DREAMTEAM

HARRY SLOAN, EALING AND FORMER HARLEQUINS AND ENGLAND U20 CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Super Rugby must cut teams to 12 to survive

COLIN BOAG Air miles: The Japanese Sunwolves would need to do most of the travelling July is always the most boring...

Be careful or the game will go soft

I’M all for player welfare but the way our game is going, it will soon be touch football and all the...

Looks like it’s up to OEs to rectify Kent’s under-achievement

NEALE Harvey’s article on Page 1 last week ought to cause the Kent RFU to sit up and take notice. Sadly,...

Great if Ealing stop this Irish yo-yoing

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk WHAT is the problem...

Franks questions Championship’s long-term future

By NEALE HARVEY Critic: Ben Franks in action against for Irish HAVING twice suffered the agony of being relegated with London...

Jess: Cuthbert can come again on Exeter’s ‘yellow brick road’

By JON NEWCOMBE Renaissance man? Cuthbert could regain form FORMER Exeter fans’ favourite Matt Jess believes the Chiefs’ secret formula for...

Kvesic admits England days are numbered under Eddie

By NEALE HARVEY England incumbent: Sale flanker Tom Curry FRUSTRATED flanker Matt Kvesic admits his “ship has sailed” as far as...

Canucks flier training with Harlequins

CANADIAN international Jess Hassler is on trial at Harlequins as he looks to stay match sharp ahead of Canada’s crucial November...

Howard tries life as an OEs City boy after Sixways exit

Probyn: Tackle change is a start but must go further By NEALE HARVEY FORMER England U20s full-back Ben Howard is relishing...

YOUNG GUNS

TOM EMERY NORTHAMPTON FULL-BACK Tom Emery is trying to follow in the footsteps of Northampton legend Ben Foden in more ways...

FAMOUS GAMES AT CROSS GREEN

THE NORTH 21 NEW ZEALAND 9 NOVEMBER 17, 1979 With an estimated crowd of over 10,000 crammed inside Cross Green and...

Otley on the move to ensure club’s future

By JON NEWCOMBE Famous day: Steve Smith clears the lines for the North v All Blacks in 1979 Coach: Tom Casson...

Goosen’s all set to face Racing boo boys

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Montpellier man: Johan Goosen scores for South Africa against England PICTURE: Getty Images The fixture compilers of...

Strange backing Jarrod for Biggar’s 10 jersey

By STEFFAN THOMAS NEW Cardiff Blues backs coach Jason Strange believes Jarrod Evans’ psychic abilities will increase the pressure on Dan...

Foden signs on as player-coach at New York franchise

FORMER England and Northampton full-back Ben Foden has signed a deal with Rugby United New York and will play in the...

Murphy’s living the dream in Americ

By NEALE HARVEY Advice: Nick Kennedy FORMER London Irish academy No.9 Connor Murphy can hardly believe his luck as he prepares...

Sharks gunning to become the biggest fish in the Premiership

SIMON ORANGE ON THE RECORD Q&A Big plans: Simon Orange Try-scorer extraodinaire: Chris Ashton will put bums on seast at AJ...

Star Tiger Toomua set to sign for Rebels

By SAM JACKSON NEWS EXTRA LEICESTER centre Matt Toomua is on the verge of shock Test recall in the Bledisloe Cup...

Lions show their killer instinct to power into third consecutive final

By GEORGE LAWRENCE On the rampage: Kwagga Smith breaks clear to score for the Lions PICTURE: Getty Images THE Lions roared...

Magnificent Mo’unga has Crusaders in title mode

By NICK CAIN Still got it: Julian Savea scores for Hurricanes Driving force: Richie Mo’unga dives over to score for Crusaders...

Wallablies warm up

THE Wallabies will face an Australian Super Rugby invitational side in a trial game next Friday. Michael Cheika’s men will play...

Vermeulen off to Japan

SOUTH Africa boss Rassie Erasmus has allowed Duane Vermeulen to skip the Rugby Championship. Vermeuelen started all three of the Springbok’s...

Springbok pair reject offers from Europe

NEWS EXTRA LIONS and Springboks stars Andries Coetzee and Warren Whiteley will be staying put in Johannesburg after both players signed...

