Rob Howley betting scandal: Why did he do it?

Robert Howley, former Wales attack coach, has recently apologised for his breach of the rugby union betting rules. It has recently come...

Jackson column: Indestructible Faletau gets bad breaks

Taulupe Faletau's seemingly impervious resilience to injury has now been penetrated

Alun Wyn Jones – BBC Sports Personality of the year?

Anybody who saw Wales‘ excellent run of form in the Rugby World Cup will recognise the fact that it was Alun...

Cain column: Gatland is waiting for any All Blacks implosion under Foster

Ian Foster must navigate his two-year contract without some of the key names associated with the All Blacks

Nick Phipps fears the damage Israel Folau has done to Australian rugby

London Irish and Wallabies scrum-half Phipps talks to Neale Harvey about the controversy stirred by Folau

Guscott column: Stuart Hogg can be the missing link for Exeter in chase for Champions Cup success

Four wins out of four for Exeter Chiefs in Europe - Jeremy Guscott looks into how Stuart Hogg is part of...

Polledri takes wisdom from Italy’s old guard to hit peak for Gloucester

The Gloucester flanker reflects on his rise from Hartpury to the World Cup with Italy

Williams column: A real blow to Scarlets if Brad Mooar heads home

Shane Williams feels the Scarlets have an exceptional coach on their hands, so it's no wonder the All Blacks are calling

The players will fight to keep B&I Lions tours alive roars Jack Nowell

Exeter Chiefs, England and Lions wing Nowell talks South Africa 2021 and the preserving of future tours

Chisholm steps into the breach for Quins

NEWS EXTRA By NEALE HARVEY LONG-SERVING Harlequins utility back Ross Chisholm is determined to ensure that Mike Brown’s absence does not...

Lazzaroni’s late try snatches Treviso thriller

POOL 1 Benetton ……..25 Lyon………………22 BENETTON grabbed their first win in the Champions Cup since 2015 after Marco Lazzaroni’s dramatic try...

Warriors get red card instead of winning try

By GARY HEATLY Early cracker: Jules Favre celebrates scoring La Rochelle’s first try PICTURE: Getty Images TEAMS GLASGOW WARRIORS: Seymour 6;...

CLOSE-UP

CAELAN DORIS Leinster blindside V LEWIS LUDLAM Northampton blindside Ludlam was the pick of the Saints’ pack and a couple of...

Youngsters battled with real intensity says satisfied Solomons

In with a chance: Chris Boyd NORTHAMPTON Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd insisted his side can still reach the knock-out...

Saints lads have hope despite hammering

By RONAN O’BRIEN Touchdown: Dan Biggar scores for Northampton Head over heels: Leinster’s James Lowe goes down to score PICTURES: Getty...

Hogg can be the missing link for Exeter in Europe

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Pedigree: Stuart Hogg scores against Sale in last weekend’s European Cup match PICTURE: Getty...

DREAM TEAM

TIM SWIEL, THE NEWCASTLE AND FORMER WESTERN PROVINCE, SHARKS AND HARLEQUINS UTILITY BACK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

Refs are there to apply laws not act as coaches

COLIN BOAG Sharp practice: Danny Care is the master of the shoulder wiggle After bingeviewing the Champions Cup games over the...

Letters

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk Cutting the format could...

Exeter coaches re-sign

EXETER director of rugby Rob Baxter and his coaching team have agreed three-year contract extensions with the club. Baxter, head coach...

Van Rensburg’s found happy place at Sharks

By JON NEWCOMBE Slimmed down: Rohan Janse van Rensburg ROHAN Janse van Rensburg is reaping the rewards of a healthier lifestyle...

Wales search for top young talent

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Excited: Humphreys WALES’ new coaching team plan to look far and wide in a bid for success –...

Dan’s the man for Six Nations says Thomas

WAYNE Pivac has been urged to select Dan Thomas in his first Wales Six Nations squad. Openside Thomas – who represented...

Foster has work cut out to win fans’ vote

MATT McILRAITH SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE EXPERT Stepping up: Ian Foster has been promoted from assistant coach. Inset, Scott Robertson PICTURES: Getty Images...

Watkin in fitness race for Six Nations start

WALES centre Owen Watkin faces a battle to prove his fitness before the Six Nations with the prospect of a month...

Ace Patchell on track for early return

■By JAMES CANDY On the mend: Rhys Patchell RHYS Patchell has handed Scarlets and Wales a fitness boost with the fly-half...

