stepped up their preparations for the new United Rugby Championship season with a five-point...

Scottish pounce on early Edinburgh errors

Edinburgh ......26 London S ........34 By PHIL BENNETT A false fire alarm at the DAM Health Stadium meant the game was...

Battling Exiles give Kidney a victorious homecoming

Munster ............14pts London Irish ....19pts By DANNY WARD London Irish capped off their pre-season in style with a fine win over...

Sharks too good for slack Italians

Sale Sharks ..59 Benetton ..........7 By BEN JAYCOCK Tom O’Flaherty scored a debut hat-trick as Sale Sharks blew away a helpless...

Exeter blown away by Ulster

Ulster ..............31 Exeter Chiefs 12 By IAN ROBSON Ulster's youngsters and new signings impressed in Friday’s dominant preseason victory over a...

Star-laden Sarries too strong for helpless Mob

Ampthill ............14pts Saracens ..........59pts By KEVIN MILLER A Saracens side with 11 full internationals blew away a helpless Ampthill in what...

Pirates on top as they turn the table on Chiefs

Cornish Pirates ..42pts Exeter......................14pts By MIKE SINCLAIR Pirates took a leaf out of the Exeter playbook with some impressive forward finishing...