Kidney raps ref penalty count against the Exiles

By NEALE HARVEY Touchdown: Albert Tuisue scores London Irish’s first try PICTURE: Getty Images TEAMS LONDON IRISH: Brophy-Clews 6 (Brand 65,...

Scarlets hit Bayonne for six to keep heat on Pool pace-setters Toulon

By ALEX BYWATER SCARLETS put the distraction of New Zealand’s interest in head coach Brad Mooar to one side as they...

Davies on target as Dragons defy rain

By ROGER PANTING Threat: Sam Davies takes on the Warriors’ defence Fast start: Adam Warren dives in to score for Dragons...

If black wall topples on Foster, Warren is waiting

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK IAN Foster, New Zealand’s newly appointed head coach, cannot break-dance like his Crusaders...

Cook eyes French finishing school

Up for the challenge: Bath scrum-half Chris Cook OUTER-EDGE finishing is high on Bath’s agenda as they attempt to breathe life...

Chiefs going full-throttle for the knockouts

By NEALE HARVEY Sandy Park favourite: Ben Moon PICTURE: Getty Images Passed fit: Stuart Hogg SELF-CONFESSED “old bugger” Ben Moon is...

Johan blames a late panic

JOHAN Ackermann admits his side panicked under the Irish onlsaught but praised their bravery. “We put ourselves in a position to...

Gloucester toppled by Connacht tenacity at the death

By JOHN FALLON Away: Robin Copeland on his way to scoring Connacht’s third try PICTURES: Getty Images Held: Connacht’s Caolin Blade...

McCall: We may lodge protest

SARACENS rugby director Mark McCall said the club could lodge a protest following allegations that a derogatory comment by a member...

Jamie’s weight insult spurs Sarries retaliation

By NICK CAIN Skill: Sean Maitland scores the first Saracens try from Billy Vunipola’s basketball pass PICTURES: Getty Images Hanging on:...

Future is bright, insists Hogg

CARL Hogg refused to comment on whether he wants to take charge of the Ospreys on a full-time basis, but the...

Ospreys kids spread their wings in Paris

By ALEX BYWATER Can’t hold him: Racing captain Henry Chavancy breaks a tackle to score TEAMS RACING 92: Zebo 6; Dupichot...

Arnold double extends Toulouse’s winning run after Picamoles stretched off

By SAM JACKSON TOULOUSE made it four wins from four but had to wait until the dying seconds to clinch a...

Landajo: We must be ready for Wasps

DAN McFarland hailed scrum-half sensation John Cooney after another heroic display helped Ulster move within touching distance of the Champions Cup...

Cut-throat Cooney puts Quins to sword

By GARY FITZGERALD Winning the race: Luke Marshall scores Ulster’s second try PICTURES: Getty Images Quins highlight: Stephan Lewies celebrates his...

Sarries in Euro punch-up

Flashpoint: The trouble erupts between Saracens and Munster PICTURE: Getty Images A MUNSTER medic’s jibe about Jamie George’s weight sparked a...

Players will fight to keep Lions alive roars Nowell

By NEALE HARVEY JACK Nowell insists the ‘old school’ ethos of the British & Irish Lions will survive no matter what...

TEAMS: Saracens bring in the big guns for Munster rematch

Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell among international crop recalled by Mark McCall

Dream Team: Moseley and ex-Coventry and Boland back Cliffie Hodgson

Willie le Roux features along with some old teammates at Coventry

Young Guns: Bath winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb

The Bath speedster talks working with Anthony Watson, Semesa Rokoduguni and Tom Homer

Leicester Tigers seek to sign Argentina lock and keep hold of George Ford

Movement at Leicester Tigers...

Exeter Chiefs agree new contracts with Rob Baxter and coaching staff

New long-term contracts for key figureheads in the Exeter Chiefs coaching department

Piutau: Radradra will make us a dangerous prospect

The Bristol Bears full-back talks to Neale Harvey about his desire to win championships at Ashton Gate by agreeing an extension

Williams column: Mike Ruddock can revive ailing Ospreys

Shane Williams believes the addition of Mike Ruddock is just one of the key changes needed at his old club Ospreys

World Cup final frustration still eats at ex-England scrum coach Neal Hatley

Neal Hatley is trying to put the loss of the final behind him by throwing himself into the revamp of Bath

Gallagher column: Root of Israel Folau case grew from shame of apartheid

Brendan Gallagher examines the vitriol espoused by sacked Wallabies star Israel Folau and how it correlates with attitudes during the apartheid...

