Six Nations organisers adamant 2021 tournament goes ahead

The 2021 Six Nations is set to kick off on February 6, amid an escalation in Covid-19 containment policy by a...

Saints teachings help Dan Lancaster make cut for England U20s

Fresh from receiving an England U20s EPS call-up, Dan Lancaster talks to Neale Harvey about the coming year at Leeds Tykes

Worcester secure major coaching coup in signing Crusaders coach Mark Jones

Welshman Jones was not able to return to New Zealand due to Covid-19 restrictions

Head coach John Mulvihill calls it quits at Cardiff Blues

Australian Mulvihill was in the final year of his contract at Cardiff Blues, who lie fourth in Conference A

Lions call can help Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade get over World Cup heartache

Henry Slade is hoping to see a few of his Exeter Chiefs teammates claim British & Irish Lions honours in South...

Wales loosehead Wyn Jones set to stay at Scarlets

Some good news coming the way of the Scarlets after Jake Ball announced he will depart

Rugby Matters: Turbo Teddy Thomas takes try of the year

Brendan Gallagher reflects on some of the finest tries we were blessed to witness in 2020

Harlequins aces point way for Cardiff Met Freshers

Rob Cole talks to Cardiff Met rugby director Danny Milton on successes of Alex Dombrandt and Luke Northmore

Mike Brown may reunite with Dean Richards at Newcastle Falcons

Richards brought Brown through the Harlequins ranks in his time at Twickenham Stoop

Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe signs for Worcester

As exclusively revealed by The Rugby Paper last month, the winger will leave Edinburgh for Sixways

Preview: Bath can work frustrations off against Tigers

Bath travel to Welford Road on Sunday in the Premiership, Neale Harvey previews the match with Bath hooker Jack Walker

Bristol 29-17 Newcastle: Covid-hit Bears halt Falcons’ winning run

Brendan Gallagher reports on George Kloska firing Bears to victory on Premiershup debut

‘We just didn’t play well enough’, Baxter admits

Rob Baxter and Lee Blackett gives their thoughts on Wasps' 34-5 triumph over Exeter Chiefs at the Ricoh Arena

Penalty decision a puzzler for Gloucester, says critical Skivington

George Skivington reflects on costly decisions which helped Sale to stage a comeback at Kingsholm

Last-ditch Beaumont try nicks it for Sharks

By TOM BRADSHAW Destructive: Sam Hill powers past Gloucester full-back Kyle Moyle Clean ball: Ruan Ackermann wins a lineout for Gloucester...

Wasps 34-5 Exeter: Physicality was shock for Chiefs says Blackett

Exeter Chiefs unbeaten record crumbles at the hands of ravenous Wasps

JEREMY GUSCOTT

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK I see echoes of my great Bath side in Baxter’s Chiefs Communicator: Rob Baxter with his...

Simple ways to make the game better for all

Views COLIN BOAG Inevitable: Luke Cowan-Dickie scores for Exeter after a series of pick and gos New Year is a time...

Supporters should petition for change

AFTER watching Dan Leo’s film Oceans Apart, I was left absolutely disgusted by World Rugby’s actions and ineptitude in general. I...

Postpone the Lions

SURELY now is the time to act as it is clear this pandemic will not be under control any time soon....

Can’t bend rules just to suit Exeter

WHY, for one minute, is it a good idea to change the rules of a tournament halfway through? Reading Nick Cain’s...

Covid points sytem needs urgent review

I FIND the Premiership system for awarding points in a match called off due to Covid-19 somewhat farcical. It is nobody’s...

Borthwick braced for battle against ‘big spending’ Bath

By GARY FITZGERALD Big job: Steve Borthwick STEVE Borthwick remains confident his Covid-tormented Tigers can defy the odds and the virus...

Jones fights to take Jake’s place for club and country

By ROB COLE Rising star: Morgan Jones MORGAN Jones is literally growing into the second row position at the Scarlets and...

JAMES HARRINGTON

FRENCH COLUMN Jalibert in box seat to replace Ntamack Blow: Romain Ntamack broke his jaw playing for Toulouse on Boxing Day...

