Borthwick’s only duty is to his team, get over it!

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Steve Borthwick had enough on his plate during Leicester’s defeat at Saracens in North London last weekend...

Georgia seal top European spot in RWC qualifying

GEORGIA secured first place in European qualifying for next year’s World Cup with victory over Romania last night. Georgia had been...

Mark Nelson: Thriving county scene is beneficial to all

By BEN JAYCOCK FORMER Fylde and Lancashire coach Mark Nelson is furious about the RFU cutting the County Championship’s funding and...

Baxter: We made simple mistakes

EXETER’S director of rugby, Rob Baxter, accepted that the red card was crucial but his side still had their chances to...

Hearle’s the hero as Warriors stun Chiefs

By ROGER PANTING Worcester ........35pts Tries: Hearle 17, 34, 68, Heward 46, Doel 65 Conversions: Smith 17,34, 46, 65, 68 Exeter...

Saints aim to buck the trend and make up for their Gloucester nightmare

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Northampton v Wasps Today. Kick-off 3pm, Franklin’s Gardens HAVING lost sleep in the wake of last week’s...

We failed to get to next level -Walder

NEWCASTLE coach Dave Walder admitted they were their the makers of their own downfall. Walder said: “We made life hard for...

Falcons thwarted by Goode’s masterclass

By LUKE JARMYN Newcastle ........21pts Tries: McGuigan 4, 53 Conversions: Haydon-Wood 5 Penalties: Haydon-Wood 18, 22, 28 Saracens ..........36pts Tries: Woolstencroft...

Ludlow: We can make top four

LEWIS Ludlow admitted Gloucester missed out on a golden chance to upset Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium but looked on...

Sale cling on to keep play-off hopes alive

By SAM JACKSON Sale ....................26pts Tries: De Klerk 5, MacGinty 25, JP du Preez 39, JL du Preez 44 Conversions: De...

High-flying Harlequins charged up for final push before the cavalry returns

By PAUL REES PREVIEW... Bristol Bears v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, Ashton Gate TABAI Matson is delighted by the way his...

Nadolo: I was inspired by mum

NEMANI Nadolo revealed after his man-of-the-match display that he was inspired by his watching mum over from Australia. It was the...

Leicester stay top but fail to impress

By ROB WILDMAN Leicester ..........47pts Tries: Nadolo 7, 57; Scott 19, Potter 31, Penalty Try 39, Reffell 52, Ashton 70 Conversions:...

Chick will not quit Falcons to further his England case

By PAUL REES World Cup hope: Callum Chick CALLUM Chick has spent more than half his 25 years at Newcastle and...

Champ star in national spotlight

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER FORMER Rotherham, Plymouth and Esher forward James Waterhouse has found himself in the national...

Stade put Warrior Kyle on wanted list

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER STADE Francais are close to securing a deal to buy Worcester second row Kyle...

Roko finalises switch to France

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER FORMER England winger Semesa Rokoduguni has been in France this week tying up loose...

Fiji giant Nadolo keen for return to Super Rugby

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Homeward bound? Nemani Nadolo PREMIERSHIP are facing the prospect of losing Fijian superstar winger...

Hammersley yet to commit on Sale deal

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER SALE Sharks could be in the market for a new full-back this summer with...

Ryan set to extend stay at Dragons

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER DEAN Ryan is in advanced talks with the Dragons about extending his contract, which...

Bears face a fight to keep hold of Frisch

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER BRISTOL are locked in a battle to keep hold of highly-rated inside centre Antoine...

DREAM TEAM

BYRON McGUIGAN, THE SALE SHARKS AND SCOTLAND WINGER CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH AND AGAINST 1. Joe Marler...

Turn clock back to 1977 and safeguard players

COLIN BOAG We keep being told that player welfare is paramount, and alongside that we know that former players have developed...

Bad call on Dickson

WHO on earth decided former Harlequins scrum-half Karl Dickson could referee a Quins game (home v Newcastle last Friday)? I read...

Bravo Brendan, I’ll be borrowing that!

LAST week’s 100th edition of Iconic Rugby Pictures of the Margam steelworks and the Talbot Athletic Ground has to be one...