Nick Abendanon drawing interest from home as Clermont stay nears end

Nick Abendanon is keen on a return to the UK after five years in France

Cain column: PRL secrecy is an insult to club rugby fans

Nick Cain explains why the drip-drip of information issued by Premiership Rugby on Saracens' salary cap breach is riling fans up

Probyn column: Dan Cole will carry the can just like Paul Rendall

Jeff Probyn sympathises with Dan Cole for being made a scapegoat for England's capitulation at the scrum in the World Cup...

Varsity match: Light Blues’ mighty duo may be godsend or curse

Cambridge have a Test-experience second row ready to take on rivals Oxford in the 138th Varsity match

Exclusive: Fire to play for England still burns bright for Joe Launchbury

The England and Wasps lock shares his reasons for staying loyal to Dai Young

Young Guns: Bristol Bears fly-half wonderkid Ioan Iloyd

A big future ahead for Bristol Bears' try-scoring fly-half

Tommy Seymour retires from international duty after 55 caps for Scotland

Seymour retires at the age of 31 and follows John Barclay in calling time on his Scotland career

Purdy: I’d be lying if I didn’t say I want to play Premiership rugby again

Winger Henry Purdy was squeezed out by Gloucester due to their tight salary cap and now plays for Coventry after a...

Jackson column: Days of romance, song and drama with Lions

Peter Jackson looks back on the 1955 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, when attitudes were different but the...

Northampton’s Samson Ma’asi is on the mend after life-changing kidney transplant

Northampton hooker Samson Ma'asi is on the road to returning to rugby after receiving a life-changing kidney donation from his father,...

Guscott column: It beggars belief that the Lions are treated so badly

Jeremy Guscott believes it is as important as ever for the Lions to win in South Africa to not fall to...

Bristol Bears set to hijack Gloucester’s move for Kyle Sinckler

Gloucester could turn their attention to an Exeter Chiefs prop

Leicester move on from Mark Bakewell, opening door for Steve Borthwick

The England forwards coach is expected to move to Welford Road after the 2020 Six Nations

Kirsten out to bully his Bok mates

SOUTH African bruiser Jannes Kirsten says Exeter are hell-bent on putting one foot into the Champions Cup quarter-finals by making it...

Curry orders Sharks to put on a killer show

■By JON NEWOMBE Disciplined: Ben Curry has given away just three penalties in ten games for Sale PICTURE: Getty Images BEN...

Sexton waits on knee scan

JOHNNY Sexton is on the injury-list again after sustaining a ligament injury to his right knee. Leinster rugby director Leo Cullen...

Storming comeback keep the Warriors’ hopes alive

■By GARY HEATLY On target: Adam Hastings GLASGOW Warriors battled back from 18-6 down just before half-time to defeat La Rochelle...

Feel the gap – Saints are hit by 7-try pummeling

■From NICK CAIN at Franklin’s Gardens Rout: Ed Byrne dives over for the final Leinster try PICTURE: Getty Images NORTHAMPTON may...

Lyon finally break their Champions Cup duck

LYON cruised to their first ever win in the Heineken Champions Cup at Matmut Stadium de Gerland after eight successive defeats...

It beggars belief that the Lions are treated so badly

JEREMY GUSCOTT Stretching the Springboks: Matt Dawson scores for the Lions in the third Test against South Africa at Ellis Park...

DREAM TEAM

SHAUN MALTON, BRISTOL AND FORMER NATAL SHARKS, NOTTINGHAM, LONDON IRISH AND EXETER HOOKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

How long before the first coach gets fired?

Views COLIN BOAG Smart move: Declan Kidney is a world class coach at London Irish It has become a cliché that...

Letters

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

Saints lead the chase for Fearns

LYON No.8 Carl Fearns is potentially on his way back to the Premiership. Fearns is not expected to extend his fruitful...