Quality of soccer’s second tier is streets ahead

HAVINGread Nick Cain’s piece picking at Steve Lansdown last Sunday, I can’t help but object to his ridiculous argument about why...

Premiership self-interest set to repeat

JEFF GAGE Europe’s second tier: Saints skipper Dylan Hartley “It’s time the rest of English rugby woke up to the fact...

Bike ride to Japan!

THE 2019 Rugby World Cup kicked off at Canterbury yesterday – on two wheels. Ron Rutland and James Owens are making...

Gustard chasing Scarlets ace Boyce

■By STEFFAN THOMAS Wanted: Will Boyde HARLEQUINS want Scarlets flanker Will Boyde to help continue Paul Gustard’s revolution. Boyde’s contract in...

Italy’s Six Nations place safe despite desperate run

RELEGATION will not be introduced to the Six Nations, according to tournament chief Ben Morel, who also says there is no...

Underdog status suits me just fine

Jon Newcombe talks to Graham Rowntree as work begins for his World Cup return Passionate: Graham Rowntree takes a Georgia training...

St Andre: We have no chance at Twickenham

■By NEALE HARVEY Realist: Philippe St Andre FRANCE’S brittle confidence makes it almost impossible for them to storm England’s citadel and...

X-factor will make Josh world star

ALEX BYWATER on the remarkable progress of Wales wing Josh Adams Ganging up: Josh Adams is tackled by Wesley Fofana and...

Scotland unable to capitalise on Italian indiscipline

Scotland W …7 Italy W …28 ITALY opened their campaign with a bonus point away win on Friday night, battling in...

French show they’re a class apart

France Women 52 Wales Women …3 THE French Grand Slammers of last season made Wales suffer on the opening day of...

Roses warm up for French test

■By RONAN O’NEILL Supergirl: England’s Zoe Harrison scores the sixth try PICTURE: Inpho ENGLANDhead coach Simon Middleton says attention will quickly...

Wales without star centre Tiaan as they tackle the champions

■By ALEX BYWATER WALES head coach Gareth Williams has been dealt a blow with Tiaan Thomas- Wheeler unavailable. The Ospreys centre...

Foley’s late snipe seals bonus point for Ireland

■By BARRY MURPHY Early lead: Tom Willis celebrates his try Ireland’s hero: Replacement No.9 Cormac Foley scores the late winner PICTURES:...

Shocker for Scots as Trulla’s late score seals it

■By GARY HEATLY Scotland U20…22 Italy U20 …32 JACOPOTrulla’s try sealed a brilliant opening victory for Italy as Scotland mounted a...

Don’t rush to rubbish World Lge, we need it!

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK “The international game is treading water from one World Cup cycle to the...

We had a virus reveals O’Shea

ITALY boss Conor O’Shea praised his side in adversity. He said: “We had quite a few guys affected by a virus...

Kinghorn’s hat-trick lights up Murrayfield

■By NEALE HARVEY Irrepressible: Blair Kinghorn dives over for his second try PICTURES: Getty Images Battling on: Jayden Hayward makes a...

Can we beat the record v England?

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Outstanding: Justin Tipuric showed why he’s one of the best flankers in the world PICTURE:...

Gats was hard on me says hero North

GEORGE North warned Wales’ Six Nations rivals that Warren Gatland’s men will only get better after the giant wing crowned the...

Devastating England dare to dream again

■By SAM JACKSON Got it licked: Henry Slade crosses to score England’s fourth try against Ireland to the delight of his...

Which are the best types of rugby to bet on?

H1: Types of Rugby The most common types of rugby are rugby league and rugby union. These two types of rugby...

Why rugby and CBD have gone hand-in-hand

Rugby players are subject to a litany of injuries and many players suffer from shortened careers due to a build-up of...

We’re good because of the level of scrutiny Joe Schmidt pays to preparation, says Ireland captain Best

"We know that it is preparation that wins games"

Room 101: Former Dragons head coach and Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman

Don't ask Bernard Jackman for tickets to a Six Nations game...

Wales announce team to take on France in Six Nations

Team news is in...

