Tomane wings in for the clash of European titans

JOETomane will make his first European start for champions Leinster in today’s Pool 1 clash in Toulouse as the Irish side...

No reason to boo Eddie says Dai

WASPS Dai Young admitted a “few honest words” had transformed his team at half-time when they were 21-7 down. “I was...

Burns back on song but Bath miss last-gasp kick

Early power: Joe Cokanasiga breaks clear to score the first try for Bath after just three minutes PICTURES: Getty Images Fightback:...

Smith getting square eyes from analysis of the greats

By ADAM HATHAWAY Master and apprentice: Evans and Smith HARLEQUINS’ assistant coach Nick Evans has been clocking up the hours in...

Gain-line busters will give England a new dimension

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT Risk worth taking: Joe Cokanasiga is in devastating attacking form but could be a defensive liability...

DREAM TEAM

STEVEN LUATUA, BRISTOL AND FORMER NEW ZEALAND & AUCKLAND BLUES FLANKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

Cut out the goading Maro, it’s just not classy

COLIN BOAG Poor form: Maro Itoje celebrates Edinburgh’s non-try In the Glasgow v Saracens match Champions Cup match, Maro Itoje let...

Players’ back chat not very appealing

NOT possessing satellite TV, I haven’t seen as much rugby over the first European weekend as some, but I’m worried after...

Eddie still the man but risk of another RWC flop looms

I ADMIRE the resilience and confidence of RFU CEO Steve Brown, but there is a real risk that 12 months from...

Amateurs were in it purely for the love

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

Shields at the ready to bring edge to back row

Physical: Brad Shields BRAD Shields aims to provide Eddie Jones with exactly what he wants by bringing some hard-nosed Kiwi physicality...

Mercer stakes his claim to face Boks

By NEALE HARVEY ZACHMercer is ready to answer England’s call for a No.8 capable of facing down the might of South...

Barrett may head east after RWC

JAPAN is emerging as a possible short-term destination for Beauden Barrett and other senior All Blacks after next year’s Rugby World...

Taqele sure Boyd’s ‘super’ style will bring success

By NEALE HARVEY Feeling at home in Northampton: Taqele Naiyaravoro GIANT Northampton wing Taqele Naiyaravoro admits his fitness must improve if...

President Laporte on passport control

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN When can a foreigner play for France these days? When Federation president Bernard Laporte says so, that’s...

Penallta win again to keep heat on Brynmawr

Welsh Division One round-up By JAY BURFORD LEADERS Brynmawr claimed a bonus-point win over Pontypool United to maintain their winning run....

Rampant Pooler narrow gap on Students

Welsh Championship round-up By JAY BURFORD CARDIFF Met’s lead at the top was cut to two points despite beating Rhydyfelin 26-21....

Maximum points for Merthyr as streak continues

By PAUL HOPKINS Merthyr ..........35 Swansea ........24 MERTHYR maintained their excellent start to the season with a bonus point try triumph...

Keys unlocked by Bedwas in storming Pandy encounter

By IWAN GABE DAVIES Cross Keys ....34 Bedwas ..........44 IT might be rather premature to talk of relegation battles but Bedwas...

Quins quick to take chances for bonus point win

By HUW S THOMAS Carmarth’n Q 35 RGC 1404 ........22 CARMARTHEN Quins climbed into the top half of the Premiership table...

Four wins on the bounce as Cardiff maintain superb run

By JAY BAYFORD Cardiff ............52 Llanelli............41 CARDIFF secured their fourth consecutive victory following an entertaining encounter with Llanelli at Cardiff Arms...

Brilliant Bargoed breeze past Aberavon challenge

By HOWARD EVANS Bargoed ..........38 Aberavon ........18 ABERAVON’S only loss in seven games was by two points prior to this but...

Drovers get back on track with comprehensive triumph

By HUW S THOMAS Llandovery …30 Neath..................3 AFTER three consecutive defeats, Llandovery came back to winning form at Church Bank with...

Principality Premiership

Newport..........28 Bridgend ........17 NEWPORT’S captain and fly-half Matt O’Brien stole the show with a great display that bagged him a haul...

Cowell cruises in to stun the champions

By MATT FORD Late stunner: Heather Cowell scores the winner for Quins HARLEQUINS Ladies produced an astonishing come-from-behind performance to stun...

McLean set to hit century for England

NEWS EXTRA KATY-DALEY McLean is set to make her 100th appearance as England tackle USA, Canada and Ireland this Autumn. Mclean,...

