We’re still waiting for Lions to roar their complaint

THE silence of the Lions is deafening. We are not talking here about the former Lions players, coaches, and administrators –...

Why not call for Spencer?

RICHARD Wigglesworth did not play badly when he came on for Danny Care in the second half of yesterday’s win over...

Exit of Brown exposes growing split in rugby

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK STEVE Brown’s decision to stand down as the RFU’s chief executive is undoubtedly...

DREAMTEAM

GREG HOLMES, EXETER AND FORMER AUSTRALIA AND QUEENSLAND REDS PROP CHOOSES HIS BEST XV PLAYED WITH OR GAINST… 1. James Slipper...

Twiggy’s Rapid Rugby may be fashionable in Oz

COLIN BOAG Ducking the issue: Jerome Garces let TMO Marius Jonker take control Super Rugby, the Southern Hemisphere’s troubled and unloved...

Haka is just giving All Blacks a leg up

REGARDING Colin Boag’s comment on the Haka – I have waited a decade to see in newsprint someone who agrees with...

Eddie should lead by example and show more respect

THAT Try. For heaven’s sake let’s forget it. As Owen Farrell said immediately after the game: ‘That’s not my decision. It’s...

Lineout problems or illegal tactics?

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk IT HAS been suggested...

Hong Kong and Canada in decider

REPECHAGE CANADA are one point away from a place at next year’s World Cup in Japan after beating Germany 29-10 in...

Aussies suffer Pocock blow

By ADAM ELLIS Italy....................7 Australia ........26 VICTORY celebrations within the Wallabies’ camp could end up being short-lived as they await news...

Stockdale stunner has Dublin delerious

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER IRELAND, for the first time on home soil, beat New Zealand amid extraordinary scenes at a riotous Avia...

French hit winning form as Thomas lands double

By GARY FITZGERALD TEDDY Thomas cruised over for a brace of tries as France finally rediscovered winning ways and comfortably overcame...

Pollard is on points duty to steer Boks to narrow victory

By GARY HEATLY SOUTH Africa edged out Scotland in a thrilling Test at Murrayfield last night but the Scots will rue...

Liam should face Boks – but who’d be a selector?

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND How do you solve a problem like Liam Williams? I’m guessing you’ll all be thinking...

We must be more clinical in attack – Anscombe

By STEFFAN THOMAS GARETH ANSCOMBE has warned Wales not to rest on their laurels and insists they must sharpen up their...

Now for the clean sweep says Liam

LIAM WILLIAMS challenged Wales to complete a first Autumn clean sweep by overcoming South Africa on Saturday after he marked his...

He’s the right Joe for England

Roaring in: Joe Cokanasiga enjoys his try PICTURE: Getty Images EDDIE Jones predicted a bright future for Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga...

Big-spender Eddie was a factor in Brown exit

By NICK CAIN AN OVERSPEND of £900,000 by Eddie Jones’ England set-up was yesterday identified as compounding the financial problems which...

Is technology improving or spoiling the game?

Love it or hate it, there has been no escaping the technology in England’s autumn series so far. Both of their...

RFU chief executive Steve Brown to step down

Leaving the RFU at the end of 2018

Guscott column: England are finding their courage again

Tenacious performance against the All Blacks is building hope again

Liam Williams to win 50th cap for Wales in team named to face Tonga

Ellis Jenkins named as captain by Warren Gatland

Jack Nowell to start at 13 for England in new-look XV named by Jones

Eddie Jones bluffs saying he will name 'full-strength' England side

Bath’s Matt Garvey craving a trophy finish for mentor Booth

The early announcement of Booth and Darren Edwards' exit haven't destabilised the Bath dressing room

Huw Jones back for Scotland as Gregor Townsend makes six changes

See Scotland's squad to take on South Africa at Murrayfield

Connacht’s Kieran Marmion chasing selection for All Blacks clash

The battle is on for who will be Ireland's second-choice scrum-half

Cain column: Don’t sacrifice Lions Tour for a duff cup competition

Killing off the Lions Tour is criminal, writes Nick Cain

Huge boost for Bath as Anthony Watson and three other senior players agree new deals