JEFF PROBYN

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Hopefully by spring all levels of game will return Ray of sunshine: England win...

Joyce targets special double

WALES wing Jasmine Joyce is targeting an Olympics and World Cup double in 2021. Joyce, 25, wants to appear for Team...

Dragons fear arm fracture to Basham

DRAGONSback row Taine Basham suffered a suspected forearm fracture in Friday’s PRO14 20-3 defeat at Scarlets. The 21-year-old was forced off...

Scotland suffer triple injury blow

GLASGOWtrio Fraser Brown, George Horne and Alex Allan have been ruled out of Scotland’s Six Nations campaign through injury. Hooker Brown...

Hewitt abuser reported to police

DRAGONS have reported a racist social media post aimed at winger Ashton Hewitt to the police. The club are “disgusted and...

Hero Hampson ‘blown away’ to become an OBE

RUGBY SHORTS MATT Hampson has been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours with an OBE. Hampson, 36, was paralysed from...

Weather will test Russian allegiance

EVER since Russia got badly burnt fielding three ineligible players from South Africa during the RWC2003 qualifying tournament – an indiscretion...

Pays to play until the final whistle

I WAS reading a recent article which insists that hooker, to the surprise of some, is the worst paid position in...

In awe of Matt’s work

A BIT of joyous news, an OBE for the incredible Matt Hampson whose ‘Get Busy Living’ centre up in rural Leicestershire...

‘Tinners’ always made me man of the match

JON SKURR MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER WAKEFIELD, SEDGLEY PARK AND ROTHERHAM No.8 AND IRELAND SEVENS HEAD COACH Uphill battle: Jon...

Shamed Matera must go back to school

NEWS EXTRA PABLO Matera must complete educational “restorative measures” before regaining the Argentina captaincy, the country’s rugby governing body has said....

Cavani case shows how to beat racism

RUGBY, like football, says it is serious about tackling racism. Events in the last few days would suggest one sport is...

Kayser’s a star TV find in any language

BEFORE the festive spirit of seasonal goodwill runs out, this column raises a jar of stout in suitably humble acknowledgement of...

Sporting warmth in the cold, empty stadium

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

Ulster 15-10 Munster: Ulster extend unbeaten run as focus turns to Leinster

Ulster's title challenge gathers pace as they down provincial rival Munster

Cardiff Blues 3-17 Ospreys: Toby Booth game plan blows Blues away

John Mulvihill condemns high penalty count in unconvincing performance against Ospreys

Scarlets 20-3 Dragons: Sione Kalamafoni slugs it out

Sione Kalamafoni continued his good form for Scarlets in a 20-3 victory over the Dragons

Edinburgh 10-7 Glasgow Warriors: Derby day decided by frantic final ten minutes

Gary Heatly reports from Murrayfield where a scoreless, dull first-half gave way to a dramatic ending

Benetton 15-24 Zebre: Bigi brace secures big win for Zebre

Zebre edge rivals Benetton in Treviso for only their sixth-ever win over their Italian counterparts

British & Irish Lions board promise 2021 tour decision is imminent

THE British and Irish Lions say they will make an early decision whether this year’s tour of South Africa can go...

Last laugh for donkies in earning rates among pro players | Chris Hewett

IT COMES as no great surprise that on average across the three major leagues in Europe, outside-halves command the biggest salaries....

Matera’s new video won’t hide his nasties | Chris Hewett

THIS column is no friend of Pablo Matera and his fellow Pumas, the lock Guido Petti and the hooker Santiago Socino....

Alfie Barbeary could become The Boss – but not yet | Chris Hewett

Barbeary's time out with gives teams plenty of changes to identify weaknesses to his seemingly unstoppable game

Laporte casts cloud over Six Nations | Nick Cain

THE last thing we needed to start the New Year is more stories of pandemic- induced meltdowns, but unfortunately the road...

Meritocracy is RFU’s need, not chiselled platitudes | Nick Cain

Nick Cain criticises the lack of leadership shown by RFU chairman Andy Cosslett in the face of urgent financial planning needed...