McNicholl will give North some competition

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Five years ago Johnny McNicholl found himself surrounded by so many All Blacks that it...

Truth behind that email offering Jack his dream job

IT WAS a hoax good enough to grace any April Fool’s Day. But it ended with the Portuguese Rugby Federation threatening...

Warrior Hartley forced to bow out to injury

Triumph: Dylan Hartley holds up the Six Nations trophy as captain after winning the Grand Slam in 2016 PICTURES: Getty Images...

Haywood: Time for the Saints kids to step up

By STEFFAN THOMAS BACK from long-term injury with points to prove, Northampton hooker Mikey Haywood wants the young Saints to rise...

French clubs likely to cook up a storm

BRENDAN GALLAGHER casts his eye over the main contenders for this season’s European crown Wondrous: Bok star Cheslin Kolbe can be...

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Robshaw: England will be even better in 2023

By GARY FITZGERALD England’s best player: Tom Curry EDDIE JONES may claim he has to start building a new team but...

Ospreys would be so magical with Liam

Mighty talent: Liam Williams is attracting offers from the biggest clubs PICTURE: Getty Images WALES AND LIONS LEGEND The Saracens salary...

DREAMTEAM

ALY MULDOWNEY, THE BRISTOL AND FORMER STAFFORD, STOURBRIDGE, MOSELEY, GLASGOW, EXETER, CONNACHT AND GRENOBLE LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS...

Next Lions tour has tasty look says Smit

Best captain in world: Alun Wyn Jones with the Lions in 2017 PICTURE: Getty Images By STEFFAN THOMAS FORMER South Africa...

Euro test can help Kvesic endorse his England bid

On a misson: Exeter’s Matt Kvesic By NEALE HARVEY AFTER unexpectedly forcing his way back into England contention, Matt Kvesic is...

Jones holds his nerve to see Scarlets over the line

By ROB COLE A LAST gasp Dan Jones penalty saved the Scarlets’ blushes as they overcame a stubborn Benetton in Llanelli...

More bonus points for five-try Warriors

Zebre ………………7 Glasgow ……….31 By GARY HEATLY GLASGOW Warriors secured a second successive bonus point victory running in five tries. The...

O’Brien steps up in show of strength

Connacht……….11 Leinster ……….42 By JOHN FALLON WALLABY veteran Scott Fardy said Leinster’s strength in-depth is starting to show. Leinster lost Irish...

Evans finds a cure for his Japan hangover

By JAMES CANDY CARDIFF Blues outsidehalf Jarrod Evans believes he has rediscovered the form that got him in Warren Gatland’s thoughts...

We’ve now hit bottom of the pit says Clarke

By STEFFAN THOMAS TWO late penalty misses from James Hook saw the Ospreys fall to arguably the worst defeat in their...

We’re making strides insists Dean as his Dragons fall

By GARY HEATLY EDINBURGH head coach Richard Cockerill argued his side were not at their best, but was pleased to get...

Munster win ugly ahead of Europe

Munster ……….22 Ulster…………….16 IRISH fans hoping for a cracking derby clash to cure their World Cup hangover were left disappointed at...

Cheating has aways been a part of the game

THE Saracens salary cap ‘scandal’ is discussed in great detail elsewhere in The Rugby Paper but some brief observations from this...

Resurrect the Saxons to keep the poachers away

Eligible: Callum Sheedy WHAT’S happening with England Saxons who haven’t mustered since June 2016 when, rather impressively, they won a two-match...

The Beast has become a beauty for Springboks

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points FEW players get to announce their retirement off the back...

Reid wants to keep Ford waiting for the No10 shirt

Change: Noel Reid By JON NEWCOMBE FLY-HALF Noel Reid is focused on building on a promising start to his Tigers career...

Irish call up Naholo power game to cage the Tigers

Power play: Former All Black Waisake Naholo starts on the wing for Irish PICTURE: Getty Images TEAMS LONDON IRISH: Jackson, Naholo,...

Bristol have some points to prove warns Heenan

We can beat them: Jake Heenan FIRED-UP flanker Jake Heenan says Bristol are ready to dish out some payback as Exeter...

