Jackson column: Wales’ route to hitting expectations at the World Cup

Peter Jackson looks at how the northern hemisphere's two in-form teams, Wales and Ireland, could meet in the RWC2019 semis

Leicester Tigers aim to land all du Preez brothers

Competition for Sale Sharks to deal with

Bath downgrade severity of Sam Underhill’s ankle injury, but Matt Garvey faces lengthy spell out

Todd Blackadder gives update of length of time flanker will spend out

WATCH: Toulouse score wonder team try against Toulon

Cheslin Kolbe capped off a remarkable passage of play in 39-0 drubbing of Toulon

Tom Curry follows brother Ben in signing new Sale Sharks deal

Sale Sharks continue their recruitment of first-teamers, as Tom Curry becomes the latest to sign an extension

Worst display of season – Johan

GLOUCESTERhead coach Johan Ackermann accepted that it was side’s worst performance of the season. He said: “A lot of things went...

Sharks find killer instinct to remain in the hunt

By ROGER PANTING Bonus in the bag: Denny Solomona touches down Sale’s fourth try PICTURES: Getty Images Out flanked: Jaco Visagie...

Pennell: Lack of control cost us

CHRIS Pennell believes Warriors showed the kind of skill and fight that can help them avoid the dreaded drop despite driving...

Vunipola try signals Saracens fightback

By GARY FITZGERALD Making the game safe: David Strettle scores the third try for Saracens PICTURES: Getty Images MARK McCall admitted...

Big beast Manu can keep England hopes on track

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT Huge plus for England: The return of Manu Tuilagi PICTURE: Getty Images England finished 2018 with...

Danny is Eddie’s World Cup hero!

Maestro: Danny Cipriani kicks the winning goal for England in RWC 2019 COLIN BOAG What will 2019 hold for rugby? Here...

Classy Lancaster was treated like criminal

JEFF Probyn posed some good questions as to why no English coach seemingly wants to reach the pinnacle (Why does no...

Sorry Colin, I’ll not raise a glass to the leaches of rugby

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I WILL not be...

Tinkering at scrum put me off League

I’M relatively new to Rugby Union being born and bred in St Helens, a staunch Rugby League town. My father, who...

Premiership should pay for itself

ON FACEBOOK there is a group that put up photos of days of yore which had an England team with nine...

Provinces no ‘blight on the game’

COLIN BOAG says the CVC deal is great news for the clubs. For Premiership clubs, he may be right; for the...

Best is yet to come in 2019 predicts new England star Shields

By SAM JACKSON BRAD Shields insists England fans have not seen the best of him yet as he targets a starting...

Tigers will claw back into title race – Holmes

By GARY FITZGERALD Fighting spirit: Jonah Holme FORGET the fear of relegation, Jonah Holmes predicts Leicester Tigers can still make a...

Earl in waiting to be Burger’s successor

Leadership qualities: Saracens flanker Ben Earl SARACENS back rower Ben Earl is ready to step in and prove why he can...

Tackle laws could spell trouble for the big boys

By NEALE HARVEY Under threat: New tackle laws could hinder big bruisers such as Maro Itoje Changes: Skivington MULTI-TASKING big beasts...

Davies relishing pressure to deliver for Wales

By ALEX BYWATER JONATHAN Davies admits it took longer than anticipated to get back to top form after injury in the...

Wales prop star James calls time

WALES and Ospreys prop Paul James has announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 36. James has won 66...

Morahan ready to extend his stay at ambitious Bears

Jeff Probyn: CVC deal may not be good for rugby By NEALE HARVEY Smash hit: Luke Morahan scores another try AUSSIE...

Unbeaten, but Worsley knows axe is coming

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES On his way back home: Joe Worsley is making plans Joe Worsley had seen it all as...

Au revoir Varndell

TOM Varndell’s French stay is over after just six PRO D2 games with Soyaux Angoulême. The Premiership’s alltime record try-scorer had...

Humble Beaumont to become Sir Bill

WORLD Rugby chairman and former England and Lions captain Bill Beaumont said it was ‘humbling’ to have been knighted in the...

