We need more attacking space coaches – Ashton

Former England head coach Brian Ashton (right) has criticised the number of recruitment adverts for contact skills coaches in rugby and...

Hare’s world record keeps on growing

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Dusty Hare retired more than 30 years ago and yet his world points...

The silent treatment for Hansen

PETER JACKSON The mucky stuff really hit fans all over New Zealand last week when Sir Steve Hansen said what he...

Fans left at the bottom of the pile when it comes to kick-off times

PETER JACKSON A summer of sorrow over Llanelli draws towards a close, leaving the Scarlets to prepare for their 150th anniversary...

Big names moving into a new home

Ben Jaycock looks at how the Championship squads are shaping up for the coming season As a consequence of the Premiership...

How I loved my journey to the top of the world

ROCKY CLARK ENGLAND WORLD CUP WINNER After a long and illustrious international career, I’ve seen and been part of countless tournaments,...

Sevens shows just how great it can be

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Occasionally, I question the value of Sevens in...

It’s time to get rid of these flat passes

MUCH discussion, and rightly so, recently about concussion and brain related injuries and once again I find myself pondering on rugby’s...

St Luke’s left Exeter with a proud legacy

CLUB OF THE WEEK EXETER UNIVERSITY BY BRENDAN GALLAGHER Founded: 1860 (as St Luke’s College) Colours: Green and white Director of...

Fierce rivalry with Loughborough produced rugby of highest order

There were 19 annual St Luke’s College v Loughborough College challenge matches before St Luke’s became absorbed by Exeter University and...

“I learned my trade on the world’s big stages” – My Life in Rugby with Simon Hunt

The former England Sevens/U21s, Rosslyn Park, Narbonne, Perpignan, Pertemps Bees, Ebbw Vale, Newport, Bristol, Moseley & Dings Crusaders winger Playing a...

A lesson in how to build your audience

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Well, if ever there was a lesson for rugby to learn from...

Moment in Time: Psycho front row set platform for Sale’s return to top flight

Sale – Courage League 2 Champions 1993/94 Sale had been out of the top flight for six seasons after being relegated...

When Sale wanted to be Man U’s rugby team

Sale have always had one very big shadow on their doorstep. Just over four miles from their Heywood Road ground was...

Arms Park undergoes radical transformation

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

Toulouse spoilt for choice at full-back

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN How do you solve a problem like three current international full-backs competing for the only available 15...

Matson tweaks masterplan to keep Quins competitive

By Gary Fitzgerald Tabai Matson insists Harlequins must “get the nuts and bolts right” to ensure they stay in the top...

Young guns ready to fire in South Africa

England U18s have named a 26-man squad for the tour of South Africa later this month. The three-match series takes place...

The Rugby Championship Previews: Round One

So often these days sporting competitions are given a tag of the ‘most unpredictable in living memory’, but it really seems...

Top Rugby Betting Websites for Easy Withdrawal of Winnings

Rugby is one of the major sports in the world and it is played almost in all the major parts of...

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Twenty-Five with Brett Gosper

Episode 25 of The Rugby Paper Podcast welcomes former World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper, together with host Ollie Little and columnists...

Clarke returns as All Blacks look for much needed victory in SA

Caleb Clarke returns to start for the All Blacks this weekend as Ian Foster’s heavily scrutinised side faces the Springboks at...

England star Beckett joins Gloucester-Hartpury

England international Sarah Beckett has joined Gloucester-Hartpury from Premier 15s rivals Harlequins. The back rower has been capped 24 times for...

Exeter Chiefs sign Tonga international Kata

Exeter Chiefs have signed Tonga international and rugby league convert Solomone Kata on a one-year deal. The 27-year-old joins from Super...

Franco Smith appointed as new Glasgow boss

Former Italy boss Franco Smith has been appointed Glasgow Warriors head coach on a two-year deal. Smith, 50, joins the URC...

UK rugby teams rise as All Blacks plummet

Although there is always a bit of ebb and flow to the world rugby rankings, the one constant throughout history has...

How to become a croupier

There is always an aura of mystery surrounding the croupier profession. People far from the casino world begin to tell various...

Lawsuits for injuries may carry on rising

By PETER JACKSON Another acclaimed Wales international has cited his own alarming reasons for taking legal action over rugby’s brain injury...

Farrell agrees new deal with Irish

By NICK POWELL Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has signed a two-year contract extension which will see him remain in charge...

Offiah seeking clarity in Burrell race claims

By GARY FITZGERALD The RFU is to investigate claims from former Newcastle Falcons centre Luther Burrell regarding racism within the sport....

Premier ace Mayor banned for substance use

Former Premiership ace Chris Mayor has been banned from professional sport for four years after being found to have attempted to...

Simpson happy to join the monsters

By JON NEWCOMBE Joe Simpson is looking forward to playing behind a “monster” pack after prolonging his Premiership career at Sale...

RFU vote to force out Trans women

  The Rugby Football Union has banned transgender women from competing in female-only forms of the game for Under-12s and above....

Lethargic England fade from view

MEN’S SEVENS POOL A ROUND-UP Any hopes that England might be able to upset the predicted domination of the big four...

There’s no 7s heaven for our Home Nations

Up and at ‘em: New Zealand’s Regan Ware wriggles free during the Rugby Sevens quarter-final match against Kenya PICTURES: Getty Images...

Exciting Scotland open up in fine style

POOL B ROUND-UP Scotland’s exciting, hungry squad were arguably the talk of the tournament on the opening day, hammering Tonga and...

Canada too strong for Wales

POOL C ROUND-UP Wales might have been confident of emulating Scotland’s achievement of clinching second in their group. Although they sit...

Uganda keep Wallabies in check

POOL D ROUND-UP Australia recorded the biggest win of the entire competition in their very first game, scoring ten tries in...

Aussies set up Fiji showdown

WOMEN’S SEVENS There will be a new Commonwealth Games gold medal winner in the Women’s 7s after Australia and Fiji reached...

Big guns cruise into final stages

POOL B ROUND-UP Pool B had two clear favourites and it was ultimately followed a predictable pattern, with Australia and Fiji...

Red Roses fail to make the most of quick start

POOL A ROUND-UP Try scorer: Boatman Like the men, England’s women had both New Zealand and Sri Lanka in their pool,...

Tony was a Fylde hero

IT was with much interest that I read and shared the article ‘Club Of The Week’ – Fylde Rugby Club with...

Safety first has to be the mantra

I NOTED some of the comments in recent editions from the likes of Eddie Jones, Jeff Probyn, Martin Bayfield and a...

Sanzaar sets an ugly precedent

COLIN BOAG You’re off: But SANZAAR Laws don’t protect the welfare of our players PICTURE: Getty Images Sometimes things happen in...

Farrell has freed Irish to play more instinctively

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK Leader: Johnny Sexton is Ireland’s No.10, captain and talisman PICTURE: Getty Images There is...

World Rugby urged to settle out of court over dementia

Paul Rees talks to a leading lawyer about the legal action launched by 180 former players A leading lawyer is urging...

URC fixtures open up with Welsh derby

The fixtures for the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship have been confirmed as the Scarlets and Ospreys meet on the opening weekend...

All Black Scott is ready, willing – and very able

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Scott Robertson has issued a come-and-get-me plea to the RFU, closing the door on a...

ERL subsidy vow is keeping clubs waiting

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Premiership clubs are still anxiously waiting to find out from European Professional Club Rugby how...

Italians not playing ball with Warriors in Franco battle

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Wanted: Franco Smith Glasgow Warriors are battling to name Franco Smith as their new head...