Grass-roots being let down by RFU

I HAVE now seen the support packages released by the RFU. The first two measures are early release of monies, not...

Friendly folk at Newark

I READ with interest the article about Newark in last week’s Rugby Paper. In recent years, having attended Friday evening matches...

Good luck making Tier Two self-funded

LET US hope that Edward Griffiths’ plans for a selffunding Championship prove to be workable, though I fear that TV and...

Lions must be ready, these Boks will only get better

THE 2021 Lions tour of South Africa will be harder to win than the one I was on in 1997 because...

TOP10 RUGBY DOCUMENTARIES TO WATCH IN SELF-ISOLATION

By WARREN MUGGLETON Coronavirus has now brought a halt to all rugby in England, with the rugby community encouraged to practice social...

DREAMTEAM

ANDY FORSYTH, COVENTRY AND FORMER LEICESTER, NOTTINGHAM SALE, YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE & ENGLAND U20S CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED...

Money-grabbing players send out wrong message

COLIN BOAG Doing his bit: Eddie Jones was quick to take his pay-cut When this is all over, I think customers...

Falcons players placed on furlough indefinitely

NEWCASTLE have placed all their players and staff on furlough because of coronavirus. The club have written to all staff about...

Nick: I’ll go to Wales to keep Lions dream alive

By NEALE HARVEY NICK Tompkins says his stunning rise to stardom with Wales has been tempered by sadness at leaving Saracens....

Eddie should stay until next World Cup says Tindall

MIKE Tindall compares Eddie Jones to “marmite” but believes the RFU have left themselves with little choice but to keep him...

Heinz knows variety will be key to future

By NEALE HARVEY GLOUCESTER No.9 Willi Heinz says topflight players must brace themselves for a “new normality” as the game battles...

RFU chief Sweeney predicts losses of £45-50m

THE RFU will provide a £7m relief package to community clubs in England during the coronavirus pandemic – £5m of which...

Roberts gets last flight out

WALES and British Lions centre Jamie Roberts is on his way home from South Africa, flying out before the country went...

Unbeaten Caldy urge RFU to honour their promotion

Probyn: Many of old attacking options we used have been lost By WARREN MUGGLETON CALDY director of rugby Gareth Davies said...

Wales star Donovan helping Bears get a leg up

By ALEX BYWATER WALES international Alecs Donovan is determined to help rugby players better themselves by implementing yoga into their training...

Jake kept motivated by helping homeless

By NEALE HARVEY Up for challenge: Bristol prop Jake Armstrong. Inset, getting back to match fitness before lockdown PICTURE: Getty Images...

Burke came close but my record still stands!

MY LIFEIN RUGBY MICHAEL LYNAGH THE FORMER AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND, TREVISO AND SARACENS FLY-HALF EVERYONE needs opportunities to get on in life, whether...

The Prem season is over fears Dallaglio

By GARY FITZGERALD LAWRENCE Dallaglio believes the Premiership will have to shut up shop this season and open again in September....

Scarlets stint rekindles Lamb’s spark

By STEFFAN THOMAS Mentor: Ryan Lamb RYAN Lamb insists his short spell with the Scarlets saw him fall back in love...

Contract chaos puts Carl in French limbo

By NEALE HARVEY FRENCH exile Carl Fearns has shone a disturbing light on the battle hundreds of out-of-contract players are facing...

Game’s changed so much and largely for the worse

As most of us are confined in our homes and are wondering what to do with the time we have on...

Time for these go-slowers to get a move on

Peter Jackson puts the stopwatch on rugby’s slowest kickers and asks: Why do refs allow it? Saturday night in Oita on...

Big Sam’s showing Taine the way to go

Alex Bywater talks to Wales’ latest back row star, 20-year old Taine Basham of Dragons TAINE Basham is already making waves...

Diamond doubles up

SALE DoR Steve Diamond has taken on the role of interim chief executive. Diamond is doubling up after Sharks CEO Jon...

Challenge for Carty

IRELAND fly-half Jack Carty welcomes Ian Madigan’s return to Irish rugby, but knows it could make his job of adding to...