Ambitious Coventry chairman Jon Sharp talks Butts Park Arena revamp

Coventry are in talks to create a plan similar to Exeter Chiefs

Te’o blow increases likelihood Manu Tuilagi starts for England in Dublin

England retain 25 players for Six Nations opener against Grand Slam champions

I have got huge respect for the noise the Irish fans make, says Jamie George

Not long to go until the 2019 Six Nations kicks off

Newcastle sign Alex Dunbar on loan from Glasgow Warriors

Does this signal the end of the Scotland centre's time at Scotstoun?

Currie Cup winner Nick Easter to join Sharks for Super Rugby

Nick Easter has found his calling in South Africa

Danny Care inks new Harlequins deal

The England scrum-half was set to be out of contract in the summer

I’m ready for Eddie if he wants me says Robshaw

By NEALE HARVEY Man-of-the-match: Joel Kpoku fends off Ross Chisholm to score Saracens’ second try Joy: James Horwill and Dino Lamb...

Holmes helps Chiefs slay the noisy neighbours on road to semis

By WILL CARPENTER EXETER Chiefs kept their hopes of a Cup semi-final alive after a penalty try ten minutes from time...

Saints give thanks for the dashing Reinach

By ROB WILDMAN Off to a flyer: James Grayson scores Saints’ opening try Jubilant: Dom Barrow and Api Ratuniyarawa NORTHAMPTON needed...

Clamp down on offside to get a great Six Nations

THE phrase ‘great line speed’ is one we hear on a frequent basis from TV commentators. It is used to describe...

Lansdown’s the face of double standards

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK STEVE Lansdown may have done great things for Bristol Bears by underwriting their...

DREAMTEAM

GRAYSON HART, LONDON SCOTTISH AND FORMER AUCKLAND, WARATAHS, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND 7s & EALING No.9, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS...

England’s Euro display is a cause for shame

COLIN BOAG Last men standing: Saracens are flying the flag in the Champions Cup Iread a tweet last weekend celebrating the...

England will be up for battle this time

ALL the talk is of Ireland and how close they will get to another Grand Slam. I don’t see them doing...

Maybe we should copy Scots’ lead

I DON’T think Colin Boag has taken his ring-fencing argument far enough. Surely, Scotland, with its two Champions Cup qualifying teams...

Gap getting wider between the tiers

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk WELL done to Colin...

Brecon go nine points clear at the top

Welsh Division One round-up By JAY BAYFORD IT PROVED to be a good day for Breconas they extended their lead in...

Sheppard try helps Ystrad move up to second

Welsh Championship round-up By JAY BAYFORD YSTRAD Rhondda are up to second in the National Championship after bagging maximum points against...

Grabham heroics helps Ravens succeed on the road

By GEOFF CHAMPION Newbridge 0 Bridgend 21 BRIDGEND overcame plucky Championship side Newbridge with three tries in mud bath conditions. Owen...

Heartbreak again for Vale as Ironmen stage late fightback

By ROB COLE Merthyr 10 Ebbw Vale 9 A PENALTY try from the last play of the game, and with the...

Phillips try edges dogged Whites into last eight

By PAUL HOPKINS Swansea 10 Bargoed 0 SWANSEA booked a place in the Cup quarter-finals with a hard fought victory over...

Powerful Ponty prevail after Shellard stars for the hosts

By IAN GOLDEN Pontypridd 35 Llanelli 26 PONTYPRIDD edged their way into the quarter-finals with victory over Llanelli at Sardis Road...

Keys suffer upset in gruelling Gwent derby battle

By JAY BAYFORD Cross Keys 9 Pontypool 12 PONTYPOOL claimed their place in the last eight with a Gwent derby victory...

Blue and Blacks down former champions to seal progress

By THOMAS HUWS RGC 140415 Cardiff 27 CARDIFF marched into the quarter-finals of the WRU National Cup after victory over 2017...

Budgen rolls back the years in victory over Met

By STEFFAN THOMAS Cardiff Met 13 Bedwas 31 BEDWAS advanced to the quarter-finals of the WRU National Cup with a hardfought...