I’ve got a mad month ahead

I’M not sure if my recent bout of running madness has been brought on by lockdown or just the desire to...

Gethin’s a great fit for Sam’s sizeable shoes

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND It was a bit of a shock reading the news about Sam Warburton stepping down...

Turnover king Willis wins RPA crown

WASPS flanker Jack Willis has been voted players’ player of the year at the Rugby Players’ Association awards. The 23-year-old, right,...

Melissa’s in RFU Press mix

THE RFU, set to lose £107m and making over 120 redundant, have so far reprieved their Press office. The RFU have...

Kitshoff looks to France

Montpellier? Kitshoff SPRINGBOK loosehead Steven Kitshoff could be off to Europe a couple of years after he rejected a switch to...

Tigers will face rebels in court

LEICESTER TIGERS are gearing up for a massive legal battle which could cost them £1 million after telling five former players...

Exiles send an SOS to Meakes

LONDON Irish are urgently working to ease the loss of centres Terrence Hepetema and Matt Williams to injuries by making contact...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Prem return? Santiago Cordero ■FORMER Exeter Chiefs winger Santiago Cordero is looking to make...

ROOM 101

THE AMPTHILL BACK ROWER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND SAM HUDSON 1. Betting adverts...

Lam: We showed no fear – that’s the Bristol way

PAT LAM doesn’t really want his team contesting a surprise Premiership final next week against Exeter but vowed Bristol will be...

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Breakdown king Ben puts Bears on track for first-ever Euro crown

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER BRISTOL - as cool and canny after the break as they were frenetic before it - claimed a...

‘Modest’? Those RFU reserves are invisible

IT is a pity that the RFU’s response to the figures revealed in this column about the extent to which their...

Marshall was lone voice in the call for fair play

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE idea of reverting to ‘home’ referees took a heavy knock last weekend...

Every player was a hero in pulsating extravaganza

BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT NOTHING has ever come easy for Exeter Chiefs in their 149 years, so only the most optimistic of...

‘Stand-out’ Sheedy’s ready for his big Test

CALLUM Sheedy reports for Wales duty tomorrow armed with a cast-iron case for resuming his French bombardment in Paris on Saturday...

Hail to the Chiefs!

By NEALE HARVEY Champagne moment: Joe Simmonds raises the trophy in delight as Chiefs’ celebrations begin PICTURE: Getty Images PROUD Exeter...

The Maunder dynasty’s arrow is pointing up in Exeter’s era of success

Nick Cain discusses the Champions Cup final and the journey of Exeter Chiefs with scrum-half Jack Maunder

Northampton prop Manny Iyogun hungry for more after showing his mettle at Exeter

Iyogun was there in Saints' hour of need in the Champions Cup quarter-final, the teen reflects on his end to the...

Steven Luatua a late withdrawal from Bristol squad

Bristol Bears captain to remain in England to attend birth of his child and miss Challenge Cup final

The Difference Between Sports Betting and Online Casinos

Thanks to technological advancements, there are thousands of online gambling platforms for players around the world. Online casino sites and sportsbooks...

Uren: We know Toulon’s history, but we are the team with world-class players now

Bristol Bears No.9 Andy Uren previews the Challenge Cup final and reminisces on his memories of his boyhood club

‘Having an opinion in this day and age is not a good thing’ – James Haskell

Now his autobiography is out, James Haskell is unabating in his value of being himself after adhering to RFU and club...

England Sevens ace Dan Norton eyes 15s return after World Tens Series

Dan Norton is one of a number of former England Sevens players in Bermuda for the World Tens Series

Cain column: Will Eddie’s big smile embrace the new caps?

Nick Cain believes England head coach Eddie Jones could have better utilised his training camp to whet the midfield options available

New-look Ospreys prop Nicky Smith looks to munch France

Loosehead Smith is back in the Wales squad after being dropped for the Six Nations

Premiership Rugby on alert after seven positive tests at Wasps

Bristol, Wasps opponents on Saturday, are believed to be unaffected

EXCLUSIVE: Why was JP Doyle made redundant?

Respected referee JP Doyle discusses in length his career in Premiership and European competition

Exeter or Wasps: Who will prevail in the big Premiership final?

Both Exeter and Wasps have stormed past their semi-final opponents to set the stage for the big head to head clash...

Williams column: Selection that offers new opportunities didn’t come without surprise

Shane Williams is intrigued by the young players named in head coach Wayne Pivac's squad for the autumn

Diamond: I’m astounded Wales have snubbed WillGriff John

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond can't understand why Wales have not picked WillGriff

Parling: There are so many good qualities in this Wallabies pack

Wallabies forwards coach Geoff Parling discusses the most senior coaching move of his career and early impressions of Dave Rennie

Josh Beaumont volunteers to help keep Fylde afloat

Sale lock Beaumont is going back to where it all began to develop a commercial plan outside of his playing commitments

Ealing Trailfinders sign Worcester back row target

Ambitious Championship club Ealing sign bulked back row formerly of Southern Kings

Guscott column: Exeter Chiefs will need all their gumption to win Champions Cup

Can Exeter win at the first time of asking against a Racing 92 side who have lost two finals?

The Influence of COVID-19 on Esports Betting

Back in March 2020, the corona virus disease swept through Europe and many other parts of the world, forcing governments and...

Does playing rugby impact your ability to secure affordable life insurance?

Life has rarely felt quite so fragile as it has during these unparalleled and challenging times. Whilst we all crave for...

Steenson: Time to give Joe a go for England

GARETH Steenson, Exeter’s guiding light on the pitch for over a decade, believes England should be looking to his successor Joe...

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Simmonds in command as his Chiefs go marching on

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER It was an outstanding display which leaves you impatient for a mouthwatering final in two weeks time against...

Chiefs will need all their teamwork to win a cracker

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Racing fight to the finish: Juan Imhoff’s winning try in the 76th minute against...

The online trolls are unfair on Diamond

No party time: Sale after their Premiership Cup victory over Harlequins COLIN BOAG Rugby has values, good ones, including respect and...

Puzzled by Eddie’s choice at scrum-half

I HOPE Eddie Jones picks Ben Spencer and Dan Robson when they become available – I don’t understand him sticking with...

RFU has ‘modest reserves’ says President Blackett

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk FOLLOWING Nick Cain’s excellent...

Ring-fence would sap vitality

IN contrast to Colin Boag’s assertions that the English game can only be saved by the end of promotion and relegation,...

Saracens players still up to mark

I AM not a Saracens supporter but I do feel that I have to respond to Neville Wheelan’s letter. I remember...

Clear from beginning Lee was a cut above say Titans

By JON NEWCOMBE LEE BLACKETT’s success as a Premiership head coach comes as no surprise to one of the men who...

Rising star Iyogun hungry for more after dream start

By TOM VALE IT’S been quite a year for Northampton academy prop Emmanuel Iyogun. Handed his first senior academy contract heading...

Saints mates battle for Courtney’s shirt

By SAM JACKSON Chance: Alex Dombrandt will compete with Billy Vunipola for the No.8 jersey PICTURE: Getty Images ENGLAND SQUAD Forwards:...

Cooney’s left out in the cold by Farrell

ULSTER scrum-half John Cooney has been left out of Ireland’s squad for the final two rounds of the Six Nations. Connacht’s...