Bristol win will intensify ring-fence campaign

Bristol Bears downed Bath at Ashton Gate last Friday, and Nick Cain writes why that will fuel a debate that has...

Guscott column: My hope is Paul Gustard gets Harlequins playing without fear

If successful at the Stoop, Jeremy Guscott writes why he can see no reason for Gustard to eventually return to the...

Lions Tour 2021: Springboks are considering hosting a Test at 95,000-capacity stadium

The SARU are seeking to reap the financial rewards when the Lions tour South Africa in three years' time

Ex-owners of Formula 1 propose £275m takeover of Premiership Rugby

Luxembourg-based company values Premiership Rugby at £550m and aims to attain 51% majority

RFU confirm World Cup warm-up match to be held in the North

St James' Park, not Twickenham, will host England's international against Italy in September 2019

Bath pin down Zach Mercer with two-year contract extension

Blackadder: 'Zach has attributes that can make he a world-class player'

Jonathan Davies to miss Scarlets clash with Leinster

Wayne Pivac says it is 'smart' to not risk the centre against the PRO14 champions

Matt O’Connor leaves Leicester Tigers one game into the Premiership season

Geordan Murphy has been put in charge as interim head coach

Baxter praise for Kvesic’s ‘hunger’

Slade alive! Exeter Chiefs celebrate as Henry Slade, grounded, scores their fourth try PICTURES: Getty Images At full stretch: Henry Slade...

Toothless Tigers are tormented in six-try Exeter rout

By MIKE SINCLAIR SIX-TRY Exeter destroyed lacklustre Leicester with a powerhouse performance and director of rugby Rob Baxter sent an ominous...

We’ve all stepped up says star man

DANNY Cipriani was full of praise for the welcome he has had at Gloucester after his man-of-the-match display. The England fly-half...

Saints have no answer to pass master Cipriani

By NICK CAIN Magic moment: Charlie Sharples breaks to score for Gloucester off Danny Cipriani’s super pass PICTURES: Getty Images Collision:...

My hope is Gustard gets Quins playing without fear

JEREMY GUSCOTT Expectation: Paul Gustard with his Quins squad PICTURE: Getty Images HARLEQUINS have a great tradition as the aristocrats of...

DREAM TEAM

DAVE DENNIS, EXETER AND FORMER WARATAHS AND AUSTRALIA BACK ROW, CHOOSES HIS BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST 1. Tony...

Marquee players are driving up the debts

COLIN BOAG Unfit: The Australians looked exhausted against the All Blacks In among the Premiership previews whetting our appetites for the...

Yes, Danny deserves another chance

I AGREE wholeheartedly with Phil Vickery’s comments (about giving Danny Cipriani a chance). I would take it a stage further. England...

New Zealand let their club players face Test stars

MANY ask why NZ are so dominant. They suggest their success is because rugby is the national sport. Others say that...

Sorry Ben, Ealing won’t get Prem help

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk BEN WARD please wake...

Rennie: We won’t miss Finn now we’ve got Hastings and Horne

By ALEX BYWATER DAVE Rennie believes his Glasgow side will brush off the loss of Finn Russell this season thanks to...

It’s going to be physical at Scarlets says Steffan

By STEFFAN THOMAS Hard edge: Blade Thomson PICTURE: Getty Images STEFFAN Evans has warned the Scarlets’ Guinness PRO14 rivals they won’t...

Oh for Jonny is lament of Toulon’s sad faithful

DAVID BARNES Off the bench for Toulon: All Black Julien Savea PICTURE: Getty Images Just two games in and a twittered...

Battling Glynneath edge their thriller with Kenfig Hill

By JAY BAYFORD Welsh Division One round-up GLYNNEATH made a winning star after edging a tight encounter 41-37. Craig Tennant and...

Tata Steel open their season with a 66 gun salute

By JAY BAYFORD Welsh Championship round-up TATA Steel opened the new season in emphatic style with a 66-29 win over Bedlinog....

Wizards put spell on old rivals for comfortable win

By PAUL HOPKINS Aberavon…24 Swansea …10 ABERAVON began the season in style with a dominant performance over Ospreys regional rivals Swansea....

It’s tough work but RGC are A-OK in a testing opener

By DEAN JONES RGC 1404 …37 Neath…19 RGC began their campaign with a hard-fought home success. Visitors Neath went ahead after...

