I was there but missed the action

THE international match between an England B XV and a Soviet Union XV at Franklin’s Gardens in 1989 was mentioned recently...

Community clubs are the real unfortunates

I WOULD contest the central message in John Allanson’s letter in last week’s TRP. He stated that the “RFU inherited this...

Wrong players, wrong tactics – thanks Eddie!

Underfire: Owen Farrell and his Saracens mates were off the pace against Scotland PICTURE: Getty Images I’M SURE I’m not the...

Make playing budgets sustainable

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk CHINNOR chairman Simon Vickers...

All about the money

HOWcurious that the RFU Council are postponing a decision over relegation for the Premiership – all to do with money I...

Paint way forward

WHY can’t the referees carry a little tin of spray (much like soccer) to identify the mark for scrums? Too easy...

Beware salary cap breaches

WHILE it would appear that the issue of no relegation from the Premiership is meriting more discussion, I would like to...

Ellis makes try-scoring return after two years out

Cardiff Blues …34pts Tries: Summerhill 12, 20, Lane 26, Jenkins 36, Harris 58, Millard 69 Conversions: Tovey 21, 27, 37 Scully...

Saracens 29-10 Doncaster: Ruthless Sarries go back to basics

Daniel Gallan reports on the penultimate round of the Trailfinders Challenge Cup

Dolly at double as Cov hit big six to see off Reds

Coventry ……………………………………………………34 Jersey ……………………………………………33 COVENTRY took the spoils six tries to three in this preseason outing that featured plenty of running...

Josh Macleod out for six months with ruptured Achilles

The reason why Macleod was a late withdrawal from Wales' Six Nations squad for their trip to Scotland is now known

Dream Team with Dan Collier

The Plymouth Albion and former Ealing, Bridgwater, Manchester, Barking and London Welsh lock, chooses the best XV he's played with or...

Josh Bassett backs Jacob to hit top gear after Quins dip

Wasps wing Josh Bassett previews the team's trip to Worcester Warriors on Sunday in the Premiership

Preview: Ted Hill must block easy access to gold zone

Worcester captain Ted Hill has identified one key area the Warriors must clean up in defence ahead of the visit of...

Exclusive: BT Sport may reconsider £110m deal with Premiership

The task facing Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs to keep TV broadcast partner BT Sport happy after confirmation that relegation...

Gloucester 17-18 Bristol: Back row battlers get job done for Bristol

Tom Bradshaw reports from Kingsholm, George Skivington reiterated his committment to bringing along Gloucester's youth after defeat to Bristol

Sale 22-27 Bath: Bath find their flow at last to stop rot

Bath end their barren run to beat Sale Sharks on their own patch, as Alex Sanderson tastes defeat for the first...

Exeter 26-3 London Irish: Sam Simmonds double sets new Exeter try record

Sam Simmonds notched his 11th try of the Premiership campaign in a convincing win for Chiefs at Sandy Park

Harlequins 37-24 Leicester: Care and Smith show outclasses the Tigers

Match report from the Stoop as Harlequins continue their winning ways post-Gustard, with a 37-24 victory over Tigers

Carwyn’s words had the ring of rugby truth

by CHRIS HEWETT The Six Nations champions’ abject surrender of the Calcutta Cup unleashed a torrent of jokes, the sharpest of...

Rob Baxter ponders tighthead to replace Tomas Francis

How does Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter plan to ease the loss of Tomas Francis to the Ospreys?

Dan Baker coming back to the Dragons

BY NEILFISSLER THE DRAGONS have agreed a deal with former Wales No.8 Dan Baker who has been playing in France since...

Room 101: Bedford Blues prop Corrie Barrett

The new signing at Goldington Road picks three of his biggest pet peeves, including a Guinness served in a non-Guinness pint...

Aussie Press-up Boys would surely disagree with Sir Clive’s verdict | Nick Cain

Nick Cain reacts to Sir Clive Woodward's labelling of England's performance against Scotland as 'the worst I have ever seen England...

Clang goes gate on our great game thanks to RFU Council vote | Nick Cain

Nick Cain writes on the dismantlement of English rugby union by the RFU Council's vote to approve a moratorium on relegation...

