Roberts is my dark horse for selection

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Wants the ton: Jamie Roberts PICTURE: Getty Images THE start of the new season is...

Wasps have signed a winner in Sops

Star signing: Lima Sopoaga has joined Wasps from the Highlanders PICTURE: Getty Images LIMA Sopoaga, our fly-half at the Highlanders, has...

Hansen right to decide that Beauden’s still tops

GLENN DELANEY, defence coach at the Highlanders and former London Irish and Nottingham coach, runs his expert eye over the Rugby...

Mario must stop this Pumas freefall

BRENDAN GALLAGHER runs his eye over the Rugby Championship contenders ahead of next weekend’s big kick-off Big job on: Argentina coach...

Wallabies will pose real threat in Bledisloe opener

THE current All Blacks are a very talented team and boast the ability to go unbeaten during the Rugby Championship. Their...

Bold move but Eddie’s got to go for broke

BRENDAN VENTER FORMER SARACENS DOR AND CURRENT SPRINGBOK ASSISTANT COACH Experienced head: Bulls boss John Mitchell PICTURE: Getty Images After suffering...

Edwards knows he’s risking lots with switch to Wigan

SHAUN EDWARDS admits that he is taking a gamble after deciding to return to Wigan Warriors following the World Cup next...

Mafieyes move to Premiership if he avoids jail time

JAPAN No.8 Amanaki Maficould look to rebuild his career with a move to the Premiership if he avoids going to prison....

Free agent Qera hopes for a joker

BY NEILFISSLER FORMER Gloucester player of the year Akapusi Qera is leaving French side Agen but doesn’t have any plans to...

Diamond’s move for Boks duo blocked

SALE SHARKS are looking for reinforcements after their advances for Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen and scrumhalf Ross Cronjé were knocked back....

ROOM 101

ARCHIE RUSSELL THE BOROUGHMUIR AND FORMER CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY CENTRE TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND...

First round defeats for England and Wales

U18 International Series in SA Denied: Jac Morgan ENGLAND were defeated 41-21 by France in their opening game of the U18...

Shillcock holds his nerve to land the late winner

By WILLIAM RILEY Benetton……….12 Worcester ……14 WORCESTER made a solid start to their pre-season campaign with a 14-12 victory over fast-improving...

Late winner makes debutant Honey toast of the town

Plymouth ……21 Bedford ……….19 Big match: Fraser Honey PLYMOUTH Albion kicked off their pre-season campaign with an intense battle against Bedford...

Sleightholme’s solo effort starts Boyd off with a win

By ROB COLE Bright spark: Ollie Sleightholme picks his way through the defence NEW ZEALANDER Chris Boyd will have been pleased...

Leinster’s young guns blitz early French test

By JOHN FALLON LEINSTER got their season up and running with a decent workout in France against a Montauban side who...

Saracens offer a lot more than just money –Velani

By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA SARACENS chief executive Mitesh Velani says the club’s commitment to treating players “unbelievably well” enables them...

Reds show resilience to slow Quins’ march

By TOM INNES Jersey ……….14 Harlequins …33 HARLEQUINS late surge was enough to seal an eventually comfortable win over a plucky...

Dragons’ big guns catch Ealing cold

By JONATHAN LANDI Flat out: Rhodri Williams dives over for the Dragons PICTURE: Patrick Khachfe Strong arm: Ben West of Ealing...

Ashton dots down at the death on his Sharks debut

By SAM JACKSON SALE got their pre-season campaign off to a flyer on Friday night with star signing Chris Ashton scoring...

Calzaghe helper set to replace Edwards

By PETER JACKSON WALES will launch a global search for Shaun Edwards’ successor knowing that they may already have found him...

Rebels aim to call for RFU board to resign

By DAVID EMERY THE RFU are under threat of rebellion from a group of former grandees dismayed by the current bout...

Rugby players and their love for poker

At first, poker and rugby seem to be polar opposites. One involves sitting quietly and studying cards and facial expressions, the...

10 Championship players who have gone on to become Premiership stars

Brendan Gallagher takes a look at the conveyor belt...

Guscott column: Ashton is back but he’s got big competition before he can wing it for England

Jeremy Guscott's take on Eddie Jones' pre-season training squad – will we see Ashton and Michael Rhodes in the autumn?

