Dream Team: Former Leeds, Wasps and Cornish Pirates back David Doherty

The Wasps teammate Doherty believes was destined to be a great for England and the Lions

Paul Gustard ‘thrilled’ at Nathan Earle extending Harlequins contract

Nathan Earle scored 11 tries for Harlequins before a knee injury ended his first season at the Stoop

Jackson column: Andy Dibble and Warren Joyce were stars that rugby lost

Peter Jackson looks at the examples of two footballers who opted for the round-shaped ball rather than the oval

Thomas Young signs new Wasps contract, losing Wales eligibility

Wales flanker, capped three times, sticks with Wasps in the Premiership

Williams column: What a thrill to see Ospreys’ new chance

Shane Williams shares his view on how the takeover of the Ospreys can invigorate his old club

Premiership club may offer Nick Abendanon route back to England

Abendanon had said he may be forced to retire when he still desires to play rugby, but there has been interest...

Cain column: Myners report gives sage clarity salary cap has been lacking for years

Nick Cain receives the publishing of the Myners report with acclaim, but says it will do little to address wage inflation

Mike Friday holds fear for the future of Sevens at the Olympics

The USA Sevens head coach reveals wha he wants World Rugby to do to safeguard rugby at the Olympics

Guscott column: All Blacks must ditch Mo’unga and give No.10 shirt back to Beauden Barrett

Jeremy Guscott looks at how Ian Foster must address how fly-half and full-back will function in his All Blacks team and...

Skills coach Rory Teague to be put in charge of Gloucester

Johan Ackermann left Kingsholm after three years as head coach last Friday

Exclusive: England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland plot Four Nations contest

Unions move to keep autumn Test window viable as travel restrictions knock out plans with southern hemisphere nations

Top 20 rugby stadiums countdown: 15-11

Southern hemisphere stadia dominate the latest countdown towards the No.1 spot

Damian Welch takes the reins at Plymouth Albion and wants Championship chase

The former Exeter Chiefs lock has been named head coach at National One club Plymouth Albion

Rugby League star Siva Naulago to switch codes and join Bristol Bears

A serving soldier in the British Army is coming to the Bears' back-line

Room 101: Coventry No.8 Ryan Burrows abhors bad drivers

The three pet hates which really grind the back row's gears

The Last Dance inspires Gloucester wing Louis Rees-Zammit to be bullish in search of Wales debut

Rees-Zammit explains how Michael Jordan's winning mentality has occupied his mind during lockdown

Bristol Bears owner Steve Lansdown wants Premiership to keep marquee player allowance

The Premiership club will welcome Kyle Sinckler and Semi Radradra to their squad this summer

Young Guns: Northampton Saints full-back Tommy Freeman

A talent who could have been lost to rugby after being released from an academy for being 'too small'

Top 20 rugby stadiums countdown: 20-16

Brendan Gallagher begins his countdown to No.1 with grounds in Japan, England and Argentina

Why English rugby is so popular in Japan

Despite its aversion to a foreign culture, Japan is a country that has adopted quite a few things from the west...

Gin-making Ruaridh Jackson announces retirement with Glasgow Warriors

Ex-Wasps and Harlequins back toasts the coaches who nurtured his career

The best casinos for your gambling pleasure in Malta

It is said that the best online casinos are those that have ties to land-based gambling places. Lucky Maltese locals enjoy...

Will South Africa be able to defend their World Cup title in 2023?

Last year’s Rugby World Cup defied all expectations, as Japan went above and beyond to ensure that it was one that...

My Life in Rugby: Former Scotland, Leicester, Edinburgh and London Irish back Greig Tonks

The versatile Scotland international lives in the comfort of having no regrets at retiring, aged 30

Action taken against Reds trio who refused pay cut

Wallabies lock Izack Rodda among three Queensland Reds players who are in dispute over salary cuts

Diamond starts the blame game

STEVE Diamond, who must have splashed out a fair few quid on the legion of South Africans in the Sale Sharks...

