Fofana, one of the stars of 2006, to bow out

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Clermont star Wesley Fofana this week became the latest Top 14 player to join the annual line...

Bidding war goes on for European Cup TV rights

PLANS for a 16-team longdiscussed World Club Cup starting in 2025 will add intrigue to drawn-out broadcaster bids for TV rights...

Back tells ‘fickle’ England fans to give Eddie a break

By GARY FITZGERALD Eddie Jones may have been targeted by an irate compatriot in Sydney but Neil Back has called for...

Flier Jess jumps ship for Sarries

SARACENS have signed England winger Jess Breach from Harlequins. The 24-year-old, who has scored 11 tries in 22 England appearances, will...

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixture lists: Premiership sides set to head to South Africa

The round-by-round fixtures for the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournament have been announced.   Teams were split...

Les Kiss praises Arundell after storming summer

London Irish Head Coach Les Kiss was full of admiration for winger Henry Arundell after he announced himself in world rugby...

England, Wales and Scotland abandon individual 7s teams

England, Wales and Scotland‘s 7s teams have decided to play as Great Britain throughout the World 7s series, abandoning their individual...

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Twenty-Three with Alastair Hignell

Points of discussion are in abundance in your next edition of The Rugby Paper Podcast after a fitting finale to the...

Play it safe – learn about the most common injuries in rugby

Rugby is, without a doubt, one of the most popular sports in the world. To be more precise, it ranks ninth...

Most common rugby injuries – how are they treated and what is the athlete’s prognosis

Rugby is a fantastic sport. It provides an intensive workout, helps you become more confident and self-disciplined and makes it easier...

Full Premiership 2022/23 fixtures: Westcountry rivals go toe-to-toe in opening round

Bristol Bears and Bath will raise the curtain of the Premiership for the second time in four seasons as they kick...

Defiant Spain take World Rugby to CAS

The Spanish Rugby Federation (FER) will take their appeal against World Rugby over their ban from the World Cup to the...

Chile stun States to spice up World Cup

USA 29-31 Chile (19-14 HT, 51-52 agg) Santiago Videla’s late penalty saw Chile beat The USA in a thrilling second leg...

Lucky 15 Bet Calculator: How Does It Help In Calculating Your Return?

Betting is prevalent, and people often indulge in serious betting on various events. While people with experience in betting may not...

That was tougher than 2016 – Jones

From ADAM HATHAWAY in Sydney EDDIE Jones last night insisted England’s Test series triumph over Australia was “tougher’ than their victory...

Pivac: We have much to build on

Wayne Pivac insists Wales are heading in the right direction despite getting battered into submission 30-14 by South Africa in Cape...

Nelson: Urgent changes needed to protect game

By PAUL REES Rugby union is on a collision course with oblivion unless it takes steps to reduce the amount of...

Mears: England showed grit beyond their years

Former England hooker Lee Mears was impressed by the fight shown by Eddie Jones’ side in the final Test but says...

Robinson: Grace can be a star in 15-a-side

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Jason Robinson was one of the greatest ever cross-code players – and reckons St Helens star Regan Grace...

‘Get Farrell & Edwards together for England’

Jason Robinson would love to see both Andy Farrell and Shaun Edwards brought back into the Twickenham fold. The former England...

Ampthill looking to learn from Worsley’s French nous

By JON NEWCOMBE Joe Worsley has already started putting Ampthill’s players through their paces as the latest member of an impressive...

Lawes the enforcer as England take series

By NICK CAIN Australia............17pts Tries: Wright 25, Fainga’a 66 Conversions: Lolesio 26, 67 England ..............21pts Penalties: Lolesio 31 Tries: Steward 40+1,...

Brilliant to win series but far from perfect

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK England are clearly in a better place now than they were when they started...

Courtney’s calm head steers England home

PAUL REES Men of the series: Courtney Lawes, left, and Wallaby danger man Marika Koroibete PICTURES: Getty Images When Marika Koroibete...

A veil of secrecy which keeps us all in the dark

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK There is a complete contradiction at the heart of the English Premiership having...

