Leicester benchwarmer glad to have a new rep

By NEALE HARVEY Just rewards: Fraser Balmain Top Tiger: Dan Cole Big fan: Ed Slater GLOUCESTER forward of the year Fraser...

Shaun is still one of Wales’ own even if he’s in France

One morning in early August last year, hot on the heels of Wales confirming Wayne Pivac as their head coach post-Japan,...

Why can’t refs spot what the citers see?

Let off: Leinster’s Fergus McFadden is spoken to by referee George Clancy after the clash, inset, with Ulster’s Sean Reidy ONE...

They may have to rename it Losers Cup

PETER JACKSON LOSINGmore matches than you win over the course of a season hardly seems conducive to qualifying for a competition...

Richmond pair prop up our team of the season

JON NEWCOMBE canvasses opinion for The Rugby Paper’s Championship Dream XV Making his mark: Richmond prop Will Goodrick-Clarke London Irish may...

Ryan takes Dragons job

DRAGONS are set to appoint Dean Ryan as their new head coach. The 52-year-old will take over at Rodney Parade from...

Cipriani on shortlist for star player

GLOUCESTER fly-half Danny Cipriani, 31, has been nominated for the Rugby Players Association Player of the Year award. Northampton’s Cobus Reinach,...

Willis leads Trailfinders to Cup – now for the Prem!

By NEALE HARVEY First blood: Seb Steggman breaks for the opener PICTURE: PRiME Media Images CRAIG Willis showed why Ealing Trailfinders...

WHO ARE YOUR RUGBY HEROES?

Consistently brilliant: Mark McCall’s Saracens are into another Champions Cup final 99 not out: Sutton and Epsom’s Matt Whittaker THERE have...

Folau in the dock

ISRAEL Folau gave evidence yesterday on the first day of the hearing into his sacking by Rugby Australia for a social...

RPA should extend support to Championship says Day

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS-BOUND Cornish Pirates No.9 Alex Day believes it is high time Championship players became fully paid-up members of...

Smart money’s on Mr Motivator

Fresh-faced veteran: Richard Wigglesworth PICTURES: Getty Images High five: Richard Wigglesworth’s first Premiership title with Sale in 2006 RICHARD Wigglesworth has...

PRO14 play-off shambles may hit Gat’s plans

WHAT a shambles the PRO14’s Champions Cup play-off game is turning into! The whole selling point about Judgement Day this year...

Coaching brain drain is a nightmare for Welsh team lovers

I WAS fascinated to read comments by Warren Gatland this week on Robin McBryde and his move to Leinster which will...

World Cup could help Dean Ryan and Dragons

SHANE WILLIAMS Good recruit: Josh Adams will fit in really well at Cardiff Blues PICTURE: Getty Images THIS is the stage...

Hanrahan leaves Italians heartbroken

By DECLAN ROONEY JJ HANRAHAN denied Benetton a deserved spot in the PRO14 semi-finals with a penalty from halfway to save...

Best gets a big Belfast send-off to remember

By JOHN O’SULLIVAN Fond farewell: Ulster players salute their captain Rory Best ULSTER marked Rory Best’s and Darren Cave’s final game...

Shingler’s lineout expertise key for Gatland

By ALEX BYWATER WARREN Gatland has backed “outstanding” flanker Aaron Shingler to bounce back from his injury hell and throw himself...

Tigers set to pounce for Falcons 15 Hammersley

LEICESTER Tigers are keeping tabs on Newcastle Falcons full-back Simon Hammersley, who could leave the club this summer. Hammersley penned a...

Quins fear wage demands could see Kyle depart

Wanted in the West Country: Quins prop Kyle Sinckler BATH will target England and British Lions tight-head Kyle Sinckler when his...

Whiffen favourite for job at Scarlets

BY NEILFISSLER Off: Whiffen GLOUCESTER are set to lose their academy head coach Richard Whiffen at the end of the season....

New dad Faz must win the tactical battle between 10s

JEREMY GUSCOTT Fierce competitor: Owen Farrell has bounced back from an indifferent Six Nations PICTURES: Getty Images OWEN Farrell and Johnny...

Rising star Ibuanokpe ditches Quins for Saracens

TRANSFER ROUND-UP SARACENS have signed prop Josh Ibuanokpe from Harlequins. The 23-year-old tighthead has spent five years with Quins and made...