Disillusioned with this tier two sham

LAST week I paid £25 to watch a sham match, as Ealing thumped London Scottish 81-0. As the Championship reaches its...

Jaminet’s boot has given France a new dimension

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK MELVYN Jaminet is for me the key to France, winning Six Nations titles, Grand...

France keep championship hopes alive

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Wales ....................15 France ..................47 FRANCE produced a late flurry of tries as they eased past Wales to keep...

Five-try Ireland one win from Grand Slam

By BEN JAYCOCK England ............27pts Tries: Hendy 4, Ilione 30, Cleaves 57, Bailey 74 Conversions: Benson 6, 31 Penalties: Benson 10...

Scotland crash to a fourth defeat

By BEN JAYCOCK Italy ................27 Scotland ..........13 ITALY secured their second win of the tournament with a dominant performance over Scotland...

Temporary stands at Bath reek of double standards

NICK CAIN AT the same time as two clubs, Ealing and Doncaster, have failed the RFU/Premiership ground criteria rules to be...

Switching Steward to centre isn’t the answer

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK COME in No.12, your time is now! That is the call that Eddie...

Wales must learn to nail crucial moments

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Letting it slip: Antoine Dupont of France steals the ball off Jonathan Davies of Wales...

Pivac left frustrated by failure to execute

By STEFFAN THOMAS WAYNE Pivac was left pondering what might have been after Wales came up short against France but insists...

Jones: We weren’t allowed to compete

By GARY FITZGERALD EDDIE Jones defended Charlie Ewels over his second-minute red card agony after England’s title dream was left in...

Shane Williams: Louis Rees-Zammit has 100 Wales caps to come

Legendary Wales wing Shane Williams has shown his support for young Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit after the 21-year-old wing was left...

France sprinkled with stardust, says Shane Williams

Legendary Wales and Lions wing Shane Williams has said that France are “sprinkled with stardust” as Wales look to end France’s...

Wales v France preview: Can Wales end French Grand Slam dreams?

Friday night rugby returns to the Principality Stadium as Wales make four changes, looking to produce the upset of the tournament...

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Six with Wales and Lions legend Shane Williams

Shane Williams joins host Oliver Little and regular The Rugby Paper columnists Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain on Episode Six of...

Maro Itoje relishing Ireland clash

Maro Itoje says that England have placed an emphasis on togetherness as they aim to make the most of their less-experienced...

England’s attack is progressing, says Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones feels England's attack has been progressing through the Six Nations despite scoring one try against each of Scotland and...

Rugby photographers compete for £1,000 prize

Entries from both amateurs and professional photographers have started to come in for this year’s annual Rugby Photographer of the Year,...

Sam Simmonds starts as England name team for Ireland clash

Sam Simmonds starts at number 8 for England in their crunch Six Nations fixture against Ireland at Twickenham. Courtney Lawes will...

Russia banned from World Cup qualification

World Rugby have suspended Russia from international and cross-border competition following the country's invasion of Ukraine. As a result, Russia will...

Johnny Sexton starts for Ireland at Twickenham

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has been recalled to the starting XV for Saturday's visit to Twickenham to face England. Prop Cian...

Wayne Pivac plots way to stop ‘world class’ Antoine Dupont

Wayne Pivac has heaped praise on France scrum-half Antoine Dupont ahead of Friday's Six Nations clash in Cardiff. Grand Slam chasing...

Charlie Ewels: England will never have Ireland’s level of cohesion

Charlie Ewels believes England will never have the levels of cohesion Ireland have ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations tie. England head...

Wasps winger Ellie Boatman reflects on whirlwind season

England sevens and Wasps winger Ellie Boatman has become a dual-code try scoring sensation this season as she finds herself in...

Joe Marler ready for a brawl

Animated as ever, Joe Marler is looksing forward to a physical test against Ireland this Saturday. Former Ireland head coach Eddie...

Former Springbok scrum-half Louis Schreder joins Bath

Former Springbok scrum-half Louis Schreude will join Bath Rugby at the start of next season. The current Newcastle Falcons scrum-half will...