Jeremy Guscott: New slimline Banahan can be lethal but has to stay fit

Matt Banahan came onto the scene in a big way four seasons ago for a number of reasons – the first...

Age is no worry for new Esher coach Ollie Smith

Having made his Leicester debut a few months after leaving school and toured with the Lions, aged 22, Ollie Smith’s appointment...

“Chris Robshaw’s done well, but Tom Croft must play”, says Lewis Moody

Sir Ian McGeechan insists a specialist openside is the key to a great team, but former England skipper Lewis Moody says...

Prop stars give Worcester’s Matt Mullan best of both worlds

Mentored by Phil Vickery at Worcester and Graham Rowntree with England – Matt Mullan doesn’t have to look too far for...

New funding deal for Championship clubs revealed

As revealed in our The Rugby Paper on August 5th, the RFU has unveiled today a new four-year funding deal for...

“I’ve come South to toughen myself up,” says Scotland giant Richie Gray

Richie Gray wants to emulate boyhood hero Martin Johnson and become a master of the dark arts of forward play following...

Nick Cain talks to Neil Back about Lions, Tigers and Woodward

Neil Back identifies strongly with the team GB athletes who have lifted the country with their performances at the London Olympics...

Nick Cain: All Blacks on top with or without Williams

If the Six Nations are playing catch up with the Southern Hemisphere powers, then the new Rugby Championship will be about...

“Don’t write me off yet,” says Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel

Dwayne Peel, frozen out of international rugby for the last 18 months, starts the new season with a defiant message for...

Peter Jackson: It’s a riot in Paris as Olympic rugby champs are crowned

Of all the foregone conclusions at the London Olympics, one stands out above Usian Bolt, Michael Phelps, Bradley Wiggins and the...

‘Battered’ Sale Shark flanker Hendre Fourie in battle to play again

England flanker Hendre Fourie has suffered another setback in his comeback from a debilitating shoulder injury. The 32-year-old admits that the...

Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard hurt by fingers of blame but points to future

Wales villain Richard Hibbard admits that he was forced into hiding after being singled out for losing the summer series to Australia....

Jeff Probyn: Every World Cup referee is ‘inept’ in his own way

I must admit to some surprise at the reaction to Graham Henry’s claim in his autobiography, that he wondered if Wayne...

Aussie blow as captain David Pocock is out of All Blacks clash

David Pocock will miss Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks in Auckland after it was revealed the Australian captain...

Henry Thomas relishing Andrew Sheridan Heineken Cup rematch

Henry Thomas is eager for the chance to turn the tables on former tutor Andrew Sheridan this season after Sale‘s graduation...

Cipriani and Gray to make Sale debuts

Danny Cipriani and Richie Gray are set to make their Sale debuts after being selected among the replacements for tomorrow’s friendly...

Waldouck handed first Saints start against Leinster

New Northampton Saints signing Dominic Waldouck has been selected to make his home debut for his new club in tomorrow’s pre-season...

Gary Gold and Bath look at tie-up with Super Rugby side

Bath are considering forming an alliance with a Super Rugby side in a groundbreaking move which could involve trans-hemisphere player swaps....

Reformed Shark Andy Powell is the new ‘Sebastien Chabal’

Sale Sharks are to extend Andy Powell’s contract in recognition of the Welshman’s emergence as ‘the new Sebastian Chabal.’ The Premiership‘s...

Elliot Daly’s rise means Dai Young won’t miss Dominic Waldouck

The emergence of Elliot Daly as a star for Wasps this year made director of rugby Dai Young‘s decision to let...

Retiring prop Matt Stevens gave quitting England ‘lot of thought’

Saracens boss Mark McCall insists Matt Stevens’ decision to retire from international rugby was not made on the spur of the...

Step aside you Brownlees rugby has the Claassens

The Brownlee brothers have provided no shortage of excitement with their Olympic triathlon exploits but rugby will be able to enjoy...

London Welsh: “We’ll stick to our principles”

Ed Jackson believes the culture at London Welsh this season will not change despite the arrival of a host of foreign...

Let me wing it like Alesana says new Tiger Adam Thompstone

Alesana Tuilagi racked up more than a half-century of tries for Leicester at an average of better than one every three...

