Jones and his team enjoy French trip

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER EDDIE Jones and his coaching team cannot pick players who play outside the Premiership, but...

Blindside on the money – again

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER BLINDSIDE continues to deliver the very best in transfer news – and last week brought...

Dolphins lining up injury-hit Radradra for Aussie return

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Deal: Semi Radradra joined the Bears in 2020 SEMI Radradra...

Treviso in move for James

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEILFISSLER SALE Sharks outside centre Sam James is locked in talks with Italian outfit Treviso about...

Chinnor to take Marshall from Saints

AMBITIOUS National League One outfit Chinnor have landed Reece Marshall, who last week it was announced was being released by Northampton...

DREAM TEAM

MATT GARVEY, THE FORMER LONDON IRISH, BATH, GLOUCESTER AND WORCESTER LOOSE FORWARD, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR...

Fine XV of England selection oversights

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Eddie Jones is hardly the first England coach to take an unusually gifted player to one side...

Homer’s odyssey was a PR disaster

RUGBY’S authorities, such as they are, should be throwing the book at the seven-a-siders from England and Argentina who dragged their...

South Africans have shown they can mix it with the best

NEIL DE KOCK FORMER SOUTH AFRICA SCRUM-HALF After 18 rounds of fixtures, the inaugural United Rugby Championship has reached the play-offs....

Boks, and Six Nations, must look at the bigger picture

THE Springboks in the Six Nations is a topic that refuses to go away. Rassie Erasmus recently fanned the flames when...

Room for football and rugby to thrive in Wales

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND The age-old debate of whether Wales is a football nation rather than a rugby nation...

Salary cap alone is not to blame for Euro failure

PAUL REES ASKS SOME EUROPEAN KINGS WHY ENGLISH CLUBS HAVE BEEN OFF THE PACE Every year the Premiership fails to supply...

Glad dad was there to watch me win my cap

MY LIFEIN RUGBY MARK MAPLETOFT THE FORMER ENGLAND, GLOUCESTER, SARACENS, HARLEQUINS AND LONDON IRISH FLY-HALF/FULL-BACK AND CURRENT RFU PATHWAY COACH IRONICALLY,...

Hignell one of the last sporting all-rounders

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Master of art: Alastair Hignell in oval-ball action for England The England-New Zealand...

So why did WRU let Ms Blanc walk away?

SIX months have passed since Amanda Blanc handed a letter of resignation to the Welsh Rugby Union outlining the reasons for...

Saracens avenge last year’s defeat

Saracens ................30 Harlequins ............10 TABLE-TOPPERS Saracens cruised to victory against their London rivals to book a place in their fourth consecutive...

Detiveaux try seals victory for Chiefs

Exeter ....................28 Bristol ....................24 EXETER CHIEFS came from behind to beat Bristol and book their first-ever Premier 15s final with a...

Bern urges other nations to invest

By BEN JAYCOCK ENGLAND back rower Sarah Bern believes it’s time other unions invest in their women’s teams or they will...

Game must become inclusive for everyone

FORMER England flanker James Haskell was recently told to “stop disrespecting” women’s rugby after he became embroiled in a row with...

Clash of titan packs is set to be ferocious

ROCKY CLARK ENGLAND’S MOST CAPPED PLAYER AND WORLD CUP WINNER After two extraordinary semi-finals, the stage has been set for the...

Champions Caldy claim lion’s share

National League 1 Dream XV 2021-22 BEN JAYCOCK canvassed the views of the National One directors of rugby, head coaches and...

RUGBY SHORTS

England squad hit by injuries ENGLAND forwards Lewis Ludlam, Joe Launchbury and Nic Dolly were withdrawn from Eddie Jones’ pre-Barbarians three-day...

Fixtures

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 URC Play-off Ulster v Munster (7.35pm) Women’s Premier 15s Final Saracens v Exeter (3pm) SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Premiership...

YOUNG GUNS

MACENZZIE DUNCAN BRISTOL BACK ROWER INSPIRED to play rugby by his grandad, Macenzzie Duncan is hoping to make his Premiership debut...

