Tomas Francis believes in chance to play for Exeter AND Wales

Francis has until March 31 next year to reach the 60 required caps to remain at Exeter and still play for...

Probyn column: Bill Sweeney’s legacy will hinge on talks with Premiership

Sweeney's skill for collective bargaining will be his biggest test, writes Jeff Probyn

Wales 7s star Luke Treharne to turn to XVs to keep Olympic dream alive

A Team GB veteran from the Rio Olympics four years ago, the suspension of funding for Wales 7s has Treharne plotting...

Blackrock’s class of ’96 is a story of future Ireland stars and hidden gems

Leo Cullen and Brian O'Driscoll both came through the corridors of Blackrock College

Rugby Matters: Rosslyn Park Sevens will be even more prestigious

Brendan Gallagher views how the current health crisis is affecting schools rugby

Ben Curry happy to play waiting game at Test level

Ben Curry says his job involves so much more than being just a 'jackaler'

Bath can spring a surprise in final furlong, says Beno Obano

Bath loosehead Obano is striving to improve every day and push the club into the Premiership play-offs

How will rugby function moving forwards?

If there’s any sport that’s as popular as football in the UK, it has to be Rugby Union. For many Brits,...

England to face Georgia as eight-team Autumn Nations Cup confirmed

November and December dates confirmed for Autumn Nations Cup involving Georgia and Fiji

All Blacks deny asking out of tour

The All Blacks were in damage control after reports surfaced that a number of the country’s top players were contemplating pulling...

Bristol Bears appeal three-game ban for Siale Piutau

A hearing with an appeals panel will now take place on Thursday, as Alan Solomons offers his views on the matter

Alex King plots new ‘Wasps dynasty’ at Gloucester

Gloucester attack coach Alex King expects great things to happy at Kingsholm after being reunited with Danny Cipriani and Dom Waldouck

Q&A – Les Cusworth: World Rugby chair is a job that should be rotated between hemispheres

What has former Leicester and England fly-half taken away from 16 years coaching and living in Argentina?

Two Premiership players test positive for COVID-19

A total of seven personnel at Premiership clubs have tested positive after the latest round of screening

Pat Lam uses post-match interview to vent frustration over Siale Piutau ban

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam wants to see a 'shake-up' of the citing and mitigation process

Richard Cockerill eyes lock Andries Ferreira after semi-final heartache

A former Toulon second row has held talks with Edinburgh over a move to the PRO14

Guscott column: Is there a role for Scott Robertson with the Lions?

Jeremy Guscott puts across the argument to have Scott Robertson involved as a specialist coach on the 2021 Lions tour

Owen Farrell avoids ten-game ban for high tackle on Wasps’ Atkinson

Farrell has ten-game entry point reduced to five as panel grants mitigating factors after testimony from Mark McCall and Eddie Jones

Jackson column: How could the mighty Ospreys fall so far?

The Ospreys enter a new decade disheveled from the glory days of ten years ago

Young Guns: Ealing Trailfinders centre Ruben Moxham

Moxham was in Premier League Southampton's academy with ex-Bath teammate Gabe Hamer-Webb, before rugby became his path

A snap Q&A with Scotland captain Stuart Hogg

Five snapshot questions are posed to the Scotland captain and Exeter Chiefs star

Hewett column: Why mess with a format that made the Champions Cup great?

Home and away knockout legs in the Champions Cup? Oh EPCR, what have you done?

Steve Diamond in no rush to bring Manu Tuilagi to negotiating table

Neil Fissler envisages French clubs remaining interested in Tuilagi closer towards January due to his one-year Sale contract

Williams column: Louis Rees-Zammit is on track to be Wales’ next wing king

Shane Williams casts his eye over Wales' options at wing as Louis Rees-Zammit goes from strength to strength at Gloucester

Unpaid Championship players may have contracts cancelled

Leicester Tigers loan signing David Williams, whose parent club is Nottingham, says Championship players are being left in limbo

Dream Team: Saracens loan signing Robin Hislop

Robin Hislop selects a dream XV based on the best and brightest he has faced or played alongside

Room 101: Tynedale second row Chris Wearmouth

Three pet hates Bill Beaumont Cup winner Chris Wearmouth wants to see banished to Room 101

Top-rated tourist attractions in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the center of thriving cultural activity in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, not merely for holding the title of...

