Hookers are the leading lights despite law change

PAUL REES TALKS TO KEY PLAYERS AND COACHES AS TO WHY TRY-SCORING HOOKERS ARE IN ASCENDANCE The number 2s are turning...

Hat-trick hero Max steals win for Chiefs

By MIKE SINCLAIR Exeter ................31pts Tries: Teague 4, Norey 20, 38, 76; Southworth 67 Conversions: Walsh 4, 20, 67 Worcester ........29pts...

Five-try Exiles claim their third maximum to march into the semi-finals

By BEN JAYCOCK London Irish ....34pts Tries: Tuisue 9, Willemse 39, Parton 50, Rogerson 62, 78 Conversions: Reid 10, O’Sullivan 40,...

Tait strikes late to deny Tigers a losing bonus

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Newcastle ........36pts Tries: Earl 22, Kerr 27, Wright 33, Wacokocoke 45, Smith 72, Tait 79 Conversions: Connon 28,...

Prem clubs welcome more cup game time

By PAUL REES AS Twickenham considers expanding the Premiership Rugby Cup to include Championship sides, coaches of top-flight clubs believe a...

Bears bully boys smash record score past Bath

By ROGER PANTING Bristol ................61pts Tries: Lane 3, Bates 10, Byrne 15, Adeolokon 19, 26; Attwood 34, Kloska 61, Eadie 68,...

Vukasinovic stars on his return as Wasps sting the reigning champs

By LUKE JARMYN Sale ....................26pts Tries: Taylor 22, Langdon 47, Cliff 71, Metcalf 80 Conversions: Wilkinson 23, Curtis 72, 80+1 Wasps...

Effervescent young Saints get seven up

By GARY FITZGERALD Saracens ..........35pts Tries: Segun 8, 65; Pifileti 29, Jackson 60, Lewis 73 Conversions: Vunipola 9, 30, 61, 66,...

As the grounds harden up teams will fear us – Jones

By PAUL REES ADAM Jones had no hesitation in agreeing a new contract with Harlequins seven years after arriving at the...

Whatever number he gets is a bingo call for Warrior Doel

By JON NEWCOMBE MATHS-boffin Harri Doel doesn’t care what number he is just as long as he’s on the pitch. The...

Sick and tired of orange card fever

COLIN BOAG Deserved his marching orders: Charlie Ewels sees red against Ireland PICTURE: Getty Image When Charlie Ewels was redcarded after...

Returning to the old laws is a no brainer

MOST unusually I find myself agreeing with Colin Boag! He asked the question should we go back to the old ruck...

Games should be decided by talent, not red cards

EXCITEMENT about England’s ‘heroics’ against Ireland notwithstanding, is it not time for the game to take a more balanced approach to...

Why sub Randall?

AGAIN, Eddie Jones took off an effervescent Harry Randall (at 52 minutes, score 15-9 to Ireland) to be replaced by an...

Plan for success

THE great and the good of the rugby world have carried out a postmortem of England’s performances so far this year...

Pass by Price surely forward

IF Scotland scrum-half Ali Price passed the ball before reaching the Italian 22 and Stuart Hogg caught it after crossing the...

Eastern Counties widening the net

LIKE Mark Nelson and his Lancashire colleagues, Eastern Counties RU believes in the future of county representative rugby and hopes to...

Let’s hope Leicester can afford Pollard

CHRIS HEWETT THE Panama Papers, the Paradise Papers, the Pandora Papers. Three massive data leaks exposing dodgy dealing in the financial...

Woodward versus Jones is box office sideshow

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Fierce rivalries may lose their heat over time, but they always leave a scorch mark on the...

DREAM TEAM

JAMIE LENNARD, THE FORMER WORCESTER, LONDON IRISH, BEDFORD AND DONCASTER FLY-HALF AND CURRENT HEAD OF RUGBY AT OUNDLE SCHOOL CHOOSES THE...

Aussie franchises chasing Nadolo

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER LEICESTER Tigers winger Nemani Nadolo has been linked with Rugby Super outfits New South...

Cips may extend stay at The Rec

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER BATH have opened talks about a new deal with Danny Cipriani for another season...

Sharks tyro stars look set to stay for long term

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER France-bound: Nathan Hughes ■ CLERMONT Auvergne have agreed to a deal with former England...

