Bolting to the World Cup

NICK CAIN PICKS FIVE MEN EDDIE JONES SHOULD CONSIDER CAREFULY High tempo backs: Bath No.9 Will Chudley and Quins outside-centre Joe...

Scandal of King hits Neath when they are down

FOR a club whose homegrown players famously went the distance against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, Neath experienced something yesterday...

Boxing Day derby ties would bring fans back

Biggest in Wales: Luke Morgan scores for Ospreys against Scarlets on December 22 at Liberty Stadium Highest club attendances over Christmas...

Baxter: No-brainer to have a gameplan based on tries

EXETER boss Rob Baxter has blasted the pundits who accuse his side of ‘killing the game’. Chiefs went into this weekend...

Chiefs urged to just be themselves in Castres

By NEALE HARVEY Staying alive: Jack Yeandle scores Exeter’s third try against Gloucester to keep them in the European Cup hunt...

Kvesic relishing his switch to No.8

By SAM JACKSON REJUVENATED back rower Matt Kvesic is relishing his more senior role in the Exeter side this term and...

Dallaglio: Bigger squads, fewer games

By GARY FITZGERALD LAWRENCE Dallaglio fears English clubs will continue to struggle to dominate in Europe unless they increase their squad...

Back rower Clifford on his way out at the Stoop

HARLEQUINS are set to continue their changes with Jack Clifford following George Merrick out of the Twickenham Stoop exit door. Clifford,...

Witty can gain his wings with the Falcons

Falcons quarry: Will Witty Going: Lawday Going: Cordera EXETER CHIEFS are interested in signing Newcastle Falcons second row Will Witty as...

Tigers after Munster man Taute

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ON THE BLING SIDE Talks: Jaco Taute LEICESTER TIGERS are locked in talks with...

ROOM 101

THE BATH FLANKER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND JOSH BAYLISS 1. Snakes I’ve always...

Sale giving de Klerk best of both worlds

Jon Newcombe talks to Sale’s South African superstar Faf de Klerk fresh from signing his new deal Star for club and...

Sharks supremo Diamond defends methods

NEWS EXTRA Defence: Steve Diamond SALE SHARKS director of rugby Steve Diamond says a string of players signing new deals shows...

Billy shows he will soon be back to his best

Fit again: Billy Vunipola BILLY VUNIPOLA has been backed to return to his devastating best in double-quick time after making a...

Wales face crunch talks over player contracts

By ALEX BYWATER WELSH rugby’s system of National Dual Contracts is at an end with the country’s four regions now funding...

Kings put to bed by Cockerill’s play-off chasers

By GARY HEATLY Edinburgh ……38 Kings ………………0 EDINBURGH continued their good run of form in the PRO14 with a very comfortable...

Carbery fires Munster clear after brace from Goggin

By JOHN FALLON JOEY Carbery said this was a defining victory for Munster as they start heading into the business end...

Scarlets eventually exploit Dragons front row shortage

By STEFFAN THOMAS WAYNE PIVAC slammed the refereeing of the scrum despite his side’s victory over the Dragons which lifted the...

Beard neck injury puts dampner on Ospreys win

By JAMES CANDY Explosive start: Scott Williams scores for Ospreys after just five minutes PICTURE: Huw Evans OSPREYS head coach Allen...

Ulster caught cold by early try-double from Cronin

By RONAN O’BRIEN ULSTER slipped down the Conference B standings as Sean Cronin’s first-half double helped Leinster to a bonus point...

Warriors fall to Allan penalty in Italy

By GARY HEATLY Benetton ………20 Glasgow ……….17 BENETTON won their fourth PRO14 match on the spin by downing Glasgow at the...

We must make sure Alun-Wyn remains in Wales

ALUN-WYNJones is a leader, pure and simple. In my opinion he defines Welsh rugby, which is why it must be one...

Dragons should wait until summer to select their new boss

I’VE BEEN very critical of the Dragons this season and I stand by those comments, but you also have to give...

Pivac got it wrong with Hadleigh at fly-half

Negative move: Hadleigh Parkes is not a No.10 PICTURE: Getty Images IDON’T mind a pub quiz every now and again and...

DREAMTEAM

PAT HOWARD, EALING AND FORMER SHARKS, STORMERS, MUNSTER, NORTHAMPTON AND DRAGONS CENTRE, CHOOSES HIS BEST XV PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST 1....

