Andy Farrell needs a No.10 who will put heat on Sexton

Ireland's fly-half at the 2023 Rugby World Cup appears to be no clear prediction, as an aging Sexton leads the team...

Wayne Pivac trusts in old guard to keep him in the Wales job

Wayne Pivac speaks on the eve of Wales' Six Nations kick-off against Ireland, with pressure still very much on the head...

Q&A – Nick Mallett: If Webb Ellis was playing now, he’d be kicking the ball

Respected South African television pundit and analyst Nick Mallett tells Neale Harvey how rugby styles should change in the years to...

Cian Healy to notch 50th Six Nations appearances for Ireland

Ireland travel to Cardiff to take on Wales in the opening round of the 2021 Six Nations

RFU risk the second great schism with wrong vote | Nick Cain

Nick Cain writes on the significant ring-fencing vote the RFU Council will hold on Friday, and its potential to create a...

Dream Team: London Irish prop Lovejoy Chawatama

The Exiles tighthead includes a number of player from all levels of the game, including an old university teammate at UWE

Wales have plenty to replace me – Hadleigh Parkes

For so long Hadleigh Parkes was a reliable piece in Wales' backline, so it has been no surprise to see his...

Rugby Matters: Almond got it wrong but he was still right

Brendan Gallagher looks at the significant role of one, Mr HH Almond, in the first meeting between England and Scotland

History of Women’s Rugby: Black Ferns envelop all before them

Brendan Gallagher looks at the all-conquering Black Ferns, who had Anna Richards and Farah Palmer is a decade of dominance from...

Exeter success will pump up their Scots pair | Tim Visser

Guest columnist Tim Visser shares his view on Scotland's chances in the Six Nations, with Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray key...

Fabien Galthie names France team to take on Italy

Galthie places faith in the fitness of Gregory Alldritt who had been withdrawn from France's squad last month after an injury...

Cameron Redpath to start for Scotland against England

Gregor Townsend has named his matchday-23 that will travel to Twickenham in the opening round of the Six Nations this weekend

Eddie Jones picks Lawrence and Slade combination for England’s Calcutta Cup clash

England head coach Eddie Jones has named his squad to take on Scotland in the 2021 Six Nations

Wayne Pivac upfront in his disappointment of Josh Adams for bubble breach

The Wales head coach says Adams has 'embarrassed himself' for visiting a family member's home for a gender reveal gathering, breaching...

Djokovic should take notice of Eddie | Chris Hewett

Eddie Jones' perfect quip in response to tennis' deluded anti-vaxxer, Novak Djokovic, after his outspoken views on Australia's Covid-19 restrictions

Marco Fuser loves to get down and dirty at Newcastle Falcons

The Italian international feels at home with the comfort of Dean Richards style at Falcons

Saracens boys fit and ready vows Jamie George

No worries for the England hooker over his, nor his teammates' fitness levels as Saracens await the Championship season with preparations...

Six Nations round table: Grand Slam or not, let’s see some style!

The Rugby Paper's annual round table Six Nations debate looks a little different this year, but the discussion is just as...

Enemies of academies get their facts wrong | Chris Hewett

Chris Hewett looks at how solid production within Premiership academies doesn't always prove to be a saving grace

Tier Two clubs set to pull out of season

Neale Harvey reports on the perilous state facing some of the Championship's 12 clubs

Official: WillGriff John to leave Sale for Wales homecoming

As revealed by The Rugby Paper on January 12, Sale Sharks will lose their first-choice tighthead prop

Lions prop Johannes Jonker agrees Ealing move

Director of rugby Ben Ward adds South Africa tighthead to Trailfinders' front row options

All systems go for 2021 Six Nations as French government clears teams’ travel

France will play their first home fixture of the championship in Round 3 against Scotland, with teams given exemptions to quarantine...

John Mitchell signs contract with RFU through to 2023 World Cup

Defence coach John Mitchell signs up to be a part of England's coaching team at the 2023 World Cup in France

Rob Howley back to Rugby Canada after betting ban

After an arduous 9 months-long ban, Robert Howley recently secured his return to the world of rugby by bagging the coveted...

