DREAM TEAM

ALEX LEWINGTON, SARACENS, ENGLAND SAXONS AND FORMER LEICESTER, NOTTINGHAM AND LONDON IRISH WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH...

Dennis enticed by European carrot

Ready to commit: Exeter Chiefs back row bruiser Dave Dennis PICTURE: Getty Images EXETER enforcer Dave Dennis is ready to turn...

‘World class’ Minozzi can plug Le Roux gap says Masi

By NEALE HARVEY X-factor: Italy full-back Matteo Minozzi MATTEO Minozzi is an “incredible talent” whose dancing feet and pace will ensure...

Dunn honing his attack in late charge for World Cup

By NEALE HARVEY More than nuts and bolts: Bath’s Tom Dunn COMBATIVE Bath hooker Tom Dunn is banking on an extra...

Daly will thrive at full-back, I’ve thought for a while it’s his best position

New role: Daly scores against Australia ELLIOT DALY will only get better and better as England’s full-back, insists Chris Pennell, as...

I’d be crazy to leave Warriors now my vision is taking shape

JON NEWCOMBE talks to Worcester’s loyal servant Chris Pennell ahead of a huge game with Newcstle JON NEWCOMBE Warrior through and...

Manu cash may be too much for us – Murphy

LEICESTER supremo Geordan Murphy is banking on loyalty to trump cash after admitting his club cannot compete with the big money...

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Still all to play for insists Cassiem

Preview Scarlets v Cheetahs Today, Kick-off 1pm LEIGH Halfpenny will play his first game since November against the Cheetahs with his...

Edinburgh stunned by Harries double

By STEFFAN THOMAS Edinburgh… 17 Cardiff Blues… 19 JASON Harries came back to haunt Edinburgh with a brace of tries as...

Herring completes half-hour hat-trick

By STUART MCANDREW Ulster… 54 Zebre… 7 ROB Herring blitzed hapless Zebre with a hat-trick in half an hour as Ulster...

Nairn’s late double secures the spoils for pacy Warriors

By LUKE JARMYN GLASGOW headed the words of coach Dave Rennie by coming out and delivering a high pace performance that...

Frustrated Ospreys fall foul of ref’ Berry

By ALEX BYWATER On the charge: Munster’s Arno Botha makes a break PICTURE: Inpho OSPREYS head coach Allen Clarke hit out...

Humiliation as Dragons sink to new low in Italy

By STEFFAN THOMAS DRAGONS were crushed In Italy conceding nine tries in what is the biggest ever Italian victory in the...

Easy win but leaky defence concern for Leo

By RONAN O’NEILL Leinster …59 Kings… 19 LEO Cullen has told his Leinster players to shore up their defence or get...

Sean’s long wait is over

IMAGINE making your debut in the Six Nations during the last few minutes of a home win over Wales and then...

When West ran the risk of a Johnno backhander

ANDso, as far as anyone can tell, Dorian West remains unique among the various visiting casts for Wales-England matches in Cardiff,...

Hagler could keep his date if the Irish deliver a knock-out

FOOTBALLER John Terry’s talk to the England squad on leadership provided a timely reminder that nobody has matched the standard set...

Webb’s free to leave… if Gatland still wants him

PETER JACKSON Decision time: Toulon scrum-half Rhys Webb PICTURE: Getty Images The latest eruption from the volcanic Mount Mourad may help...

Not always greener across the Channel

COLIN BOAG Past his prime: Toulon’s former All Black wing Julian Savea French rugby is a world all of its own,...

Modern day scrum farce makes me cry

WITH obvious tongue in cheek, I would like to propose the following law change. Watching the Six Nations, the Premiership, PRO14...

Professional sport must not have such amateur handicaps

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk IN no other sport...

It’s ‘entertainment’ …but is it Rugby?

NOW that referees routinely ignore the laws of the game, the scrum and line-out have just become a mechanism for restarting...

Stronger together

I READwith interest Kevin Higginson’s letter (17/2) about the combining of the Premiership teams and the PRO14. English clubs will say...

It’s simple, sign fewer foreigners

THE Premiership ringfencers, in pursuing their selfish self-preservation stance, often state that closing off the league would benefit the development of...