Lawson: I never had a day off ill

RUGBY SHORTS FORMER Scotland captain Rory Lawson says he has “been through the mill” dealing with coronavirus symptoms over the past eight...

Stirling on sabbatical

Cornish Pirates director of rugby Chris Stirling has taken a sabbatical and returned to New Zealand following the RFU’s decision to...

Moon extends stay at Chiefs

THE LIST of Exeter’s Championship originals is slowly dwindling, but at least one name will continue for a few years yet,...

New job for Townson

GLEN Townson has been appointed head coach of Ealing Trailfinders Academy. Former club captain Townson has been forwards and defence coach...

Warrior Weir glad to be in from the cold

By NEALE HARVEY   Recall: Duncan Weir playing for Scotland against France PICTURES: Getty Images FRESH from winning his first Test...

MORGANMONKS WORCESTER BACK ROWER

YOUNG GUNS Morgan Monks says he is drawing inspiration from teammate Ted Hill as he continues his progress towards Worcester’s first...

Death of Lions captain saw ‘Drewy’ take role in history

Brendan Gallagher recalls the remarkable sporting career of Lions captain Andrew Stoddart ONE of the most flamboyant figures in Victorian sporting...

Rugby tours the world but at home there is North v South open revolt

Brendan Gallagher contiues his expert and authorative look at the history of Rugby Union FOLLOWING the first international between England and...

George must stop being twit

GEORGE North has been living the dream for the last ten years, not that it seemed readily apparent from recent interviews...

Social trolls strike fear into even super Hogg

Worries: Stuart Hogg STUART Hogg made a startling confession the other day that some players opt out of chancing their arm...

Muscleman Chris rates power of prayer now

Back in the day when the hatchet men ruled the roost in both football codes, Chris Jones ran a reign of...

Shock and awe as 747 swoops on Ellis Park

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

My Scarlets are poised for a thrilling era of attacking rugby

Q&A GLENN DELANEY ON THE RECORD Glenn Delaney, defence coach and soon-to-be head coach of the Scarlets, has unique experience from...

NEXT WEEK …Don’t miss

Top 20 Wasted Talents, including Christian Wade Lions contenders to face Springboks next summer Big interview with Exeter Chief Gareth Steenson...

Evans: Use this crisis to make rugby healthy again

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLISH rugby’s broken model needs fixing and now is the perfect time to instigate change, says industry expert...

Pay-cuts will hit the academy graduates hardest

TWENTY-FIVE per cent of an awful lot of money is a considerable sum, but the remaining 75 per cent should be...

Domestic leagues can make rugby healthyagain

The new age of the nation state is finally dawning – headmaster Nigel Farage and his senior prefect, the Prime Minister,...

I wanted to make French proud. I hope I’ve done that

NEALE HARVEY talks to France defence coach Shaun Edwards about his role across the Channel and life under lockdown Calling the...

We must go down,reprieve would cause bitterness

NICK CAIN TALKS TO SARACENS COACH ALEX SAN DERSON ABOUT THE WAY AHEAD FOR THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS ALEX Sanderson says Saracens are...

Kenny’s challenge taught me when to fold ‘em!

THE death of Kenny Rogers earlier this week may have gone somewhat unnoticed in rugby circles but your columnist fondly recalls...

Tragic end to the dashing prince

Royal occasion: Prince Obolensky scores his wonder try for England against the All Blacks in 1936 ALEXANDER Obolensky has popped up...

Challinor relishing new start under Boden

NEWS EXTRA By GUY WILLIAMS DONCASTER skipper Matt Challinor, who’s just signed a new deal extending his period at Castle Park to...

VarndelI: I love rugby, I just hated France!

Jon Newcombe talks to Tom Varndell about his amazing try-scoring career and future hopes DURING 15 years as a professional Tom...

Underhill’s judo-style flip rates best of the big hits

Brendan Gallagher rates the magic moments when superb defence topped mighty attacks Unbelievable: Sam Underhilll launches himself at Scott Williams to...

Basham leads charge for Wales’ next generation

In Wales we never seem to have a problem in bringing through young players and right now it appears to be...