Big step in right direction, but doesn’t go far enough

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Clamp down: Shoulder high hits will be banned in this season’s Championship...

On-pitch seizure forced me to quit

DAVE JACKSON THE FORMER NOTTINGHAM WINGER/FULL-BACK Mullet man: Dave Jackson in action for Nottingham against Munster MY LIFEIN RUGBY I was...

Joe will help his Lions muscle in

Lift off: Joe Tarrant in a strongman competition BOURNEMOUTH have signed Richmond strongman Joe Tarrant to their squad. Tighthead Tarrant has...

Forget the Olympic dream or Red Roses will wither

CATHERINE SPENCER FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN World class: Nolli Waterman helped England to a second-place finish in the Six Nations after chopping...

France feel full force of the double champions

By AMY JONES Big talent: Megan Jones scores against Spain DEFENDING champions New Zealand produced a sublime display of attacking rugby...

Verschae’s double helps Chile defend title

BOWL ROUND-UP CHILE won the Bowl for the second RWC Sevens running after two tries from Pedro Verschae helped them beat...

Ireland finish with win over Australia

CHALLENGE ROUND-UP CAPTAIN Billy Dardis was among Ireland’s try scorers as they beat Australia 24-14 in the Challenge final to cap...

Gutted to lose the final but Kiwis were too strong

England 7s captain Tom Mitchell looks back on on a tumultuous World Cup Proud moment: England see off USA in extra...

New Zealand crank up the power to cut England down

By SAM JACKSON So close: Dan Norton is stopped on the line Back-to-back champions: New Zealand celebrate their win in San...

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Gosper admits over-reliance on TMOs

WORLD Rugby are considering whether an overhaul of the way the television match official is used is necessary. The governing body...

Packman out to prove Saints missed a trick

By NEALE HARVEY Ambitious: Howard Packman EALING’S new dasher Howard Packman insists he is one of many players with a point...

’Gutted’ Alex could always have stayed!

ALEX CUTHBERT gave a strange interview the other day in which he made it clear that no tears were shed over...

This Fox will find Sir Clive and Co are no rabbits

IN GOLFING terms this has been the summer of the Fox, one rewarding enough for a whole family of the species...

The PRO14 say ‘Bah, Humbug’ to Festive fans

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Festive fun: Dragons take on the Blues The pioneering American showman, Phineas T...

Davies feeling fresh after injury horror

STEFFAN THOMAS sits down with Wales centre Jonathan Davies ahead of Scarlets return Fit again: Jonathan Davies was injured playing against...

ROOM 101

RICHIE WILLIAMS CAMBRIDGE’S NEW HEAD COACH TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND. 1. Service station...

Can Lee light blue touch paper?

NICK CAIN TALKS TO WASPS ATTACK COACH LEE BLACKETT ABOUT HIS STAR-STUDDED BACK LINE INTERVIEW Right fit: Lima Sopoaga puts the...

Ten out of ten for those wonderful San Fran Sevens

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points RUGBY MATTERS Touch of class: England’s rising star Harry Glover...

It’s life, but not as you normally know it

Response: Harinordoquy YOU must be careful with the prickly PC brigade these days but it was hilarious at the Tour de...

Johnson ban should set warning light blazing

WASPS flanker Ashley Johnson is the latest rugby player to be banned for doping and although his case is very particular...

Tigers turning Exiles into masters of deception

LONDON Scottish are ready to sink their claws into the Championship after gearing up for the new campaign with the aid...

Weir plotting his route to World Cup via Warriors

By NEALE HARVEY Returning: Jono Lance HAVING survived an horrendous injury experience last season following a botched steroid injection in his...

Aspiring Addison bidding for Test call

By SAM JACKSON WILL Addison is confident he can break into the Ireland set-up after moving to Ulster from Sale. Addison,...

New half-back pairing key to Saints’ revival

JEREMY GUSCOTT Bath IN: Jackson Willison (Worcester Warriors), Lucas Noguera Paz (Jaguares), Victor Delmas (Colomiers), Darren Atkins (promoted Academy), Ruaridh McConnochie...

Ex-Saint Elliott joins hometown Bedford

BEDFORD have strengthened their back line options with the capture of local lad Jamie Elliott. Capable of playing wing and centre,...