Easy for Munster but injury to Farrell mars win

By DECLAN ROONEY JOHANN Van Graan praised his side’s discipline but is waiting for positive new of Chris Farrell’s knee injury...

Warren has to establish a half-back partnership

WALES AND LIONS LEGEND SHANE WILLIAMS Starter at 10: Wales need the kicking expertise of Dan Biggar against England PICTURE: Getty...

Form no factor when facing Wales – Wood

By NEALE HARVEY Ball-carrying power: Courtney Lawes takes on France for England last weekend PICTURES: Getty Images Tough times: Wales celebrate...

French camp gives Wales a taster for time in Japan

By ALEX BYWATER Fun in the sun: Wales train on French Riviera ALL focus will be on Cardiff on Saturday when...

…while Joseph works off his frustration

FIT-AGAIN Jonathan Joseph aims to remind man-of-the-moment Henry Slade why he must never be complacent about occupying England’s No.13 jersey. After...

Slade can carry out the Greenwood job for Eddie

By NEALE HARVEY All-rounder: Henry Slade has been in top form over the first two weekends of the Six Nations PICTURES:...

Johan: We left so much out there

GLOUCESTER head coach, Johan Ackermann, accepted his side had made life difficult for themselves. “We are grateful for the win but...

Wasteful Gloucester get there in the end

By ROGER PANTING Winning try: Ben Morgan rumbles over to gain justice for Gloucester PICTURES: Getty Images DON’T be fooled by...

Huddles keep England minds on the job

ENGLAND have adopted the American Footballstyle huddles we have seen in their recent Six Nations wins against France and Ireland as...

You can win things with kids if they get a chance

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK NICK CAIN ONE of the biggest falsehoods being peddled in the promotion/relegation debate is the...

First half was just horrific says Lam

BRISTOL boss Pat Lam pulled no punches. “The first half was horrific,” he said. “We turned the ball over six times...

Dallaglio’s pep-talk is inspiration for Robson masterclass

By NEALE HARVEY Looking good: Nizaam Carr scores Wasps’ third try made by Billy Searle PICTURES: Getty Images Impact off the...

Solomons glad of Warriors’ try bonus

ALAN Solomons cursed his Warriors for making life hard for themselves at Twickenham Stoop. The director of rugby feared they might...

Gustard’s delight over Quins’ England rejects

By GARY FITZGERALD Late surge: James Lang powers over from close range to score Quins final try PICTURES: Getty Images Test...

Deano frustrated by lack of accuracy

NEWCASTLE boss Dean Richards bemoaned wasted opportunities. “The boys fronted up, which is never in question, but it’s frustrating because had...

Smokin’ Joe declares he’s ready for Eddie

By NEALE HARVEY England form: Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga dives over for their second try PICTURES: Getty Images One that didn’t...

Don’t risk Halfpenny yet pleads O’Driscoll

WALES are being advised not to pick Leigh Halfpenny against England this week following his third abortive comeback attempt in two...

No-one will stop Jonny in Cardiff says Tindall

By GARY FITZGERALD ANY special Warren Gatland plans to try and stop the lightning quick Jonny May striking an early blow...

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...