World is watching as rugby returns for NZ clubs

NEWS EXTRA By GARY HEATLY THE players involved in the new-look Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament that is due to get underway...

YOUNGGUNS

EDSCRAGG DRAGONS SECOND ROW If Ed Scragg hasn’t got the best name for a second row forward with designs on becoming...

Titans lead charge with Redruth afterepic four-way title shoot-out

The Rugby Paper’s National 2 South correspondents pick a Team of the Season Nose for the line: Isaac ‘Sniffer’ Dalton scores...

RUGBY SHORTS

Stars cycle for charity A WHO’S Who of rugby stars will be taking part in a 24-hour cycle challenge from 8am...

Black day for Tyler, hero of Rosario

ROSARIO has never been short on claims to fame. The birthplace of rugby’s most revolutionary player (Che Guevara) and the nearest...

Apartheid so sickened Tony, he did not go back

Tony Ward has never forgotten his first impression of apartheid South Africa. The images are as clear and every bit as...

Miracle workers keep World Cup dream alive

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

Rugby must recalibrate by remembering less is more

Q&A MARK MAPLETOFT ON THE RECORD After a decade at Harlequins in various roles, former head coach and academy guru Mark...

More time needed to plan safe return to training

PREMIERSHIP clubs will not return to training for another two weeks at least, delaying the season’s restart until August at the...

Freelance deals could be way forward says Fearns

By NEALE HARVEY FORMER England No.8 Carl Fearns predicts a new breed of ‘freelance’ rugby player will emerge as the world’s...

PRO14 agrees investment deal with CVC

THE PRO14 has agreed a deal to sell a 28 per cent stake in the league to private equity firm CVC...

Financial equality would stifle progress

LORD Myners’ report has been discussed elsewhere in these pages recently so I will keep this brief! His thorough forensic report...

Unsung hero Pullin deserves a statue at Twickenham

I WAS reading an article on line the other day about the illustrious British and Irish players with the best records...

Expected disaster story turned into a fairytale

Triumph: South Africa win 1995 World Cup. Inset, a news vendor in Pretoria highlights the pre-tournament tension PICTURE: Getty Images It’s...

Welsh trio can put pressure on Conor

2021 LIONS A YEAR TO GO NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION THIS WEEK… SCRUM-HALVES IF the 2021...

Sam’s a man for hard graft on and off the pitch

NICK CAIN TALKS TO SAM UNDERHILL ABOUT IMP ROVING HIS DRIVEWAY…AND HIS GAME SAM Underhill is getting stuck in. There’s nothing...

Sun shines on the Goode

ALEX GOODE, the connoisseur’s choice of full-back, is on his way to Japan, as is Freddie Burns, a seat-of-the-pants No.10 who...

Kolbe’s call on Lions is sign of true rugby man

THERE are plenty of things to like about Cheslin Kolbe, the tap-dancing wing from the Cape Town suburbs whose late try...

Reduce the bench? It just can’t happen

When the Bristol tight-head prop Paul Guttridge was sent off during a league match with Leicester in front of a big...

Overnight success took Chiefs 13 years!

On Tuesday, Exeter Chiefs celebrate the tenth anniversary of winning promotion to the Premiership. NEALE HARVEY marks that momentous day by...

Jonny gets the drop on Joel for his courage and composure

Brendan Gallagher continues his enthralling series by looking at the most important dropped goals TOP 20 …DROP GOALS NEXT WEEK Rugby-playing...

Transfer fees could bring problems

I SEEmy old Ospreys coach Scott Johnson has put the cat among the pigeons once again by raising the question of...

Find out why King John was so regal

I NEVER saw him play, but I’ve heard all the stories about how good he was. Barry John continues to be...

Life with the Lions was just so physical

We are living in the age of TV flashbacks as the lockdown continues and everyone craves some form of sporting action....

