Ruddock’s family double

THE head honchos of the Robinson and Ruddock families go back a fair way, to a time when one had charge...

Pay-per-view silence

NO viewing figures have been divulged for the PRO14’s opening plunge into the often shallow pool of pay-per-view television. Whatever Premier...

NZ reserves also contain six appeal

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW The All Blacks duly delivered another average performance yesterday, average that is as...

Hooper delight as Aussies break duck

By GARY FITGERALD Relief: Will Genia, Tom Robertson and try-scorer Matt Toomua celebrate their tight win PICTURE: Getty Images MICHAEL Hooper...

All change but Kiwis still pound the Pumas

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER NEW Zealand ruthlessly took their chances to outscore the Pumas six tries to three in a match that...

…And a dozen who need to be inducted asap

Captain fantastic: Will Carling led England to three Grand Slams PICTURE: Getty Images World Rugby Hall of Fame Inductees 2006: William...

Hall of Famers you might be a bit hazy about

Donald and Ian Campbell (Chile): Ex-pat family long domiciled in Santiago, Donald Campbell was the founding father of Chilean Rugby before...

Star players line up for the fame game

Brendan Gallagher takes a close look at Rugby’s Hall of Fame and its latest batch of inductees Munster and Ireland legend:...

Subscriptions…

You can subscribe to The Rugby Paper. Just fill out the form below and send your cheque for £20, £40 or...

Japan Tests will ease pressure on England stars

ENGLAND will play only two summer Test matches in Japan in 2020, edging elite players towards a total number of internationals...

Coaches need protecting like players, says Moon

By NEALE HARVEY Views: Richard Moon RUGBY’S coaches deserve greater protection and are being poorly served by comparison with players, according...

Friend’s all smiles after his first win in charge

Connacht …32 Zebre …………….13 ANDY Friend was thrilled to get his first win as Connacht coach as his men proved too...

Vital win for Jackman but much work to do

By ALEX BYWATER THIS WAS a game the Dragons had to win to relieve pressure on head coach Bernard Jackman, but...

Cockerill upbeat despite another defeat

Ulster…………….30 Edinburgh ……29 RICHARDCockerill lamented a last-gasp loss in Belfast but believes he has seen enough in Edinburgh’s opening two games...

Ioane try makes Blues pay for double yellow

By STEFFAN THOMAS CARDIFF Blues fell to an agonising last gasp 27-25 defeat to Benetton in Italy after being reduced to...

Accuracy of Halfpenny proves the difference

By ROGER PANTING Tense finish: Gareth Davies scores for Scarlets PICTURE: Huw Evans SCARLETS avenged their two convincing defeats to Leinster,...

All-action Tipuric leads rout of the Cheetahs

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE Ospreys demolished the Cheetahs with a seven try masterclass in Swansea to cap off their best start...

Rennie delighted with his big men up front

Glasgow……….25 Munster ……….10 By GARY HEATLY DAVE Rennie praised his forward pack after the Warriors made it two wins from two...

Devoto’s out of his ‘dark place’

OLLIE DEVOTO aims to put a nightmare season behind him by leading ambitious Exeter to a second Premiership title. After a...

Lozowski pumps up to build his England bid

By NEALE HARVEY Challenge: Alex Lozowski faces England competition ALEX Lozowski has revealed why he has been piling on the pounds...

Warren will mix his teams to beat fatigue

WALES’ final preparations for the 2019 World Cup will see them play four warm-up fixtures, two against Ireland and two with...

I’m making a new PRO14 debut!

I’VE REALLY enjoyed the first two weekends of the new PRO14 season and now it’s my chance to get in amongst...

We need virtuosos like Ashton and Cips

Entertainer: Chris Ashton training with England PICTURE: Getty Images ENGLAND are looking to bounce back from a season to forget and...

ROOM 101

TOM EATON THE STOCKPORT PLAYER-COACH TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1) Training fads Even...

Slade ready to pledge his future to the Chiefs

HENRY SLADE could become the next big name Exeter Chiefs player to pledge his future to the Premiership finalists. Last week...