Remarkable Doddie to be honoured at BBC awards

DODDIE Weir OBE is to be honoured with the Helen Rollason award at tonight’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards....

Jimmy’s magic keeps Bridge on top

Welsh Division One round-up ■By CARL FIELD NEWBRIDGEare number one at Christmas in One East after bagging a 33-13 bonus-point home...

Ospreys coach Sherratt opts for return to Worcester

News MATT Sherratt is to rejoin Worcester from Ospreys to succeed Neil Doak as backs coach for next season. Sherratt, 43,...

Quins complete season’s double over Newport

■By ROB COLE Carmarthen Q26 Newport ……….20 CARMARTHEN cut Cardiff ‘s advantage to 12 points with a game in hand after...

Howe about that! Owen rescues Ravens

■By IAN GOLDEN Ebbw Vale ……15 Bridgend R……18 OWEN Howe put the boot into Ebbw Vale to earn Bridgend a priceless...

It’s a perfect ten for Cardiff in cruise control

■By ROGER THOMAS Cardiff …………20 Merthyr …………3 CARDIFF remain on course to win a first title since 2009 as they made...

Gogs edge a points fest against Wizards

■By ROB COLE RGC 1404 …….36 Aberavon …….30 RGC leapfrogged the Wizards into third place in the table as they came...

Carson comes good at the death for Swansea

Premiership ■By PAUL HOPKINS Swansea …….26 Pontypridd ….24 SWANSEA defeated Pontypridd in the last play of the game thanks to a...

Pooler in prime position for a big title tilt

■By CARL FIELD Welsh Championship round-up PONTYPOOL march on in the Specsavers National Championship after edging the big top of the...

Kapo urges team to cut out mistakes

■By ADAM LEROUX PREVIEW… Richmond v Wasps Sunday, Dec 15. Kick-off 3.30pm RICHMOND prop Laura Kapo says the team need to...

Quins stunned by champions

■By NICK REWCASTLE Harlequins……27 Saracens …….33 A STUNNING comeback from Saracens saw the reigning champions claim a memorable victory over title...

Sharks leave it late to wrap up points

■By TOM BULMER DMP Sharks ….17 Bristol Bears .10 DMP SHARKS secured an important home win over Bristol Bears after a...

Double trouble for Lightning

■By JENNY BATES Glos-Hartp’ry.17 L’borough…….36 LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning abruptly ended Gloucester-Hartpury’s winning run after staging a second-half turnaround. Tries from Ellie Underwood,...

Warriors run riot against brave Waterloo

■By STUART MCCULLOUGH Worcester ……64 Firwood ……….19 FIRWOOD Waterloo were unable to build upon last week’s breakthrough victory against a Worcester...

RUGBY SHORTS

Wasps lose No.8 Rieder WASPS back row Alex Rieder has been forced to retire on medical grounds. The 28-year-old spent 19...

Prop pair go on loan

■By LUKE JARMYN SCARLETS props Rhys Fawcett and Simon Gardiner are joining Ospreys on loan to help deal with an injury...

Derby say thanks to fab ‘rugby family’

NEWS EXTRA ■By LUKE JARMYN A MIDLANDS rugby club left devastated by excessive flooding last month have thanked the ‘remarkable’ public...

Sexton a doubt for Ireland

JOHNNY Sexton is in a race to be fit for Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 1. The 34-year-old...

Revenue increase of £1.1m not £3m

NEWS EXTRA By PETER JACKSON WALES will stand to make an extra £1.1m from an increase in ticket prices for the...

New, mature Sinckler can be Lions ace says Adam

By STEFFAN THOMAS Stronger: Kyle Sinckler THE growing maturity Kyle Sinckler showed on the World Cup stage can give the England...

Kruis hails Saracens stars of the future

By NEALE HARVEY Pulling together: George Kruis believes Saracens are getting stronger PICTURES: Getty Images Exposure: Nick Isiekwe GEORGE Kruis has...

Tigers will fight their way clear says Taute

Committed: Jaco Taute CENTRE Jaco Taute aims to prove he’s up for the fight as crisis club Leicester prepare for a...

Time to be realistic about the Lions tour

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME History men: Warren Gatland and his Lions celebrate drawing the series in...

Maidenhead get title tilt back on track

South West Premier AFTER suffering a shock defeat last time out against Brixham, Maidenhead got their South West Premier title campaign...