Wales fall at the last but head for home with pride restored

By PETER JACKSON South Africa ....30pts Tries: Pollard 14, Mbonambi 38, Kolisi 53 Conversions: Pollard 16, 39, 54 Penalties: Pollard 5,...

Lam’s double edges Samoa to glory

PACIFIC NATIONS CUP Seilala Lam scored two tries as Samoa produced a dramatic 23-20 comeback victory over Fiji to win the...

Return of the old guard should drive Wales on

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND In the end, Cape Town was a step too far but, for a team so...

It’s time we made the players the main event

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST The sagacious lexicographer Dr Johnson – we’re talking Samuel here, not Martin – famously caused a ruckus...

Bossing line-outs is still the key skill

Chris Hewett Rugby has always had its share of brass necks, but did the Wales U20 lock Dafydd Jenkins abuse the...

Boffelli’s last minute try wins series for Argentina

By BEN JAYCOCK Argentina ........34pts Tries: Carreras 20, Tetaz Chaparro 51, Bertranou 67, Boffelli 80 Conversions: Boffelli 21, 53, 68, 80...

A night for heroes as Irish crush All Blacks

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER They've only gone and done it! After losing the First Test 42-19, Ireland went to work like never...

Farrell: Without doubt, this is the proudest I’ve been as part of a group

Ireland coach Andy Farrell thinks a subtle change of mindset contributed to Ireland’s historic series win.  “We talked about this being...

On the road to celebrate this great sport of ours

Paul Rees finds out about Martin Bayfield’s plans to tour Britain’s theatres with his rugby show Martin Bayfield has been on...

Steward contract talks stall at Tigers

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Off? Freddie Steward Freddie Steward could become the next big name to quit Premiership champions...

Lewis ready to head abroad

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER DESPITE being one of the best uncapped back rows in the game, Sam Lewis is...

Saints lead hunt for Worcester’s wonderkid Fin

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Northampton Saints are the early front runners to sign Worcester’s highly-rated fly half Fin Smith...

Ashley set for new challenge in France

ON THE BLINDSIDE BY NEIL FISSLER PROP Ashley Challenger is set to drop into the third tier of French rugby after...

Wales Sevens call for Ospreys silver star Cross

Olympic silver medallist Sam Cross has been included in Wales Sevens’ 13-man squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The Sevens will...

Quins return for Turner

England women U20s head coach Amy Turner has become Harlequins head coach. Turner, who returns to The Stoop having retired as...

Big man Smith earns contract at Coventry

Coventry have signed second row George Smith ahead of next season. The 6ft 9ins, 19st 8lbs lock joined at the start...

Roberts calls it a day

Wales and British and Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts has retired at the age of 35. Roberts won 94 Wales caps...

Brown waits for his phone to ring

ON THE BLINDSIDE - BY NEIL FISSLER Former England full-back Mike Brown looks unlikely to be turning out for either Sale...

Grace looking to make most of return journey

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW One hundred summers ago, Johnny Ring left Port Talbot on a journey of...

Ken Kennedy, a Lion whose impact on top sport lasted a lifetime

Peter Jackson The Lions have lost another of their Invincibles in former Ireland hooker Ken Kennedy. His sudden death at the...

Red cards are now haunting All Blacks

Peter Jackson In their first 112 years of Test rugby, the All Blacks got by without any more than three players...

The one that got away for Roberts

Peter Jackson If Jamie Roberts could only be granted the wish of playing one match over again, he would name the...

Baby Boks overpower Wales to clinch title

■By BEN JAYCOCK Wales ................27pts Tries: Grady 45, Westwood 63, Fackrell 73, Jones 77 Conversions: Hawkins 64, 78 Penalties: Hawkins 9...

Young Guns – Bristol Lock Charlie Rice

Bristol Bears second row Charlie Rice is living the dream playing for the club he supported as a boy and is...

Simple way to avoid cards, obey the laws

IT IS a sad day for rugby union when a leading coach criticises referees for strictly penalising players cynically ignoring the...