Sharks tear chunks out of 14-man Perpignan

By SAM JACKSON BYRON McGuigan’s hattrick helped Sale Sharks to a bonus-point victory to start their Challenge Cup campaign on Friday,...

Bealham try seals win after pair from Godwin

Pool 3 KYLE Godwin scored tries in each half as Connacht got their Cup campaign off to a convincing start at...

Give Lane a run but continuity is key now

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Test calibre: Cardiff Blues winger Owen Lane PICTURE: Getty Images WARREN Gatland names his Wales...

Limit numbers at the breakdown to reduce brutality

RHYS Webb insists rugby hasn’t gone soft and has proposed an innovative idea as a means of improving player welfare. Webb...

Rhys is raring to light Toulon touch paper

ALEX BYWATER catches up with exiled Wales star Rhys Webb in the South of France Excited for Europe: Toulon No.9 Rhys...

Kennedy making a big mark at Scarlets

By STEFFAN THOMAS JAKE Ball says new Scarlets recruit Ed Kennedy has all the ability to follow in his footsteps and...

Hughes is a tweet for misjudging the mood

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK NATHAN Hughes may feel that a relatively light right-handed punch from a prone...

Young unfazed by Toulon galacticos

By JON NEWCOMBE Big game experience: Falcons scrum-half Micky Young PICTURE: Getty Images Ace: Julian Savea A TRIP to the Mediterranean...

Cockerill rues the famous victory that got away

By PETER WILLIS EDINBURGHmissed a golden chance to cause a major Champions Cup upset in Montpellier after dominating their hosts. As...

Pivac: I don’t blame Davies

WAYNE Pivac insisted his team’s slow start to the game – and not the late penalty try – cost the Scarlets...

Gareth’s fatal error costs his Scarlets in late drama

By ALEX BYWATER Determined: Racing No. 8 Antonie Claassen can’t stop Scarlets’ scrum-half Gareth Davies going over PICTURES: Getty Images Opening...

Murphy: We were bullied up front

GEORDAN Murphy admitted his Tigers pack has come off second best at Kingspan Stadium. “We did a lot of things well...

Tigers suffer a mauling but Tuilagi’s hitting form

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER He’s through: Manu Tuilagi breaks clear to score a second half consolation try PICTURES: Getty Images Touchdown: Alan...

Evans expects another early onslaught

By STEFFAN THOMAS JARROD Evans believes weathering an early storm holds the key to claiming another famous French scalp as Cardiff...

Stretts: No regrets, but now let’s win it

By ADAM HATHAWAY Second spell at Sarries: David Strettle PICTURE: Getty Images DAVID Strettle has been on the receiving end of...

Gloucester prepared to live or die by the sword

By NEALE HARVEY Confident: Tom Hudson FULL-BACKTom Hudson promises Gloucester will adopt a rip-roaring approach to their first Champions Cup campaign...

Munster delight at points on road

MUNSTER’S head coach, Johann Van Graan was overjoyed to pick up two points on the road. “Nobody gave us a chance...

We could have nicked that at end says Baxter

By ROGER PANTING Driving in: Luke Cowan-Dickie goes over to score for the Chiefs PICTURES: Getty Images On the run: Phil...

Moriarty deserves chance says Ryan

By PETER JACKSON ROSS Moriarty is being given expert backing in his bid to step into the shoes of Taulupe Faletau....

Freddie’s horror show

PICTURE: Getty Images Freddie Burns drops the ball over the line after blowing kisses in a display of showboating that cost...

Eddie stays no matter what insists RFU chief

By NICK CAIN EDDIE Jones has been given an unequivocal assurance by RFU chief executive Steve Brown that “come what may”...

Dream Team: London Irish and former Wasps and Leinster centre Brendan Macken

This is some team...