Green’s Hundred reach halfway with perfection

ROCHFORD Hundred rugby director Chris Green insists there will be no complacency as his club aims to go through the card...

No place like home for west country boy Luke

Neale Harvey catches up with Luke Cowan- Dickie after his heroics against Saracens World Cup ambition: Luke Cowan-Dickie takes on Bath’s...

Pride has been put back into Finnish rugby

By CHARLIE INGLEFIELD ON the eve of the All Blacks winning the 2011 World Cup, Finland were announced as ‘officially the...

Five-try Brecon take charge of East

Welsh Division 1 round-up By JAY BAYFORD BRECON are now in control of the One East title race following their thrilling...

Electric Drovers survive blackout to see off Quins

By CARL FIELD Carmarthen Q …8 Llandovery …16 IT took two-and-a-half hours to complete the game, but Llandovery eventually came out...

Jones stars as Vale vault to comfortable win at Bedwas

By TIM LEWIS Bedwas ..........17 Ebbw Vale......38 RHYS Jones kicked 16 points to steer Ebbw Vale up to third place in...

More misery for Neath as Davies dazzles in derby

By ROB COLE TWO tries from hooker Ieuan Davies in the space of five minutes in the first half at the...

Swans drift clear of relegation dogfight thanks to Williams

By PAUL HOPKINS Swansea ........38 Llanelli ............10 J RHYS Williams guided Swansea to a massive win over arch-rivals Llanelli to move...

Danny Crosses twice as RGC bludgeon Bridgend

By TIM LEWIS RGC 1404 ........38 Bridgend ........15 RGC 1404 thrashed Bridgend with a bonus-point victory at Stadiwm Zip World to...

Another stroll for magnificent Merthyr in six-try victory

By ROB COLE Bargoed ..........17 Merthyr ..........38 MERTHYR gave Bargoed six of the best as they picked up another fullhouse of...

PREVIEW Cardiff v Ponty’

Tue 1 Jan. 2.30pm DAFYDD Lockyer reckons a Pontypridd win at the Arms Park on New Year’s Day could blow arch-rivals...

Principality Premiership

Cross Keys …19 Newport..........45 By JAY BAYFORD NEWPORT came from behind to claim a bonuspoint win over Gwent rivals Cross Keys....

CVC’s deal ‘raped’ F1, rugby must hope for better

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Banned from playing: Faf de Klerk had to watch the Springboks play...

YOUNG GUNS

SAM SPINK WASPS CENTRE If Elliot Daly decides to quit Wasps next summer, one of the men who will be aiming...

Gopperth pens new deal as he nears recovery

By ADAM ELLIS WASPS have eased fears over the possible exit of Elliot Daly by having five senior personnel commit their...

Post-WW2 England father/son capped combinations

IVOR & PETER PREECE Coventry fly-half Ivor played 12 times for England and captained the side between 1948-51. He was also...

Between us, Alex and I are currently on six caps!

ROB LOZOWSKI THE FORMER WASPS AND ENGLAND CENTRE MY LIFEIN RUGBY Like father, like son: Rob Lozowski on the break for...

Olver signs for Knights

EALING have signed Sam Olver from Doncaster on loan for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. The fly-half joined Ealing from...

Du Preez to undergo second op

CORNELL du Preez is unlikely to play again this season as he prepares for a further throat operation. The back rower...

Dai dealt another injury blow

WASPS have been dealt another injury blow with prop Kieran Brookes set to miss eight to 12 weeks of action following...

It’s Reds for go under Ed’s watch

JON NEWCOMBE talks to Jersey backs coach Ed Robinson about his approach to the game and how he has been influenced...

Co-coaches lead way by committing their futures

By NEALE HARVEY CORNISHPirates co-coach Alan Paver is confident more of the club’s top stars will re-sign now he and colleague...

Elder cuts through to silence Knights

By LUKE JARMYN Match-winner: Chris Elder grabs the crucial try for Yorkshire Carnegie PICTURE: Gareth Lyons CHRIS ELDERput in a man-of-the-match...

Exiles flick attacking switch to hit a big six

By ANDREW BEACHAM LONDON Irish collected a bonus point win despite a spirited performance from the home side. Strong in defence...