Romain Ntamack likely to miss the start of the Six Nations

France fly-half Ntamack fractures his jaw in two places while in action for Toulouse in the Top 14

Wales lock Jake Ball to leave Scarlets and return to Australia

49-cap Ball to leave west Wales for family reasons at the end of the season

Points hit on Exeter Chiefs is far too harsh – change it! | Nick Cain

TRP's chief writer Nick Cain finds moments to treasure – and to question – from a difficult 2020

Dragons 12-13 Cardiff Blues: Josh Turnbull try completes Blues’ late comeback

James Candy reports from Rodney Parade on a Boxing Day defeat for Dean Ryan's Dragons

Murphy: First 20 minutes crucial if we are to end poor record at Sportsground

Ulster seek to go unbeaten after being dealt the news that Marcell Coetzee will be departing home to South Africa

Ospreys 14-16 Scarlets: Super sub O’Brien swings it to Scarlets

Roger Panting reports from Parc y Scarlets as the Scarlets come back to edge their Welsh rivals

Rob Baxter proud of Exeter’s response in win over Gloucester

Rob Baxter admits there were some 'hairy moments' in 14-man Exeter's win over Gloucester in the Premiership

Worcester Warriors rue their wasted chances against Saints

Alan Solomons offers his reaction to his side's four-try defeat away at Franklin's Gardens

Surgeons ‘can do no more’ for Wales star Gareth Anscombe

Peter Jackson reports on the fitness of Gareth Anscombe and his long-awaited comeback from a serious knee injury sustained in the...

Champion Chiefs sign off superb year with bonus win

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER EXETER Chiefs, understandably rusty in the first half after their recent Covid travails, signed off a momentous year...

Half-time rollicking did trick for Bears, says Yann Thomas

Bristol Bears prop Thomas reveals how Pat Lam inspired the team to victory with a second-half fightback against Harlequins

Furious Lam spurs his Bears into the mood

By GARY FITZGERALD Momentum: Dan Thomas scores Bristol’s first try despite the efforts of Marcus Smith PICTURES: Getty Images Doubling up:...

JEREMY GUSCOTT

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Mavericks like Danny must choose their battlegrounds Such promise: Danny Cipriani playing for England v Ireland...

DREAM TEAM

CALLUM PATTERSON, CORNISH PIRATES AND FORMER ULSTER, BALLYMENA AND NEWPORT SALOP CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR...

Monye and Obano put World Rugby to shame

COLIN BOAG Vile sentiments: Pablo Matera was let off by Argentinian Union As a year that has been like no other...

Willings at helm for Durham glory days

FIRST may I thank Brendan Gallagher for the excellent series on the great schools. I write as a former pupil of...

RFU must stamp authority by ruling out ring-fencing

I AM saddened at the numerous TRP reports regarding the ‘ring-fencing’ of the top tier. Do the current executives of the...

Stop the clock until ball is back in play

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

Sarries must wait until March to start

SARACENS’ England internationals will not play a competitive game before the Six Nations after the new Championship season was delayed until...

Getting tackling right will ease the injury threat says Edwards

SHAUN Edwards – rugby’s top defence coach – has warned the game could become even more dangerous if players don’t practise...

GB Sevens funded for Olympics

ENGLAND, Scotland and Wales will unite to field a combined GB Sevens team for the 2021 season ahead of the Olympics...

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