Quins shrug off double yellow to drown Bath

■By ALBERT JAMES Big impact: Alex Dombrandt breaks the tackle of Alex Davies to score Harlequins’ second try PICTURES: Getty Images...

Skinner eager to seize big chance

By NEALE HARVEY HARVEY SKINNER aims to lay down a marker by proving he is a viable candidate to replace club...

Failure to adapt costs Wasps

WASPS academy manager, Jon Pendlebury, was frustrated with his side’s disappointing effort. “We trained all week in the sunshine but we...

Vellacott magic sparks Gloucester dominance

By ROGER PANTING BEN VELLACOTT enlivened a miserable afternoon at Kingsholm to get Gloucester off to a flying start in the...

Cotton livid as Lions face extinction

Full stretch: Northampton’s Alex Mitchell scores in their big win against Bristol PICTURE: Getty Images FRAN Cotton today warns of an...

Larder fear over Eddie’s coaching turnaround

By JON NEWCOMBE PHIL LARDER is surprised at the wholesale changes to Eddie Jones’ coaching team so soon before a World...

Dream Team: Bristol Bears flanker Steven Luatua picks his XV

A team steeped with All Blacks

Wasps identify ideal replacement for Wade at Premiership rivals

Dai Young has a target in mind after Wade's exit

The call-up for Ted Hill shows the strides Worcester’s academy is making, says fellow England newbie Schonert

The Worcester Warriors tighthead prop reflects on his own career since his move five years ago

Young Gun – Sale Sharks fly-half Kieran Wilkinson

... A fly-half named Wilkinson

Eddie Jones answers 13 questions on his squad announcement

Why no Attwood, Goode or Armand? Is Farrell going to start at 10 from now on?

New contract at Munster for Ireland international Keith Earls

70 caps for Ireland and set to make his Munster return after a slight hamstring injury

Wasps and Christian Wade reach agreement to terminate contract, ending the wing’s rugby career

Wasps have confirmed wing Christian Wade has retired from rugby with immediate effect. It emerged last week that Wade had grown...

6 under the radar players who could star at the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Teddy Thomas may be a surprise inclusion but he only has 13 caps for Les Bleus

Wasps waiting on compensation talks before releasing NFL-bound Christian Wade

Neil Fissler reveals the Premiership club want the last eight months of Wade's contract paid off

Welsh rugby icon singles out Rhys Priestland as World Cup contender

Phil Bennett feels Priestland has re-invented himself at Bath

Christian Wade could have been an international superstar in rugby, says Ugo Monye

One cap for England...

English rugby to introduce mandatory in-season breaks in major boost to player welfare

Details of large-scale player welfare initiative announced, but how will it be marshalled?

Will Addison pushing for Ireland call-up after fast start to life at Ulster

Billy Burns praises the performances of the former Sale Sharks captain

Quade Cooper gets Queensland Reds exit after icy relationship with Brad Thorn

Quade Cooper has spoken out against his treatment at the Queensland Reds after sealing a move to the Melbourne Rebels for...

Tomane wings in for the clash of European titans

JOETomane will make his first European start for champions Leinster in today’s Pool 1 clash in Toulouse as the Irish side...

No reason to boo Eddie says Dai

WASPS Dai Young admitted a “few honest words” had transformed his team at half-time when they were 21-7 down. “I was...

Burns back on song but Bath miss last-gasp kick

Early power: Joe Cokanasiga breaks clear to score the first try for Bath after just three minutes PICTURES: Getty Images Fightback:...

Smith getting square eyes from analysis of the greats

By ADAM HATHAWAY Master and apprentice: Evans and Smith HARLEQUINS’ assistant coach Nick Evans has been clocking up the hours in...

Gain-line busters will give England a new dimension

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT Risk worth taking: Joe Cokanasiga is in devastating attacking form but could be a defensive liability...

DREAM TEAM

STEVEN LUATUA, BRISTOL AND FORMER NEW ZEALAND & AUCKLAND BLUES FLANKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

Cut out the goading Maro, it’s just not classy

COLIN BOAG Poor form: Maro Itoje celebrates Edinburgh’s non-try In the Glasgow v Saracens match Champions Cup match, Maro Itoje let...

