How Do Rugby Players Spend Their Time off the Field?

Rugby has a reputation for being a brutal sport, and it is often considered to be one of the most dangerous...

All Black commitments may stretch Crusaders

Glenn Delaney insists Crusaders will still be the team to beat when Super Rugby returns on Friday.

Orrell phoenixes prepare to end nomadic existence

One of the many northern victims of mismanagement during the professional era, Orrell RUFC are now looking forward to a bright...

Pole-vaulter Jonny strives to raise bar ever higher

The England winger was speaking ahead of Sunday's victory over France.

Farrell has moved well ahead of George now

If I was to reflect on my own career briefly, this current situation for George is similar to what I experienced...

Size matters so much in our new land of the giants

By Peter Jackson,  When the Lions clinched their one and only series victory in New Zealand, one man stood above the...

Let’s have relegation in women’s Six Nations

Spencer explains how there is an extreme gulf between the top and the bottom in Women's rugby.

Here’s one football story rugby men should heed

By Nick Cain,  Premiership  owners are partial to borrowing from the professional football model when it suits their purposes. So, let’s...

Take your bow, but you’ll need to step up

The former Wales international speaks about last weekend's victory over Italy and looks ahead to the forthcoming England game.

Slade’s not a classic 13 but he’s putting his stamp on it

Henry Slade made a big impression in the victory over Ireland last weekend, but he has been a late bloomer at...

Can anyone stop England’s Six Nations march?

The Six Nations has a habit of throwing up any number of surprises and none more so than the way England...

Wales know they will need much more to stop England

By PETER JACKSON Reward: Josh Adams crosses to score Wales’ first try PICTURES: Getty Images THE message screaming out from The...

Slade’s not a classic 13 but he’s putting his stamp on it

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK In association with Lifts the team: Henry Slade’s two tries in Dubln have helped build...

Bin players who appeal for yellows

COLIN BOAG Appeal: Rory Best complains to referee Jerome Garces after England’s third try In last week’s TRP Bob Reeves, a...

Mullins is the UK’s standard bearer

COLIN Boag is right about the awful standard of commentary as a whole (especially the BBC). Aussie commentary of Super Rugby...

Beware unintended results of tinkering with the tackle laws

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk THE rule of unintended...

NFL conferences are the way to go

REGARDING the debate about ring-fencing proposals, I believe they should go the NFL route and increase the Premiership to 16 clubs...

Rugby is a winter sport

WELL said Peter Jackson: “Since when did the professional game give a fig for the fans?” In all the coverage of...

Long term gains must be priority

PREDICTABLY, the Six Nations establishment is adopting the “I’m alright, Jack, pull up the ladder” response to proposals for some form...

World-class Hogg can be a Premiership great says Weir

By NEALE HARVEY WING-HEELED full-back Stuart Hogg can be one of the Premiership’s greatest ever signings at Exeter next season, predicts...

Abendanon fears game has become too physical

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Recovering: Nick Abendanon hopes to be back fully fit for Clermont in time for Saints clash PICTURE:...

Versatile Griffiths gunning for Wales back row

By STEFFAN THOMAS OLLIE Griffiths insists he is fit and firing and believes his versatility could land him a World Cup...

Moon: Wales must retain coaching talent

SCARLETS legend Rupert Moon has told the WRU they can’t afford to let Rob Howley and Robin McBryde leave Welsh rugby....

Otters narrow the gap with 7-try thrashing

Welsh round-up By CARL FIELD NARBERTH moved to within a point of second spot in the Championship with a magnificent seventry...

Hat-trick hero Gee inspires Ironmen to comeback

By CARL FIELD Bridgend ……..17 Merthyr ……….24 TERI Gee inspired Merthyr as they returned to winning ways in the Principality Premiership...

Swans recover from slow start to glide past the Steelmen

By PAUL HOPKINS Swansea ……..29 Ebbw Vale ……15 SWANSEA made it eight wins in a row with a thrilling victory over...

Ponty keep focussed despite off-pitch rumours

By ROB COLE Neath………………0 Pontypridd ….45 PONTYPRIDD put a troubled week behind them as they stayed in the title race with...