Unusual ways to get rich

Sometimes the only way to get rich is by working really hard. And when we look at the lists of wealthy...

Bath lose talisman Zach Mercer to Top 14

As revealed by The Rugby Paper last November, the Bath No.8 will head to Montpellier at the end of the season

Bristol keen to keep hold of Earl and Malins

Bristol want to turn the loan deal agreed with Saracens for the England duo into a permanent one

Talks begin to expand Top 14 to 16 next season | James Harrington

A u-turn in French rugby after talk last month suggested the Top 14 would be reduced to 12, now it has...

Sharks try to lure the Du Preezes back home to Durban

Backed by new US investment, two of the Du Preez brothers are wanted back in South Africa

Exclusive: Harlequins put Dean Ryan on their wanted list

Dean Ryan has emerged as a person on Quins' shortlist to take over at the Stoop, following Paul Gustard's abrupt exit

Rugby Australia tell Lions: Play Springboks down here

A new option becomes available for the British & Irish Lions and SA Rugby to play the 2021 tour in Australia,...

Weir: We were out to win

The Worcester fly-half was left downbeat after another close encounter between Warriors and Chiefs

Worcester 17-21 Exeter: Weir’s Warriors give Baxter a big scare

Rob Baxter admits Chiefs 'weathered a storm' at Sixways, as Exeter returned to winning ways

Emotional Harlequins eager to write a winning first chapter to life after Gustard

■ By NEALE HARVEY WOUNDED Harlequins have harnessed the emotional fallout of Paul Gustard’s sacking and will unleash their frustration on...

Boyd: Gale forced us to play

Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd praises his team for controlling the contest at Kingsholm when conditions worked against them...

Gloucester 26-31 Northampton: Saints find marching boots amid the wind

Saints secure the try bonus point in victory to dampen the mood at Kingsholm

Unions must pay their share for Prem players

■ COLIN BOAG Incredible talent: Cameron Redpath Next weekend sees the start of the Six Nations, but should it even be...

Money men would help RFU reprioritise

THERE is much talk of money men waiting in the wings to invest in clubs in the Premiership or Championship which...

Show sensitivity and put freeze on relegation plans

ONE of the many difficult issues to be resolved in rugby as a consequence of Covid affects National 1 clubs. It...

I refuse to put cash into ring-fenced pot

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I WISH I could...

Griffiths plan can save our game says Notts’ Smith

NOTTINGHAM operations director Steve Smith has urged Premiership, RFU and Championship officials to shelve self-interest and collaborate for the betterment of...

Gopperth: Give Paolo Odogwu a chance to run riot

Wasp veteran Jimmy Gopperth wants to see England unleash Odogwu in this year's Six Nations

Tito gets ready for his big Tigers’ moment

■ By JON NEWCOMBE WHENEVER Leicester decide to hand Pumas international Juaquin Diaz Bonilla his first league start, they can be...

Palfrey eager to maximise Warriors’ potential

NEWS EXTRA By ROB COLE THE Welsh ‘Taffia’ at Worcester is beginning to rival the South African cintingent at the club...

Worcester had the antichrist of rugby

MY LIFEIN RUGBY ROB SIGLEY THE FORMER MOSELEY AND PERTEMPS BEES PROP AND BOURNVILLE DIRECTOR OF RUGBY Brothers in arms: Rob...

Delaney tips Elias to reach top level like Ken

NEWS EXTRA By STEFFAN THOMAS Dynamic: Ryan Elias RYAN Elias has all the attributes to be a British and Irish Lion...

Try-fests are no help in spotting true talent | Jeff Probyn

Spectators can enjoy the try-fests, but they will come as no comfort to Eddie Jones who will be measuring the quality...

Amazing Mike was a hero in real life

BACK in 1943 the Wizard comic invented the fictitious ‘wonder’ sportsman William Wilson who was brought up on the Yorkshire Moors...

Giggleswick were lords of their manor

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools Honour: The King meets England in 1938, Giggleswick star Mike Marshall...