Law rediscovers a passion for playing

By BEN JAYCOCK AFTER coming out of retirement last season, Darlington Mowden Park director of rugby Garry Law is loving playing...

Improving Westcliff plot centenary success

WESTCLIFF head coach Danny Johnson believes they’ve laid strong foundations for next season after a difficult campaign saw them finish 15th...

Smell of fear stifling Premiership growth

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points THE subject of salary caps and their desirability...

Can’t help but smile at absurdity of Homer’s time wasting

OFFICIALLY I am of course outraged and utterly appalled at the blatant time wasting and abnegation of the spirit of rugby...

Queen’s jubilees are years to savour

THE Queen’s Platinum anniversary celebrations are nearly upon us and it might just be a coincidence but most of her landmark...

Back-to-back Cup triumphs cemented Gosforth’s place as top club in the land

GOSFORTH won their first John Player Cup Final in 1976, and then when the Queen was celebrating her Silver Jubilee 12...

Table toppers dig deep to remain on top

CURRIE CUP By BEN JAYCOCK THE Bulls scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to grind out a 31-26 win...

SaberCats blow chance to go top of the West

MLR By BEN JAYCOCK THE Houston SaberCats blew their chance to go top of the Western Conference as they lost 43-36...

Byron’s late touchdown keeps Force hopes alive

SUPER PACIFIC RUGBY By BEN JAYCOCK THE Western Force will be relying on their Australian compatriots the Melbourne Rebels today after...

Giants of Japanese rugby meet in final once more

JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE ■By BEN JAYCOCK THE heavyweights of Japanese rugby will meet once again after Suntory Sungoliath and Saitama...

Psychology plays a key part in rugby’s evolution

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME As the end of the season nears, it’s usually a time for...

England’s Grandmaster ponders his next move

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

World Cup will be won and lost in the run-up

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Fifteen months out from the 2023 World Cup, the rugby debate in host nation France is getting...

Red Bull gives Sevens boost

By BEN JAYCOCK ENGLAND women and Sevens performance manager Charlie Hayter hopes the newly-launched Red Bull Rugby Combine can unlock hidden...

Barrington agrees switch to France

Off to Agen: Saracens’ Richard Barrington SARACENS stalwart Richard Barrington is to leave the club after nine years and join French...

EXPERIENCE THE WORLD’S BEST RUGBY ATMOSPHERE IN MARSEILLE AT RWC 2023

The Heineken Cup final is upon us, and all eyes will be on the famous Stade Vélodrome. Based in the beautiful...

Israel Folau set for international return after Tonga switch

Israel Folau is set to return to international rugby with Tonga – three years after having his contract with Australia terminated....

Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe fit for Champions Cup final against La Rochelle

Leinster‘s Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe have been passed fit to start Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in...

Cheslin Kolbe returns in time for Challenge Cup Final

Springbok superstar Cheslin Kolbe returns for Toulon in time for their European Challenge Cup final against Lyon at the Stade Velodrome...

Andre Esterhuizen honoured to win players’ player of the year award

Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen has won the Rugby Players’ Association players’ player of the year award. Esterhuizen polled the highest number...

Ed Griffiths leaves role as Bath chairman as club confirm structural reset

Bath chairman Edward Griffiths has left his role after less than six months in post as the club confirms a new...

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Seventeen with Peter Winterbottom

Former England and Lions flanker Peter Winterbottom joins host Oliver Little, Nick Cain, and Brendan Gallagher to discuss the ever-growing issue...

Nathan Hines: “Road to Twickenham” Cycle Challenge

Nathan Hines is enjoying his new role as business development director at Gallagher as he embarks alongside rugby legends on the...

Wales flanker Dan Lydiate signs Ospreys contract extension

Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate has agreed a new deal to stay at the Welsh region for another season. The Wales flanker...

Nine players to depart Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints have announced that nine players will depart the club on the expiry of their contracts at the end of...

6 Expert Tips For Winning A Rugby Match

Rugby originated in England, the United Kingdom, in the early 19th century as a team sport that required close contact. Body...