QUICKFIRE ROUND WITH DICK BEST

DICK BEST, the former England coach who is no stranger to life on the other side of the Channel, or to...

Loyalty to Leicester? They don’t reciprocate

Rediscovering his best: Manu Tuilagi helped destroy Ireland, left, on the back of a series of top displays for Tigers Tigers...

Warriors confident of delivering the double

By NEALE HARVEY Rising star: Worcester flanker Sam Lewis SAM Lewis knows Worcester must make a rapid start and keep their...

Morgan: Soft tries take the gloss off

DOUBLE try-scorer Ben Morgan modestly attributed his brace to his team-mates’ efforts – and made it clear that Gloucester’s late lapse...

Bok beef pounds Saracens pack into submission

By TOM BRADSHAW Something to shout about: Ed Slater scores Gloucester’s third try PICTURES: Getty Images No surrender: Jackson Wray breaks...

Sheedy: Every point so crucial

CALLUM Sheedy is confident Bristol Bears can claw their way to safety if they continue to show the heart and commitment...

Quins make hay with sun on their backs

By GARY FITZGERALD Delight: Mike Brown celebrates scoring Quins’ third try PICTURES: Getty Images Battling: Callum Sheedy runs in to score...

Todd: All gone in one mad minute

BATH’S late collapse left boss Todd Blackadder gutted. He said: “We didn’t exit properly and young Max (Green) will learn from...

Poacher Ribbans seals it for Saints at the death

By NEALE HARVEY In the corner: Rory Hutchinson evades the tackle of Zach Mercer as he dives in to score for...

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Diamond row over de Klerk penalty

STEVE Diamond admitted his Sale team got the “rub of the green” in this tough encounter. The Sale boss said he...

Penalty try controversy as Sharks take first win at Ricoh

By ROB WILDMAN First blood: Rob Webber touches down Sale’s opening try PICTURES: Getty Images Quicksilver: Joe Simpson goes over for...

Hepher happy to see more emotion

EXETER head coach Ali Hepher was pleased with the reaction after last week’s loss to Gloucester. He said: “It was tough...

Order is restored as Falcons go crashing

By ROGER PANTING Adding the extras: Nic White beats Andrew Davidson to score Exeter’s bonus point try PICTURES: Getty Images EXETER...

Francis on standby for another call from Eddie

FIT-AGAIN centre Piers Francis has vowed not to become one of England’s forgotten men by spearheading Northampton’s charge for the play-offs....

Marshall: Thorley will be a star, he carries like a Tongan

Brute: Ollie Thorley ENGLAND prospect Ollie Thorley carries as hard as any Pacific islander and is destined to become a worldclass...

Care staying positive that top form will deliver recall

By NEALE HARVEY Upping his game: Quins No.9 Danny Care PICTURES: Getty Images Leading the way: Dan Robson, left, and Ben...

Hated losing to Wales, it’s one my lowest moments

CATHERINE SPENCER FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN One to watch: Hannah Bluck can unleash the Welsh flyer Jasmine Joyce England coach Simon Middleton...

Considine double in vain as Italy earn maiden win

Italy Women… 29 Ireland Women… 27 EIMEAR Considine scored twice but Ireland fell to their first ever women’s Six Nations defeat...

Scots have no answer to a top treble from Vernier

France Women… 41 Scotland Women… 10 A HAT-TRICK from inside centre Gabrielle Vernier kept France well and truly in the three-way...

Scott takes charge of new-look England

By SAM JACKSON Captain’s call: Harlequins second row Abbie Scott ENGLAND centre Emily Scarratt will sit out the women’s Six Nations...

Joseph’s late brace kills off Scotland comeback

By GARY HEATLY FRANCEbossed the second half of this 11-try thriller in Pau after Scotland had forged a fight-back following a...

Smith’s try in stoppage time swings it for Wales

By ROB COLE Jubilation: Wales celebrate at the final whistle PICTURES: Getty Images Over he goes: England’s Ollie Hassell-Collins is tackled...

Irish charge for a second Grand Slam gathers pace

By DAVE MURPHY Star man: Craig Casey Late try: Marco Butturini ONLY Wales and France stand in the way of a...

Shut roof is an extra weapon for Gatland

WE had another round of roof wars this week with Warren Gatland canvassing hard for Wales to have the final say...