Farewell to Nick, the prop who changed face of rugby

THE Grim Reaper took his usual toll during the year, a list of the noble and the notorious headed by a...

Lions must pick Schmidt as their 2021 coach now

A FEWwishes for the New Year: That the Lions do not let a blade of grass grow under their feet before...

Wales’ new belief makes them real World Cup hopes

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PETER JACKSON Dragons roar: Shane Williams scores Wales’ first try as they beat Ireland 22-10...

Davies becoming a triple threat for World Cup

SEB DAVIES believes his versatility can be a point of difference as he bids to make Warren Gatland’s Wales World Cup...

Wainright’s flying high after whirlwind season

By ALEX BYWATER Impressive debut: Aaron Wainwright mixed with the Boks beasts in November IT HAS been a breathtaking 12 months...

Pivac to face Kiwis on his first Wales tour

KIWI Wayne Pivac’s first tour as Wales coach will see him take on the biggest challenge in the game in New...

SMELLIEST DRESSING ROOM:

Jonny Hill, the newest addition to Exeter’s England contingent, on preparing for the Premiership final last May as told to The...

WHO SAYS PROPS CAN’T CHEW GUM AND RUN AT THE SAME TIME?

“He is one of the smartest rugby brains I have ever come across. He can see things that fly-halves don’t see.’’...

MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE:

Crunch: Owen Farrell’s no-arms tackle on Springbok Andre Esterhuizen Twickenham November 3, 2018 Owen Farrell’s no-arms tackle secures England a home...

MOST EFFECTIVE MUSICAL INTERLUDE:

Ireland treating their players to a private session with the celebrated folk and protest singer Christy Moore. “He sang Ordinary Man...

THE NON-TEST

A GRANDtotal of 68 Tests were played in 2018, another sign that one day they will be almost as commonplace as...

HIGHEST CLIMBERS:

And the Oscar for the steepest climb up the World Rugby rankings over the course of the year goes to…the United...

That was the year that was

Peter Jackson looks back at 2018 and reflects on 2019 Top try: Jacob Stockdale strikes against New Zealand PICTURES: Getty Images...

MOST DECORATED SUBSTITUTE:

Sean Cronin (Ireland) During the 11 years when Sir Gareth Edwards never missed a match for Wales, a number of very...

MOST INSPIRATIONAL FIGURE:

Doddie Weir’s selfless courage in responding to his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis by raising funds for research into the cruel illness....

THEY SAID WHAT…

Sir Clive Woodward, right, before Ireland’s Grand Slam clincher at Twickenham on March 17: “What with the added expectation of a...

Fighting fit and fresh Faletau is essential for Gatland

TAULUPE Faletau is one of Wales’ most important players and there is a very good argument to say that he’s also...

What did Leigh do Christmas Day? Practised his kicking

AS YOU – and I – sat back to enjoy our Christmas Day turkey or that extra slice of pudding, I...

Here are my fancied five to help win RWC

WALES AND LIONS LEGEND SHANE WILLIAMS All-court game: James Davies PICTURE: Getty Images World Cup year is upon us and now...

Players on the move

PLAYERS can open talks with rival Premiership clubs from January 1 and these are some of the deals Blindside expects to...

Teague says No to Exiles job offer

FORMER England skills coach Rory Teague has turned down the chance to work for London Irish next season. Teague, who has...

DREAMTEAM

CHARLIE DAVIES, NORTHAMPTON AND FORMER WASPS, STADE FRANCAIS AND DRAGONS NO.9, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

Alofa sells up ready for France move

Relocating: Alofa Alofa is heading back across the Channel ALOFA ALOFA is set to leave Harlequins at the end of the...

Wasps eye Pirates wing Wedlake

Option: Robin Wedlake WASPS are interested in Cornish Pirates winger Robin Wedlake who has only just agreed a new contract to...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

Wilson in new deal NEWCASTLE Falcons have agreed a contract extension with England international Mark Wilson, right, despite him having another...

