Lineout accuracy is the big work-on for Dunn

■By NEALE HARVEY CANDID Tom Dunn admits his lineout throwing must improve if he is to make an England breakthrough. Despite...

Unknown Kendall lands the top job in Portugal

Stunned: Jack Kendall FORMER England Deaf international Jack Kendall admits he has been stunned to be offered the job of coaching...

No blame on referee Tempest says Ackermann

GLOUCESTER’S head coach Johan Ackermann refused to blame two close calls in the final minutes by referee Ian Tempest for his...

Hardwick shows Tigers have turned the corner

■By ROB WILDMAN Winning feeling: Tom Hardwick celebrates his winning kick for Leicester PICTURES: Getty Images IT WASN’T pretty but Leicester...

DREAM TEAM

TIM TAYLOR, GLOUCESTER COACH AND EX-GLOUCESTER, LEICESTER, NOTTINGHAM, TASMAN AND CRUSADERS FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

World Rugby has so much to answer for

COLIN BOAG Raw physicality: The Springboks get the shove on against England So what is the verdict on RWC 2019? It...

England fine absurd

WHY allow New Zealand the stage for two minutes to fire up their emotions while the opposition just stand in a...

Bring back Saxons to develop Tier 2

TOOmany of the Tier 2 countries playing rugby don’t have exposure to the Tier 1 level of play. A solution might...

National One refs need intervention

I’VE been most impressed by the teamwork shown in the World Cup by the three onfield officials and TMO. Although I...

Rugby converts roll in thanks to ITV

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk BAD LUCK, England, you...

The Big Ten maintain their power game at World Rugby

ALL men are equal, but some are more equal than others as World Rugby continue to demonstrate with Orwellian ruthlessness. There...

Now Japan gets ready to make Sevens sing

RUGBY MATTERS A weekly look at the game’s other talking points ONE of the big winners from RWC2019 is going to...

Kolisi shades Josh, Warren for top vote

AND so to our final jouer de rugby gallant award of the World Cup. There are many contenders in truth but...

Beauty and the beast in equal parts

Brendan Gallagher’s reminiscences from a truly memorable World Cup in Japan Bowing out: The Japanese team show humility Best ref never...

Josh finally gets a rest after Japan exertions

■By MIKE SINCLAIR Fabulous experience: Josh Matavesi in action for Fiji JOSH Matavesi will report back for training tomorrow following a...

Tompkins pushing hard to reach his peak

■By NEALE HARVEY BULKED-UP Saracens centre Nick Tompkins has his sights sets on England recognition as he aims to build on...

Warriors made me super fit for Saints

MY LIFEIN RUGBY MARK ROBINSON FORMER NEW ZEALAND, NORTHAMPTON, WASPS, AUCKLAND BLUES & NORTH HARBOUR SCRUM-HALF Mark Robinson scores for Northampton...

Lancaster predicted success at 2019 RWC

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Too soon: Stuart Lancaster faces up to defeat in 2015 PICTURE: Getty...

Shoulder problem forces Burgess to retire

THE man who divided opinion during the last World Cup in England, Sam Burgess, has announced his immediate retirement from the...

They’re simpy the best, better than all the rest

Nick Cain picks his team of the tournament from the World Cup Tenacous: Damien de Allende scores for South Africa against...

McCaw is within the grasp of Alun Wyn

IF HE stays in one piece for the rest of the season, Alun Wyn Jones has every chance of finishing it...

So just why did you lose then, Warren?

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW More like it: Hallam Amos scores against New Zealand PICTURE: Getty Images Amid...

England are crushed by iron fist of mighty Boks

From NICK CAIN in Yokohama Out cold: Kyle Sinckler receives treatment WELL, it didn’t go to the script and will have...

Gatland let us go toe-to-toe with world

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Grand Slam: Warren Gatland’s era starts with 2008 clean sweep PICTURE: Getty Images THERE will...

Bad shoulder, but Rhys is on a high

ALEX BYWATER talks to Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell about his Japan experience Battered: Rhys Patchell playing against New Zealand PICTURE: Getty...

