Second tier is worth backing

THIS column has been at the forefront of lionising the Championship over the years, highlighting the massive disservice to the English...

Sam’s only Esher man to make the cut

BEN JAYCOCK canvassed the views of the National Two South directors of rugby, head coaches and reporters to compile The Rugby...

Australia win keeps heat on Blitzboks

WORLD 7s SERIES By BEN JAYCOCK HENRY Paterson scored a hat-trick including a golden-point try as Australia beat New Zealand 19-14...

Perfect poise and balance of Nepia

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

Relegation freeze makes sense in World Cup year

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME There’s actually a reason the Premiership have been paid such a premium...

Brumbies deny New Zealand clean sweep

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC By BEN JAYCOCK Poacher: Tom Wright scores for Brumbies THE Brumbies will be flying the Australian flag in...

Pumas keep play-off hopes alive

CURRIE CUP A FAST start gave the Pumas just enough of a lead as they repelled a Cheetahs fightback to bolster...

Results

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No dead rubbers in final round of Top 14

JAMES HARRI NGTON FRENCH COLUMN Decider: Challenge Cup winners Lyon face Champions Cup winners La Rochelle PICTURE: Getty Images In less...

Gaskell aims to prolong his career in Far East

By JON NEWCOMBE PREMIERSHIP stalwart James Gaskell feels a move to Japan will help prolong his playing career. The athletic loose...

Lewis one of nine to leave Worcester

WELSH openside Sam Lewis is leaving Worcester with a ‘heavy heart’ after not being offered a new contract. Lewis, 31, who...

Return to normality in Wales

THE community game in Wales will see promotion returning in 2022-23 after three seasons affected by Covid. The Premiership will again...

Ulster sign Wasps ace

ULSTER have signed Wasps tighthead Jeffery Toomaga-Allen on a oneyear deal to help cover the departures of Jack McGrath and Ross...

Fia exits Ospreys

PROP Ma’afu Fia is leaving Ospreys after seven years with the region. The Tonga tighthead, 32, made just two appearances for...

The uniqueness of the game of rugby: the advantages and features of the game

Now the popularity of rugby is increasing every day. Fun to play and fun to watch. Even many sites have begun...

Tuilagi misses tour of Australia due to knee surgery

England and Sale Sharks centre Manu Tuilagi will miss this summer’s tour of Australia to have surgery on a knee problem....

Five South African clubs enter Europe next season

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup organisers have announced five South African club sides will play in European competition next season. The...

Find the Way: 5 Best Offline Navigators for Your Phone

What do you usually need for a successful road trip? You will probably answer that this is a car and a...

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Eighteen with Andy Christie

The Rugby Paper Podcast returns for another episode as Scotland and Saracens back-row Andy Christie joins host Oliver Little and Ben...

Sam Lewis departs Worcester Warriors

Worcester Warriors flanker Sam Lewis will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Welsh...

Jack Nowell among Exeter trio tipped to be fit for England tour

Exeter boss Rob Baxter has provided Eddie Jones with a triple boost ahead of England‘s tour to Australia. Baxter confirmed that...

Springbok Faf de Klerk latest Japan Rugby League One recruit

World Cup winning scrum-half Faf de Klerk will be joining Japanese side Yokohama Canon Eagles after leaving Sale Sharks at the...

Gloucester will ‘rip into it and see what happens’ in crucial Saracens clash

George Skivington has vowed that Gloucester will “rip into it and see what happens” in their quest for a Gallagher Premiership...

Skipper Lewis Ludlam could make Northampton return against Newcastle

Northampton captain Lewis Ludlam could be available for the key Gallagher Premiership clash against Newcastle on Saturday after missing England‘s recent...

Northampton sign trialist Aaron Hinkley and Alfie Petch from Exeter

Northampton Saints have signed trialist Aaron Hinkley and Alfie Petch from Exeter Chiefs. The former England age group internationals have signed...

Former England flanker Tom Wood announces retirement from rugby

Former England flanker Tom Wood has announced he will retire from professional rugby next month following 12 seasons at Northampton. Wood...