Slade goes straight into action for Exeter

By NEALE HARVEY HENRY Slade insists England can take pride from their overall World Cup campaign in Japan despite the crushing...

Wasps get Joe back for Euro tie

JOE LAUNCHBURY is poised to return for Wasps in next Saturday’s European Challenge Cup tie at Bordeaux Begles. The England lock...

Big-spending Sharks enjoy Du Preez show

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Stepping inside:Daniel Du Preez breaks through to score for Sale PICTURES: Getty Images Chip chase: Zach Kibirige goes...

Saracens pay heavy price to England

THE concept that the Premiership titles Saracens won over the last two seasons will be forever tainted by the salary cap...

Will Eddie boomerang back Down Under now?

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK WHAT does Fast Eddie do next, that is the question? While it is...

Gustard: We got nothing from ref

PAUL Gustard was upset with his players and the officials after Quins slid to a surprise home loss to Worcester. Gustard’s...

Proud Solomons hails his muddy marvels

By GARY FITZGERALD Made amends: Jamie Shillcock on his way to the line for Worcester Warriors PICTURES: Getty Images Bright start:...

Saracens’ £22.9m loan brings concern

By SAM JACKSON TO ADD to Saracens’ week of financial pressure, their £22.9m loan from Barnet Council to expand their Allianz...

Lions and Baa-baas lined up for Twickenham

By PETER JACKSON Backing: Jason Leonard THE Lions are planning to play the Barbarians at Twickenham for the first time since...

Young Guns: Saracens second row Jonathan Kpoku

A player who helped take Ampthill into the Championship while on loan from Allianz Park last season

Harrington column: All change for France now Fabien Galthie in charge

James Harrington on how France head coach Fabien Galthie now has carte blanche to fix Les Bleus with Jacques Brunel out...

TEAMS: No rest for Exeter Chiefs’ World Cup trio

Team news for Round 4 of the Premiership, with Exeter Chiefs hosting Sale Sharks at Sandy Park

Saints legend and former England captain Dylan Hartley retires

Hartley has been sidelined for all of 2019 by a serious knee injury

Now Japan gets ready to make Sevens sing at Tokyo Olympics

Brendan Gallagher's thoughts on how Japan can extend rugby's legacy far beyond the World Cup

Probyn column: Stuart Lancaster predicted success at 2019 Rugby World Cup

Jeff Probyn charts the difference between England four years ago under Stuart Lancaster and where they are now with Eddie Jones

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WOODEN SPOON RUGBY YEARBOOK 2020 & HISTORY OF THE WORLD CUP (1975-2015) BOOK OFFERS: Now in it’s 24th year, the Wooden...

World Cup in review: Beauty and the Beast in equal parts

The Rugby World held its breath ten years ago when the blazers took a punt and asked Japan to stage RWC2019,...

Verdict: Siya Kolisi brings fresh hope to a troubled land

Brendan Gallagher on the significance of Springboks no.6s to the modern history of South Africa

The Rugby Paper’s Team of the World Cup

Nick Cain finds room for only one All Black in his starting XV

Guscott column: Eddie Jones has to stay for four more years or go

Jeremy Guscott feels England were magnificent in Japan but warns Eddie Jones' future must become clear beyond 2021

Northampton in talks with Dylan Hartley about calling time on his career

Neil Fissler reports that Saints are more concerned by Hartley's concussion history than his long-term recovery from knee surgery

Jackson column: So just why did you lose then, Warren?

After celebrating Gatland's tenure, Peter Jackson cuts through indulgence to ask what went wrong for Wales in Japan

Saracens seek to slash budget by moving on from Liam Williams

Saracens were interested in bringing in a star of the NRL

Nigel Wray confirms Saracens will appeal salary cap sanctions

"Together we have created something incredibly special" - Nigel Wray to fight to defend Saracens

Salary cap investigation: Saracens struck down by 35-point deduction and £5.4m fine

Saracens have been handed the maximum penalty possible of a whopping 35-point deduction and £5.4m fine following an inquiry into their...

South Africa’s World Cup stars to light up Barbarians’ November tour

South African World Cup champions Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira and Herschel Jantjies will be in action for the...