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...

Foundations in place, now we must take it to the next level

Q&A ON THE RECORD JOHAN ACKERMANN Star signing: Danny Cipriani will bring X-factor to the backline Pictures: Getty Images Gloucester head...

YOUNG GUNS

CHARLIE CHAPMAN GLOUCESTER SCRUM-HALF Fresh from representing Scotland U20s at the recent Junior World Cup and skippering Gloucester in the Premiership...

Atkins on gym diet in bid to replace Watson

By NEALE HARVEY Injured: Anthony Watson CONFIDENT flier Darren Atkins is ready to repay the faith Bath have shown by proving...

Tigers strike for Kyle but Toomua’s off

Off to Tigers: Kyle Eastmond KYLE Eastmond has joined Leicester Tigers following his departure from Wasps, but Matt Toomua will leave...

Englishgamemay stagnate if top-flight are untouchable

Jeff Gage, rugby expert and author of Rugby‘s Blazered Buffoon Questions: Former All Black prop Ben Franks during his time with...

ROOM 101

GLEN YOUNG THE NEWCASTLE LOCK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Being in the...

No room for slackers in Gustard’s regime

By NEALE HARVEY Midfield general: Ben Tapuai decide to quit Bath for Harlequins PICTURES: Getty Images BUSTLING Ben Tapuai is relishing...

Bainbridge relishing fresh lease of life under Carnegie’s new Kiwi boss Stirling

By JON NEWCOMBE JOSH BAINBRIDGE admits that the arrival of Chris Stirling as Yorkshire Carnegie DoR towards the back-end of last...

Sam signs up for fresh start at Tigers

By NEALE HARVEY Bulking up: Sam Aspland-Robinson in action in the Premiership 7s PICTURES: Getty Images FORGOTTEN wing Sam Aspland-Robinson has...

Ospreys ready for lift off now that ‘Jockey’ has the reins

By STEFFAN THOMAS High hopes: Ospreys centre Cory Allen CORY Allen believes the Ospreys boast a secret weapon who can unlock...

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Clubs to get protection from academy poachers

PREMIERSHIP Rugby are set to close a loophole which enables clubs to poach England Academy Players (EAP) from other sides and...

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...