ROOM 101

SEB NAGLETAYLOR THE ROTHERHAM BACK-ROWER AND CAPTAIN TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1.Guestimate I’ve...

The north are truly a force to be feared

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK NICK CAIN AT a time when ‘Happy New Year’ is the most popular phrase in...

Flood out to fire shots, not take them

By JON NEWCOMBE Team man: Toby Flood NOW 33, Toby Flood’s appetite for the game shows no sign of diminishing but...

Roberts believes Bath are still in hunt for the title

By NEALE HARVEY Veteran: Jamie Roberts is enjoying a new lease of life at Bath PICTURE: Getty Images JAMIE Roberts demands...

Baxter: Referee wasn’t to blame

EXETER boss Rob Baxter refused to blame referee Ian Tempest for failing to award a first-half try for Ollie Devoto and...

Confident Cobus sparks Boyd’s new-look Saints

By ROB WILDMAN Clutching thin air: Fraser Dingwall breaks clear to score Saints’ third try PICTURES: Getty Images In the corner:...

Gustard queries Brown incident

DAVE Ward will face the music from Quins boss Paul Gustard. Gustard denied seeing a spitting incident, but said: “The message...

Ward sweating after stamp and ‘spit’ row

By NEALE HARVEY Dotting down: Alex Dombrandt scores a simple try for Harlequins after two minutes PICTURES: Getty Images Burrowing over:...

Gat to lead Baa-baas against the Welsh

By PETER JACKSON WARREN Gatland will be back in Cardiff after the World Cup for one last match – against Wales....

Tigers aim to land all Du Preez brothers

By NEIL FISSLER Big match, big player: Joe Marchant scores the winning try for Harlequins against Wasps at Twickenham PICTURE: Getty...

National League tax probe to be expanded to Premiership and Championship levels

HMRC have turned their attentions to rugby in recent months

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont honoured with knighthood

Doddie Weir also honoured for his contribution to rugby and the search for a cure to Motor Neurone Disease

2019 is set to be a big year for new rugby betting sites

This is set to be a seminal year for the sport of Rugby Union, with the latest iteration of the World...

John Mitchell came in with new ideas, says George Kruis

The England and Saracens lock talks World Cup hopes after an autumn playing in Mitchell's defence system

Burns: I don’t feel let down by Gloucester

The Ulster fly-half talks about his new life at the Kingspan

Secret of how French rugby stars dodged jail time in Wales

Peter Jackson's column details the role of a French reporter in securing the release of three France players in Cardiff

Steven Luatua pens new deal to stay at Bristol Bears

Contract news concerning the Kiwi flanker

Worst display so far – Gustard

ANGRY Harlequins players locked themselves in the dressing room after this defeat as boss Paul Gustard labelled the performance as the...

Bedridden Tigers show their courage under fire

By GARY FITZGERALD Away: Jonah Holmes breaks clear to score the Tigers’ first try PICTURES: Getty Images Danger man: Manu Tuilagi...

Baxter: We know we can beat them

EXETER boss Rob Baxter said his team had taken a psychological step that was more important than the win over the...

Chiefs end record run to storm back on top

By NICK CAIN Charge down: Luke Cowan-Dickie falls over the line for Exeter’s first try PICTURES: Getty Images EXETER ended Saracens...

Take a brave man to call this relegation cliffhanger

JEREMY GUSCOTT Expensive move: Elliott Daly would push up Saracens’ wage bill PICTURE: Getty Images IT promises to be the tensest...

CVC deal is great news for the clubs

COLIN BOAG Banned: Castres scrum-half Rory Kockott was given three weeks for ‘gouge’ on Chris Colete So, the Gallagher Premiership clubs,...

Professional game is getting boring

JUST watched the last batch of European Cup games and I’m so, so depressed about the state of rugby. With the...

RFU must help the grassroots clubs, not punish them

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk THE letter from John...