Itoje rubbishes French talk and stays at Sarries

New deal: Maro Itoje MARO ITOJE is set to pledge his loyalty to Saracens by penning a new three-year contract with...

Ref Sara is on the up

SARA COX, below, is being tipped by many observers to become the first female to referee in the Premiership before the...

Gloucester prop Val eyes move to Top 14

Off? Rapava-Ruskin VAL Rapava-Ruskin could be looking to depart Gloucester when his contract runs out at the end of the season....

No CVs needed, Tigers tell would-be bosses

LEICESTER TIGERS are believed to have told agents that they are not going to be accepting applications to replace Matt O’Connor....

It’s been a difficult week – Diamond

Out: Francois Hougaard FORGOTTEN England No.8 Josh Beaumont returns to Sale’s starting XV as part of a back row shuffle, while...

Heem aims to honour Adams’ 50th game

By NEALE HARVEY Fighting talk: Bryce Heem says Warriors can flourish BRYCE HEEM insists Worcester can prove their critics wrong by...

Beaumont: Now we need a big reaction

By JON NEWCOMBE Frustrated: Josh Beaumont hopes the Sale cobwebs have blown away JOSH BEAUMONT admits this is a big year...

Gustard questions Saints’ legality

HARLEQUINS supremo Paul Gustard felt his side were harshly treated at the breakdown. He lamented: “Saints’ breakdown work in week one...

Hartley try helps Boyd get his first win at the Gardens

By NEALE HARVEY It’s a tall order: Ahsee Tuala of Northampton shows good strength on the break PICTURES: Getty Images And...

Jones tells Cips what he must do

MAN-of-the-match Danny Cipriani said: “With the start we had we should have won but Bath did tremendously well to come back....

Cipriani lays on feast for England’s Eddie

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Not enough: Danny Cipriani can’t stop Elliott Stooke scoring for Bath PICTURES: Getty Images Off he goes: Ruan...

Goneva’s too sharp

VERINIKI Goneva’s subterfuge of placing the ball on his foot in goal last weekend in an attempt to dupe Saracens into...

Mighty Mouse Marcus is big cheese for Quins

THERE has not been much to recommend the run of new jerseys that have replaced the famous old Harlequins quartered shirt,...

CVC takeover would spark rugby conflict

It is ironic that CVC Capital Partners, the private equity firm hoping to buy a 50 per cent stake in the...

Richards: Woeful first half cost us

DEAN Richards claimed he had not seen his Newcastle team defend as badly for a “very long time” in a dreadful...

Ford takes charge as Tigers find their claws

Fast out of the blocks: Adam Thompstone scores Tigers’ third try after just 14 minutes PICTURES: Getty Images Helping hand: Manu...

Wales in bid to get £20m for TV rights

By PETER JACKSON WALES are attempting to negotiate a record deal of more than £20m from the sale of TV rights...

Geordan’s right for the Tigers says Deano

By ROB WILDMAN Smile of the Tiger: Manu Tuilagi dives to score for Leicester against Newcastle yesterday PICTURE: Getty Images GEORDAN...

My Life in Rugby: Former Nottingham and Saracens back Tim Streather

The ex-Sarries centre talks about how back and knee injury proved an obstacle too difficult to overcome

Barbarians invite Springboks and Australia stars to take on Argentina for the Killik Cup

Four leading South Africa and Australia players have accepted invitations to appear for the Barbarians when the famous invitation side returns...

Shane Williams column: It’s right to let regions take control once more

Is the timing right to move past National Dual Contracts?

Tom Youngs wants his Tigers to be home boys again

'Fortress Welford Road' wasn't a phrase you heard last season in rugby circles

The magic of Mark McCall – chronicling the Ulsterman’s time at Saracens

Schalk Brits, Rob Baxter and Clive Woodward all have their say on the legacy built by McCall in north London

Jackson column: A back-row conundrum that even has Sam Warburton scratching his head

Peter Jackson on the multiple combinations used by Wales in the lead up to Japan

Dream Team: Exeter and Wallabies back row Dave Dennis

A XV stacked with Australian talent and the odd Chief