Revitalised Montpellier end up with last laugh

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Hat-trick: Vincent Rattez scored three of La Rochelle’s 12 tries against Bordeaux Time stood still for heroic...

Super Rugby Jaguares play-off surge is an omen for Pumas

■By ADAM ELLIS Test calibre: Jaguares wing Ramiro Moyano goes head-to-head with Waratahs full-back Kurtley Beale PICTURE: Getty Images THE JAGUARES...

RUGBY SHORTS

Crusaders investigate CRUSADERS head coach Scott Robertson has defended Richie Mo’unga and George Bridge after they were accused by South African...

Powell v Haskell!

FORMER Wales No.8 Andy Powell has challenged James Haskell to a charity boxing match. Powell used Twitter to challenge Haskell to...

Cips: Me and Owen

DANNY Cipriani believes there is no reason why he and Owen Farrell cannot operate in the same squad as calls grow...

Dombrandt eyes call-up for Baa-Baas clash

ALEX Dombrandt hopes his stellar first season in pro rugby might earn him an England call-up for next Sunday’s Twickenham clash...

Zach aims to stamp his brand on Eddie

■By NEALE HARVEY ZACHMercer is ready to prove to England head coach Eddie Jones that Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes are...

Rams plan to keep on climbing

NEALE HARVEY picks out some key early battles in next season’s National Leagues On the up: Rams celebrate winning National 2...

Sad to see my own rugby pathway is no longer there

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Outspoken: Dean Ryan criticised the RFU following his move to take charge...

Wing Walker quits Quins for new start in Italy

By ADAM ELLIS Finisher: Charlie Walker HARLEQUINS winger Charlie Walker will swap the Premiership for the PRO14 and join Zebre this...

I won’t forget that glare off Leonard!

MY LIFEIN RUGBY NICK WALSHE THE FORMER ENGLAND, BATH, SALE, SARACENS, HARLEQUINS AND BEDFORD SCRUM-HALF Reaching the top: Nick Walshe in...

Knights charge up Uni system

Stepping up: Will Goodrick-Clarke in ferocious form for Richmond DONCASTER Knights academy will play three divisions higher in the University system...

Delaney in to replace Hayward

THE Scarlets have added another piece to their coaching jigsaw with the appointment of Glenn Delaney as defence coach. Delaney, currently...

Richmond restart earns Will his second chance

By JON NEWCOMBE COMPUTER science degree graduate Will Goodrick-Clarke is relishing another crack at the Premiership after his reboot at Richmond....

Murphy wants Tigers to start playing ‘smarter’ rugby

LEICESTER head coach Geordan Murphy will ask his Tigers to show more versatility in their game next season after narrowly avoiding...

Lam’s building Bears a platform to England

By NEALE HARVEY Leading charge for Red Rose honours: Harry Thacker PICTURES: Getty Images Ambitious: Pat Lam BRISTOL supremo Pat Lam...

YOUNG GUNS

ROUBAN BIRCH Rouban Birch admits he couldn’t believe his luck when it was announced that South Africa second row superstar Lood...

England beat the Kiwis but fall to Ireland

■By ANDRE THOMAS Hand-off: Phil Burgess of England is challenged by Ireland’s Harry McNulty ENGLAND were dumped out of Cup contention...

Top two take command after thrilling season finale

The Rugby Paper’s reporters have submitted their votes to reveal our National 2 South Team of the Season Lerading by example:...

This free bar will cost you

THEWorld Cup warm-ups are still almost three months away but the hospitality companies are already selling their wares, like this one:...

Dream Team wake up call

THE PRO14 final at Celtic Park last night brought a new twist to the old maxim about there being two teams...

Quins landed a coup with Dombrandt

THEEnglish Premiership Dream Team of the season featured a back row forward from Croydon whom nobody had heard of when he...

Durable? They should call James Red Rum!

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PETER JACKSON SAMJames ought to have been centre-stage at the Premiership gala dinner last Wednesday...

Deano disappointed by Hammerlsey flying the nest

By ADAM ELLIS THE lure of European rugby proved too strong for Simon Hammersley to remain at Kingston Park so the...

Miller tells boo boys to cut Lima some slack

By NEALE HARVEY Under fire: Wasps fly-half Lima Sopoaga PICTURES: Getty Images PLAYMAKER Lima Sopoaga should not be made a scapegoat...

