Van Heerden will lead influx of new Chiefs

ON THE BLINDSLIDE BY NEIL FISSLER EXETER Chiefs will announce the arrival of Ruben Van Heerden this week, and he is...

Knights set to land new Bucs starlet

ON THE BLINDSLIDE BY NEIL FISSLER Doncaster Knights are on the verge of completing a deal for Alec Lloyd-Seed, who will...

Warrior Sam eyes big move overseas

ON THE BLINDSLIDE BY NEIL FISSLER SAM Lewis is weighing up moving abroad as he looks for a new club and...

Deano’s role is still a mystery

ON THE BLINDSLIDE BY NEIL FISSLER DEAN Richards, who stood down as Newcastle Falcons director of rugby after the final game...

Write off Cheika’s Pumas at your peril

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK ARGENTINA under Michael Cheika will be as aware as Eddie Jones’ England of...

Heartbreak for Ulster as Stormers steal victory

By JOHN FALLON Stormers ..........17pts Tries: Kotze 4, Roos 14, Gelant 80+5 Conversions: Libbok 80+6 Ulster..................15pts Tries: Baloucoune 19, Moore 28...

Boks have raised the bar -Cullen

By JOHN FALLON Leinster ............26pts Tries: Sheehan 9, Henshaw 33, O’Loughlin 72, Healy 82 Conversions: Byrne 10, 33, Sexton 82 Bulls....................27pts...

It’s time to step up or face being left behind

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND It’s time for a re-think for the founding nations of the URC feast after the...

Hooky’s send-off finally put smiles back on Welsh faces

SHANE WILLIAMS I CAN officially reveal that I am available for motivational speeches, coaching clinics, TV commentary and written media work,...

Global vision for the future takes us into a new dawn

PAUL REES ASSESSES WORLD RUGBY’S PLANS TO MODERNISE THE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC GAME The prospect of a global season has always...

Bears chief Lam looks to avoid another stuttering start

By PAUL REES PAT LAM is making sure that Bristol hit the ground running next season by arranging three warm-up matches,...

Tigers saddened as Tiffany loses battle

LEICESTER Tigers are “deeply saddened” by the death of Tiffany Youngs this week. Tiffany, the wife of former England and Leicester...

Ben’s back, ready willing and able!

Injury-hit Ben Curry tells Ben Jaycock he can finally dream of a longterm England future Fit again: Sale’s Ben Curry is...

Rennie has a healthy selection headache

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST History, we are told, is just one damned thing after another. And by way of rubbing it...

Franchise departures remain a mystery…

CHRIS HEWETT DIDN’T take long, did it? Just a few short weeks after World Rugby – the non-governing governing body –...

Le new role for Michael

RUGBY SHORTS MICHAEL Le Bourgeois has rejoined Championship club Bedford Blues in a player-coach role after being released by Wasps. The...

Chiefs nab coach Omar

RUGBY SHORTS EXETER Chiefs have appointed South African Omar Mouneimne as their new defence coach. Mouneimne moves to Exeter after leaving...

Morris will stay a Wasp

RUGBY SHORTS WASPS back-row forward Ben Morris has signed a new contract with the club. “He’s a player who is fully...

Kyle adds to injury list

RUGBY SHORTS BRISTOL Bears prop Kyle Sinckler will miss England’s summer tour of Australia with a back injury. The 29-year-old has...

Wilson axed by Warriors

RUGBY SHORTS DANNY Wilson has been sacked as Glasgow Warriors head coach after a humiliating 76-14 URC quarter-final defeat by Leinster....

Ace Barton is a Falcon

RUGBY SHORTS AS reported in TRP last month, Newcastle Falcons have signed scrum-half Josh Barton from Coventry on a two-year deal....

Inspired Borthwick has given back to Tigers the drive to hit former heights

Paul Rees looks at how Steve Borthwick has re-energised his Welford Road troops When Steve Borthwick took charge of Leicester in...

Knights’ plan is Premier class

NEWS EXTRA By GUY WILLIAMS CHAMPIONSHIP highfliers Doncaster are looking to start on the front foot next seaason, starting with back-to-back...

Omitted Conbeer can yet kick on, says Peel

NEWS EXTRA By STEFFAN THOMAS DWAYNE Peel believes inform Scarlets wing Ryan Conbeer was unlucky to miss out on Wales’ summer...

My body tells me to quit, but I just can’t!

