ON THE BLIND SIDE

Castro’s consortium looking to invest in Tier 2 BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler MARTIN Castrogiovanni is looking to get...

Kempson has eye on West’s job

FORMER Northampton prop Robbie Kempson is keen to return Franklin’s Gardens next season to replace forwards coach Dorian West. Saints have...

Lowes keen to lure Cope to Carnegie

YORKSHIRE Carnegie head coach Jimmy Lowes will get a close look at one of his transfer targets when Jersey Reds visit...

Pellow excited by Chiefs’ embarrassment of scrum-half riches

EXETER backs coach Ricky Pellow concedes stalwart pivot Will Chudley has become collateral damage in a vicious scrumhalf battle that is...

Slater calls for Tiger-like finish to season grind

By NEALE HARVEY Thriving at Gloucester: Ed Slater PICTURES: Getty Images Impressive rise at Chiefs: Jonny Hill ED Slater has ordered...

No reason to leave Cipriani out now he is tackling his weight

Team player: Danny Cipriani should tour South Africa in the summer PICTURE: Getty Images DANNY Cipriani has not been renowned as...

Romanian failings just a bad joke, or worse?

NICK CAIN The Romania-Spain-Belgium World Cup qualifying scandal has forced the ostriches who thought the match-fixing could never happen in rugby...

Still all to play for insists Deano

DIRECTOR of rugby Dean Richards admitted that he had feared such a result had been on the cards for Newcastle. “Before...

Richards’ boys put in spin by Worcester big-hitters

By TOM BRADSHAW Driving force: Ryan Bower tries to break through the Falcons defence PICTURES: Getty Images Well marshalled: Newcastle defence...

Basic errors let them in – Young

DAI Young was disappointed with some of the errors which saw Wasps concede four tries at the AJ Bell. “We did...

Yarde nips in to beat the buzzer for Sharks

By COLIN NEWBOULT Sale day: Sharks’ Bryn Evans goes over PICTURES: Getty Images Second strike: Wasps’ Josh Bassett scores his second...

Bad start just got worse – Kingston

HARLEQUINS director of rugby John Kingston did not cut a happy figure post-match. “We never got going; we were lethargic from...

Exiles make most of Quins’ surrender

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Our hero: Exiles’ Tom Fowlie is congratulated after scoring against Harlequins PICTURES: Getty Images Legging it: Mat Luamanu,...

Ball is in George’s court now say Blues

By PETER JACKSON THE George North transfer saga takes a new twist today with the revelation of an enterprising move from...

Worcester hit by £8m losses for last season

By NEALE HARVEY WORCESTER Warriors have declined to comment over losses of £8.1m for season 2016-17 amid off-field upheaval that has...

Newcastle Falcons flying high again

Jon Newcombe talks to Newcastle's commercial director Mick Hogan about the change in the club's fortunes

Guscott column: Only Wasps magic can deny Chiefs and Saracens

Jeremy Guscott says Wasps are the only team who can prevent a Exeter v Saracens Premiership final

Australia skipper left ‘heartbroken’ after attack by thug fractures his skull

James Stannard misses the Commonwealth Games after punch by British man led to hospital stay

Simon Zebo out of Munster’s trip to South Africa in the PRO14

Hamstring injury suffered in Champions Cup win over Toulon keeps Zebo grounded

Juan Martin Hernandez calls time on his rugby career

'El Mago' forced into retirement after 15 years as a pro

Israel Folau sparks controversy on his birthday with comments about gay community

The Wallabies full-back says God will condemn gay people to 'hell'

Cooper Vuna eyes big break after working in Australian prison

News of a new deal for the Bath wing

Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-final dates and venues confirmed

Times, dates and venues for the final four of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup

Northampton Saints scrum-half Nic Groom heads back to Super Rugby

'The time has come for me to return to South Africa' says Springbok-jersey chasing Saint

Nigel Wray bids to own Saracens outright after Rupert seeks to sell stake

Wray to assume control of Saracens after South African co-owner Johann Rupert turns his attentions to the Stormers

Wayne Pivac could bring Scarlets flair to Wales

Peter Jackson brings you the latest in the WRU's search for Warren Gatland's successor after next year's World Cup

Lozowski looking for a big finish to book Boks place

By NEALE HARVEY Coming force: Alex Lozowski SARACENS fly-half Alex Lozowski knows a matchwinning display against Leinster today will enhance his...