Burns gets a bashing for being English!

COLIN BOAG Misery: Billy Burns is consoled after his last minute mis-kick against Wales PICTURE: Getty Images Inever cease to be...

Conor O’Shea defends Azzurri’s place in Six Nations

The former Italy head coach believes patience is required to allow the Azzurri to bed in their youthful talent under Franco...

Championship clubs reject deal with Premier Sports

Warren Muggleton reports on the Championship's search for a TV broadcast partner to source a much-needed cash injection ahead of the...

France look on their way to greatness | Jeremy Guscott

Match after match, France seem to be taking strides since Shaun Edwards' arrival to Galthie's coaching staff

Super Louis got a nation off their sofas and roaring | Shane Williams

Shane Williams' verdict on the classic Six Nations encounter between Wales and Scotland heaps praise on flyer Louis Rees-Zammit

Alun Wyn: We’ll go to new level for England

ALUN Wyn Jones told Wales to go to another level if they want to beat England and keep their Grand Slam...

We can still win title insists England’s Jonny May

Adam Hathaway reports from Twickenham on England overcoming their Scotland nightmare with victory against Italy ahead of the fallow week

Confirmed: RFU Council votes to scrap relegation from Premiership

As revealed by TRP last month, the RFU has voted to scrap relegation from the Premiership this season

Six Nations Rugby is not a boring ordeal!

The game of 22 men sprinting and kicking a ball in front of the audience grows more delightful and bodacious every...

The Championship should become the pathway for coaches says Dean Richards

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards explores ways to help develop more English coaches at the top level

Neck issue raises concerns over Cameron Redpath so early into Scotland career

Gregor Townsend has made three changes to the Scotland side that beat England in the Six Nations

Injury-hit Wales make five changes for Murrayfield trip

The injuries are stacking up for Wales head coach Wayne Pivac

Ford back for England, as Ollie Lawrence dropped entirely

England head coach Eddie Jones has named his team to face Italy in round two of the Six Nations

From amateur to pro: Upping the intensity to get George ready for trial

Kyran Bracken provides an update on the progress coaching George Hardy, 28, from Wanstead to a pro deal within 12 months

Ghiraldini: Even at our best we can still lose by 30 points

Leonardo Ghiraldini reflects on his 14-year career playing Test rugby for Italy, topping more than 100 caps for the Azzurri

Nick Mallett calls for Lions tour to be delayed until 2022

The former South Africa head coach and outspoken TV pundit says SA Rugby need to 'push hard' for a delay to...

Exclusive – Jean de Villiers: Midfield selection’s a minefield but it has to be Farrell wearing No.10

Daniel Gallan speaks to the former Springboks captain, present in the first two winning Tests of the 2009 tour, to gauge...

Two great rugby reads from Y Lolfa

Rugby hit the headlines before Christmas for all the wrong reasons. The sport saw high-profile ex-international players raise a lawsuit against...

Agustin Creevy signs longer contract at London Irish

Argentina hooker Creevy has taken to life at the Exiles like a duck to water

Scotland Defeat Damaging as Bookies Push England Out for Six Nations Defence

Match report | England are beaten 11-6 by Scotland at Twickenham. Read the full report on our website. — England Rugby...

Marcus Smith ends speculation over Harlequins future

Smith, 21, has committed to Harlequins beyond this season

Adam Jones aims to develop Harlequins’ mean streak after Gustard’s exit

A lengthy interview with Harlequins scrum coach Adam Jones, who delves into the road ahead for Quins in life after Paul...

Wales flanker Dan Lydiate to miss the rest of the season

Welsh fears are realised as its confirmed Dan Lydiate has suffered an ACL knee injury, and will undergo additional scans to...

Worcester ‘disappointed’ by Michael Fatialofa airing medical bills concerns

Former Worcester Warriors lock Michael Fatialofa issued a social media post on Twitter claiming the Premiership club were responsible for outstanding...

England welcome back Sinckler and Vunipola ahead of shot at redemption

Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola are called up to England's 28-man training squad ahead of their round two fixture against Italy