Lions’ board will demand improved schedule in 2021

By NEALE HARVEY BRITISH & Irish Lions bosses will play hardball over their schedule for the 2021 South Africa tour to...

Birthday boy Billy

ONLY one British rugby player can claim to have scored more tries than Cristiano Ronaldo has goals, not that the man...

Pressure time as Burke gets own back on Guscott

RUGBY’S version of the Ryder Cup may have had a subterranean profile compared to the real thing but for one player...

Festive cheer from BBC Wales

BBC WALES have moved quickly to fill the vacuum left by the decision of Europe’s three major Leagues to leave the...

How Aaron went from bouncers to breakdowns

THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW PETER JACKSON Versatile: Aaron Shingler switched from cricket PICTURE: Getty Images Ricky Ponting made 150...

New boss at Sarries

SARACENS Women have appointed Alex Austerberry as head coach, replacing Rob Cain who took up the position of USA Rugby Women’s...

Blues face Uruguay

CARDIFF Blues will host Uruguay in a midweek tour match on November 6, three days before Los Teros face Ulster in...

From Irish to Scottish

LOOSEHEAD prop Tom Smallbone has joined London Scottish from London Irish. Smallbone, 24, came through the academy system and made over...

Simmonds sets sights on earning England call

By NEALE HARVEY Rising star: Joe Simmonds PICTURES: Getty Images Chiefs veteran: Gareth Steenson FAST-EMERGING flyhalf Joe Simmonds believes his battle...

Roberts close to full fitness after injury agony

By STEFFAN THOMAS CARDIFF Blues’ forgotten man has vowed to prove his worth at Wales’ capital region this season after an...

One Guy’s dynamism can ignite the Tigers

NICK CAIN TALKS TO LEICESTER’S NEW SIGNING, OPENSIDE FLANKER GUY THOMPSON Examples: Guy Thompson is impressed by Thomas Young, right, and...

Segun out to hunt down Lions

SARACENS speedster Rotimi Segun reckons he is “nailing down the basics” as he aims to turn up the heat on British...

Cobus aims to show Faf who’s top Bok in Prem

By NEALE HARVEY Livewire: Cobus Reinach is looking to press his Springboks claim PICTURE: Getty Images Bok star: Faf de Klerk...

Trust me, Eddie will prove his resilience

JON NEWCOMBE sits down with South Africa star Bryan Habana as he begins life after rugby Champion: Bryan Habana wins the...

Dragons are forecasting a reign of fire

By STEFFAN THOMAS Making big strides: Aaron Wainwright Top boy: Ross Moriarty AARON Wainwright has warned the PRO14 that the Dragons...

Quality bristles through this improving league

SHANE WILLIAMS Great signings: From left, Blade Thomson, Ross Moriarty and George North PICTURES: Getty Images SLOWLY and quietly, the PRO14...

Few No. 7s in England squad but a squadron of No.6s!

WHILE England’s openside options remain limited to two novices – Sam Underhill and Tom Curry – the blindside stocks available to...

Eddie’s plans are shackled by RFU and Prem clubs

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK NICK CAIN EDDIE Jones is not the first England coach to be stuck between a...

Pivac in talks over Edwards contract

By PETER JACKSON WALES head coach-elect Wayne Pivac has opened talks with Shaun Edwards over his future beyond next year’s World...

Eddie ready to call up old guard for England

By NICK CAIN EDDIE Jones is preparing to go back to the old guard for the Autumn series against the Southern...

Spencer column: Forget the Olympic dream or Red Roses will wither

By Catherine Spencer San Francisco, home of the Golden Gate Bridge and this year’s Sevens World Cup, was not so Golden...

‘It’s the worst injury I’ve ever had’ says Jonathan Davies

The Scarlets & Wales centre explains the difficulty of overcoming his foot injury and what he wants to win most

Jackson column: The PRO14 say ‘bah, Humbug’ to festive rugby fans

No Boxing Day fixture to come this winter...

