Ken Pisi to leave Franklin’s Gardens after seven years

"When I first came over, I didn’t know what to expect" – Pisi

The Rugby Paper Awards 2019: Which youngster deserves recognition?

We’re looking for your Young Player of the Year to honour in our inaugural Rugby Paper Awards. Youth has had a...

What next for Shaun Edwards after rejecting Wigan Warriors?

In August 2018, Shaun Edwards made a verbal commitment to returning to his former club in rugby league, Wigan Warriors, once...

Warren Gatland includes Owen Lane in World Cup training squad

Cardiff Blues winger one of two uncapped players named in 42-man training party

Jackson column: Alun Wyn Jones the last man standing from 2007

His first World Cup ended on the western coast of France with Wales plunged into a national crisis which forced them...

Shane Williams column: Owen Lane offers Wales variety out wide

Owen Lane simply has to be a strong consideration for the World Cup

Gustard: We can still make top four

HARLEQUINS suffered their fifth successive Pemiership defeat but head coach Paul Gustard still believes they can clinch a play-off place. Justifiably...

Baxter raps his pack as the Quins comeback falls short

By MIKE SINCLAIR EXETER boss Rob Baxter tore a strip off his floundering forwards after the Premiership leaders were left hanging...

Murphy: We knew Harry was a threat

TIGERS head coach Geordan Murphy remained phlegmatic despite watching former player Harry Thacker help inflict their fifth home defeat of the...

Thacker keeps Tigers dangling on the edge

By NICK CAIN Go with the flow: Dan Thomas touches down for Bristol after the best move of the game PICTURES:...

Cipriani’s magic at its most potent can unsettle Sarries

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Flair: Danny Cipriani has the panache to fire Gloucester PICTURE: Getty Images THERE is a...

DREAMTEAM

WILL CARGILL, CORNISH PIRATES AND EX-SANDBACH & LEEDS BECKETT FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Why does Mullins’ heart bleed for beaten Munster?

COLIN BOAG Myth busted: Munster trudge off after defeat to Saracens One of the smartest bits of rugby marketing ever is...

It’s still ring fencing …by the back door

COLIN Boag reports that ‘the thorny question of promotion and relegation looks likely to be resolved by a twoleg play-off between...

Size all that matters in this ‘thug’ rugby

YOUR article on the potential problem with drugs in Rugby Union stressed that players come under pressure to become ‘bigger and...

Budget cuts could be death knell for some local clubs

IT IS devastating to see that the RFU are even considering slashing their Community Rugby budget. I am afraid to say...

Wage inflation not the way forward

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk NEIL Fissler reports that...

Ryan emerges as last contender for Dragons top job

By STEFFAN THOMAS DEAN Ryan is a late contender to take charge at struggling Dragons. The Gwent region parted company with...

Moon knows he must shine in Chiefs run-in

By NEALE HARVEY UNSUNG England hero Ben Moon reveals why the dream of representing his country at the World Cup is...

Henson looking for a new club

GAVIN HENSON is fighting to save his colourful career after being told by the Dragons that his contract will not be...

Wilson feels equipped to keep ahead of the curve

■By NEALE HARVEY Improving: Mark Wilson puts in another big shift for Newcastle PICTURES: Getty Images MARK WILSON believes he is...

Bye weeks help you to plan for the season says Boyd

NORTHAMPTON rugby director Chris Boyd claims player welfare concerns being peddled over the prospect of a 13-team Premiership are unfounded. With...

The Fera sign off in real style with eight tries

Welsh Division One round-up By CARL FIELD ONE West Central champions Ystalyfera won for the 17th time in the league this...

Crows fly to safety and send Emlyn on way down

Welsh Championship round-up ■By CARL FIELD TREBANOS will be playing WRU National Championship rugby again next season. The Crows secured their...

Showdown can ease agony of warm-ups

National Plate: Bonymaen v Brecon Today. Kick-off 3.15pm BOTH teams lost in their respective leagues last weekend, but the prospect of...

Gwent rivals ready to serve up decider

National Bowl: Abergavenny v Oakdale Today. Kick-off 1pm IT is 1-1 between Gwent rivals Abergavenny and Oakdale this season, though the...

Double-double firmly in skipper Howe’s sights

National Cup: Cardiff v Merthyr Today. Kick-off 5.35pm JAMES Howe had to sit out last season’s WRU National Cup Final because...

