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...

Sexton announces retirement plans

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has announced today he will retire at the end of the 2023 World Cup. Earlier today, the...

Sexton signs on for the next World Cup

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has signed a new contract extension with the IRFU up until the end of the 2023 World...

Why Rugby Fans Love Horse Racing

There is something about horse racing that captures the imagination and engages people on a primal level. Perhaps it’s the beauty...

Emily Scarratt returns as Red Roses name 40-player Six Nations squad

Emily Scarratt returns to the England set up as Simon Middleton names a 40-player training squad for the 2022 TikTok Women's...

England moving in the right direction, says Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones has said that his England side are "moving in the right direction" ahead of Saturday's crunch Six Nations fixture...

Sam Underhill returns to England 36-player squad for Ireland clash

Sam Underhill returns to the England set-up following concussion as Eddie Jones names a 36-player England squad ahead of this weekend’s...

Exeter Chiefs boost play-off chances with victory over Sale Sharks

Exeter Chiefs....19 Sale Sharks.....12 Exeter Chiefs continued their play off push as Jacques Vermeulen scored two tries on his return from...

Another red puts pressure on Lam

PAT Lam choked back the bitter disappointment of a dramatic late derby defeat having endured the sight of wing Siva Naulago’s...

Bath look to Faletau as Bears lose plot

By GARY FITZGERALD Bath ....................29pts Tries: Rokoduguni 37, Joseph 42, Faletau 46, Cokanasiga 71, De Glanville 80 Conversions: Cipriani 43, 47...

McCall enjoys happy return

SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall, returning from his break, was impressed by side’s desire. “The level of fight and desire...

Saracens triumph in battle of the top dogs

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Saracens ..........34pts Tries: Woolstencroft 21, 78, Lewington 31, Maitland 37, Koch 43 Conversions: Lozowski 23, 31, 44 Penalties:...

Lack of ball carriers has blunted England attack

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK THERE was some prospect of England doing well in the 2022 Six Nations, although...

Failure to comply is clubs’ own fault

COLIN BOAG Not giving up: Doncaster, who beat Ealing last week, are appealing the RFU’s decision The supporters of promotion and...

Pick refs on ability, not their nationality

YET again we are discussing player safety following last week’s internationals, with players being very brave to carry on when obviously...

Agree with Colin, gulf is just too big between leagues

NO doubt Colin Boag’s column last week will have spurred into action those keyboard warriors who hold the promotion and relegation...

Thought idea was to grow the game

WHAT a surprise (not!) that Ealing and Doncaster have their promotion pathway blocked by the RFU. Are the RFU in collusion...

No to Prem incubator

AS a supporter of a Championship club (Coventry), the RFU’s mooted restructure of the division gives me cause for concern. Having...

TV rights surrender could be disastrous

THE fact an estimated 54.8 million Japanese people viewed that famous 28-21 victory versus Scotland in the 2019 World Cup showed...

Street glad to be back in the fight after neck injury

EXETER tighthead Marcus Street is delighted to be back playing again after eight months out with a serious neck injury. The...

Kicking game is key for shock Wales win

By PAUL REES WALES will not make the same mistake as Scotland and kick aimlessly to France in Cardiff on Friday...

WALES v FRANCE GUINNESS SIX NATIONS TICKETS TO BE WON

WIN a pair of tickets to Wales v France courtesy of Dove Men+Care! Wales welcome France to Principality Stadium on Friday...

Phillips forced to call time

SALE back row James Phillips has retired on medical advice. The 34-year-old suffered a double fracture of his jaw in September’s...

Prem is ‘snakes and ladders’

TABAI Matson believes Quins can win the game of ‘snakes and ladders’ and build momentum to secure a play-off spot Premiership...

One-club man Sharples bows out with no regrets

By PAUL REES CHARLIE Sharples retired last week as a rarity in the modern game. He was a one club man,...

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, March 6, 2022 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs ... Continue reading......

Lock star Jolmes is latest UFO to appear

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN The French for UFO is OVNI – which stands for objet volant non identifié. It is a...

Davies brothers help get Newbridge off to flyer

Welsh National One roundup By TOM PROSSER THE Davies brothers combined to give Newbridge a flying start in Round 1 of...

BRITISH RUGBY RESULTS AND FIXTURES

... Continue reading... Access all our premium content from as little as 14p per day! SUBSCRIBE Already a subscriber to our...

Lock Hicks scores hat-trick

Championship Cup round-up By ROB COLE SECOND row Scott Hicks was the toast of the Neath supporters after he picked up...

Llanelli call on local cavalry to face leaders

Premiership By STEFFAN THOMAS PREVIEW... Llanelli v Newport Today, Kick-off 2.30pm LLANELLI have been forced to raid amateur clubs in their...