Five advantages of indoor sports games

While referring to indoor sports games, we usually mean online gaming, which has gained enormous popularity these days. In this kind...

Harrington column: Presidents scrap over playoff principle

The 'hellscape' facing France's Top 14 with TV and player welfare ramifications

Young Guns: Cardiff Blues prop Theo Bevacqua

England-born, loosehead Bevacqua says Wales was always his first choice

Our Golden Goose is an endangered species

RUGBY Union’s golden goose is beginning to look a lot thinner, and as the financial uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic grows,...

Good article wrong date

I WOULD like to point out a small error in Peter Jackson’s interesting article about Peter Larter. The England v Ireland...

Gary Ella won caps in both codes

IN HIS ‘Iconic Picture’ article about the talented Ella brothers, Brendan Gallagher suggested that only Mark and Glen were capped at...

How could Brendan forget us Shedheads?

Teak tough: Mike Teague CHRIS Hewett (TRP 19/4/20) was quite right to rail against the omission of Mike Teague from Brendan...

I disagree Colin, kick tennis is a snorefest

DID Colin Boag write his ‘modern game is better’ comparison with tongue in cheek to get a response? I had to...

RFU must not waste this chance to reset

IN last week’s Rugby Paper Steve Grainger described how the RFU were meeting rugby’s needs during the coronavirus crisis. The Director...

Temper self-interest for big picture

IF EVIDENCE were needed of the self-interest that tends to drive attitudes in rugby, two pieces in last week’s TRP on...

Reform the scrum, fast

WELL done Nigel Owen for speaking out for a straight feed into a scrum. Would Sir Bill Beaumont promise to enforce...

Fair play? I struggle to see it

A COUPLE of weeks ago a reader stated that before a Championship side could be promoted they must be financially sustainable....

Enjoying TRP more than ever

AMI the only reader of The Rugby Paper who thinks the quality of your publication has improved since the start of...

Empty grounds? You’d be surprised by the chatter

Would it be right? Charles Piutau could play for Tonga if World Rugby change the rules PICTURE: Getty Images MY first...

Neither Beaumont nor Pichot are right

Same old: Billy Beaumont and Agustin Pichot COLIN BOAG Everyone knows the problem with elections: candidates come up with good ideas,...

Seilala champions case for reversal

By STEFFAN THOMAS Plea: Seilala Mapusua FORMER Premiership player of the season Seilala Mapusua has backed Sir Bill Beaumont’s bid to...

Tiger Thompson signs for Ealing

EXCLUSIVE By JON NEWCOMBE London calling: Guy Thompson EALING TRAILFINDERS have pulled off the eye-catching signing of Leicester and former Wasps...

Bid to cut National 1 salary cap hits strong opposition

By NEALE HARVEY CONTROVERSIAL proposals by Chinnor and Old Elthamians to have the National One salary cap slashed by 40 per...

Vast majority of clubs have welcomed RFU support

THE RFU REPLY… Is it good financial management for the RFU to become so dependent on financing from debt lending, which...

Question time at Twickenham

SPECIAL REPORT by NICK CAIN GRAEME Cattermole, the former chairman of the RFU, has written an explosive letter to a member...

Step up for James at Saints

NORTHAMPTON Saints have signed Doncaster scrum-half Tom James for next season. The 26-year-old was the Knights’ top scorer in 2018- 19...

Bennett fears shorter tour will lead to Lions slaughter

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE BRITISH & Irish Lions have been told eight games will not be enough to topple world champions...

Australia chief exec resigns

NEWS EXTRA RUGBY Australia chief executive Raelene Castle has resigned after tenformer Wallabies captains signed a letter demanding a change in...

Presidents scrap over playoffs principle

Breaking ranks: Toulouse president Didier Lacroix If a week is currently a long time in everyday pandemic-era politics, it’s an aeon...

Hogg is loving life after Jack’s warm welcome

Scotland star Stuart Hogg tells Neale Harvey how West Country life is exceeding expectations Scotland’s Chief: Stuart Hogg breaks past Alex...

Exeter will be boost for women’s game says Jo

WORCESTER Women director of rugby Jo Yapp believes the addition of Exeter and Sale into the Tyrells Premier 15s next season...

