McNicholl would be a star for Wales if he follows Parkes’ lead

THE ISSUE of rugby’s residency rules doesn’t seem to go away and I can’t see that changing even with the qualification...

Gareth must be fearless in the face of Bok fire

WALES AND LIONS LEGEND SHANE WILLIAMS Starter at 10: Blues fly-half Gareth Anscombe PICTURE: Getty Images I MUST admit when I...

Jenkins knows performance must be ‘outstanding’

By ROB COLE ELLIS Jenkins will use elements of the captaincy style of three of Wales’ greatest players on next month’s...

Sopoaga’s not only All Black signing on

Stepping up: Billy Searle PICTURES: Getty Images BILLY Searle once played for the Cornish All Blacks – now the precocious fly-half...

Young taking on defence duty after Sarries stinger

By NEALE HARVEY WASPS TRY-SCORING AND DEFENCE UNDER DAI YOUNG WASPS rugby director Dai Young will adopt a more hands-on approach...

Spencer confident Tigers can ignite bid for England

SECOND ROW enforcer Will Spencer is redoubling his efforts to make a Test breakthrough after being cruelly denied the chance to...

DREAMTEAM

BRUCE REIHANA, BRISTOL COACH AND FORMER ALL BLACK FULL-BACK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED …WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Richard...

Now spend the summer solving these problems

COLIN BOAG Coming back: London Irish look certain to return to the Premiership Well, that’s it for another Premiership season, so...

Expect Trinder to shine for England

IT will be great to see Henry Trinder back in England colours today after what has been such an inuury-hit career....

Could you imagine Man City having to play off for the title?

I WONDER how many rugby supporters and club season ticket holders feel like me, that the play-off system to decide the...

Lancashire league is warning to RFU

NEWS that 24 Lancashire clubs will break away from the RFU league structure should sound alarm bells ringing at Twickenham –...

Bath call for French help

BATH have gone cross- Channel with Pierre-Henry Broncan, leaving the Toulouse coaching dug-out to join Todd Blackadder and his crew at...

Trinder impresses Jones, so will he go on tour?

Recall: Henry Trinder HENRY Trinder’s rise from a late inclusion in Eddie Jones training squad to a place at outsidecentre in...

Mallett TV spat reveals the split in SA rugby

READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK NICK CAIN TV panel: from left, Ashwin Willemse, Naas Botha and Nick Mallett THE disunity...

Ferguson relishing key role in new-look coaching lineup

FORMER England Women’s scrum guru Matt Ferguson insists big names will not faze him as he begins the task of restoring...

Expand play-offs to Top Six argue Bath

By NEALE HARVEY Test future: Bath No.8 Zach Mercer PICTURES: Getty Images Boss: Todd Blackadder TODD Blackadder has called on Premiership...

Fearns warns more will quit England amid Shields row

CARL Fearns believes Eddie Jones’ decision to fast-track Hurricanes captain Brad Shields into England’s squad could backfire by persuading more home-grown...

Leinster complete double in Dublin

By STEFFAN THOMAS SCARLETS coach Wayne Pivac believes his side can bounce back and compete for silverware next season. Champions Cup...

I’m all fine ‘injured’ Farrell tells England

By GARY FITZGERALD We’re bubbling: Brad Barritt holds the Premiership Trophy aloft after beating Exeter PICTURE: Getty Images OWEN Farrell told...

TEAMS: Exeter bid to retain Aviva Premiership title against Saracens

Battle of the brothers as both Simmonds and Vunipola brothers all start to make this a mouth watering finale at Twickenham

TEAMS: Leinster come up against Scarlets in bid for Domestic and European double

Johnny Sexton returns at 10 for Leinster's bid for domestic success to go with their European triumph

Elliot Daly to start at full back in non cap game versus the Barbarians

(Photo: Getty Images) By Jake Jones Elliot Daly will start at full-back for England in Sunday’s non-cap match against the Barbarians...

