Michael Cheika needs to bridge the gap to the All Blacks, says ARU chief

"I don’t think it’s about changing what we’ve got, it’s about what can we bring"

Chiefs lay down Cup marker over Irish

By BARRY MURPHY EXETER Chiefs laid down a big marker ahead of the start of their Premiership campaign by not just...

Giant Skelton shows he can be real deal for Saracens

By NEALE HARVEY AUSSIE powerhouse Will Skelton led an impressive pack performance as Premiership champions Saracens notched a convincing four-try victory....

Bristol rocked by injury to £1m man Piutau

By ALEX BYWATER CHARLES Piutau handed Bristol a significant injury scare ahead of the new Premiership season as he was forced...

Griffiths upset by Falcons dominance

By GUY WILLIAMS Still in it: Morgan Eames scores for Knights Away: Ben Stevenson runs in one of his two tries...

Tuilagi’s back but Eastmond is the Tigers midfield star

By ROB WILDMAN MANU Tuilagi showed he has recovered from summer surgery to put himself in line to face Exeter next...

Worcester ……57 Moseley …………0

■ WARRIORS ran in nine tries to make it a clean sweep of wins in preseason on Thursday night at Sixways....

Bristol ……………31 Nottingham ….12

■ HARRY Randall showed Pat Lam he intends to be a part of his Premiership plans with Bristol this season as...

Heed this Beauden lesson

IF any international coaches out there needed reminding of the importance of fierce competition for places in their squads all the...

All Blacks aim for the solar plexus

THE continued domination of the Rugby Championship by New Zealand, reflected in their two runaway wins so far over the Wallabies...

Eddie has no grounds to dump his bad boys

Chris Ashton and Danny Cipriani are like men with itchy trigger fingers who are caught in a hypnotic trance which draws...

DREAMTEAM

LUKE EVES, HARTPURY AND FORMER BRISTOL, NEWCASTLE AND NORTHAMPTON CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

RFU make a rod for their back over Cipriani case

COLIN BOAG No role model: Danny Cipriani leaves court Were the RFU right to charge Danny Cipriani with ‘conduct prejudicial to...

Grow up Danny, and stop drinking

EVERYONE deserves a second chance after a silly mistake, but giving Danny Cipriani another chance is not the answer, he has...

Probyn was spot on with defence of grassroots game

HAVING crossed verbal swords with Jeff Probyn last season, when I thought he was not giving community rugby its full credit,...

How is a driving maul not blocking?

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I HAVE looked up...

Blackadder can’t wait to let Attwood off the leash at Bath

By TOM BRADSHAW HARD-TRAINING Dave Attwood is ready to be “unleashed” back on the Premiership, says excited Bath director of rugby...

Deano: It’s bubbling here but we need to scrap on

By GARY FITZGERALD Salute: Falcons’ Vereniki Goneva celebrates scoring like Alan Shearer at St James’ Park DEAN Richards admits his Falcons...

Ruan’s having a really ‘lekker’ time in Gloucester

Ambition: Ruan Ackermann RUAN Ackermann says SA Rugby’s decision to overturn a ban on picking overseas-based players will result in him...

The Beast has shown Kyle route to the top

By NEALE HARVEY Learning curve: Kyle Sinckler with England PICTURES: Getty Images KYLE Sinckler believes his wild summer safari against South...

England ‘should blood hooker Singleton’

HIGHLY-rated Worcester hooker Jack Singleton is a viable World Cup candidate for England and must be given a chance to prove...

Evergreen Grifiths can’t hear the fat lady singing just yet

Jon Newcombe talks to Doncaster coach Clive Griffiths about the challenges ahead Passionate: Clive Griffiths loves the game CLIVE Griffiths’ passion...

Clermont show why they are favourites

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Debut try: Paddy Jackson scored for Perpignan PICTURE: Getty Images Apoll of Top 14 coaches anointed Clermont...

Of course Cipriani brings the game into disrepute

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Jacket and jeans: Danny Cipriani on his way to his RFU disciplinary...

Quins sign Fijian 7s gold star

HARLEQUINS have signed Fijian Semi Kunatani, an Olympic Sevens gold medallist. Kunatani, 6ft 3ins and 16st 8lb, played in all six...