Five weeks for Jennings

LONDON Scottish’s Rory Jennings has been banned for five weeks for making contact with the head of Coventry’s Andy Bulumakau with...

Mitchell to Carnegie

WELSHinternational prop Craig Mitchell, 32, has re-joined Yorkshire Carnegie from Newcastle Falcons. Director of rugby Chris Stirling said: “I’m delighted to...

Browne calls time

ULSTERlock Pete Browne has retired after a series of concussions. He said: “I have an increased propensity for concussion symptoms following...

Louw waits for an offer

BATHare considering if they want to retain the services of Springbok flank Francois Louw. The 33-year-old Louw said: “This is my...

Foley signs until RWC

AUSTRALIA fly-half Bernard Foley has rebuffed foreign offers to sign a one-year deal until next year’s World Cup. A statement said...

New deal for Lawes

RUGBY SHORTS NORTHAMPTONlock Courtney Lawes, 29, has signed a new deal to keep him with the Premiership club until 2021. “I’ve...

Kelleher double sets up Leinster triumph

By GUTO DAVIES CELTIC CUP FINAL Scarlets A …8 Leinster A …15 LEINSTER ‘A’ lifted the Celtic Cup in the inaugural...

Williams relishing another wrestle with Kitshoff

Top Bok: Steven Kitshoff Trusted: Harry Williams RED Rose tight-head Harry Williams believes facing off against highlyrated South African scrummager Steven...

England calls prove Worcester are on rise

By NEALE HARVEY Strong man: Worcester prop Nick Schonert PICTURES: Getty Images Bolter: Ted Hill NICK Schonert insists his England Autumn...

It’s now or never for tyro Joe, says Ojo

FORMER Red Rose wing Topsy Ojo has urged Eddie Jones to bin loyalty and give burgeoning Bath flyer Joe Cokanasiga his...

Law tweaks have removed an element of competition

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Tries galore: Lewis Ludlam scores for Northampton in their 45-40 defeat of...

Cole’s treble sends Ivybridge to first loss

South West Premier MAIDENHEAD provided the shock of the South West Premier fixtures by sending Ivybridge to their first defeat of...

Hiheta hits the highest heights for Hull

Northern Premier HULL increased their lead at the top following a 5-41 win away at Vale of Lune. The visitors led...

Paul has got Scunthorpe Cooking on top

Midlands Premier SCUNTHORPE won the battle of the top two, beating Newport Salop 25-19 to move clear at the summit, whilst...

Great Scott, Wimbledon are flying high

London & South East Premier WIMBLEDON maintained their lead at the top of the table following a 24- 3 win at...

Stiles strikes late winner to get the Rec rocking

BUCS ROUND-UP By JOE BYRNES BATHexacted revenge for last season’s home defeat by Leeds Beckett with a last gasp 29-27 win...

YOUNG GUNS

KIERAN WILKINSON SALE FLY-HALF Sharing your surname with one of England’s greatest players might be seen as a double-edged sword by...

OAs no match for Titans powerpack

By BRIAN QUINN Old Albanian …21 T’nton Titans 35 TAUNTON Titans demonstrated the reason for their name for much of this...

Bradley double helps Hawks fly

By NICK PITSON Henley H ..........31 Worthing R......22 A DOMINANT performance from the Henley forwards set up this bonus-point victory over...

Jack stars to leave Bees feeling very Jolly

By LEON PICKARD Guernsey ......19 B’ham & Soli......28 A LATE flurry saw Birmingham and Solihull down Guernsey in a lively and...

Rampant Rams still top thanks to big Ben

By CAMERON TEMPLE Rams......................33pts Tonbridge............18pts Full stretch: Jak Rossiter scores for Rams. Right: Hugo Watson on his way to scoring for...

Irish off the mark as Baker strikes at death

By MATT LONG LI Wild Geese 33 Redruth............28 LONDONIrish Wild Geese secured their first victory of the season after beating Redruth...

Crusaders march past blunt Saints

By SIMON LORD Bury St Eds …7 Dings C ............17 BRISTOL outfit Dings Crusaders deservedly took the spoils as they comfortably...

Cornish late surge crushes the Cliffs

4By YASHAS MUDUMBAI Barnes..............17 Old Redcliffs …10 MATTHEW Cornish’s late try ensured Barnes won an enthralling game against Old Redcliiffians and...