All we had to do was kick the ball out and we were through groans Ashton

HAVING given a typically abrasive performance at blindside, Munster captain Peter O’Mahony, left, heaped praise on his team-mates for a gutsy...

Conway’s wonder try gets gutsy Irish home

By NICK CAIN Stopped: Chris Ashton is tackled THIS was Munster at their best. A bunch of bold, brassy scrappers rising...

It’s good England lost in Six Nations says Billy!

By GARY FITZGERALD NEWS EXTRA BILLY Vunipola has surprisingly claimed that England’s Six Nations nightmare is a “good thing which will...

Only Wasps magic can deny Chiefs and Sarries

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Exeter rocket: Sam Simmonds “Wasps are the only team with the ability to win an...

DREAM TEAM

HARVEY BILJON, JERSEY RUGBY DIRECTOR AND FORMER NATAL SHARKS AND WASPS NO.9, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR...

Scots interest in Falcons is doomed to disappoint

COLIN BOAG The Scottish Rugby Union chief executive, Mark Dodson, spoke openly last week about his desire for the Scots to...

Beckett get my vote

THANK you for your coverage this season of BUCS Super Rugby. I have watched most of Leeds Beckett home games and...

North v South series should replace Cup

HAVING just read a newspaper column by Austin Healey I’d like to share his fascinating idea with Rugby Paper readers. Mr...

Bath need to bring back the enforcer Attwood…and fast

GLAD to see Dave Attood going well at Toulon but I don’t get why Bath are loaning him out when he...

Can’t blame tackle laws for injury toll

A FEW thoughts after looking back at THAT Barbarians versus All Blacks match in 1973. Yes the lineouts were not exactly...

McNally: Nick made me the player I am

INFLUENTIAL London Irish lock Josh McNally admits he was devastated by Nick Kennedy’s departure following the appointments of technical director Declan...

Collier going hammer and Tong for Test bid

By NEALE HARVEY HARLEQUINS prop Will Collier believes the extra speed work he is doing in training can tip the balance...

Bassett confident of hitting his peak at Wasps

WASPS wing Josh Bassett is ready to push for England honours after turning down the chance to replace George North at...

Slade aims to raise his physicality for England

By NEALE HARVEY Eddie told me to influence games more: Henry Slade PICTURES: Getty Images Rival: Jonathan Joseph HENRY Slade believes...

Titans to go down part-time route after relegation

By JON NEWCOMBE ROTHERHAM have vowed to bounce straight back up after their relegation to National One was confirmed. Last Saturday’s...

Clermont will need Abendanon at his best

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Unique: Nick Abendanon is the only player to have scored in two European Cup finals Clermont star...

Pariyo’s hat-trick helps put Wanderers on the top

Welsh Division One round-up ■ By JAY BAYFORD GLAMORGAN Wanderers rose to the top of One East Central after they thumped...

Relegation trap door opens wider for Glynneath

Welsh Championship round-up ■ By JAY BAYFORD GLYNNEATH were pushed closer to relegation after they fell to an 18-10 defeat against...

Sweeney saves the day as Ponty run riot against the Whites

■ By PAUL HOPKINS Swansea …19 Pontypridd …54 A CERI Sweeney inspired Pontypridd hit a half-century in a breathtaking win over...

RGC do damage early and often to leave Keys agog

■ By DEAN JONES RGC 1404 …55 Cross Keys …26 RGC 1404 maintained their title challenge with an eight-try defeat of...

The Ironmen hold on as Neath mourn their missed chances

■ By IAN GOLDEN Neath…10 Merthyr …26 MERTHYR were made to fight hard for their win against a resilient Neath side...

Williams’ late score lifts Drovers to a contentious win

■ By HUWS THOMAS Llandovery …24 Newport …19 LLANDOVERY’S winning run continued but they were lucky to beat Newport thanks to...

Griffiths shines with a double to help Quins stake their claim

■ By JAY BAYFORD Carmarthen …34 Ebbw Vale…23 CARMARTHEN Quins showed their title credentials with a battling victory over Ebbw Vale...