Italy left dangling over cliff edge by lack of coaches

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERTOPINION EVERY WEEK The Italian Job, or Rugby Union’s version of it, in the shape of a...

Greedy to demand greater slice of the cake

ANOTHER excellent article this week from Jeff Probyn, focussing on the one-eyed attitude of Premiership clubs, as reflected in Tony Rowe’s...

Junior clubs deserve credit, not academies

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk TWOexcellent articles last week...

Wonderful player, but is he a captain?

Centre stage: Owen Farrell kicks for goal against Italy last weekend PICTURE: Getty Images OWENFarrell’s abject post game interview last weekend...

Is Eddie insecure?

WHYdoes Eddie Jones fear giving the impression that he is influenced by others? Is he insecure? We saw it with the...

Time for switch to summer

GIVEN the recent announcement from the RFU cancelling all adult rugby from Tier 3 and below for the current season, surely...

That makes two of us!

WITH reference to Andy Cox’s letter (November 1) concerning “automatic reward” for scoring a try under the posts. I wholly agree...

Wig will be a great fit at Tigers

RICHARD Wigglesworth still has lots to give despite being 37 and he should be a shrewd signing for Leicester with Ben...

Pivac may have to drop Biggar to get style he wants

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE EVERY WEEK Patience: Waleswent through thephases for RhysCarre to scoretheir first try THE big change for...

DREAMTEAM

RAYN SMID, THE EALING AND FORMER WESTERN PROVINCE AND BRISTOL BACK ROW, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST...

Kick out Italy to make the tournament fairer

COLIN BOAG Not with a bang but a whimper perfectly sums up the conclusion to this year’s Six Nations. It wasn’t...

Trailfinders prove claims for promotion are genuine

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Dead-eye: Craig Willis EALING Trailfinders won the first of their back-toback pre-season clashes with Newcastle to underline their...

Argentina ace Creevy puts his Irish future first

By NEALE HARVE Warhorse: Agustin Creevy in London Irish colours, and with Pumas, below LEGENDARY Argentina hooker Agustin Creevy has explained...

Kiwi Lowe gets Irish call

LEINSTER wing James Lowe has been included in Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad for the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup. The New Zealand-born...

Wig signs for Tigers

LEICESTER have signed former England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth following his departure from Saracens. The 37-year-old is the Premiership’s record appearance holder,...

Scots face No.10 crisis

FINN Russell and Adam Hastings have been ruled out of Scotland’s squad for the Nations Cup after suffering injury against Wales...

Falcons give code-hopper Burrell new lease of life

By JON NEWCOMBE Pinnacle: Burrell won 15 caps for England LUTHER BURRELL has put the dark times behind him and is...

Championship want Sarries to ‘sod off’ says Greenwood

By GARY FITZGERALD Batting for Saracens: Will Greenwood WILL Greenwood claims Championship clubs would be happy to see Saracens go straight...

Van Dyk signs for Exeter

EXETER CHIEFS have bolstered their prop stocks with South African Maks van Dyk. The 28-year-old tighthead will provide cover when England’s...

Championship resumption crucial for maturing Saints

By NEALE HARVEY Probyn: Eddie’s England lack control and leadership Scrum doctor: Matt Ferguson coaching Saints NORTHAMPTON scrum coach Matt Ferguson...

Maxwell departure adds to Welsh problems

By ALEX BYWATER WALES’ state of flux on the pitch is being replicated in the boardroom with another high-profile figure set...

Four or five clubs may not survive the fan ban

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Bad news: Toulouse flanker Jerome Kaino left the field injured Financial matters continue to top the agenda...

Campbell hat-trick as Sarries keep up the pace

By AMY FULGHAM MAY CAMPBELL’S hattrick helped Saracens keep their perfect record intact with an emphatic victory over Gloucester-Hartpury. The hosts...

Bears maul Sharks as Neilson lands a double

By CARL LEE BRISTOL BEARS overcame Sale Sharks to extend their winless start to the Premier 15s season, but it was...

Shaunagh’s delight at away day success

By ADAM ELLIS Joy: Shaunagh Brown hailed Quins ‘huge statement’ HARLEQUINS and England prop Shaunagh Brown labelled victory on the road...