Gustard: Great to see fans back in

STAR man Rhys Priestland was impressed by Bath’s ability to put their last minute defeat to Wasps behind them. “We are...

Brilliant Bath pull plug on Quins top four hope

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER HARLEQUINS did a fine job welcoming back 2,700 fans to the Stoop yesterday – and hopefully their professionalism...

‘Good to get win over my mates’

MANU Tuilagi declared after he scored a try on his Welford Road return: “I loved it.” Tuilagi insisted it was all...

Manu muscles in for try on Tigers return

By ROB WILDMAN Happy homecoming: Manu Tuilagi scores for Sale SALE tried to bulldoze Leicester aside in a ferocious assault fired...

Robertson as consultant would be good Lions call

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Massive character: Scott Robertson breakdancing after his Crusaders beat the Jaguares in 2019 PICTURE:...

DREAMTEAM

GRAHAM KITCHENER, THE WORCESTER AND FORMER LEICESTER AND ENGLAND SAXONS LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

SA are powering Sale but is that good for England?

COLIN BOAG South African recruits: Sale’s Faf de Klerk, right, and Lood de Jager Am I the only one who is...

Inconsistencies are ruining spectacle

EXETER are a great side and I enjoy watching them, even when they give my own side Worcester a thrashing. However,...

Premiership must learn from folly of English football

WHICH Premiership club will follow Arsenal and be the first to field a team 100 per cent nonqualified for England. I...

Bears criticism unfair

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk ALTHOUGH a Bears’ supporter,...

Sharks poacher Ben happy playing the waiting game

By JON NEWCOMBE AS a talented young cricketer, Ben Curry used to score his runs slow and steady and that patience...

All systems go again as Tomas eyes Test recall

By NEALE HARVEY FIT-AGAIN Exeter and Wales prop Tomas Francis says competition is driving him on as he targets a domestic...

‘Bomber’ gets taster of top-flight at Saracens

By JON NEWCOMBE CHAMPIONSHIP Dream XV prop Robin Hislop has secured a short-term loan move to reigning European and Premiership champions...

Beno’s backing Bath to spring a surprise

By JON NEWCOMBE After him! Beno Obano sets off on a barnstorming run for Bath PICTURES: Getty Images BENO OBANO relished...

Launchbury’s hitting best form when it matters most

By NEALE HARVEY WASPS and England lock Joe Launchbury says he has no issues with putting his body on the line...

Eloff’s late try earns Rebels a date with the Reds

By ADAM ELLIS SUPER RUGBY CABOUS Eloff was the hero for the Rebels against the Western Force with his late try...

Ibitoye off to a flyer on debut for Agen

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN There has been actual, genuine, Top 14 rugby to talk about this week, as – after a...

Knife in the back from Gloucester still so raw

DAVE SIMS THE FORMER ENGLAND, GLOUCESTER, WORCESTER, EXETER & LAUNCESTON LOCK MY LIFEIN RUGBY Proud moment: Dave Sims in action for...

We’re still a few years behind Exeter says Diamond

By JON NEWCOMBE SALE Sharks boss Steve Diamond reckons it will be “two to three years” before his side can call...

King plots new ‘Wasps’ dynasty with Cips at helm

By NEALE HARVEY ALEX King is banking on Danny Cipriani’s leadership and a bit of hard-nosed Wasps DNA to bring glory...

Sweeney’s legacy will depend on Prem talks

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Rich pickings: Players are paid more to represent England than any other...

Twinkle toes Vasily danced a merry jig at Blackrock

ONE of Blackrock’s more exotic recent products is Russia’s captain Vasily Artemyev, who made such a big impression at RWC2019, first...