Heartache for Sexton as French grab glory

By HATHAWAY ADAM IN MARSEILLE LEINSTER skipper Johnny Sexton choked back the tears as his Irish province melted in the Med...

Cuthbert joins list of Welsh casualties

By PETER JACKSON WALES have been hit by yet another blow ahead of their series against the Springboks with Lions wing...

England 7s back on track at Twickenham

By BEN JAYCOCK SPURRED on by a 50,000-plus Twickenham crowd, England reached today’s London Sevens quarter finals after finishing second in...

Wardy’s faith helped inspire me, Uzokwe

By JON NEWCOMBE EALING’S Simon Uzokwe is delighted to have repaid the faith shown in him by director of rugby Ben...

Esterhuizen scoops top Premiership award

HARLEQUINS centre Andre Esterhuizen has been voted the Rugby Players’ Association’s players’ player of the year, getting the most votes in...

Hines to lead team on charity fundraiser

FORMER Scotland lock Nathan Hines will be joined by a team of rugby legends as they embark on the mammoth 750-mile...

National Two is to be split in to three

THE RFU have confirmed the structural changes to level three for the 2022/23 season with National Two set to be split...

Van Graan gets top gig

INCOMING Bath boss Johann van Graan will become the head of rugby and take complete responsibility for rugby matters. Stuart Hooper,...

By George! Coach Skiverton has got big plans in place

By PAUL REES GEORGE Skivington marked his new longterm contract with Gloucester by declaring his intent to make the club a...

Bye weekends have been crucial in easing workload, insists Boyd

By PAUL REES Bonus ball: Tom James scores Northampton’s fourth try against Saracens a fortnight ago CHRIS Boyd believes the bye...

Wasps aim to give legend Jimmy a perfect send-off

LEE Blackett has paid tribute to Jimmy Gopperth who this weekend plays his final game for Wasps – against Leicester, the...

Please promote relegation, Colin

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk LIKE Colin Boag stated...

League ‘pyramid’ now has a flat-top

REGARDING the restructuring of the National Leagues next season, please, please RFU stop using phraseology such as “re-branding, re-booting, re-energising” as...

I miss final day drama

I NEVER usually watch football but I tuned in last Sunday to see who would be crowned champions – and who...

Rugby atmosphere far more engaging

LAST Saturday, I enjoyed a superb day at Twickenham followed by the sight of Gloucester and Harlequins players walking around the...

Good start, now put end to flying ruck clear-outs

COLIN BOAG Water boy: Rassie Erasmus goes onto the pitch to deliver instructions to his Bok players against the Lions PICTURE:...

Top talent Steward must be managed so carefully

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THE only surprise with Freddie Steward winning the double of the RPA England Men’s...

La Rochelle keep their cool to rule in Europe

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER   Leinster..............21pts Penalties: Sexton 5, 8, 22, 40+1, 47, 57 R Byrne 65 La Rochelle ......24pts Tries: Rhule...

Rae eager for Cov to carry Cup form into next season

By BEN JAYCOCK DESPITE coming up short in the final, Coventry interim head coach Alex Rae was pleased to give the...

At last! Long wait is over for elated Lyon

By BEN JAYCOCK Lyon ....................30pts Tries: Couilloud 7, Penalty 45, Barassi 47 Conversions: Berdeu 9, 49 Penalties: Berdeu 20, 59, Ngatai...

Taufua: We won on our defence

LYON captain Jordan Taufua was delighted with the historic win and credited his side’s resilient defence in matching Toulon’s physicality. He...

Europe’s elite clubs are facing trip into unknown

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE European Cup final in Marseille was not billed as a watershed moment,...

Couilloud can push Dupont all the way

ON THE evidence of Baptiste Couilloud’s command performance in Lyon’s 30-12 European Challenge Cup victory over Toulon in Marseille, they have...

Griffiths departure will suit top agents

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER THE departure of Bath chairman Eddie Griffiths last week was certainly welcomed by some of...