Battling Chiefs power their way to first victory

By HARRY SCOTT-MUNRO EXETER CHIEFS secured their first victory in the Premier 15s thanks to a star performance by centre Gabby...

Ruthless Wasps hit Sharks for the big century

By NATHAN ROCHE FOR the second time this season DMP Sharks shipped over 100 points, this time at the hands of...

We must earn place in top-flight says Ward

EALING Trailfinders director of rugby Ben Ward denies having any knowledge of Premiership plans to expand the top-flight and invite his...

Thompson: Take a punt on Trailfinders

By NEALE HARVEY Feeling the burn: Guy Thompson has had to up his game at Ealing. Inset, Trailfinders work-out at their...

Blame Ritchie for PGA

THE article by Nick Cain last week exposing the financial issues facing the RFU is aiming at the wrong target. At...

England are missing control and leadership

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Although Eddie Jones has sung the praises of his team as they...

Walford was in a class of his own

All-rounder: Walford MICKY Walford - who was a hand on the tiller for Sherborne rugby for the bigger part of 40...

Sherborne’s stock is on the rise again

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools Touchline talk: From left, Steve Leek, Chris Mapp, Richard Tregarthen and...

All Prem clubs are taking pain but I’m sure all will survive

Q&A STEPHEN VAUGHAN ON THE RECORD Wasps group chief executive Stephen Vaughan provides NEALE HARVEY with an insight into how his...

Scarratt is star player

ENGLAND’S Emily Scarratt was named the women’s player of the Six Nations. Centre Scarratt, 30, starred for England in their second...

Scholtz on his way to plug gap at Scarlets

By ALEX BYWATER THE SCARLETS are set to bolster their front row resources with the signing of Southern Kings prop Pieter...

Cambridge get creative to build a brighter future

By JEREMY BLACKMORE Reset: Richie Williams CAMBRIDGE RUFC have adapted their entire strategy to ride the current storm and ensure they...

Lifeline at Quins helps Marc avoid hard labour

By JON NEWCOMBE Homecoming: George Merrick playing for Clermont Opportunity knocks: Marc Thomas playing for Harlequins against Wasps PICTURE: Getty Images...

Proud to play my part at Twickers

MY LIFE IN RUGBY HEAD COACH OF THE BRITISH ARMY SENIOR TEAM AND FORMER NEWBURY & LAUNCESTON FULL-BACK MAL ROBERTS In...

YOUNG GUNS

TOMMY MATHEWS NORTHAMPTON FLY-HALF Aspiring playmaker Tommy Mathews is living proof that perseverance can eventually pay off if you have the...

Covid forces Dragons to close shop for fortnight

By GAVIN HARPER Experienced head: Dragons centre Jamie Roberts DRAGONS have been shut down for two weeks and their next PRO14...

Boks’ ‘big four’ will provide much harder challenge, but is it fair?

DANIEL GALLAN finds the state of play in South African rugby is still far from equal Jettisoned: Cheetahs, left, and Southern...

Blues aim to buck the trend of losing top talent

NEWS EXTRA By STEFFAN THOMAS GRUFF Rees insists the future is bright for Cardiff Blues with the level of talent coming...

Johnny strop so unlike calm Eoin

JOHNNY Sexton has left himself with much to prove when Wales pitch up in Dublin on Friday night. His emotional suitability...

Jim made All Blacks masters of total rugby

ALMOST 60 years ago a chain-smoking footballer from the east end of Glasgow joined the exodus from the Clyde to the...

Zilocchi keeps Dillon off penalty naughty step

ACCORDING to official figures as declared by the Six Nations for their elongated tournament, Dillon Lewis did not concede more penalties...

Alun Wyn ‘not top lock’

In possession: Alun Wyn Jones with the 20017 Lions PICTURE: Getty Images ON THE grounds that it ought to take a...

Band aid for Wales in this RWC draw

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW For the World Cup draw at the Paris Stock Exchange next month, Wales...

Close and personal with the man behind the Boks

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

Struggling All Blacks seeking investment

NEW Zealand are in talks with private equity investors as they struggle with the financial impact of Covid-19. New Zealand Rugby...