Sorry Ben, Ealing won’t get Prem help

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk BEN WARD please wake...

Rennie: We won’t miss Finn now we’ve got Hastings and Horne

By ALEX BYWATER DAVE Rennie believes his Glasgow side will brush off the loss of Finn Russell this season thanks to...

It’s going to be physical at Scarlets says Steffan

By STEFFAN THOMAS Hard edge: Blade Thomson PICTURE: Getty Images STEFFAN Evans has warned the Scarlets’ Guinness PRO14 rivals they won’t...

Oh for Jonny is lament of Toulon’s sad faithful

DAVID BARNES Off the bench for Toulon: All Black Julien Savea PICTURE: Getty Images Just two games in and a twittered...

Battling Glynneath edge their thriller with Kenfig Hill

By JAY BAYFORD Welsh Division One round-up GLYNNEATH made a winning star after edging a tight encounter 41-37. Craig Tennant and...

Tata Steel open their season with a 66 gun salute

By JAY BAYFORD Welsh Championship round-up TATA Steel opened the new season in emphatic style with a 66-29 win over Bedlinog....

Wizards put spell on old rivals for comfortable win

By PAUL HOPKINS Aberavon…24 Swansea …10 ABERAVON began the season in style with a dominant performance over Ospreys regional rivals Swansea....

It’s tough work but RGC are A-OK in a testing opener

By DEAN JONES RGC 1404 …37 Neath…19 RGC began their campaign with a hard-fought home success. Visitors Neath went ahead after...

Cudd grabs spotlight from Keys marquee signings

By IWAN GABE DAVIES Cross Keys …32 Bridgend …25 AFTER making some star signings over the summer, Cross Keys got their...

Flying start for Black and Ambers in season of destiny

By HUW S THOMAS Carmarthen Q 12 Newport…29 IN the first of 30 Premiership games that will decide the future of...

Knott leads Ponty charge with Bedwas in a tangle

By OWEN THOMAS Bedwas …23 Pontypridd …33 PONTYPRIDD turned on the power as they overturned a 13-point deficit to complete a...

Six of the best as Vale make flying start to their campaign

By IAN GOLDEN Llanelli …10 Ebbw Vale…43 EBBW Vale made the perfect to start to the season as they scored six...

Bargoed …22 Llandovery …62

LLANDOVERY cruised to victory with four tries in a 12-minute spell after the interval. The Drovers raced into a ten-point advantage...

Cardiff …18 Merthyr …24

KYLE Evans came off the bench and claimed a lastminute try as Merthyr came from behind to win. New Cardiff signing...

Hanson: All I’m thinking about is Gloucester

Full attention: James Hanson IN-FORM Aussie hooker James Hanson insists all his attention is focussed on turning Gloucester into champions. With...

Falcons have ability to fly again says Flood

By GARY FITZGERALD More of the same: Toby Flood says Newcastle must keep the momentum going PICTURES: Getty Images Targets: Dean...

Stars tell what the Wales jersey signifies

By JAMES WILLIS THE first of a series of films inspired by the Welsh national team jersey and featuring rugby stars...

Players swap agencies as ISC buy rivals ISG

ENGLANDrugby stars including Joe Cokanasiga and Jordan Olowofela are under new management following the acquisition of Independent Sports Group agency by...

Cassiem out for month with calf

SCARLETSNo.8 Uzair Cassiem has been ruled out for a month with the leg injury he suffered in the pre-season friendly against...

Warburton signs up to become BT pundit

FORMER Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton has been unveiled as BT Sport’s latest signing following his retirement from rugby. The...

Blod clot forces Dudley to retire

JERSEY Reds suffered a blow on the eve of season with the news that scrum-half Joel Dudley has been forced to...

England Women name Test dates

ENGLAND Women will play three Tests in the 2018 Quilter Internationals – USA, Canada and Ireland at three venues across the...

Macken signs on for London Irish

LONDONIrish have signed Brendan Macken, the 27-year - old Emerging Ireland centre. Macken spent the last three years with Wasps and...

Dempsey can make Bath winners says Catt

Direction: Nathan Catt BATH prop Nathan Catt says the arrival of backs coach Girvan Dempsey has provided fresh impetus as the...

Hill happy to fight his corner in lock wars

By NEALE HARVEY Great to work with: Joe Launchbury Knuckling down: Johnny Hill PICTURES: Getty Images JONNY Hill insists being snubbed...