Alex Dunbar ruled out of Scotland’s summer tour

Glasgow centre ruled out of Scotland tour with hamstring injury

Matt Symons joins Harlequins from Wasps

The former Saracens youth product, Matt Symons joins Paul Gustard's Harlequins from Wasps

Australia prop James Slipper banned for taking cocaine on two occasions

86 time capped Wallaby, James Slipper banned for two months following two positive cocaine incidents

Alan Dickens and Phil Dowson complete Northampton’s coaching team

Dickens and Dowson join Kris Boyd's coaching staff as defence and forwards coaches respectively

Guscott column: Ever-improving Anthony Watson is my player of the season

Jeremy Guscott looks at the past 12 months for the Bath, England and B&I Lions full-back

Exeter Chiefs lineout king Jonny Hill on a fast climb to the top

Neale Harvey talks to the comeback kid who was released by Gloucester in 2015 due to injury

George North and Ross Moriarty free for Wales tour

Both North and Moriarty cleared to play for Wales ahead of tour to the Americas

Springboks suffer setback as key forward set to miss Tests against England

Rassie Erasmus looks likely to be without the incumbent Springboks captain

France rest captain Guilhem Guirado for New Zealand Test series

French hooker and captain rested for tour of New Zealand

Declan Kidney appointed director of rugby at London Irish

Declan Kidney takes the top job at London Irish

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus ready to surprise with squad selection for England series

Rassie Erasmus will name his squad to take on England in the June Tests this Saturday

Jack Willis ruled out of England’s South Africa tour with ACL injury

Willis' England dream put on hp;d after being ruled out for nine to 12 months with ACL injury

John Barclay ruled out of Pro14 final following surgery

Barclay's five year stay in West Wales comes to an end following surgery on ruptured Achilles

Gerbrandt Grobler signs for Gloucester

Johan Ackermann adds some South African firepower to their engine room with signing of Grobler

Paul Gustard to leave England duties for Harlequins’ head coach job

Premiership team Harlequins have recently named the current England coach for defence, Paul Gustard as their newly appointed head coach. The...

Baxter hails Chiefs mental toughness

EXETERChiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter praised his side’s patience and ability to remain focused when the pressure mounted. “Winning is...

Imperious Exeter give Falcons the runaround

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER HOLDERS Exeter Chiefs, at their remorseless and efficient best, reached their third consecutive Premiership final with this commanding...

Ever-improving Watson is my player of the season

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK MY player of the season is Anthony Watson. The Bath and England fullback/ wing is...

DREAM TEAM

PAUL TURNER, AMPTHILL HEAD COACH AND FORMER WALES FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Jason...

Enough is enough, even top refs are blundering

COLIN BOAG Disallowed: Lewis Ludlow is denied a try against Cardiff As the season draws to a close, problems with refereeing...

If there’s any doubt refer it to the TMO

REFEREES should adopt a new policy – if in doubt, check it out. I refer to the use/or non use of...

Great to see Cips back for England… but why go to Glos?

WONDERFUL news that the most talented fly-half in England has at last been recognised by the national coach. Welcome back Danny...

Odds are England will look abroad

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk MICK Lockwood (TRP May...

Wales kids in last chance saloon

By ALEX BYWATER ROBIN McBryde has warned Wales’ young guns to impress this summer or face missing out on the World...

Gibson left frustrated by Shields’ selection

By NEALE HARVEY Picked: Brad Shields NORTHAMPTON back row Jamie Gibson has vowed never to relinquish his England dream despite being...

Cips urged to build his legacy at Gloucester

By TOM BRADSHAW Challenge: Phil Vickery GLOUCESTER-BOUND Danny Cipriani has been challenged to create a legacy at Kingsholm by his former...

Robson on track to go one better than Dad

By NEALE HARVEY Support: Ben Spencer Back to his best: Wasps No.9 Dan Robson PICTURES: Getty Images DAN Robson intends to...

Playmaker Lozowski set to put versatility to the Test

VERSATILE Saracens playmaker Alex Lozowski says he is “100 per cent ready” to step into England’s No.13 jersey in South Africa...