Ospreys set to pick over parts of striken Cheetahs

Probyn: Ban rush defences to reduce brain injuries ■ By STEFFAN THOMAS THE Ospreys are looking to take advantage of the...

JAMES HARRINGTON

FRENCH COLUMN My team of 2020…and nearly all are French! Try time: Cheslin Kolbe was in top form for Toulouse ■...

St Brendan’s became back row powerhouse

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools The name of St Brendan’s Bristol might not mean much to...

JEFF PROBYN

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Ban rush defences to reduce brain harm World Cup glory in 2003: Law of...

YOUNG GUNS

TOM CAIRNS EXETER SCRUM-HALF Faced with the veritable battalion of scrum-halves standing in his way at Exeter, you might expect 18-year-old...

First lady Mavis is pride of the Pirates

WHILE doffing their caps to Gillian Burns at Waterloo and Eileen Shepherd at Percy Park, Cornish Pirates are going in to...

Care’s not a former player yet, so Quins job comes first

QUINS boss Paul Gustard spent this week looking for answers after his side’s miserable non-performance against Racing last week. His side...

RUGBY MATTERS

A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Try these hidden joys of the Championship BRENDAN GALLAGHER What a cracker:...

Being mangled by Gats was good career move

MY LIFE IN RUGBY BERNARD JACKMAN THE FORMER IRELAND, SALE SHARKS, CONNACHT AND LEINSTER HOOKER Charge: Leinster’s Bernard Jackman is tackled...

Greats of game, never forgotten

Brendan Gallgher looks back over 2020 and chronicles the outstanding figures lost to rugby Trademark moustache: Mike Slemen with England Mercurial:...

Kyran’s relit the fire in me to become a professional

George Hardy says: THE height of my playing career came at university level with Swansea and my three years there in...

From amateur to pro: Kyran Bracken outlines 12-month challenge

Kyran Bracken explains the audacious plan to turn George Hardy, a player he unearthed while coaching at Wanstead RFC, into a...

Tragedy on the Andes became story of heroism

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

Follow The Rugby Paper online…

Keep in touch with The Rugby Paper wherever you are at home and abroad! It is now available as an online...

PETER JACKSON

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Tipuric’s flourish lights up the year Top try: Justin Tipuric scores for Wales against England...

Tigers chase Taylor

LEICESTER Tigers are expected to open talks in the New Year with Wasps hooker Tommy Taylor. Taylor, 29, who won his...

Cockerill targets Quins centre Lang

SCOTLAND international James Lang, right, looks set to swap one capital city for another next season with a move from Harlequins...

ROOM 101

SCOTT HASTINGS THE FORMER SCOTLAND & LIONS CENTRE TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1....

Ex-Wales wing Aled Brew calls time after 17 years

FORMER Wales wing Aled Brew has retired from rugby at the age of 34. Brew’s short-term deal at Scarlets has come...

Chris runs 12 in 12 marathons to support dad Roy

NEWS EXTRA By GARY HEATLY Bond: Chris with dad Roy CHRIS LAIDLAW, the son of Scotland and British & Irish Lions...

Wasps’ Academy gems get another chance to shine

By NEALE HARVEY Top prospect: Wasps forward Alfie Barbeary WASPS will again unleash their youthful No.8-9-10 axis of Alfie Barbeary, Will...

Faf de Klerk tells Sale it’s time to move on

Ahead of facing Wasps on Sunday afternoon, Faf de Klerk calls on the Sharks squad to move on from Steve Diamond's...

Paul Gustard should tell it as it is more often | Chris Hewett

The Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard spoke honestly during an on-air interview during the defeat to Racing 92

Festive fun as Henson overcomes Fearns KO | Chris Hewett

Chris Hewett offers a digest of Christmas stories to warm the cockles

Northampton 29-10 Worcester: Dan Biggar puts the wind in Saints’ sails

Rob Wildman reports from Franklin's Gardens where Northampton Saints ended their long, long way for a win

Lam does a ‘Fergie’ to make Bears bite

By GARY FITZGERALD ‘Hairdryer’: Pat Lam PAT LAM woke his Bears from their winter slumber with a furious Alex Ferguson- style...