I’m still learning with the Chiefs says Kvesic

By ROB COLE THEY say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but Matt Kvesic intends to disprove that old...

Close shave for Oakley’s supporters

By ANDREW BEACHAM Gone: From left: Dan Murphy, Tom Pasley, Luke Stratford, Des Merrey and Francois Pelser Going: Dan Murphy gets...

17 women get England Sevens contracts

ENGLANDRugby has awarded 17 women’s Sevens contracts for the upcoming season. The women’s squad moved from their present base at Bisham...

A bit more respect might bring in a bit more cash

JEFF PROBYN Pressure: Players are too ready to contest decisions There is something about the start of a new season that...

Drew’s in Luc as Lichfield put to sword

National League 3 Midlands THE Midland Premier Division roared back into action today with all 14 teams kick starting their campaigns....

Blaydon run riot in bid to bounce back

National League 3 North THEY MAY have just been relegated but Blaydon made their intentions very clear with a massive 94-12...

Hancox’s kicking Grants Lions a victory

National League 3 South West BOURNEMOUTH got their National League Three South West campaign off to the perfect start with an...

Sutton & Epsom start in seventh heaven

National League 3 London & SE SUTTON & EPSOM were 49-25 winners at home to newcomers Bedford Athletic. Andy Matthews, Stefan...

YOUNG GUNS

JOE MORRIS WORCESTER TIGHT-HEAD Joe Morris is likely to be a busy man this season, for not only is he hoping...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

TIM STREATHER THE FORMER NOTTINGHAM AND SARACENS CENTRE It was clear that Worcester didn’t rate me when they made me a...

South get off to a fine winning start

By RICHARD GREEN South Leics …47 Macclesfield 24 FIVE second-half tries for South Leicester gave them a bonus point victory over...

Lions tamed on their league debut

By SIMON MOYLE P’boro Lions…12 Wharfedale …26 WHARFEDALE were deserved winners in a tight game and made the most of the...

Green holds his nerve for the Ionians

By MALLY KNOWLES Hull Ionians …35 Sheffield T …33 HULL Ionians left it late to record a victory on their return...

New club but it’s the same old Rickie Aley

By NICK PULLEN Eyes on the prize: Stourbridge flanker Sam Montieri spots a gap in the Lions’ defence PICTURES: Ceri Davies...

Riley has the key brace as Sedgley hold on

By ANDREW SMITH Huddersfield…24 Sedgley Park 29 PRE-SEASON promotion favourites Sedgley Park made a winning start in a hard-earned bonus-point victory...

Seventh heaven for hot Hinckley

By STEVE ADENT Hinckley…45 Tynedale …31 HINCKLEY got their season off to a winning start as they ran in seven tries...

Wilkinson helps Fylde stop the rot

By ALLAN FOSTER Fylde…24 Otley …14 CONNOR Wilkinson scored two tries as Fylde ended a run of 17 successive league defeats...

Morris is dancing to get Chester victory

By GEOFF LIGHTFOOT Chester…48 Preston GHs…37 CHESTER got their season off to the best possible start with victory over Preston Grasshoppers...

Now Twickers goes airborn for sponsorship

By SAM JACKSON Bird’s eye view: Twickenham’s roof will carry BA branding ENGLAND Rugby and British Airways have announced a new...

Will holds nerve to sting the Bees

By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J …22 B’ham & S…19 TONBRIDGE Juddians started the season with two tries inside the opening five...

Four-star Mason inspires the Titans

By KEITH BROOKING Taunton …62 Worthing …24 WITH both sides showing several new faces for the first league game of the...

Barnes earns bragging rights for Clifton

By GEOFF SIBLEY O Redcliff’ …14 Clifton …17 CLIFTON just about deserved the win in a nip and tuck Bristol derby....

It’s fourth time lucky as Rams start fast

By CAMERON TEMPLE The Rams…44pts Canterbury…15pts RAMS have faltered out of the blocks on each of the last three occasions in...

Dings pay the price for lack of discipline

By RICH GRANT Dings C …17 Redruth…25 DINGS went down three tries to two in a well-contested match at Shaftesbury Park....

Hawks flying in perfect formation

By SIMON LORD Bury St Ed …37 Henley Hks …45 A WELL-DRILLED and organised Henley side capitalised on Bury mistakes to...