We’re on the way roars Diamond

STEVE Diamond could not hide his delight after Sale beat Sarries for only the second time in eight years. A third...

Even Billy can’t stop the Sharks as they show teeth

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Done it! Tom Curry celebrates Sale’s win with twin brother Ben PICTURES: Getty Images He’s back: Billy Vunipola...

I’ve seen nothing like that says Todd

REFEREEIan Tempest handled the mayhem brilliantly but Bath boss Todd Blackadder was bemused. He said: “To be penalised off the park...

Mayhem as Worcester edge 11-man Bath

By NEALE HARVEY Finishing touch: Bryce Heem completes a scintillating Worcester try PICTURES: Getty Images Ahead: Zach Mercer goes over for...

Gustard: Great to get win for Mike

PAUL GUSTARD dedicated Harlequins’ thumping win to record man Mike Brown after his 308th appearance for the Londoners. Head of rugby...

Inspired Harlequins leave Falcons for Brown bread

Excelling at No.6: Alex Dombrandt crashes over for Quins’ fifth try PICTURES: Getty Images Getting away: Falcons’ Simon Hammersley evades Ben...

Ospreys aim to keep Alun-Wyn until 2021

By PETER JACKSON Roaring home: George Ford scores for Leicester in the win over Gloucester PICTURE: Getty Images THE OSPREYS are...

Saints in bid to take Joseph from Bath

By NEIL FISSLER Switch: Jonathan Joseph NORTHAMPTON Saints have held talks with England and Lions centre Jonathan Joseph about making a...

Tigers can claw back into the Premiership title race, says Jonah Holmes

The Leicester Tigers wing talks how relegation fears shouldn't compound a more than reasonable shot at the play-offs

Stalwart Mike Brown to break Harlequins appearances record

308 club appearances amid 72 caps for England – an extraordinary achievement by the full-back

Warren Gatland to lead Barbarians against Wales when his reign ends

12 years as Wales head coach and set to face them in his first match after leaving

5 players Shane Williams believes can become core players for Wales in Japan

Players not named Jones, Faletau, or Halfpenny who Williams is backing for a big 2019

Glasgow Warriors director of rugby Dave Rennie agrees extension

Rennie reveals at pre-match press conference he will be staying at Scotstoun

George Merrick to leave Harlequins for Top 14 giants

Quins second row will play for Clermont Auvergne next season

Mark Wilson pledges his future to Newcastle Falcons with long-term extension

Huge news for Newcastle Falcons as Dean Richards commends the forward's leadership

Can Leinster win the Heineken Cup two years in a row?

Leinster capped off a fantastic 2017-18 European rugby campaign by lifting their fourth Heineken Cup. The Dublin-based rugby club is aiming...

WATCH: Leinster’s James Lowe to miss crucial Champions Cup tie after red card

The Kiwi wing was sent off for Leinster in their defeat to rivals Munster

Cowan-Dickie: Contract talks are going well at Exeter Chiefs

Luke Cowan-Dickie tells The Rugby Paper staying at Sandy Park is his ideal choice

Peter Jackson’s New Year wishlist holds hopes for the Lions

Let's put an end to excessive citings, writes Peter Jackson

RFU hand 28 full-time contracts to England Women stars

Lydia Thompson, Poppy Cleall, Abbie Scott and Marlie Packer all get contracts

Jackson column: Wales’ route to hitting expectations at the World Cup

Peter Jackson looks at how the northern hemisphere's two in-form teams, Wales and Ireland, could meet in the RWC2019 semis

Leicester Tigers aim to land all du Preez brothers

Competition for Sale Sharks to deal with

Bath downgrade severity of Sam Underhill’s ankle injury, but Matt Garvey faces lengthy spell out

Todd Blackadder gives update of length of time flanker will spend out

WATCH: Toulouse score wonder team try against Toulon

Cheslin Kolbe capped off a remarkable passage of play in 39-0 drubbing of Toulon

Tom Curry follows brother Ben in signing new Sale Sharks deal

Sale Sharks continue their recruitment of first-teamers, as Tom Curry becomes the latest to sign an extension

Worst display of season – Johan

GLOUCESTERhead coach Johan Ackermann accepted that it was side’s worst performance of the season. He said: “A lot of things went...