Matt Kvesic admits his England days are numbered with Eddie Jones at the helm

Once touted as the next big thing for England at 7

Chris Ashton gets the call from Eddie Jones for pre-season England camp

Michael Rhodes is also included are qualifying for England on residency

Guscott column: New half-back pairing key to Saints’ revival

Can Reinach and Biggar do the business for Northampton?

Mako and Billy Vunipola commit to Saracens

"It was a straightforward decision"

Why Jersey is an island of rugby dreams

Brendan Gallagher takes a trip to the Channel Islands to find the Reds are in success

Leo column: Give Charles Piutau a reprieve after early capture by All Blacks

If an issue affects one Pacific Island, it affects all...

Midfield merry-go-round at Leicester as Eastmond joins and Toomua to leave

Matt Toomua to leave Welford Road at the end of the season to move back to Australia

Scotland hand head coach Gregor Townsend contract extension

Three more years at Murrayfield

PRO14 final to be hosted by Glasgow

Could the PRO14 be set to break its attendance record for a fifth-straight final?

Kennedy joins U18 coaching lineup for Bok trip

NEWS EXTRA ENGLAND U18s have named their squad for the International Series in South Africa and have brought in former London...

More silverware for Sarries as captain Conlon steers them home in Sevens

By ADAM ELLIS Early shock: Exeter’s James Short breaks clear to score against Saracens Leading the way: Saracens captain Joel Conlon...

Herron on target to peck up French

By TOM INNES PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY JERSEY Reds began preparations for the new season with a solid win over opposition from the...

New tackle law means more head injuries

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE decision taken by World Rugby to lower the tackle height by trialling...

DREAMTEAM

HARRY SLOAN, EALING AND FORMER HARLEQUINS AND ENGLAND U20 CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Super Rugby must cut teams to 12 to survive

COLIN BOAG Air miles: The Japanese Sunwolves would need to do most of the travelling July is always the most boring...

Be careful or the game will go soft

I’M all for player welfare but the way our game is going, it will soon be touch football and all the...

Looks like it’s up to OEs to rectify Kent’s under-achievement

NEALE Harvey’s article on Page 1 last week ought to cause the Kent RFU to sit up and take notice. Sadly,...

Great if Ealing stop this Irish yo-yoing

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk WHAT is the problem...

Franks questions Championship’s long-term future

By NEALE HARVEY Critic: Ben Franks in action against for Irish HAVING twice suffered the agony of being relegated with London...

Jess: Cuthbert can come again on Exeter’s ‘yellow brick road’

By JON NEWCOMBE Renaissance man? Cuthbert could regain form FORMER Exeter fans’ favourite Matt Jess believes the Chiefs’ secret formula for...

Kvesic admits England days are numbered under Eddie

By NEALE HARVEY England incumbent: Sale flanker Tom Curry FRUSTRATED flanker Matt Kvesic admits his “ship has sailed” as far as...

Canucks flier training with Harlequins

CANADIAN international Jess Hassler is on trial at Harlequins as he looks to stay match sharp ahead of Canada’s crucial November...

Howard tries life as an OEs City boy after Sixways exit

Probyn: Tackle change is a start but must go further By NEALE HARVEY FORMER England U20s full-back Ben Howard is relishing...

YOUNG GUNS

TOM EMERY NORTHAMPTON FULL-BACK Tom Emery is trying to follow in the footsteps of Northampton legend Ben Foden in more ways...

FAMOUS GAMES AT CROSS GREEN

THE NORTH 21 NEW ZEALAND 9 NOVEMBER 17, 1979 With an estimated crowd of over 10,000 crammed inside Cross Green and...

Otley on the move to ensure club’s future

By JON NEWCOMBE Famous day: Steve Smith clears the lines for the North v All Blacks in 1979 Coach: Tom Casson...

Goosen’s all set to face Racing boo boys

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Montpellier man: Johan Goosen scores for South Africa against England PICTURE: Getty Images The fixture compilers of...