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...

Glasgow loan deal for TJ

SAMOA flanker TJ Ioane has joined Glasgow Warriors on loan from London Irish. The 31-year-old, right, has been with Irish for...

Long leaves Harlequins

HARLEQUINS assistant coach Sean Long has departed the club. Long joined the coaching team in July 2019, specialising in the team’s...

Parling helps develop Wallabies’ dark side

By NEALE HARVEY Wearing the coach’s hat: Geoff Parling Right: Wallaby bolter Trevor Hosea AFTER establishing his top-flight coaching credentials with...

Pivac calls up exciting young Bears

BRISTOL pair Callum Sheedy and Ioan Lloyd are among seven uncapped players named in Wayne Pivac’s Wales autumn squad. The duo...

New-dad Seb ready to stamp authority

By ALEX BYWATER SEB Davies is only 24, but he is growing up fast on and off the field. The Cardiff...

Davies aims to get Dragons firing

SAM Davies has told the Dragons they need to hit their straps and quickly this season, but believes Dean Ryan’s exciting...

Sevens ace Norton eyes 15s return after Tens

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND Sevens try wizard Dan Norton heads to the inaugural World Tens Series in Bermuda later this month...

6 Nations exploring all options

THE2021 Six Nations could be delayed in an attempt to ensure matches are played in front of crowds. The tournament is...

Schmidt takes on new role in Dublin

NEWS EXTRA FORMER Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will start a new role next month as World Rugby’s director of rugby...

French in struggle to field team v Wales

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN Tipped for greatness: Selevasio Tolofua France’s internationals are hostages in a club and country player-release war ahead...

Davies double downs Sale

By JAMAL NIAZ Sale Sharks……7 Loughboro’ L.29 LARK Davies’ try double condemned Sale Sharks to defeat on their Premier 15s debut...

Ton-up Quins rip Sharks apart

By AMY FULGHAM Harlequins….103 DMP Sharks ……0 HARLEQUINS made an emphatic start to their campaign in Gerard Mullen’s first game in...

Chiefs show fighting spirit

By HARRY SCOTT-MUNRO Glo-Hartpury 34 Exeter Chiefs 14 GLOUCESTER-HARTPURY secured an opening day win over newly-formed Exeter Chiefs in an entertaining...

Classy Cleall leads the charge

By ADAM ELLIS Saracens ……34 Worcester ……25 A POWERFUL display from the Saracens pack ensured victory over valiant Worcester. England second...

Queen’s Birthday Honours for rugby quartet

WALES captain Alun Wyn Jones, former skipper Gareth Thomas, ex-head coach Warren Gatland and former England captain Sue Day are among...

New-look Nicky aims to munch France

By ROB COLE NICKY Smith has eaten his way back into the Wales squad by piling on the pounds in a...

Uren: Toulon will be class but we have Radradra!

By JON NEWCOMBE Ally: Harry Randall AS a youngster, Andy Uren stood on the terraces at the Memorial Ground watching the...

Yorkshire rugby’s in safe hands while Wappett’s legacy lives on at Bradford

Brendan Gallagher continues his series looking at rugby’s great schools Influential: Coach Dan Scarborough at Bradford GS Bradford GS guru Geoff...

Cancellation benefits Bath, Robshaw ends a winner

By SAM JACKSON Winner: Quins captain Chris Robshaw bids farewell SALE’S rescheduled match with Worcester Warriors was called off on Wednesday...

YOUNG GUNS

CHUNYAMUNGA LONDON IRISH LOCK When Chunya Munga lined up for his Premiership debut against Saracens in August, a couple of days...

Sad I’m not involved still – it hasn’t really sunk in yet

JP DOYLE ON THE RECORD Q&A JP Doyle refereed at the 2015 World Cup but was made redundant by the RFU...

Wales work a flanker to get North in Paris

ON SATURDAY August 23, George North was sent off for a dangerous tackle during Ospreys’ home draw against the Dragons. The...

’Jackie’ saw chance of a cap cruelly taken away

PETER JACKSON England promoted another uncapped scrum-half last week, an autumn ritual dating back to a time when Britannia ruled the...

Exit from Kingsholm wasn’t about money

MY LIFEIN RUGBY LUKE NARRAWAY THE FORMER ENGLAND, GLOUCESTER, LONDON IRISH AND PERPIGNAN NO.8 “I wasn’t offered another contract by Gloucester...

Henriquez blazed a trail before shutters closed

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Inclusive: Stade Francais team shot: Jerome, seated far right, Verges...

Women’s game can point way for restart

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME “If the women can stay virus free with such a diverse group...

France’s third XV have first class look

MOSTof the talk has been about the election. France is not the only rugby nation where deeds performed in high sporting...

Willie John’s just writing a horrible history book

CHRIS HEWETT GUEST COLUMNIST Old warhorse: Willie John McBride with the Lions PICTURE: Getty Images Willie John McBride was rarely mistaken...