Javan Sebastian is repaying faith of Scarlets coaches

At 26, prop Sebastian seems to be tapping into the potential the Scarlets have long believed the tighthead held

Young bucks helping Dan Evans chase down Shane’s mark at Ospreys

Ospreys full-back Dan Evans is just seven tries short Shane Williams' tally of 57 for the region

Alex Waller working to steady Northampton Saints ship

Saints co-captain Waller addresses the Premiership club's worrying form since their return to rugby in August

Q&A – Susie Appleby: So refreshing to be treated as equals at Exeter Chiefs

The new three-year cycle of the Premier 15s welcomed Exeter Chiefs to the league's structure as a new club. Neale Harvey...

Harlequins No.8 Alex Dombrandt sheds the pounds to cash in with Eddie

Quins talisman Dombrandt, yet to be capped by England, tells Neale Harvey how he has grafted to get into Test condition

‘No hurry’ as Cipriani decides to take a break

What are the next steps for Danny Cipriani after his exit at Gloucester early in the season?

Tackling below the wait won’t end the injury risks | Jeremy Guscott

Jerry Guscott recalls his own experience with concussion during his career, suffering only one blackout that he is aware of

Postive tests at Leicester sees Premiership clash with Newcastle called off

Tigers trip to Kingston Park on Boxing Day cancelled due to positive tests and resulting number of squad forced to self-isolate

Consistency key for high jumper Freddie Steward, after breakthrough year at Leicester Tigers

Former England U20 star Steward reflects on 2020, ending the year as Leicester's nailed-on starter at full-back

You lot are subs right? | Nick Cain

Nick Cain looks at how squads attempting to build an atmosphere at empty stadiums can cross the line

Newcastle confirm signings of Argentina pair Santiago Grondona and Mateo Carreras

As reported in TRP, Falcons have completed deals for Pumas flanker Grondona and wing Carreras

Japan and Fiji could spring the big surprise at 2023 Rugby World Cup

Nick Cain examines the winners and losers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup draw

Argentina prop Chaparro joins Bristol Bears

Capped 54 times by Los Pumas, tighthead Chaparro is set to move to Ashton Gate next month

The mood’s positive at Wasps and we’re ready now for Sale says Thomas Young

Wasps flanker Thomas Young is raring to go as attentions switch back to the Premiership

Wasps 33-14 Montpellier: Alfie Barbeary puts the sting back into Wasps

Wasps flanker Barbeary outshines Louis Picamoles in convincing victory for the Premiership club over Montpellier

Leinster 35-19 Northampton: 13th-straight loss for Saints but signs of hope in defeat

Leinster captain Garry Ringrose credits Saints with their performance at the RDS

JEREMY GUSCOTT

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE... EVERY WEEK Tackling below the waist won’t end the injury risks Poor technique: Northampton centre Piers Francis gets...

DREAM TEAM

DEAN HAMMOND, THE EALING AND FORMER WORCESTER, WESTERN PROVINCE AND SOUTH AFRICA U20s WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH...

Player welfare is more than concussion alone

COLIN BOAG Suffering: Former Wales No.8 Alix Popham has early dementia During the week Sir Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby,...

Scotland ace Hastings signs for Glos

GLOUCESTERhave signed Scotland fly-half Adam Hastings to fill the hole left by Danny Cipriani’s departure. Cipriani, capped 16 times by England,...

Toulon pull plug two hours before KO

SCARLETS’ Champions Cup match at home to Toulon on Friday was called off less than two hours before kick-off. Toulon pulled...

Boyd: Big teams will miss out on quarters

Critic: Chris Boyd CHRIS BOYD believes the current European Champions Cup format will result in some of best teams in the...

Alun Wyn injury blow for Wales

WALES captain Alun Wyn Jones could miss the start of the Six Nations after it was announced he may be absent...

Green light for Eddie’s Japan gig

ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones can continue as a consultant for Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath. The RFU deemed there was...