Georgians pay heftier penalty than the dopers

THE war on doping is something that rugby has rather sought to sidestep over the years with some feeling that no...

Brendan Gallagher: Newcastle Red Bulls must find a totem pole player

Much of Newcastle’s rugby has been utterly meaningless and has cruelly mocked those in the Championship such as Ealing

Ruthless Vannes motor to formidable home record

That Vannes would finish the regular season at the top of the ProD2 has long been a given more certain than...

Top 14 roundup: Louis at double as Bordeaux hit back

With two rounds of the Top 14 still to play, the play-off situation is becoming increasingly clear

Super Rugby Pacific roundup: Fab Fehi nets share of the top try record

Hurricanes moved a step closer to securing the Super Rugby Pacific minor premiership with a dominant 47-24 victory over Blues at...

Forthcoming fixtures

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2026 Super Rugby Americas – Round 11 summary: Capibaras surge into playoff contention

In Round 11 of the 2026 Super Rugby Americas, Capibaras eased past visiting Yacare, scoring seven tries in their 53-21 victory.

New Rugby Paper Roundup: Grand Slam decider! England v France + historic Aviva clash in Six Nations

In this week’s episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by Irish rugby journalist Caolin Scully...

Will Carling: ‘Leading England at 22 taught me trust matters more than authority’

In this exclusive interview with the High Performance Speakers Agency, Will Carling reflects on becoming England captain at 22, the unseen...

Rugby’s Retention Problem – Why Fans Are Drifting Away and What Clubs Can Do

Rugby union faces an unprecedented crisis. Empty seats haunt stadiums that once thundered with passionate crowds. Television ratings plummet while younger...

The Club Rivalries That Never Make Headlines But Always Decide the Season

Every football season, the media spotlight shines on Manchester versus Liverpool, El Clasico, and the Milan derby. These marquee matchups dominate...

Phil Dowson urges Northampton Saints never to forget East Midlands derby day pain

Phil Dowson wants his Northampton Saints to “never forget” their “painful” 41-17 loss to rivals Leicester Tigers after they were given...

Italy 33-61 England: Marlie Packer’s punch puts the Italians on the floor

Marlie Packer sent a stern reminder to her back row rivals that she is not going away anytime soon after the...

Will Genia backs the Henry Pollock hype but feels England need to be more fluid

Will Genia is firmly on the Henry Pollock hype train but believes England must evolve into a more dynamic side if...

Leicester Tigers 41-17 Northampton Saints: Phil Dowson’s side cut down by razor-sharp Tigers

Geoff Parling refused to get carried away despite his Leicester Tigers’ serving up a six-try thrashing to title rivals Northampton Saints.

Francis Moore: Ealing Trailfinders play and act like a Prem side

Ealing Trailfinders centre Francis Moore believes the unbeaten record-breaking Champ leaders are already operating like a Prem outfit as they build...

Newcastle Red Bulls vs Harlequins: Jason Gilmore believes Alex Dombrandt deserves an England recall

Harlequins chief Jason Gilmore believes Alex Dombrandt is in the form of his life and merits a recall by England this...

Exeter Chiefs vs Bath: Max Norey out to prove his worth for Rob Baxter’s side

Max Norey had little hesitation in signing a new contract with Exeter Chiefs despite a lack of starts for the club.

Gloucester 21-15 Sale Sharks: Last-gasp Charlie Atkinson cuts down Sharks

Gloucester flyhalf Charlie Atkinson took the opportunity of displaying his talents to onlooking England head coach Steve Borthwick with a man...

Bristol Bears 26-41 Saracens: Sarries fix their sights on play-offs

Saracens are on the march. A third successive victory may have kept them in sixth place, but with home games against...

Jeremy Guscott: Secrecy surrounding England review makes no sense

The RFU review into the 2026 Six Nations was never likely to make great reading after England lost four Championship matches...

Charlie Ewels insists Bordeaux defeat will make Bath a better side

Charlie Ewels had a lightbulb moment in Toulouse in 2023 showing him Europe’s best were not invincible – and reckons Bath’s...

Life in the second row suits Northampton Saints’ Ed Prowse to a tee

Second rows are regularly used at wing forward but Northampton Saints’ Ed Prowse has settled into the position after being converted...

Unbeaten Red Roses set up a 6N decider

■By BEN JAYCOCK KATY Daley-McLean has warned England’s emerging stars they must “own” the intimidating atmosphere in Bordeaux if they are...