We know we’ll get thumped says Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi

Argentina‘s record points scorer Felipe Contepomi drew parallels with Italy‘s entrance into the Six Nations ahead of the Pumas’ debut in...

Lock of ages? French turn back clock for Brits

The burgeoning British colony in France hurls itself into Top 14 action next weekend, an assault force headed by surely the...

Peter Jackson: The Welsh cavalry ride to rescue of Wasps

When Stephen Jones turned down an offer to join Leicester in 2004, Wasps had just superseded the Tigers as champions of...

Jeff Probyn: Rugby should be backing the war against drugs

Isn’t it funny how those at the top of sport believe that only what affects them is of any importance or...

Argentina announce squad for Four Nations opener

Horacio Agulla, Marcos Ayerza and  Gonzalo Camacho have been named in Argentina coach Santiago Phelan’s 26-man squad that will travel to...

Only one new cap for World Champions for Rugby Championship

Auckland and Blues prop Charlie Faumuina is the only new face named in the 28-man All Blacks squad for the Rugby...

Peter Jackson charts the league stars who moved to union to become dual internationals

Martin Gleeson’s planned conversion from Rugby League comes eight years after England earmarked him for their defence of the World Cup...

Nick Cain: Pumas out to prove their first-class credentials

Argentina have received an early reminder that New Zealand, South Africa and Australia see them as the poor relations of the...

Uncapped Gill named in Wallabies Four Nations squad

Australia U20 captain Liam Gill is set to make his Test debut after he was named in Robbie Deans 30-man squad...

Jeremy Guscott: Sniffer Ashton should get back on scent with Sarries

Whether Chris Ashton likes it or not we all know he has gone to Saracens because he’s got a better contract....

RFU fury over Graham Henry’s slur against Wayne Barnes

Sir Graham Henry could face legal action following an admission that he wondered whether match-fixing was to blame for New Zealand‘s...

London Welsh capture hard men Kirill Kulemin and Paulica Ion

London Welsh have plunged into the European transfer market and signed a pair of international forwards born behind the then Iron...

Serge Betsen shrugs off the Sir Graham Henry fixing accusations

France legend Serge Betsen has laughed off Graham Henry’s claims that the infamous 2007 World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff could have...

Serge Blanco lets me know if I’m kicking too much says Iain Balshaw

World Cup winner Iain Balshaw knows all about instinctive rugby and would love England to show more of it. We meet...

Final offer from RFU would see Championship clubs receive £4.3m backing

Championship clubs are close to agreeing a funding deal for the next four seasons after receiving what has been described by...

Peter Jackson: Welsh try to cash in but end up with loose change

Agrand total of ten props, enough to put a small theatrical group out of business, will be missing when Wales finish...

Ben Ryan asks: Can Ashton adapt to Sevens in time?

Chris Ashton and Alex Goode’s interest in being included in Great Britain’s Sevens squad for the 2016 Olympics Sevens has been...

Saracens talisman Schalk Brits is hooked on helping talented young guns

Saracens hooker Schalk Brits says he expects to take an occasional     backseat at the club this season to accommodate the development...

Long wait is over for new Gloucester prop Huia Edmonds

Hedging his bets in trying to reach the Premiership and play for Australia in the World Cup almost scuppered Gloucester hooker...

Jeff Probyn: Like Jonny, these kids need time before going for Gold

Nick Cain: Lion king of Leeds will ride to the rescue

When it comes to understanding the importance of nurturing and building a brand, Sir Ian McGeechan’s track-record with the Lions takes...

Meyer names five new caps for the Boks

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has included five uncapped players in his 30-man squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship. Stormers loose forward...

Moment in Time: Northampton Saints and the 2000 Heineken Cup final

Few people had rated Northampton‘s chances of lifting the Heineken Cup. Still fewer gave them a prayer after they had lost...

Rugby League ace Martin Gleeson ready to switch to Rugby Union

Great Britain Rugby League centre Martin Gleeson is ready to switch codes and follow the Union trail blazed by Jason Robinson...

George Ford has the attitude to be a truly great No10 says Dave Alred

In just under 18 months Dave Alred had transformed golfer Luke Donald from world No 32 in the rankings to world...

Bath call in Jason Robinson to mentor Kyle Eastmond

Cross-code legend Jason Robinson is mentoring Kyle Eastmond in a bid to help the former St Helens and England RL man...