Sharks find killer instinct to remain in the hunt

By ROGER PANTING Bonus in the bag: Denny Solomona touches down Sale’s fourth try PICTURES: Getty Images Out flanked: Jaco Visagie...

Pennell: Lack of control cost us

CHRIS Pennell believes Warriors showed the kind of skill and fight that can help them avoid the dreaded drop despite driving...

Vunipola try signals Saracens fightback

By GARY FITZGERALD Making the game safe: David Strettle scores the third try for Saracens PICTURES: Getty Images MARK McCall admitted...

Big beast Manu can keep England hopes on track

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT Huge plus for England: The return of Manu Tuilagi PICTURE: Getty Images England finished 2018 with...

Danny is Eddie’s World Cup hero!

Maestro: Danny Cipriani kicks the winning goal for England in RWC 2019 COLIN BOAG What will 2019 hold for rugby? Here...

Classy Lancaster was treated like criminal

JEFF Probyn posed some good questions as to why no English coach seemingly wants to reach the pinnacle (Why does no...

Sorry Colin, I’ll not raise a glass to the leaches of rugby

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I WILL not be...

Tinkering at scrum put me off League

I’M relatively new to Rugby Union being born and bred in St Helens, a staunch Rugby League town. My father, who...

Premiership should pay for itself

ON FACEBOOK there is a group that put up photos of days of yore which had an England team with nine...

Provinces no ‘blight on the game’

COLIN BOAG says the CVC deal is great news for the clubs. For Premiership clubs, he may be right; for the...

Best is yet to come in 2019 predicts new England star Shields

By SAM JACKSON BRAD Shields insists England fans have not seen the best of him yet as he targets a starting...

Tigers will claw back into title race – Holmes

By GARY FITZGERALD Fighting spirit: Jonah Holme FORGET the fear of relegation, Jonah Holmes predicts Leicester Tigers can still make a...

Earl in waiting to be Burger’s successor

Leadership qualities: Saracens flanker Ben Earl SARACENS back rower Ben Earl is ready to step in and prove why he can...

Tackle laws could spell trouble for the big boys

By NEALE HARVEY Under threat: New tackle laws could hinder big bruisers such as Maro Itoje Changes: Skivington MULTI-TASKING big beasts...

Davies relishing pressure to deliver for Wales

By ALEX BYWATER JONATHAN Davies admits it took longer than anticipated to get back to top form after injury in the...

Wales prop star James calls time

WALES and Ospreys prop Paul James has announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 36. James has won 66...

Morahan ready to extend his stay at ambitious Bears

Jeff Probyn: CVC deal may not be good for rugby By NEALE HARVEY Smash hit: Luke Morahan scores another try AUSSIE...

Unbeaten, but Worsley knows axe is coming

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES On his way back home: Joe Worsley is making plans Joe Worsley had seen it all as...

Au revoir Varndell

TOM Varndell’s French stay is over after just six PRO D2 games with Soyaux Angoulême. The Premiership’s alltime record try-scorer had...

Humble Beaumont to become Sir Bill

WORLD Rugby chairman and former England and Lions captain Bill Beaumont said it was ‘humbling’ to have been knighted in the...

Green’s Hundred reach halfway with perfection

ROCHFORD Hundred rugby director Chris Green insists there will be no complacency as his club aims to go through the card...

No place like home for west country boy Luke

Neale Harvey catches up with Luke Cowan- Dickie after his heroics against Saracens World Cup ambition: Luke Cowan-Dickie takes on Bath’s...

Pride has been put back into Finnish rugby

By CHARLIE INGLEFIELD ON the eve of the All Blacks winning the 2011 World Cup, Finland were announced as ‘officially the...

Five-try Brecon take charge of East

Welsh Division 1 round-up By JAY BAYFORD BRECON are now in control of the One East title race following their thrilling...