How COVID-19 is still impacting the rugby world

When COVID-19 first hit, no one could foresee what it would have in store for the sporting world. It started with...

Saracens v Gloucester: Sarries must be wary of ‘dangerous’ Gloucester

Despite being seven points ahead and two places above their opponents, Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall says they are facing...

Newcastle v Northampton: Saints must address ‘top two inches’ to beat Falcons

Northampton Saints captain Lewis Ludlam claims that it’s the ‘top two inches’ that are the missing ingredients they must fix going...

Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs: Quins host Chiefs in repeat of 2021 final

Harlequins prop Will Collier will play his 200th game for the club against Exeter Chiefs in a repeat of last year’s...

Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks: Bears seek change in fortunes

Tom Curry returns to the Sale Sharks starting line-up as they take on Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate in tonight’s 7:45...

Aleki Lutui: Tonga must welcome in Folau

Former Tonga captain Aleki Lutui believes Israel Folau should be welcomed into the Tongan rugby union set up. Folau has not...

Steve Borthwick rubbishes talk of records

Leicester Tigers boss Steve Borthwick is not distracted by talk of records as his Tigers side look to make it 12...

Cardiff sign Wales full-back Liam Williams from Scarlets

Wales full-back Liam Williams is the latest big name to join Cardiff for the start of the 2022-23 season after announcing...

Welsh Rugby Union considering playing home games in England

The Welsh Rugby Union is considering playing home Six Nations games in England because of Covid crowd restrictions in Wales. First...

Rob Baxter feels Six Nations should be played in one country

Playing the Guinness Six Nations Championship in one country has “got to be better than cancelling it”, says Rob Baxter. In...

Exeter awarded Premiership Rugby Cup victory over covid stricken Bath

Exeter have been awarded a 28-0 Premiership Rugby Cup third-round win after opponents Bath were unable to field a team due...

Top 5 Rugby Players of All Time

Rugby union is one of the most exciting sports on the planet, with competitions such as the World Cup, Six Nations,...

England U20s announce 2022 squad

Ahead of the U20 Six Nations, England have selected their 32-man Elite Player Squad (EPS) for 2022. Head coach Alan Dickens...

Northampton Saints 6 – 30 Saracens: Lozowski scores emphatic 20 points

Alex Lozowski scored 20 points as Saracens earned a hard-fought win over Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens. At the interval, the sides...

Leicester Tigers 31 – 0 Newcastle Falcons: Tigers remain unbeaten

Leicester Tigers maintained their unstoppable start to the season with a bonus-point win over Newcastle Falcons. Ford kicked Tigers into an...

Gloucester 17 – 20 Harlequins: Quins survive early scare to stay third

Harlequins had to battle for victory at Gloucester as tries from Luke Northmore and Danny Care got them over the line....

Hastings eyes big finish after patient start

By PAUL REES PREVIEW... Gloucester v Harlequins Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingsholm Settled: Adam Hastings ADAM Hastings has noticed a difference since...

It’s great start to New Year – Hogg

STUART HOGG was delighted to celebrate his decision to stay at Exeter with a man-ofthe match performance. “The smile on my...

Discipline will be key for Falcons to keep danger man Ford at bay

By JON NEWCOMBE PREVIEW... Leicester v Newcastle Today. Kick-off 3pm, Welford Road In swing: Brett Connon JUST as Newcastle United had...

Hero Hogg has final say as Chiefs get back on song

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Exeter ................19pts Tries: O’Flaherty 13, Hill 31, Hogg 75 Conversions: J Simmonds 14, 76 Bristol ................13pts Tries: Purdy...

Boxers get month off after KO, why not rugby men?

KYRAN BRACKEN I FEEL very let down by World Rugby and its approach to concussion. There is a malaise and a...

Eddie has failed in his dealings with No.9s

KYRAN BRACKEN WORLD CUP-WINNING SCRUM-HALF FOR the last two years I have been baffled by the decision by Eddie Jones not...

DREAM TEAM

PAOLO ODOGWU, THE WASPS AND FORMER SALE & ENGLAND U20s CENTRE/WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST......

Yes, there were some good bits in 2021…

COLIN BOAG Last year was likeno other, with Covid wreaking havoc, and sadly the signs are that 2022 might be no...