MY LIFE IN RUGBY SOANE TONGA’UIHA THE FORMER TONGA, BEDFORD, NORTHAMPTON, RACING 92, OYONNAX, BRISTOL AND AMPTHILL PROP AND CURRENT PLAYER-COACH...

Welsh fan power has shifted to round ball

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Shortly after noon on Monday, April 14, 1969, a bus joined the queue...

It’s clearly time for fly-halves to buzz off elsewhere

THIS year’s annual fly half merry-go-round will surely break all records. At the last count, no fewer than 18 of the...

Saracens had to physically, and mentally, break barriers

Rocky Clark looks at how Sarries broke their Exeter hoodoo to take the 15s title After a gruelling 39-week season, Saracens...

ROCKY’S PREMIER 15S TEAM OF THE SEASON

HOPE ROGERS – EXETER Excellent ball carrier, physicality in contact, loves scoring tries. Strong scrummager and pace for a front row...

Glad to see pride comes first in Ordizia

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points BRENDAN GALLAGHER Everybody, in whatever sport, should adopt a second...

Borthwick heads list of worthy winners

SO, the Gallagher Premiership awards are done and dusted – the usual end-of-season fun – and there can be few quibbles...

Curr y’s hot stuff as Hull pack ’em in

Now that the National 2 North season has run its course, Ben Jaycock canvassed the views of the league’s directors of...

NATHAN SWEENEY

YOUNG GUNS EDINBURGH FULL-BACK Having endured a difficult past year nursing an ACL injury, Scotland age grade fullback Nathan Sweeney is...

Tu’ungafasi blocks Brumbies hopes of claiming final place

By BEN JAYCOCK No way through:Noah Lolesio of the Brumbies has his attempt at a drop goal charged down by Ofa...

Pumas clinch play-off success

CURRIE CUP THE Pumas have snatched the last Currie Cup semifinal spot despite their 45-44 defeat to the Griquas in a...

Pioneer Rogers has plenty of Hope Stateside

By BEN JAYCOCK EXETER Chiefs’ freescoring prop Hope Rogers has reversed her decision to retire after the forthcoming World Cup and...

It feels like defence is no longer the priority

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME As the regular club season ends with a whimper, but not a...

The Far East feast which flew in the face of elitism

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

Creation of Welsh regions was a ‘short-term fix that has not worked’, says Eddie Butler

Eddie Butler feels the creation of the Welsh regions was a short-term fix that has not worked for the Welsh game....

Sarries stars return for London derby semi-final

Maro Itoje makes his 150th club appearance as Saracens have reverted to naming their strongest possible side to face champions Harlequins...

Genge and Ford set for Welford Road farewell in Premiership semi-final

Leicester Tigers captain Ellis Genge and fly-half George Ford start their final home game as they bid farewell to Welford Road...

Breakthrough star Henry Arundell pens long-term contract at London Irish

Exciting full-back Henry Arundell has penned a new long-term contract at London Irish. Arundell has had a breakthrough season with the...

Henry Arundell: Nerves over entering England’s big dog zone eased in pub session

Henry Arundell has revealed that his nerves over entering England‘s “big dog zone” were eased during a pub session with Ellis...

Harry Randall enjoying ‘massive challenge’ as England target Australia whitewash

Harry Randall has urged England to deliver another series whitewash of Australia during next month’s tour. Eddie Jones has overseen eight...

Taking summer off ‘best thing’ for Scotland pair Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell

Gregor Townsend has revealed that talisman Finn Russell and captain Stuart Hogg have been excused from Scotland‘s summer tour in order...

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Nineteen with Eddie Butler

Eddie Butler joins host Oliver Little, Nick Cain and Brendan Gallagher on the latest episode of The Rugby Paper Podcast to...

Italy prop Danilo Fischetti signs for London Irish

Italy prop Danilo Fischetti from Zebre Parma will join London Irish from next season. The 24-year-old has spent the last four...

Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell and Kyle Steyn rested for Argentina and Chile tour

Gregor Townsend has left Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, and Kyle Steyn out of his 40-player squad for the summer tour of...

Coaching a ‘fresh start’ for Mark Wilson

Newcastle Falcons legend Mark Wilson is looking forward to a ‘fresh start’ with Newcastle Falcons after returning as part of the...

Saracens flanker Ben Earl crowned Premiership player of the season

Saracens flanker Ben Earl has been crowned Gallagher Premiership player of the season following his outstanding contribution to his club’s title...