Cudd grabs spotlight from Keys marquee signings

By IWAN GABE DAVIES Cross Keys …32 Bridgend …25 AFTER making some star signings over the summer, Cross Keys got their...

Flying start for Black and Ambers in season of destiny

By HUW S THOMAS Carmarthen Q 12 Newport…29 IN the first of 30 Premiership games that will decide the future of...

Knott leads Ponty charge with Bedwas in a tangle

By OWEN THOMAS Bedwas …23 Pontypridd …33 PONTYPRIDD turned on the power as they overturned a 13-point deficit to complete a...

Six of the best as Vale make flying start to their campaign

By IAN GOLDEN Llanelli …10 Ebbw Vale…43 EBBW Vale made the perfect to start to the season as they scored six...

Bargoed …22 Llandovery …62

LLANDOVERY cruised to victory with four tries in a 12-minute spell after the interval. The Drovers raced into a ten-point advantage...

Cardiff …18 Merthyr …24

KYLE Evans came off the bench and claimed a lastminute try as Merthyr came from behind to win. New Cardiff signing...

Hanson: All I’m thinking about is Gloucester

Full attention: James Hanson IN-FORM Aussie hooker James Hanson insists all his attention is focussed on turning Gloucester into champions. With...

Falcons have ability to fly again says Flood

By GARY FITZGERALD More of the same: Toby Flood says Newcastle must keep the momentum going PICTURES: Getty Images Targets: Dean...

Stars tell what the Wales jersey signifies

By JAMES WILLIS THE first of a series of films inspired by the Welsh national team jersey and featuring rugby stars...

Players swap agencies as ISC buy rivals ISG

ENGLANDrugby stars including Joe Cokanasiga and Jordan Olowofela are under new management following the acquisition of Independent Sports Group agency by...

Cassiem out for month with calf

SCARLETSNo.8 Uzair Cassiem has been ruled out for a month with the leg injury he suffered in the pre-season friendly against...

Warburton signs up to become BT pundit

FORMER Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton has been unveiled as BT Sport’s latest signing following his retirement from rugby. The...

Blod clot forces Dudley to retire

JERSEY Reds suffered a blow on the eve of season with the news that scrum-half Joel Dudley has been forced to...

England Women name Test dates

ENGLAND Women will play three Tests in the 2018 Quilter Internationals – USA, Canada and Ireland at three venues across the...

Macken signs on for London Irish

LONDONIrish have signed Brendan Macken, the 27-year - old Emerging Ireland centre. Macken spent the last three years with Wasps and...

Dempsey can make Bath winners says Catt

Direction: Nathan Catt BATH prop Nathan Catt says the arrival of backs coach Girvan Dempsey has provided fresh impetus as the...

Hill happy to fight his corner in lock wars

By NEALE HARVEY Great to work with: Joe Launchbury Knuckling down: Johnny Hill PICTURES: Getty Images JONNY Hill insists being snubbed...

I’m still learning with the Chiefs says Kvesic

By ROB COLE THEY say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but Matt Kvesic intends to disprove that old...

Close shave for Oakley’s supporters

By ANDREW BEACHAM Gone: From left: Dan Murphy, Tom Pasley, Luke Stratford, Des Merrey and Francois Pelser Going: Dan Murphy gets...

17 women get England Sevens contracts

ENGLANDRugby has awarded 17 women’s Sevens contracts for the upcoming season. The women’s squad moved from their present base at Bisham...

A bit more respect might bring in a bit more cash

JEFF PROBYN Pressure: Players are too ready to contest decisions There is something about the start of a new season that...

Drew’s in Luc as Lichfield put to sword

National League 3 Midlands THE Midland Premier Division roared back into action today with all 14 teams kick starting their campaigns....

Blaydon run riot in bid to bounce back

National League 3 North THEY MAY have just been relegated but Blaydon made their intentions very clear with a massive 94-12...

Hancox’s kicking Grants Lions a victory

National League 3 South West BOURNEMOUTH got their National League Three South West campaign off to the perfect start with an...

Sutton & Epsom start in seventh heaven

National League 3 London & SE SUTTON & EPSOM were 49-25 winners at home to newcomers Bedford Athletic. Andy Matthews, Stefan...