ProD2 come calling for Bears ace Leiua

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER BRISTOL Bears could lose Samoan centre Alapati Leiua to ambitious ProD2 outfit RC Vannes...

Ireland’s Lion king Sean set to call time

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER IRELAND and Lions flanker Sean O’Brien is likely to call time on his career...

Diamond keen to lure Curtis south

ON THE BLIND SIDE BY NEIL FISSLER STEVE Diamond could return to Sale as he looks to strengthen his Worcester squad...

There will be more on Rogers’ naughty list

NICK CAIN ANOTHER week, another Premiership ‘rotten borough’ story. This time it is about Leicester, a club which behind the scenes...

Time for refs to follow directives or face axe

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THERE is nothing that undermines a professional sport more than being unclear about...

Basement boys Scotland stand in way of Irish Slam

Ireland v Scotland Today. Kick-off 5pm, Musgrave Park UNBEATEN Ireland go into their St Patrick’s weekend clash with Scotland chasing the...

Dickens expects a big reaction from England

By BEN JAYCOCK France v England Today. Kick-off 8pm, Stade Aime Giral ENGLAND head coach Alan Dickens is looking for a...

Hawkins hoping for stylish win to finish

Wales v Italy Today. Kick-off 2pm, Parc Eirias WALES U20s stand-in flyhalf Joe Hawkins is confident his side can get back...

England’s attack has not evolved under Gleeson

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THIS Six Nations has been competitive, with its usual share of brilliance and letdowns,...

Day a little man stood tall in land of the giants

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Little magician: Ange Capuozzo beats Kieran Hardy on his way to setting up the try...

Biggar’s blast as Wales fall to Italy

By ROB COLE DAN Biggar was supposed to be toasting his 100th cap at a special dinner with family and friends...

England can’t stop French Grand Slam

By GARY FITZGERALD COURTNEY Lawes admitted he and his team-mates let France “off the hook” as England ended their disappointing Six...

How to make money betting on football in Nigeria

It goes without saying that football is very popular in Nigeria. When it comes to national teams in Africa, Nigeria comes...

The Rugby Paper Podcast: Episode Seven with Scotland and Lions legend Gavin Hastings

Gavin Hastings joins host Oliver Little and regular The Rugby Paper columnists Brendan Gallagher and Nick Cain on Episode Seven of The Rugby...

England focused on having their own party

Eddie Jones urged his troops to remain focused on the job, not the occasion, as he made five changes for their...

Jones makes bold call as Furbank returns for Le Crunch

George Furbank starts at full-back in a surprise tactical switch for England‘s Six Nations finale with Grand Slam chasing France. Leicester‘s...

Out of form Russell dropped for Ireland Clash

Scotland fly half Finn Russell has been dropped to the bench with Blair Kinghorn taking over the 10 jersey for their...

Charlie Ewels given three game ban following Ireland red card

Charlie Ewels has been handed a three game ban after being sent off in the Six Nations defeat to Ireland at...

Betting Tips for Major Rugby Competitions

There are a number of huge rugby fixtures and competitions spread out throughout the calendar year that as rugby fanatics we...

Max Malins dropped from the England squad for France finale

Despite starting England‘s first four Six Nations games, winger Max Malins has been dropped from Eddie Jones’ 28-player squad for the...

Leicester Tigers are fined for salary cap breaches but avoid points deduction

Leicester Tigers have avoided a points deduction after Premiership Rugby found that they had failed to comply with salary cap regulations....

Jack Willis’ return met with open arms

Sam Simmonds has sympathised with Jack Willis’ lengthy recovery from a knee injury and says it’s amazing to see him back...

Players To Keep Your Eye On During The Six Nations

With the Six Nations underway, we’ve already seen plenty of talent on the pitch. With the handful of great nations battling...

Players To Keep Your Eye On During The Six Nations

With the Six Nations underway, we’ve already seen plenty of talent on the pitch. With the handful of great nations battling...

Eddie Jones proud of England’s performance despite Ireland defeat

Eddie Jones took "enormous pride" from England's performance in Saturday's 15-32 defeat to Ireland at Twickenham. Despite Charlie Ewels being sent...

Betting Tips for Major Rugby Competitions

There are a number of huge rugby fixtures and competitions spread out throughout the calendar year that as rugby fanatics we...

Wasps flanker Jack Willis returns to England squad

Wasps flanker Jack Willis has joined the England squad for the final Six Nations fixture with France in Paris on Saturday...