Penny cashes in early but Blue & Blacks win the jackpot

By IAN GOLDEN Cross Keys ….18 Cardiff …………21 EVERYONE was reaching for the record books in Ystrad Mynach on Friday night,...

Bedwas breeze past the Bulls to end rotten run

By JON DALY Bedwas ……….52 Bargoed …………7 BEDWAS climbed out of the automatic relegation places as they plundered a magnificent seven...

Drovers power back from 14 points down to take triumph

By STEFFAN THOMAS RGC 1404 ……..24 Llandovery ….31 LLANDOVERY came from 14 points down to claim a 31-24 bonus-point victory over...

Carmarthen Q 12

Llanelli …………18 WHEN these two teams met in Carmarthen in October it was a last-gasp conversion from Ashley Sutton that earned...

DREAMTEAM

TONY FENNER, COVENTRY AND FORMER AUCKLAND, OTAGO, EASTERN PROVINCE, EDINBURGH AND BEDFORD UTILITY BACK, CHOOSES HIS BEST XV PLAYED WITH OR...

All Black commitments may stretch Crusaders

By NEALE HARVEY Champions: Crusaders celebrate their success in 2018 GLENN Delaney insists Crusaders will still be the team to beat...

Bowen’s brace claims bronze in Sydney

ENGLAND took bronze at the Sydney Sevens with a 19-17 defeat of Rio 2016 Olympic champions Fiji. Tom Bowen scored two...

Gustard’s galvanised Quins like Conor did – Evans

PAUL Gustard-inspired Harlequins are building to a new glory era that could match their trophy-winning exploits of 2011 and 2012, says...

Moon peaking to fill void of mentor Lawes

By NEALE HARVEY MONSTERlock Alex Moon aims to shoot for the stars by covering the gap left by Courtney Lawes as...

England hopeful raring for a ruck with Tigers

GIN-LOVING England hopeful Michael Rhodes aims for the perfect tonic after injury as he plots a return for Saracens this Saturday...

Farell studies the way to deliver killer punch in style of Tom Brady

By GARY FITZGERLAD Learning curve: Owen Farrell is taking lessons from Super Bowl OWEN Farrell is using NFL legend Tom Brady...

Robshaw will react, he likes to be written off – Easter

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND’S performance against Ireland will have sent shock waves through their World Cup rivals, says former Red Rose...

Attwood jumps on Bristol bandwagon

BRISTOL confirmed they have done a deal to re-sign England lock Dave Attwood from Bath at the end of the season,...

Kitchener heading home to Sixways

WORCESTER have re-signed Leicester lock forward Graham Kitchener after eight years away from Sixways. Kitchener, 29, left to join Leicester in...

Sharks flyer Jennings takes break to recover

SALE Sharks centre Mark Jennings is to take a sabbatical from professional rugby for the “foreseeable future”. Jennings has spent his...

Hartpury bailed out by Bristol loanees

BRISTOL have come to the aid of their injury hit Championship neighbours Hartpury by making five players available on loan with...

Farewell to England’s Webster and Gittings

TWO former England scrum-halves have passed away. Jan Webster, 72, earned 11 caps from 1972 to 75 and was instrumental in...

‘Systems error’ costs Harlequins

QUINS have been fined £6, 239.50 after exceeding the salary cap last season. They were £12, 479 over the £7m limit,...

Simpson off to Gloucester

WASPS scrum-half Joe Simpson will join fellow Premiership side Gloucester at the end of the season in a straight swap for...

Falcons refocus with time in the great outdoors

By NEALE HARVEY Going on the attack: Simon Hammersley NEWCASTLE full-back Simon Hammersley believes a week of team bonding in the...

Orrell RUFC’s best of the best

GREAT players such as British Lions John Carleton and Dewi Morris, fellow England Grand Slammer Nigel Heslop and other internationals too...

Orrell phoenixes finally see end to nomadicexistence

Otley players Andy Glover, far left, and Steve Ormesher make hard yards. Chairman Tony Havlin ONE of the many northern victims...

Maunder relieved to sign on for one more

By NEALE HARVEY EXETER CHIEFS scrumhalf Jack Maunder is aiming for Premiership glory after extending his stay at last year’s beaten...