Pontypridd made to battle but remain in the title hunt

By TIM LEWIS RGC 1404 ……14 Pontypridd ….18 PONTYPRIDD kept their slim title hopes alive as they claimed a hardfought victory...

Rubasniak class shines through as Ebbw plunder 11-try haul

By PAUL HOPKINS Ebbw Vale……74 Neath………………7 EBBW Vale ran in 11 tries in an emphatic victory over relegated Neath. The Steelmen...

Untroubled Ravens still cling to their top-flight status

By GUTO DAVIES Bargoed …………0 Bridgend ……29 BRIDGEND powered to a crucial bonus-point away win over an already relegated Bargoed. It...

Bedwas hit six but know victory may not be enough to survive

By ROB COLE Aberavon ……19 Bedwas ……….38 BEDWAS hit the Wizards for six as they kept alive their hopes of Premiership...

RUGBY SHORTS

West agrees 2-year deal FORMER England hooker Dorian West has signed a two-year deal to coach Sale forwards on a permanent...

Armitage storms back to hand Pau a lifeline

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Inspiring: Steffon Armitage made an impressive return Battling English forward Steffon Armitage rode an emotional rollercoaster to...

Poppy leads the way as Sarries storm to the title

By RICHARD WILSON Saracens…………33pts Tries: Cleall 3, 27; Gregson 10, Harrison 19, 40 Conversions: Harrison 40 Penalties: Harrison 45, 79 Harlequins...

Legend Watson accuses Sharks of ‘culture of fear’

By ADAM ELLIS Determination: Andre Esterhuizen scores for the Sharks THE SHARKS took full advantage of an ill-disciplined Waratahs team to...

All Black Evans eyes next life as wine-maker

NEWS EXTRA By JON NEWCOMBE AT 34 years of age, in rugby terms Bryn Evans is entering Last of the Summer...

Saracens pair fly the flag on Euro shortlist

FIVE players from Champions Cup finalists Leinster and Saracens comprise the entire shortlist for the European Player of the Year award....

Storm force Exeter to hit road north

SARACENS Storm secured a home tie in the Rugby Shield semi-finals with a win over Exeter Braves to claim top spot...

England build momentum for World Cup

NEWS EXTRA STEVE Bates’ England U20s recorded a 35-8 victory over the Junior Springboks at Butts Park Arena, Coventry, on Friday....

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TOUCH RUGBY WORLD CUP

THE first Touch World Cup took place in 1988 with 13 teams competing across four categories. Since then the tournament has...

Touch Rugby is feeling its way towards a bright future

CHRIS WEARMOUTH previews what will be the biggest ever Touch World Cup Touch down: England flyer Kamil Shahabdeen scores against Scotland...

Funding the Premiership could destroy our game

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Game changer: Sir John Hall’s millions turned Newcastle into champions and set...

YOUNG GUNS

JACK CLEMENT GLOUCESTER No.8 Had things worked out differently, Jack Clement might have been liningup for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club this...

Three for McLean as Raiders pillage

By DAVE MOORE Worthing ……66 Taunton ……….31 THERE was a try-fest for spectators at Roundstone Lane as Worthing beat Taunton 66-31....

Gidlow has final say in end game

By BILL HOOPER Redruth…………33 Dings …………….20 REDRUTH made the most of the slope and prevailing wind in the second half to...

West London bragging rights to Barnes

By ROSS MARTINOVIC Wild Geese …21 Barnes ……….29 THREE tries in a 13-minute spell either side of halftime helped Barnes to...

City Men’s unbeaten run taken by Rams

By LYNDON EDNEY Canterbury ……….14pts Rams ………………….31 pts Held: Canterbury’s Harvey Young tackles Conor Corrigan Threat: Double try scorer Ricky Mackintosh...

O’Neill inspires Hawks to fivetry win

By NICK PITSON IT WAS typical end of season fayre at Dry Leas - blustery conditions, plenty of endeavour but a...

Guernsey heat up before Siam Cup

By KATIE DAUNT AN EIGHTH win of a tough season for Jordan Reynolds’ Raiders and the perfect fillip for his side...

Pomphrey shines in last-ever game

By ROGER OPIE Clifton ……………17 Old Redcliffs ….0 CLIFTON’S second-half performance and fitness earned them a clear victory in this Bristol...