Stags still charging

IN LAST week’s Rugby Paper, Alec Jones, who regularly writes in support of lower league rugby lamented the supposed withdrawal of...

Underhill must stay

ANTHONY Watson leaving Bath could have huge consequences on and off the field and surely others will now follow with the...

Feel for Borthwick, but inquiry is right

WHEN it was revealed Saracens had broken the salary cap and were to be relegated to the Championship two years ago,...

Ryan hopes derby integrity remains

DRAGONS director of rugby Dean Ryan hopes the “integrity of derby games will remain” as league organisers face the challenge of...

Amor gets a big job with Japan 7s

FORMER England men’s 15s assistant coach Simon Amor has been appointed technical director of Japan Sevens. Japan disappointed at their home...

Ankle trouble will see Faletau miss start of the Six Nations

Working hard: Faletau DEFENDING champions Wales look set to start the Six Nations without topchoice No.8 Taulupe Faletau. The triple British...

A poker face, but Boyd can cut loose!

By PAUL REES AS Northampton blew an early 21-7 lead against Harlequins at Twickenham last week, returning home without even a...

Cole: Tigers are willing to take on new ideas now

DAN COLE made his England debut when Steve Borthwick was the captain and admits he did not detect the coaching potential...

Peel keen for Liam to re-sign

SCARLETS head coach Dwayne Peel hopes Wales full-back Liam Williams stays with them. The 30-year-old, in his second stint in Llanelli,...

Launchbury set for Wasps return in European Cup

By GARY FITZGERALD JOE Launchbury will soon be fighting to regain his England jersey and showing Eddie Jones he can still...

Saracens flanker Reffell to join Ulster

IRISH-QUALIFIED flanker Sean Reffell will join Ulster in the summer from Saracens. The 23-year-old former England U20 international was named Sarries’...

BRITISH RUGBY RESULTS AND FIXTURES

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More high calibre signings on way to Glasgow says Wilson

By BRYN PALMER GLASGOW coach Danny Wilson has signalled more signings of the quality of recent recruits Jack Dempsey, Sione Tuipulotu...

New Covid rules test powers of persuasion

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN After much of the second round of European competition was called off before Christmas because of Covid-...

Forthcoming fixtures

Week beginning Sunday, January 2, 2022 It is advisable to check matches and kick-off times with the clubs ... Continue reading......

McBryde: We aim to make life hard for Ealing

NEWS EXTRA WITH Covid leading to the postponement of fixtures in the Championship, Doncaster sit top of the league, although the...

Results

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ROSS McKNIGHT

YOUNG GUNS GLASGOW WINGER Glasgow Warriors Academy winger Ross McKnight made his Scotland U20 debut earlier this year and now is...

WOMEN’S GAME IN FOCUS

Sarah Rendell takes a weekly look at some important women players ROSIE GALLIGAN THIS WEEK... HARLEQUINS SECOND ROW Rosie Galligan had...

Cult figure Seb inspired the outstanding 1964 Sevens team

Simply the best: King’s triumphant team at Rosslyn Park in 1964 THE late, great, Geoff Dodds – talent spotter extraordinaire and...

Poets, writers war heroes, all the King’s men

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools KING’S Canterbury, save for brief periods in their sporting history, can’t...

Lowering cap wasn’t ideal but we stick to it – Lam

By PAUL REES PAT Lam is more concerned that Bristol stick to the Premiership’s salary cap than what rival clubs are...

Murley gets snappy for fast start to 2022

By GARY FITZGERALD CADAN Murley is finetuning his sprint skills so that he can hit the ground running in 2022...faster and...

Star player Zoe aims to keep Roses a cut above

By TOM SANSOM AFTER an undefeated year which featured a third consecutive Six Nations title, and back-to-back victories over New Zealand,...

Wage cap minefield needs a clean slate

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME At the end of the year, it’s a time to look back...

My job at Sedgley Park was to punch people

MY LIFE IN RUGBY THE PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS HEAD COACH AND FORMER ENGLAND COUNTIES, LANCASHIRE, SALE, SEDGLEY PARK, ORRELL, NOTTINGHAM, MOLESEY, CALDY...