Court rejects appeal over sale of Ricoh Arena to Wasps

A four-year legal battle lodged by the owners of Coventry City Football Club appears to be over

Dean Richards can’t wait for Newcastle’s return to big time after a wait of his own

The Falcons travel to Toulon for Sunday's opener

Brian O’Driscoll backs a team not named Leinster or Saracens for Champions Cup glory

Exeter Chiefs strength on home soil gives them an advantage over the other contenders, says the three-time champion

Champions Cup preview: A look at all five pools as Leinster seek to retain European crown

Leinster and Wasps kick things off on Friday night at the RDS

Guscott column: Alex Goode and Liam Williams can be European Player of the Year nominees when they set the Champions Cup alight

Jeremy Guscott makes his picks of players to watch in this season's Champions Cup

Horwill: More international stars may follow Joe Marler’s lead

The Harlequins vice-captain also talks about Michael Cheika's job security

It would be special to add Champions Cup title to my Super Rugby medal, says Wasps fly-half Lima Sopoaga

Three years on from winning Super Rugby with the Highlanders, Sopoaga wants to win the equivalent in the Northern Hemisphere

Shane Williams column: High injury toll may scupper Scarlets chances of a Champions Cup repeat

Are last year's semi-finalists down on their luck heading into their Pool 4 opener against Racing 92

Bristol’s Luke Morahan ready for war now the honeymoon is over

"The Premiership has definitely changed"

Jackson column: Berwyn Jones paid the price for putting family first

Peter Jackson looks at when rugby's amateur days were overshadowed by the riches available in professional sports

Semesa Rokoduguni to troop on for Bath after penning new deal

Todd Blackadder high of praise for the prolific wing

Marland Yarde told how long he will be sidelined for after dislocating knee

A severe injury suffered by the Sale Sharks wing

‘I’ve missed rugby so much I’ve changed my mind’ – Schalk Brits

He's back!

Glasgow Warriors usher in Petrus du Plessis to depleted front row

The tighthead prop moves to Scotstoun from London Irish

Nathan Hughes availability for autumn internationals uncertain after citing for punching

Number 8 Hughes could face time out for Wasps and England

Sanderson: Toughest test for us this season

SARACENS assistant coach Alex Sanderson hailed his side’s performance before heading into a tough fortnight of European action. “That’s the hardest...

Sportsman Billy gets his reward against gutsy Quins

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER HARLEQUINS hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Saracens in recent seasons but they dug deep to grind...

Lawes’ back spasm will clear

NORTHAMPTON DoR Chris Boyd said it had been a disappointing outcome for his side, not least their failure to win for...

Horne is the winner as Tigers find their feet

By NICK CAIN THIS was about honouring Rob Horne and both sides delivered in terms of endeavour, even though they were...

Goode is among my star picks to light up Europe

JEREMYGUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK THE European Cup provides us with the chance to see great players rise to the occasion...

DREAMTEAM

BRENDAN MACKEN, LONDON IRISH AND FORMER WASPS AND LEINSTER CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Expand power of the TMO’s, don’t curtail it

COLIN BOAG Does World Rugby’s continual dithering over the role of the TMO show weakness or simply a failure to get...

Dicky has whole of Corwall’s backing

ON behalf of Cornish Pirates fans I must refute the accusation in last week’s letters that Dicky Evans is delusional. In...

Eddie’s selection tunnel vision will lead us nowhere

JEREMY Guscott is spot on! Play Owen Farrell in his club position of 10 where he can control the game as...

RFU monies made Marler exit possible

Letters SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk IN COLIN Boag’s...

Big final month can set Simmonds up for World Cup – Baxter

SAM Simmonds faces an uphill battle to feature at next year’s World Cup but Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter is...

Ewers feels the pain for stricken pal Sam

By NEALE HARVEY DAVE Ewers is ready to noise-up Exeter’s forward pack as they absorb the loss of talismanic No.8 Sam...

Olding stay extended by a year

FORMER Ireland and Ulster centre Stuart Olding has signed a new deal with Brive which will keep him at the French...