Ireland ready to rule the world

PAUL REES ASSESSES WHICH COUNTRIES ARE LOOKING GOOD -AND WHICH ARE UP AGAINST IT -AFTER THE SUMMER TOURS Jimmy Davidson once...

All change for Gatland as he picks Lions team from tours

WARREN Gatland last week picked his side for a first Test had the Lions been touring this summer rather than last....

Test setback won’t hamper Care’s World Cup hopes – Lewies

By GARY FITZGERALD Key role: Danny Care in action in the first Test Danny Care will quickly shrug off his latest...

We must keep our feet on the ground, warns Saunders

By BEN JAYCOCK Former Ireland captain Rob Saunders believes the series win in New Zealand will provide the ultimate confidence boost...

Why Wales should let Reffell stay at Leicester

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW As a Welshman thriving in the English Premiership, Tommy Reffell knows that a...

When Bobby defied death

THE Lions took off on their invincible tour of South Africa in 1974 without bothering to appoint a specialist in charge...

Critics set to pounce as Foster ready to take on SA

BREAKING his silence at the end of a long week stewing over the state of the All Blacks, head coach Ian...

Fans put Bath top of the list when it comes to best ground

Paul Rees looks at the best and worst rugby grounds around the world as voted for by the fans Worth a...

Young Guns: Scotland U20s Back Row Euan Groenewald

South African-born Scotland U20s loose forward Euan Groenewald believes his side’s miserable run at U20 level will end shortly and that...

Eddie has made some big strides at the right time

TOM VARNDELL FORMER ENGLAND WING After a series win in Australia for the England men’s 15s and with a home Commonwealth...

So why was Vlaicu left off kicking list?

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Oh dear, rugby does continue to let itself...

Ireland’s triumph puts them in good company

An exceptional summer of Test rugby is over and what an advert for old fashioned three-Test tours and, in the case...

It’s no shock as Chile qualify

READERS of this column will not be surprised at Chile’s “shock” win over USA in the second leg of their America...

Scottish lock Tom relishing physical challenge

NEWS EXTRA ■By BEN JAYCOCK SCOTTISH Highlands second row Tom Smith has signed on for another year with Luctonians having revelled...

A-list West were pride of the north

CLUB0FTHEWEEK BY BRENDAN GALLAGHER WEST HARTLEPOOL Founded: 1881 President: Dave Laycock Home Ground: Brinkburn 1,000 capacity (76 seats) Last season: Durham...

Aarvod revelled in Varsity culture

ALTHOUGH a fine schoolboy player at Durham, that nursery of many West players, Carl Aarvod went down to Emmanuel College, Cambridge...

NEWS EXTRA

Injury-hit Bercis so relieved to be back in business ■By BEN JAYCOCK HAVING endured an injury ridden campaign last season, Ampthill...

My Life in Rugby with Matt Powell: Call-up was a case of mistaken identity

The former Saracens, Worcester and Harlequins scrum-half Unstoppable: Matt Powell charges through the Bucuresti Oaks defence for Worcester PICTURE:Getty Images Twice...

Eddie has to decide what style he wants

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Now the tours are over, there is a time to rest and...

Moment in Time – Midlands Counties West prove All Blacks were no supermen

Neil Fissler talks to Nigel Horton and David Duckham about the Midland Counties West Side that beat the All Blacks 16-8...

What the future held for beaten Kiwi XV

THIS was the seventh tour that the All Blacks undertook in the Northern Hemisphere and kicked off in Vancouver, Canada, on...

NEWS EXTRA

Canterbury beef up their pack CANTERBURY have made three new signings in the build-up to the upcoming season as hooker Nathan...

Kirk gets his hands on inaugural World Cup

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

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...