Not so smart versus the Boks were you Mitch?

IT IS undeniable that Eddie Jones deserves all the plaudits for the way England outplayed New Zealand in the World Cup...

So far so good, m’lud, but a big stain remains

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK “The same Premiership clubs that are talking about “playing by the same set...

Parity at the posts, finally

I’VE long believed that allowing an attacking team to score against the post protector gave an unfair advantage over the defending...

Travel ban in Europe?

NICK Cain may be right in saying that the Six Nations shouldn’t be responsible for SANZAAR and the Pacific Islands, nor...

Spot on, we owe SANZAAR nothing

I AGREE with the sentiment expressed in Nick Cain’s column. The Six Nations owe SANZAAR nothing. New Zealand, for example, should...

Stop whining Steve, All Blacks no saints

ONE instance in their history where New Zealand feel aggrieved and Steve Hansen feels hard done by and wants a public...

Nonsense to drop Sarries

THERE seems little point in Saracens playing in the Championship next season. It means that they will be unable to play...

Southern hemisphere can align with Europe

After seeing the picture of Walkerburn RFC’s new lawn mowers (TRP May 10) I’ve dug this picture out of Welford Road...

Not only Tigers who have slipped

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk AS A Bath supporter...

RFU cash to improve facilities will boost numbers

COMMUNITY clubs are necessarily at the forefront of the battle to try and maintain senior men’s playing numbers but need more...

All Blacks must decide to play Beauden at fly-half

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Dilemma: Where does Beauden Barrett play? THE most recent news from New Zealand has...

DREAMTEAM

HADLEIGH PARKES, WALES, SCARLETS AND FORMER MANAWATU, AUCKLAND BLUES, KINGS AND HURRICANES CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’SPLAYED WITH OR AGAINST...

How many of the staff will be deemed key workers?

Views COLIN BOAG Problem area: Scrums will be the big stumbling block to play restarting When do you think rugby might...

No tries against the post

WORLD Rugby have changed the law so tries can no longer be scored by grounding the ball against the posts. The...

Beaten Pichot quits WR council

NEWS EXTRA AGUSTIN Pichot has resigned from his role on the World Rugby Council after his defeat by Sir Bill Beaumont...

Webb still has a huge part to play for Wales says Lualala

■By ROB COLE Driven: Ospreys signing Rhys Webb Coach: Casey Laulala CASEY Laulala has no doubts Rhys Webb will become a...

Multi-million pound takeover at Ospreys

ASIAN-BASED sports marketing group, Y11 Sports & Media, have bought a 75.1 per cent stake in the Ospreys. Ospreys chairman Rob...

Symons: Joe will grow Down Under

■By NEALE HARVEY Learning curve: Joe Marchant in action for Auckland Blues PICTURE: Getty Images JOE Marchant’s Super Rugby experience with...

Worcester confirm pack reinforcements

Return: Matt Kvesic WORCESTER Warriors have confirmed the deal to re-sign England forward Matt Kvesic from Exeter Chiefs, as revealed in...

Chiefs can really be big daddies this season

■By NEALE HARVEY Expectant father: Henry Slade PICTURE: Getty Images Rival: Jonathan Joseph HENRY Slade is expecting big changes at Sandy...

Welch set to take the reins for Albion’s Championship chase

■By NEALE HARVEY New chief: Damian Welch in action for Exeter DAMIAN Welch, former Exeter, Scarlets and Cardiff second row, is...

Don’t let the gifted little ones get away

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Too small? Jeff Probyn won a record number of caps for an...

Playing for the Lions was special honour

MY LIFEIN RUGBY RORY UNDERWOOD THE FORMER ENGLAND, LIONS AND LEICESTER WINGER Roaring in: Rory Underwood scores for the Lions on...

Battered captain Brooks calls time at Drovers

■By ROB COLE LLANDOVERY captain Richard Brooks is leaving the club after nine seasons in the Welsh Premiership. No.8 Brooks, 31,...