Exeter takeover approved

THE takeover of Exeter Chiefs by the owners of Premier League side AFC Bournemouth has been approved by the Prem rugby...

Pirates agree landmark deal

CORNISH Pirates have secured “landmark” investment from American firm Stonewood Capital Management. The deal is backed by J. Kenneth Moritz and...

Harris back at Newcastle

SCOTLAND centre Chris Harris will return to Newcastle next season, where he made 104 appearances before moving to Gloucester. The 35-year-old,...

‘Honest review’ backs Borthwick

HEAD coach Steve Borthwick has been backed by the RFU to turn around England’s form. The Six Nations review blamed a...

Alison Kervin: The game is flourishing – don’t make it different

If you have been to any women’s rugby matches recently, you will have witnessed scenes that were unimaginable a decade ago:...

Scotland 28-69 France: The French demolish Scots to set up grand finale

France powered into a title decider against England after running in 11 tries in a ruthless victory in Edinburgh.

Ireland 33-12 Wales: Power of the Irish is too much for the Welsh

Ireland’s forward dominance told as a peerless Aoife Wafer steered Scott Bemand’s side to a commanding victory over Wales.

DREAMTEAM

CONNOR BROCKSCHMIDT, THE CHINNOR AND FORMER GOLDEN LIONS & WITS UNIVERSITY LOCK, SELECTS THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR...

The Old Pals’ Act strikes again

WHEN Prem newcomers Worcester Warriors were turfed out of that league for encountering financial problems, they were victims of the biggest...

Why Lions should head to Argentina

WITH reference to the fantastic and correct comments regarding the future of the Lions made in The Rugby Paper on May...

Let Newcastle and Ealing hold £1million shootout

AS the RFU seems not to have any issue with changing rules mid-season, let me propose one more: Ealing Trailfinders deserve...

End-of-season play-offs becoming a bit of a farce

AS a Coventry RFC supporter, now that the dangling carrot of a one-off Prem access match against the bottom Prem side...

France leading the way in the finance stakes

AS Iain Sharpe states in his letter last week, there is no law of nature that makes the gulf between Prem...

Dowson: We are still in the title race

NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson admits his side were not at the races at Welford Road but insists they are still contenders...

Now it’s knockout rugby – George

JAMIE George described Saracens’ latest success over Bristol as a statement victory that keeps them in the play-off hunt. The England...

Skiv: We were not clinical enough

GLOUCESTER director of rugby George Skiving-ton accepted his side were not at their best but was still relieved that the win...

Pioneering Pirates show the Prem how it should be done

YOU couldn’t make it up. Cornish Pirates, down in seventh place in the Champ, the league confined to outer darkness by...

Nick Cain: Detailed? Robust? No… It’s a farcical non-review

The RFU’s review into England’s 2026 Six Nations nosedive was a whitewash that told the English rugby public, and the media,...

Peter Jackson: Leigh Halfpenny bravery wins royal approval

Peter Jackson pays tribute to Leigh Halfpenny’s courage, humility and unforgettable career, from his iconic Twickenham tackle to Lions glory and...

Peter Jackson: Leo Cullen should know that the press aren’t cheerleaders

AS head coach of Leinster, Leo Cullen runs a squad crammed with more capped players than any other club, province or...

Fit-again Van der Merwe is quickly back in his old routine

■By GEORGE LAWRENCE Dragons .............15pts Tries: Lewis 28, Keddie 45 Conversion: O’Brien 29 Penalty: O’Brien 7 Edinburgh ........ 24pts Tries: Ashman...

Ospreys 27-20 Scarlets: Jac Morgan takes his leave in fine style

Jac Morgan marked his final home appearance for the Ospreys with a late match-winning try against Scarlets as they secured the...

Rampant Warriors in command at the top

■By BEN JAYCOCK Glasgow ............40pts Tries: Dempsey 19, Steyn 24, Matthews 32, 54; Schickerling 65, Rowe 74 Conversions: Horne 20, 26,...

Sharks ……….46 Benetton …….. 7

JURENZO Julius scored a hat-trick of tries as part of a ruthless Sharks display which ensured Benetton were hammered at Kings...

Bulls …………..56 Zebre …………. 19

JOHAN Ackermann’s Bulls ran in eight tries in the Loftus sun to push their play-off claims with Willie le Roux pulling...

Osborne sparks Leinster charge

nBy JAMES STEPHENS Leinster ...........31 Lions................... 7 LEINSTER strengthened their push for a top-two finish with a bonus-point victory over at...