Dunn still pushing at England’s door

■ By TOM BRADSHAW Fit-again: Tom Dunn on the charge EDDIE Jones has told hard-tackling Bath hooker Tom Dunn that the...

YOUNG GUNS

RIODYER DRAGONS WING Rio Dyer’s first Junior World Cup experience with Wales U20s ended in agony in June when he dislocated...

Poland have the athletes to become world class

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points RUGBY MATTERS Man mountain: Gregory Kacala in action for Brive...

No wonder Ashton saw the red mist

Provocation: Kockott “Provocation is not a defence to foul play…” read part of Richard Whittam QC’s verdict on Chris Ashton on...

Playing in centre needs to carry a warning

THERE is much concerned debate in New Zealand at present regarding centre being the most dangerous position in the world. At...

Aussies floored by the Beauden show

■ By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Unstoppable: Beauden Barrett runs away to score the All Blacks’ third try PICTURES: Getty Images BEAUDEN BARRETT...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

JON GOODRIDGE THE FORMER GLOUCESTER, LEEDS AND BRISTOL FULL-BACK Every time I ran out at Kingsholm as a Gloucester player it...

Sexton’s fit as a fiddle …but silent

UP INGlasgow the other day, Johnny Sexton marked the launch of another PRO14 season by declaring himself in an unusually unmarked...

Clubs are asked to jog along in memory of Sam

GARETH’Sam’ Williams, the Bridgend, Wales and Lions back row forward, died at the end of last season way ahead of his...

Who’s that acting with Meg Ryan? Oh, must be Geoff Bray!

EVERY now and then, whenever he felt the need to enlighten a dull moment, Geoff Bray would slip the name of...

Broken but now bowed, the Dragons fight back

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Reason to be cheerful: Cory Hill PICTURE: Getty Images Had someone devised a...

Quins may seek cover for Saili’s new injury

Blow: Francis Saili HARLEQUINS could be set to enter the transfer market after former All Black centre Francis Saili received another...

Saracens battle to keep Skelton from going home

Wanted: Will Skelton SARACENS are facing an uphill battle to retain the services of Wallaby lock Will Skelton when his contract...

WRU may scrap dual contracts to save cash

Pioneer: Warburton THE WRU have held high level discussions about scrapping their Dual National Contracts, Blindside can reveal. The Welsh Union...

ON THE BLINDSIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler Tigers keen to land Macken LEICESTER TIGERS are believed to have offered former Wasps...

ROOM 101

SAM POCKLINGTON THE DONCASTER AND YORKSHIRE U20 SCRUM-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1....

Newcastle ……13 Edinburgh ……23

■ Edinburgh produced another uplifting performance after their loss to Bath last week and gained a huge psychological boost by beating...

Plymouth …….12 C Pirates …….29

■ Two tries by replacements Dan Koster and Jake Clemson saw Pirates seal the win after Albion levelled at 12-12 with...

Wasps hit for six in Cov’s second-half try spree

■ By TOM BRANSTON COVENTRY exploded into life in the second half with six tries against a flailing Wasps defence to...

Cipriani the star in 11-try feast for the Shed

■ By ALEX BYWATER Gloucester……40 Dragons ……….31 IT RAINED tries at Kingsholm, but both sides declared themselves happy with their final...

Scarlets will be the main threat to Leinster

Best in the world: Alun Wyn Jones PICTURE: Getty Images THE Guinness PRO14 – as it is now – is nothing...

Jackson had mountain to climb – and did it!

By ALEX BYWATER Gruelling: Ed Jackson climbing Mount Snowdon WHEN Ed Jackson was told he may never walk again after breaking...

Woodward: Danny can help us win the Prem

By NEALE HARVEY Aiming to step up: Jason Woodward PICTURE: Getty Images GLOUCESTER fullback Jason Woodward is backing controversial England fly-half...

Quins on the trail of Tyrrells revenge over Saracens

WOMEN’S PREMIER 15 Champs: Lotte Clapp of Saracens lifts the trophy Intent: Rachel Burford Profile: Marlie Packer HARLEQUINS Ladies centre Rachael...

Rams aim to charge into new era

NATIONAL LEAGUE 2 SOUTH Signing: Fly-half Alex Seers has joined the Rams With a modern new name to back up his...