Battling Wales see dream ended by late Pollard kick

From NICK CAIN In Yokohama SOUTH Africa edged their way into their third World Cup final, while Wales were denied a...

That’s my World Cup over says ref Nigel

REFEREE Nigel Owens says he has taken charge of his last World Cup game. The 48-year-old Welshman oversaw England’s 19-7 semi-final...

Gatland goes still thinking: What might have been?

■From ADAM HATHAWAY at Tokyo Stadium STEVE Hansen had the last word over Warren Gatland as New Zealand claimed the bronze...

Only way is up for Welsh team says McBryde

■By SAM JACKSON FORWARDS coach Robin McBryde believes the future is bright for Welsh rugby as a new era dawns. Wales...

So Judgement Day has arrived for Eddie

Nick Cain charts the remarkable four-year journey of England head coach Eddie Jones Puzzled: Eddie Jones bows his head after defeat...

Our young stars ‘still have world at their feet’

Nick Cain and Gary Fitzgerald talk to Lewis Moody about flankers and Manu Tuilagi Former England flanker Lewis Moody insists England’s...

Back: Let players decide when to return

■By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND’S returning stars must set their own agendas when it comes to being available for their club sides,...

Los Teros join WR Council

URUGUAY are to join the World Rugby Council, the international federation’s primary decision-making forum. Uruguay become the 52nd member of Council...

Curry flies England flag for world player of year

■ By SAM JACKSON SALE Sharks flanker Tom Curry is the only English nomination on a six-man shortlist for World Player...

Bronze carries no glitter for men who have failed

CAN anyone explain the point of the so-called Bronze Final? The vast majority of players and coaches hate the idea of...

It’s time to rethink this hoo-ha around the haka

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Iget all the stuff about the haka being great sporting theatre, especially when...

Ospreys in hunt to bring Wales ace Liam Williams back home

The Scarlets are also interested in the full-back with Leigh Halfpenny out of contract next summer

TEAMS: Round 3 of the Premiership

Matchday squads and officials for Round 3 of the Premiership

My Life in Rugby: Former Bath, Toulon and Sharks scrum-half Michael Claassens

A player who loved running out at The Rec before stints with Toulon and the Sharks

TEAMS: England unchanged for World Cup final showdown with Springboks

The side which turned the All Blacks grey has been trusted with downing the Springboks

Room 101: Bath back rower Zach Mercer

Bath back rower Zach Mercer has made a lightning start to the season under Stuart Hooper. So it's only natural to...

Ben Spencer follows England final call-up with new Saracens deal

He landed in Japan on Sunday as an injury replacement for England scrum-half Willi Heinz

Probyn column: England favourites but so were All Blacks

Jeff Probyn tells from his own experience how teams look to exploit opponent's weaknesses, especially in the knockout stages

TEAMS: One last stand for Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen

Wales and New Zealand face each other in the third-fourth place play-off on Friday, Gatland and Hansen have named their squads

Cain column: Nothing funny about Jaco Peyper’s nudge, nudge

Nick Cain on Jaco Peyper and the photo with Welsh fans which has seen him miss out on further involvement at...

VIDEO: World Rugby release shortlist for 2019 Try of the Year

Watch the four tries in contention for the Try of the Year Award 2019

How much? Northampton dig deep to keep hold of Taqele Naiyaravoro

Neil Fissler brings news of another Northampton Saints player who is set to leave the club after their return from the...

Jackson column: At £10,000 a seat you want to see the match!

Peter Jackson dives deep into the extravagant ticket prices on offer for the World Cup final - and shares his own...

We’ve lost our touch and now Japan are playing the kind of rugby we should be, says David Campese

For Wallabies wing Campese wants to see Australia revert to the style which defined their rugby at its peak during the...

Rory ready to bring his Best to the Barbarians

Ireland legend Rory Best is to join the Barbarians when they return to Twickenham on Saturday 16 November to take on...