Zach Kibirige’s back to stake his claim at Newcastle

The Falcons back is ready to challenge the 'top quality' wings standing in his way

FEATURE: Johan Ackermann reflects on his first year in the Premiership with Gloucester

The Gloucester head coach talks Cipriani, team set-up and his vision for the Cherry and Whites

Top Rugby Players of All Time

Rugby is a full-contact team sport played using an oval ball with 15 players on each team. The sport uses a...

Championship conveyor belt

Pace and power: Wasps winger Josh Bassett Josh Bassett (Wasps): The big, fast, powerful Wasps wing looks such a consummate performer...

Le Bourgeois has his big shot at long last

BRENDAN GALLAGHER talks to Wasps centre Michael Le Bourgeois about the challenge ahead WASPS have earned the reputation in recent years...

Ash is back but he’s got big competition on wing

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMY GUSCOTT But how’s his defence? Chris Ashton is a world-class try scorer PICTURE: Getty Images GIVEN...

DREAMTEAM

MARK FLANAGAN, BEDFORD AND FORMER LEINSTER AND SARACENS LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Mako...

Clubs must heed this RFU warning on costs

COLIN BOAG Well-paid: Charles Piutau is said to be the Premiership’s first £1m player Remember that television advert ‘There might be...

Academy boys key to OE’s success

I READ with interest in the July 22 edition that Old Elthamians are putting in place a plan to challenge for...

Get rid of the body armour and teach kids how to tackle

THE rise in head incidents in the game have been brought about inadvertently by the law makers. They allowed protective gear...

Shame Foden’s off, he still offers a lot

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email:newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk GOOD luck to Ben Foden...

Townsend will stay ahead of the game predicts Hastings

By GARY HEATLY SCOTT Hastings believes Gregor Townsend can avoid a ‘tricky second season’ as head coach of the Scotland national...

Only a November clean sweep will do – Tindall

By GARY FITZGERALD Papering over the cracks: England win the third Test against South Africa MIKE Tindall refuses to get carried...

Slade’s in pole but JJ fit for Autumn

By NEALE HARVEY Incumbent at No.13: Henry Slade in action against South Africa in June PICTURES: Getty Images JONATHAN Joseph will...

Dark arts silenced Ackford’s influence

For fun TRP columnist Brendan Gallagher, former flanker, picks the best XV he’s played with or against Grand Slammer: England lock...

Alex keen to continue his French adventure

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Local hero: Alex Brown has signed for two more years at Perpignan Alex Brown, English prop of...

Clark calls time on illustrious Test career

ENGLAND’S most capped player Rochelle Clark has retired from international rugby, 15 years after earning her first cap. The 37-year-old prop...

Wales told to copy Scarlets lead

JJ WILLIAMS believes Warren Gatland’s coaching methods will make it “very difficult” for Wales to win next year’s World Cup. Gatland...

Zach’s back to stake his claim at Newcastle

By NEALE HARVEY Mentor: Glenn Delaney NEWCASTLE flier Zach Kibirige is hoping last year’s stint in New Zealand honing his game-management...

How can cash-strapped RFU invest in women?

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Record crowd for women’s international: France v England PICTURE: Getty Images At...

King takes charge at Neath with Bluebirds as inspiration

NEW Neath head coach Simon King is hoping to defy the odds by taking a leaf out of Neil Warnock’s book...

Davies’ exit put me in at the deep end

MY LIFEIN RUGBY THE FORMER LLANELLI, LEEDS AND WALES FLY-HALF COLIN STEPHENS Calling the shots: Colin Stephens in action for Wales...

Duncan certain Warriors have talent to be top six contenders

By NEALE HARVEY WORCESTER head coach Rory Duncan hopes his experience of leading the Cheetahs into the unknown last season can...

Namibia set up Cup showdown with Kenyans

ADAM ELLIS NAMIBIA strengthened their credentials as Rugby Africa Gold Cup favourites by extending their 17-year unbeaten streak over Zimbabwe. Coached...

Ace Mo’unga has frustrated Lions chasing his shadow

By NICK CAIN On their way: David Havili dives over to score Crusaders’ second try PICTURES: Getty Images Show time: Crusaders...