It’s the good life now for the family Yapp

On a sheep farm in Shropshire, NEALE HARVEY talks to Tony Yapp and his sister Jo about their careers in men’s...

Flying start grinds to halt after Lions refuse to field a replacement

Wild spirit: Blair Mayne was a Lion and a founding father of the SAS THE British Lions staged two major tours...

Au revoir France as Home Unions assert their power

Brendan Gallagher continues his expert and authorative look at the history of Rugby Union Hired hands: The Quillan rugby team made...

Brave new world after lockdown? I doubt it

Old style: Rob Andrew playing for Yorkshire in 1987 County Championship Another week of lockdown and, with no rugby to write...

Cross Green’s home to generations of Melvilles

MY CLUB OTLEY WE SPEAK TO A NUMBER OF WELL-KNOWN RUGBY FIGURES ABOUT THE CLUB THEY CALL THEIR OWN, THIS WEEK...

Chester’s online aid helps fight cost of lockdown

NEWS EXTRA By JON NEWCOMBE A FRIEND of former England international Tom May has come to the aid of the business...

YOUNG GUNS

TOMMYFREEMAN NORTHAMPTON FULL-BACK Rejected by Leicester at 16, Tommy Freeman might have been lost to rugby had he not made the...

DREAMTEAM

ELLIOTT STOOKE, ENGLAND, BATH AND FORMER GLOUCESTER, LONDON IRISH AND ENGLAND U20s LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

Wales cap Will owes so much to Boden

By NEALE HARVEY Reaching the top: Will Rowlands making his debut for Wales against France PICTURES: Getty Images NEWLY-capped Wales and...

RUGBY QUIZ

FORMER LEADING WELSH REFEREE ALUN WYN BEVAN TESTS YOUR KNOWLEDGE Q7: Frank Hayes playing cricket for England 1. On October 24,...

Age 30, I felt ready for the ‘real world’

MY LIFEIN RUGBY DAVE LEWIS THE FORMER GLOUCESTER, EXETER AND HARLEQUINS SCRUM-HALF Big break: Dave Lewis playing for Gloucester against Australia...

WRU hard ball killed Shingler’s big dream

Eligibility row: Steven Shingler playing for Cardiff Blues PICTURE: Getty Images Sir Bill Beaumont’s proposal that a host of South Pacific...

A sea of people hailed Carling like a Messiah

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

Global season must happen to make rugby a world sport

Q&A ALAN SOLOMONS ON THE RECORD Stifled: World Cup quarter-finalists Japan need more top level games to progress PICTURES: Getty Images...

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Reward for Knoyle

SCRUM-HALF Tavis Knoyle has become the latest player to commit his future to Dragons. Director of rugby at Dragons, Dean Ryan,...

Rohan banned for two-timing

CENTRE Rohan Janse van Rensburg has been fined £32,500 and handed a twoweek ban for signing contracts with Sale and Gloucester....

Bargain buys from abroad will stymie English talent

By NEALE HARVEY AN already shrinking jobs market will become even tougher for aspiring young English players as more overseas stars...

CVC to re-evaluate investment in PRO14

By ROB COLE THE future financial stability of the PRO14 and the four Welsh regions will be on the line this...

Don’t mess up this crucial changeover

Different eras: Bill Beaumont, and Agustin Pichot in their playing days PICTURE: Gettty Images As everybody in sport, and in particular...

Itoje can compete with the Bok giants

2021 LIONS A YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION THIS WEEK… LOCKS Outstanding: Maro Itoje...

The best England team in the world

Jonny Wilkinson Phil Vickery Steve Thompson Jason Leonard Martin Johnson Maro Itoje Mike Teague Peter Winterbottom ENGLAND have had four teams...

Good news for Boris, the right is might again

Best wing in the world? Cheslin Kolbe PICTURE: Getty Images The Prime Minister rather enjoys his rugger: indeed, he attended last...

Holmes calls halt to become a city slicker

By JEREMY BLACKMORE NOTTINGHAM skipper Tom Holmes has called time on a 13-year career in the wake of the Championship funding...