James will leave Blues

CARDIFF Blues wing Tom James will leave the region at the end of the month. The 32-year-old returned to rugby this...

Insurance change frees Wales players for early duty

WELSH World Cup hopes received a boost this week with England-based players available to Warren Gatland for as soon as he...

Ealing back play-off plans but call for fairer funding

By NEALE HARVEY Support: Mike Gooley EALING Trailfinders owner Mike Gooley says he would have no problem with Premiership Rugby plans...

Scottish prop stars call time

EXETER prop Moray Low says the time is right for him to bring the curtain down on his distinguished playing career...

White’s aiming big after his upgrade at Exeter

By NEALE HARVEY ACE scrum-half Nic White says the chance to banish bitter memories of World Cup rejection by Australia in...

Thomas scoops top newcomer

ASPIRING Cardiff Blues outside-half Ben Thomas was named best newcomer at the Principality Premiership awards for his performances in helping Merthyr...

DREAMTEAM

JAMES HOOK, OSPREYS AND FORMER NEATH, PERPIGNAN, GLOUCESTER & WALES FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

Tough to go from Toulon to Ampthill – Robinson

■By JON NEWCOMBE ADOPTING the right mental approach will be key to Newcastle’s chances of bouncing back into the Premiership at...

It’s back to basics for Wade in NFL camps

By ADAM ELLIS CHRISTIANWade celebrated his birthday in between two training camps with the Buffalo Bills as he transforms himself from...

Best of rest are team to be feared

NICK CAIN PICKS HIS PREMIERSHIP TEAM WITHOUT EXETER OR SARACENS’ PLAYERS Given that the Exeter and Saracens duopoly at the top...

For Ospreys to fire they must sort Alun Wyn

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Priority: Ospreys must get Alun Wyn Jones under contract PICTURES: Getty Images Who would have...

Kearney: We had to weather the storm

LEINSTER full-back Rob Kearney praised the way his side stepped up to the plate defensively to edge out Glasgow Warriors. Kearney,...

Sexton finds kicking boots at right time

By GARY HEATLY Champions: The injured Sean O’Brien lifts the trophy as Leinster start the celebrations LEINSTER edged out Glasgow Warriors...

Sorry Clive, you’re the one whose over-reacting on Cipriani

ONE of Danny Cipriani’s most staunch advocates before his move to Gloucester this season was Sir Clive Woodward. England’s only World...

Eddie’s Twickenham opt out is Baa-king mad

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK ENGLAND are about to embark on their final phase of preparation for the...

Cipriani has turned Tindall into a believer

By GARY FITZGERALD EDDIE Jones must stop being so ‘stubborn’ over Danny Cipriani or he could live to regret not taking...

Gloucester eye League ace Long

Legend: Sean Long GLOUCESTER are looking to strengthen their coaching staff with a cross code switch for St Helens legend Sean...

Escape clause lets Falcon Zach fly off to Wasps

Relegated: Zach Kibirige WASPS are poised to finalise a deal to sign former England Sevens flyer Zach Kibirige from relegated Newcastle...

Cantrakilis may quit Quins to rejoin Kings

SOUTHERN Kings are looking to sign a fly-half for next season and it could mean a move for Harlequins Demetri Catrakilis....

Make your mind up time for Davies

Decision: Sam Davies WELSH international fly-half Sam Davies will make a decision where he will be playing next season by the...

ROOM 101

JOSH BAINBRIDGE THE YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE FLANKER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Buses Just...

Ireland will be a big force in Japan insists Dempsey

By NEALE HARVEY JOHNNYSexton’s return to top form for Leinster has boosted Ireland’s World Cup chances, says Bath attack coach Girvan...

Baxter’s warning for Sarries: We’ve got better

Improving: Rob Baxter EXETER boss Rob Baxter last night promised Saracens that the Chiefs are a better side now than the...

O’Flaherty gamble pays off for Chiefs – and Saints count the cost

From MIKE SINCLAIR at Sandy Park EXETER boss Rob Baxter’s wing and a prayer gamble paid off as surprise choice Tom...

McGinity set to join Tigers’ shake-up

By NEIL FISSLER LEICESTER Tigers are close to appointing former agent Jan McGinity as the new head of operations in a...