Players’ back chat not very appealing

NOT possessing satellite TV, I haven’t seen as much rugby over the first European weekend as some, but I’m worried after...

Eddie still the man but risk of another RWC flop looms

I ADMIRE the resilience and confidence of RFU CEO Steve Brown, but there is a real risk that 12 months from...

Amateurs were in it purely for the love

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk RUGBY has always been...

Shields at the ready to bring edge to back row

Physical: Brad Shields BRAD Shields aims to provide Eddie Jones with exactly what he wants by bringing some hard-nosed Kiwi physicality...

Mercer stakes his claim to face Boks

By NEALE HARVEY ZACHMercer is ready to answer England’s call for a No.8 capable of facing down the might of South...

Barrett may head east after RWC

JAPAN is emerging as a possible short-term destination for Beauden Barrett and other senior All Blacks after next year’s Rugby World...

Taqele sure Boyd’s ‘super’ style will bring success

By NEALE HARVEY Feeling at home in Northampton: Taqele Naiyaravoro GIANT Northampton wing Taqele Naiyaravoro admits his fitness must improve if...

President Laporte on passport control

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN When can a foreigner play for France these days? When Federation president Bernard Laporte says so, that’s...

Penallta win again to keep heat on Brynmawr

Welsh Division One round-up By JAY BURFORD LEADERS Brynmawr claimed a bonus-point win over Pontypool United to maintain their winning run....

Rampant Pooler narrow gap on Students

Welsh Championship round-up By JAY BURFORD CARDIFF Met’s lead at the top was cut to two points despite beating Rhydyfelin 26-21....

Maximum points for Merthyr as streak continues

By PAUL HOPKINS Merthyr ..........35 Swansea ........24 MERTHYR maintained their excellent start to the season with a bonus point try triumph...

Keys unlocked by Bedwas in storming Pandy encounter

By IWAN GABE DAVIES Cross Keys ....34 Bedwas ..........44 IT might be rather premature to talk of relegation battles but Bedwas...

Quins quick to take chances for bonus point win

By HUW S THOMAS Carmarth’n Q 35 RGC 1404 ........22 CARMARTHEN Quins climbed into the top half of the Premiership table...

Four wins on the bounce as Cardiff maintain superb run

By JAY BAYFORD Cardiff ............52 Llanelli............41 CARDIFF secured their fourth consecutive victory following an entertaining encounter with Llanelli at Cardiff Arms...

Brilliant Bargoed breeze past Aberavon challenge

By HOWARD EVANS Bargoed ..........38 Aberavon ........18 ABERAVON’S only loss in seven games was by two points prior to this but...

Drovers get back on track with comprehensive triumph

By HUW S THOMAS Llandovery …30 Neath..................3 AFTER three consecutive defeats, Llandovery came back to winning form at Church Bank with...

Principality Premiership

Newport..........28 Bridgend ........17 NEWPORT’S captain and fly-half Matt O’Brien stole the show with a great display that bagged him a haul...

Cowell cruises in to stun the champions

By MATT FORD Late stunner: Heather Cowell scores the winner for Quins HARLEQUINS Ladies produced an astonishing come-from-behind performance to stun...

McLean set to hit century for England

NEWS EXTRA KATY-DALEY McLean is set to make her 100th appearance as England tackle USA, Canada and Ireland this Autumn. Mclean,...

Five weeks for Jennings

LONDON Scottish’s Rory Jennings has been banned for five weeks for making contact with the head of Coventry’s Andy Bulumakau with...

Mitchell to Carnegie

WELSHinternational prop Craig Mitchell, 32, has re-joined Yorkshire Carnegie from Newcastle Falcons. Director of rugby Chris Stirling said: “I’m delighted to...

Browne calls time

ULSTERlock Pete Browne has retired after a series of concussions. He said: “I have an increased propensity for concussion symptoms following...

Louw waits for an offer

BATHare considering if they want to retain the services of Springbok flank Francois Louw. The 33-year-old Louw said: “This is my...