I won’t be fazed by Todd’s exit says Williams

By JON NEWCOMBE Taking up new challenge: Mike Williams NEW Bath signing Mike Williams insists Todd Blackadder’s decision to leave the...

Joe’s back to boost Wasps’ bid for playoffs

By NEALE HARVEY Winner: Jonathan Joseph Sibling rivalry: Marcus and Anthony Watson ENGLAND lock Joe Launchbury returns from an Achilles/calf injury...

Decisions didn’t go our way – Diamond

SALE director of rugby Steve Diamond thought two points each was the right outcome. He said: “We had a couple of...

Honours are even after dramatic late shootout

By ROGER PANTING Matter of inches: Faf de Klerk was denied by the woodwork PICTURES: Getty Images Dejected: Ian Madigan after...

Gustard: Work to be done in attack

HARLEQUINS’ head of rugby Paul Gustard was dissatisfied after missing out on the bonus point. He said: “We needed four points...

Quins stop the rot as Tigers fiasco goes on

By NEALE HARVEY Making it safe: Semi Kunatani crashes over for Harlequins’ second try PICTURES: Getty Images Resilient: Mike Fitzgerald scores...

Johan: Relegation system is so tough

JOHAN Ackermann called for a rethink over promotion and relegation from the Premiership after his side’s victory condemned Newcastle to demotion....

I’m staying to take us back up says Deano

By TOM BRADSHAW Missed chance: Toby Flood shows his frustration as a Newcastle opportunity goes begging PICTURES: Getty Images One that...

RFU are ‘gagging’ us say Councillors

By NICK CAIN A NEW code of conduct approved last month by the RFU Council has been condemned as ‘a gagging...

‘Winner’ Shaun will transform Les Bleus

By PETER JACKSON Down and out: Gary Graham holds his head as Newcastle’s relegation is confirmed after their defeat at Kingsholm...

Guscott column: Danny Cipriani can rain on Saracens dream of a double

Saracens are on course to compete for a Premiership and Champions Cup double – but the Gloucester fly-half can spoil that

Dream Team: Cornish Pirates, ex-Sandbach and Leeds Beckett fly-half Will Cargill

The Pirates goal-kicker picks the best XV based on who he has played with and against

Probyn column: The Premiership has a long way to go to return the sort of profit CVC desires

Jeff Probyn addresses the gulf that will form between grassroots rugby and the top level with the CVC's influence on the...

England Sevens stalwart James Rodwell to retire

"There is no better feeling than running out onto the pitch with some of your closest friends to some of the...

Dragons to appoint Dean Ryan as new head coach

It's been a season of uncertainty at the Welsh region – but this could be the start of something new

Premiership represented in Conor O’Shea’s Italy squad for Rugby World Cup camp

Three Premiership players included in mix of Benetton and Zebre for World Cup training camp

The Rugby Paper Awards 2019: The Championship and National League stars shooting for silverware

We’re looking at some of the front-runners for the Championship and National Leagues’ Players of the Year to honour in our...

Lions won’t sack defence coach found guilty of indecently assaulting female hotel staffer

Set to resume coaching responsibilities on 6 May

Worcester Warriors flanker Marco Mama suffers severe dead leg

Alan Solomons has confirmed flanker Marco Mama should be out for ‘a few months’ after requiring hospital treatment on a dead...

Shaun Edwards rejects WRU offer and will leave after Japan

What next for Wales' much sought-after defence coach?

Cain column: Get Anthony Watson in the England no.15 shirt

How would the return of the Bath full-back figure in England's 31-man World Cup squad?

The best betting offers for rugby punters

What’s best, Rugby Union or Rugby League? It’s an argument that will keep diehard followers of either sport up all night...

London Irish rachet up Premiership plans with several targets in mind

A sizeable shopping list for the Championship winners

Wallabies prop brings the hammer down on Rugby Australia for their treatment of Israel Folau

Has the Wallabies Rookie of the Year award winner just jeopardised his Rugby World Cup?

Connacht are hitting their best, says Andy Friend

Friend reveals the Connacht squad have been hitting new highs in the gym and on the pitch

Cipriani, de Klerk and Cordero all nominated in 2019 RPA Awards

England's Men and Women's teams are shortlisted across six award categories

EXCLUSIVE: Bristol Bears explore investment from USA

Bristol Bears owner Steve Lansdown in Manchester City's model