It’s all over for Swinson

SCOTLAND and Glasgow second row Tim Swinson will retire at the end of the season. The 33-year-old earned 38 caps and...

Gopperth keeps going

JIMMY Gopperth has re-signed with Wasps, a month short of his 37th birthday. New Zealander Gopperth, right, who joined from Leinster...

Czekaj calls time at 34

FORMER Wales wing Chris Czekaj has decided to hang up his boots at the age of 34. He played for Merthyr...

Humphreys in coaching power battle

GLOUCESTER director of rugby David Humphreys is locked in a power struggle with the Cherry and White’s players and board over...

ON THE BLINGSIGE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■DAN CARTER has formally parted company with Kobe Kobelco Steelers and is now weighing...

Te’o joins Broncos

FORMER England centre Ben Te’o, 33, is set to continue his career in the NRL by agreeing a move to the...

Tigers want some magic from Potter

LEICESTER Tigers are hoping that Harry Potter will cast a magic spell on the wing next season after luring him away...

ROOM101

FRASER HONEY THE REDRUTH FLY-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Wind As a...

Six Nations WILL move for global season plan

By PETER JACKSON RUGBY’S global powerbrokers have confirmed that the Six Nations is in the process of being moved out of...

Ring-fence now to help clubs rebuild say Bristol

By NEALE HARVEY EXCLUSIV SALARY cap rebels Bristol have called for Premiership ring-fencing plans to be implemented to enable cash-strapped rivals...

Q&A – Chris Boyd: Even if Cobus wanted to stay, that would have confused my plans for Alex Mitchell

We ask for the Northampton DoR's opinion on an array of matters, including whether he wants to extend his say beyond...

Lions tour contenders RANKED – Faletau is a step ahead of Vunipola

Nick Cain's rankings for the tour of South Africa reaches the final spot within the pack – No.8

Top 20 rugby stadiums countdown: 10-6

The countdown nears No.1, check out the grounds which fell short of inclusion inside the final five

CVC complete £116m acquisition of PRO14 shares

PRO14 approves CVC investment to hold a 27 per cent share in league

Global calendar: Six Nations and SANZAAR confirm consultation over the past two months

Talks over how to align north and south Test windows started in March

Window to finish current Premiership season tightens as PGB agrees two-week delay

Time to finish the 2019-20 Premiership season is running out

Rugby Matters: Odd-ball George Simpkin was a true rugby visionary

Brendan Gallagher pays tribute to the man who took Fiji to the quarter finals of the inaugural World Cup

Will rugby find its place in Esports?

Esports are getting more and more popular and new esport betting bookmakers are popping up right and left. Although widely popular...

Things to know about Bong88 sports betting

Who would not love to play exciting betting games? Yes, professional betting at least is everything concerning beating the probabilities! You’ve...

Jack Willis hopes the Day of the Jackal will bring a new England call

After signing a new deal with Wasps, Jack Willis tells Nick Cain how England's back row is where he feels destined...

Harlequins move to sign Tyrone Green after quitting Lions

Green opted to cancel his contract with Johannesburg-based Lions last week along with Malcolm Marx

‘I got a call from Pat Lam saying they’re looking to put together the strongest squad’ – Max Malins explains Bristol loan move

The Saracens full-back explains how his loan move to Bristol came about after a call from Pat Lam

Bristol signs Ratu Naulago, the British Army soldier

Ratu ‘Siva’ Naulago is a fiery new addition to Bristol Bears. This British Army soldier from Fiji holds an impressive record...

Francis Saili parts ways with Harlequins to join Biarritz

At the end of the season, Francis Saili will leave Harlequins to join Biarritz. The 29-year-old centre was admitted to the...

Saracens keen on adding Argentine points machine as cover for Owen Farrell

The latest on Saracens' squad-building for life in the Championship

Spencer column: Cruel for Richmond but the game has moved on

TRP columnist Catherine Spencer reviews the big changes to the Premier 15s which saw Richmond lose out in the audit proces