Dai confident Wasps will see best of Lima

By NEALE HARVEY Getting to grips with Premiership: Lima Sopoaga is tackled by Quins trio Jack Clifford, Dave Ward and Matt...

Beard told to stand on his own two feet

By STEFFAN THOMAS ALUN-Wyn Jones has warned Adam Beard he must learn the hard way outside of his shadow if he...

Can Dragons give Six Nations roar? Certainly and here’s why

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Huge presence: Jonathan Davies Back row resources: Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty, Taulupe Faletau THE World...

Graduate Fish out to show he can replace Hartley one day

Goal: James Fish ARMED with a new twoyear contract, Northampton hooker James Fish aims to prove that when the time comes,...

Ludlam’s determined to keep Saints marching on

By NEALE HARVEY Repaying the faith: Saints flanker Lewis Ludlam PICTURES: Getty Images Starts at 13: Fraser Dingwall NORTHAMPTON go into...

We’re on the way roars Diamond

STEVE Diamond could not hide his delight after Sale beat Sarries for only the second time in eight years. A third...

Even Billy can’t stop the Sharks as they show teeth

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL Done it! Tom Curry celebrates Sale’s win with twin brother Ben PICTURES: Getty Images He’s back: Billy Vunipola...

I’ve seen nothing like that says Todd

REFEREEIan Tempest handled the mayhem brilliantly but Bath boss Todd Blackadder was bemused. He said: “To be penalised off the park...

Mayhem as Worcester edge 11-man Bath

By NEALE HARVEY Finishing touch: Bryce Heem completes a scintillating Worcester try PICTURES: Getty Images Ahead: Zach Mercer goes over for...

Gustard: Great to get win for Mike

PAUL GUSTARD dedicated Harlequins’ thumping win to record man Mike Brown after his 308th appearance for the Londoners. Head of rugby...

Inspired Harlequins leave Falcons for Brown bread

Excelling at No.6: Alex Dombrandt crashes over for Quins’ fifth try PICTURES: Getty Images Getting away: Falcons’ Simon Hammersley evades Ben...

Ospreys aim to keep Alun-Wyn until 2021

By PETER JACKSON Roaring home: George Ford scores for Leicester in the win over Gloucester PICTURE: Getty Images THE OSPREYS are...

Saints in bid to take Joseph from Bath

By NEIL FISSLER Switch: Jonathan Joseph NORTHAMPTON Saints have held talks with England and Lions centre Jonathan Joseph about making a...

Tigers can claw back into the Premiership title race, says Jonah Holmes

The Leicester Tigers wing talks how relegation fears shouldn't compound a more than reasonable shot at the play-offs

Stalwart Mike Brown to break Harlequins appearances record

308 club appearances amid 72 caps for England – an extraordinary achievement by the full-back

Warren Gatland to lead Barbarians against Wales when his reign ends

12 years as Wales head coach and set to face them in his first match after leaving

5 players Shane Williams believes can become core players for Wales in Japan

Players not named Jones, Faletau, or Halfpenny who Williams is backing for a big 2019

Glasgow Warriors director of rugby Dave Rennie agrees extension

Rennie reveals at pre-match press conference he will be staying at Scotstoun

George Merrick to leave Harlequins for Top 14 giants

Quins second row will play for Clermont Auvergne next season

Mark Wilson pledges his future to Newcastle Falcons with long-term extension

Huge news for Newcastle Falcons as Dean Richards commends the forward's leadership

Can Leinster win the Heineken Cup two years in a row?

Leinster capped off a fantastic 2017-18 European rugby campaign by lifting their fourth Heineken Cup. The Dublin-based rugby club is aiming...

WATCH: Leinster’s James Lowe to miss crucial Champions Cup tie after red card

The Kiwi wing was sent off for Leinster in their defeat to rivals Munster

Cowan-Dickie: Contract talks are going well at Exeter Chiefs

Luke Cowan-Dickie tells The Rugby Paper staying at Sandy Park is his ideal choice

Peter Jackson’s New Year wishlist holds hopes for the Lions

Let's put an end to excessive citings, writes Peter Jackson

RFU hand 28 full-time contracts to England Women stars

Lydia Thompson, Poppy Cleall, Abbie Scott and Marlie Packer all get contracts