Todd Blackadder talks about moves which sees key members of forward and backs sign

Japan head coach reveals players are paid £14-a-day ahead of match with England

England players receive £28,000 for each international they play in

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg to move to Exeter Chiefs at the end of the season

Rob Baxter admits to previous pursuit of Glasgow Warriors back

Dream Team: Bristol Bears hooker Tom Lindsay

Formerly of Wasps, Gloucester and Bedford

Biggar finds the target end to Wales ten years to put an of misery

By PETER JACKSON Wales Tomas Francis is tackled by Australia’s David Pocock PICTURES: Getty Images AND SO the biggest blot on...

Lawes was victim of the hideous law that protects scrum-halves

BRENDAN GALLAGHER VERDICT All action: Jack Goodhue feels the Courtney Lawes power EDDIE JONES apparently wants his England side to start...

Tenacity, courage, the belief is building again

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMY GUSCOTT Standout player: Sam Underhill breaks past Sam Whitelock Without a TMO England would have won...

Ashton: It’s been a long road back to England

CHRIS Ashton was left with mixed emotions after grabbing a dream try on his long-awaited retur n to the England set-up...

No sweet victory, but World Cup lives again

From NICK CAIN at Twickenham AT THE end of this great Test match although England had lost by a sliver to...

Noves loads the guns for epic finale with Laporte

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Sacked France team boss Guy Noves is preparing an explosive dossier in support of his £2m claim...

Squirrels edge to victory to stay at summit

By CARL FIELD Welsh Division One round-up RHIWBINA made it six wins out of seven in One East Central with a...

Pooler on cloud nine as Crows downed

By CARL FIELD Welsh Championship round-up PONTYPOOL went six points clear in the WRU National Championship with a 29-24 bonus-point victory...

Rhodri on song to make it three straight for Drovers

By CARL FIELD Llandovery ….15 Ebbw Vale ………9 LLANDOVERY battled back from behind to beat Ebbw Vale at Church Bank and...

Powerful pack has Wizards feeling magic once again

By HOWARD EVANS Bedwas …………5 Aberavon ………19 TWO penalty tries not only demonstrated the power of the Aberavon pack but also...

Jarvis heroics show reigning champs joy of six

By ROB COLE Merthyr ……….20 Pontypridd ….14 TWO late penalties from Matthew Jarvis earned reigning champions Merthyr a sixth win in...

How’s Matt! Boot of O’Brien keeps Black & Ambers rolling

By ALEX BYWATER Newport …………9 Swansea ……….3 NEWPORT made it four wins in a row to keep Swansea deep in relegation...

Five-star Quins leave the All Blacks feeling blue

By TIM LEWIS Carmarthen Q41 Neath ……………14 CARMARTHEN Quins scored five tries as they thrashed basement club Neath on a rain-soaked...

Gogs squander advantage as Blue & Blacks on the rise

By STEFFAN THOMAS Cardiff …………25 RGC 1404 ………19 CARDIFF came from behind to beat RGC 1404 in atrocious weather conditions at...

Keys fail to unlock defence in deluge

Cross Keys ……5 Llanelli ……………5 CROSS Keys stayed firmly in the bottom half of the Principality Premiership as Llanelli earned a...

Second string Blues put Los Teros to the sword

URUGUAY lost against a reserve Cardiff Blues side at the Arms Park on Tuesday night. Wales will face Los Teros in...

Canucks get in gear with five-try win over Coventy

By PAUL SMITH CANADA’S attempt to maintain their record of having qualified for every World Cup faces a test of endurance...

YOUNG GUNS

ALEXCRAIG GLOUCESTER LOCK Alex Craig’s first team debut for Gloucester against Wasps a fortnight ago was a long time coming but...

Answering the call…

Brendan Gallagher looks at some of the extraordinary rugby players - individuals from all backgrounds, nations and clubs and of differing...