Irish given Sexton boost for Italian job

By GEORGE LAWRENCE IRELAND fly-half Johnny Sexton is expected to be fully fit to face Italy next Saturday. The fly-half was...

Burrell set for code switch to League

Interest: Luther Burrell FORMER England international Luther Burrell, who is out of contract with Northampton Saints at the end of the...

Manu’s spotted at Racing as his move talk hots up

Keen on France: Manu Tuilagi LEICESTER Tigers appear to be losing their tug-of-war with the French Top 14 over England centre...

Webb for Bath via freelance World Cup?

BATH have been mooted for a possible move for Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb who has been playing for Toulon since the...

Palmer’s eager to land new coach role

Options: Tom Palmer FORMER Wasps and England second row Tom Palmer, currently defence coach at Stade Aurillacois, is assessing his options...

ROOM 101

SAM HIDALGOCLYNE THE SCARLETS & SCOTLAND SCRUM-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Unnecessary...

Winterbottom: Cardiff effect could put end to Slam dunk

Jon Newcombe talks to England’s double Grand Slam winner Peter Winterbottom Hopeful: Peter Winterbottom Slammed: Mike Teague scores the only try...

No World League without global season says Burger

By NEALE HARVEY SCHALK Burger predicts World Rugby’s grand plans for a Nations League will lie dead in the water unless...

Bradbury states case for French inclusion

By GARY HEATLY BLINDSIDEMagnus Bradbury put in a cracking performance after four months out to help Edinburgh keep their PRO14 play-off...

Butler seals victory with last minute try

By DECLAN ROONEY Connacht ……25 Cheetahs ……17 JARRAD Butler scored a last minute try to claima critical victory in the race...

Leinster leave it late after fast start

By TOM SHEEDY Zebre…………….24 Leinster ……….40 LEINSTER seemed poised to canter home after thee tries in the opening 22 minutes but...

Cooney’s late strike leaves Ospreys pointless

By STEFFAN THOMAS ALLEN Clarke claims the Ospreys have lost control of their own PRO14 destiny after slipping to a poor...

Summerhill hat-trick can’t save the Blues

By ROGER PANTING On his way to a hat-trick: Aled Summerhill crosses the line to score for Blues PICTURE: Huw Evans...

Pivac points finger at the officials after narrow loss

By STEFFAN THOMAS WAYNE Pivac criticised the performance of the officials as Benetton put a dent in the Scarlets’ PRO14 play-off...

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...