Amazon prepare TV bid for rugby

AMAZON are looking at entering the market for Premiership Rugby rights even though they have still three years to run with...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler SALE SHARKS are set to offer Josh Charnley a new contract after he closed...

ROOM 101

PAUL DORAN-JONES THE WASPS PROP TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Public displays of...

Referee Ridley still has that Tigers’ fighting spirit

ROOKIE Premiership referee Christophe Ridley has set his sights on taking charge of a World Cup final after completing a remarkable...

Warriors merry-go-round gone on too long – Arr

By NEALE HARVEY LONG-SERVINGWorcester Warriors No.9 Jonny Arr has pleaded for stability after admitting constant coaching changes have hindered the club’s...

Williams: Davies has talent to be star for Lions

By STEFFAN THOMAS SEB Davies has been tipped as a future British Lion as he prepares to push for a return...

French should have heeded that Mexican Wave

WHEN it comes to the most reliable barometer of spectator boredom, there is still nothing to touch the Mexican wave. They...

True rugby fans have no cause to hate English

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Back in the early Nineties, the RFU would hold a monthly Monday Press...

Jackman confident he’ll have last laugh

By STEFFAN THOMAS Early hope: Dorian Jones scores for Dragons PICTURE:Huw Evans THE DRAGONS hit an all-time low in Port Elizabeth...

Marais holds nerve to kill off Connacht at the death

By BILL KIELY CONNACHT were left shattered after a last minute penalty cost them on their first visit to South Africa....

Exploiting loopholes in rugby’s law book

MATT EVERARD TALKING TACTICS This year’s Six Nations has been a hot bed for cunning coaching tricks. Guys like Eddie Jones...

DREAM TEAM

BRETT BEUKEBOOM, CORNISH PIRATES AND CANADA LOCK, CHOOSES HIS BEST XV PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Cian Healy – Tough character...

Time for refs to agree on breakdown process

COLIN BOAG Back in December I highlighted the problems that are caused by allowing referees to interpret the laws in their...

Top flight stitch-up nearing completion

JEFF Probyn wrote in last week’s Rugby Paper about the agreement between the RFU and Premiership Rugby under which ‘the Championship...

Columnists split over Lovobalavu’s disciplinary case

I WOULD like to highlight just how difficult rugby’s disciplinary process can be, and how the same offence can appear to...

Feeling of déjà vu with Eddie’s team

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk DYLAN Hartley should be...

Six Nations needs no hype – it’s all genuine – and raw – emotion

IF Eddie Jones was not warned by his RFU minders about the pitfalls of buying a standard class rail ticket from...

All Black invasion will boost the Quins

NICK CAIN THE deal that Harlequins have struck with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to turn the Premiership club into a sabbatical...

Kingston urges fans to ‘park frustrations’

HARLEQUINS’ welcome Bath to the Stoop in the match rescheduled from Friday night due to the freezing conditions. Quins make six...

Harrison demands a repeat performance

By NEALE HARVEY Extended run: Tigers No.9 Sam Harrison LEICESTER’S historic victory over Saracens last week will count for nothing unless...

Botha playing for his future at Irish

Believer: London Irish back rower Arno Botha HIGH-impact back rower Arno Botha believes London Irish can still pull off a miracle...

Malins reaping rewards from Farrell tutorials

By NEALE HARVEY Out in front: Owen Farrell Alex Lozowski GIFTED Saracens playmaker Max Malins is ready to step out of...

Davies loses his fight to streamline Welsh rugby

GARETH Davies has been forced to admit defeat in his plan to modernise the governance of Welsh rugby. The WRU chairman...

Launchbury: We’re aiming to put on the Ritz in Paris

By GARY FITZGERALD Falcon in flight: Ally Hogg breaks clear to score Newcastle’s first try against Gloucester PICTURE: Getty Images JOE...

Bakewell’s challenge to create new pack legacy at Leicester Tigers

The Kiwi forwards coach on leaving Bristol for Welford Road and the new generation he wants to foster

Williams column: Irish ‘bullies’ gave us a lesson at the breakdown

Shane Williams says Wales must still respect the value of the Six Nations as their title hopes fade into nothing in...

Batty: Plenty of life left in the old dog yet!

Batty seeking to rule the roost in the hooker department at the Rec

Guscott column: Huw’s that guy? Truly a superstar in awaiting

Jeremy Guscott lauds the performance of Huw Jones in Scotland downing England's Grand Slam hopes

Haley leaves Sale for Munster in pursuit of international stage

Shunned by Eddie, the full-back will now aim to stand shoulder to shoulder for Ireland thanks to maternal roots

Chris Farrell set to miss the rest of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign with injury

Munster centre joins Robbie Henshaw in being sidelined

Nigel Owens responds to those calling him a ‘cheat’ in wake of Scotland’s win

Did the majority of England supporters take Saturday's loss gracefully?

Stockdale breaks Wales hearts as Ireland keep Grand Slam on track

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER In the corner: Jacob Stockdale dives in for the opening try under pressure from Leigh Halfpenny PICTURES: Getty...

Huw’s that guy? Truly a super-star in waiting

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE …EVERY WEEK Scotland thoroughly deserved their victory at Murrayfield and if you boil it down there...

Hartley: We left ourselves too much to chase

DEJECTED Dylan Hartley challenged his team-mates to shrug off their Calcutta Cup misery and keep fighting for Six Nations success in...

Heat’s on for Teague as Bordeaux’s bid slumps

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Rory Teague, the English coach handed the top job at Bordeaux-Begles, is discovering just how heart-rending it...

Glover is back for England’s Las Vegas showdown

NEWS EXTRA By SAM JACKSON SIMON Amor has named his squad for next weekend’s Las Vegas Sevens. England will face Canada,...

Jackman in high spirits

HEAD coach Bernard Jackman says Dragons hope to make a big signing for next season. Wales No.8 Ross Moriarty is one...

Botha is front row target as Ospreys rebuild

NEWS EXTRA By ALEX BYWATER THE Ospreys have identified Cheetahs tighthead prop Tom Botha as a leading candidate to bolster their...

Llanelli produce shock victory in One West

Welsh Championship round-up By Daniel Phillips LLANELLI Wanderers produced a shock result in One West to beat the muchfancied Gorseinon 29-19....

Woods hoping Vale will end Merthyr’s winning run

PREVIEW: Ebbw Vale v Merthyr By JAY BAYFORD Sunday, February 25. Kick-off 2.30pm, Eugene Cross Park GREG Woods is optimistic about...

Hyatt confident Aberavon can stop their winless slump

PREVIEW: Llanelli v Aberavon By JONNY PAYNE Sunday, February 25. Kick-off 2.30pm, Parc y Scarlets ABERAVON head coach Jason Hyatt hopes...

Pitman stars as Cardiff collect bonus-point victory

By PETER HUGHES Cardiff …31 Neath…19 RORY Pitman and Gareth Thompson helped Cardiff secure a bonus-point victory at Arms Park against...

Allen helps Bedwas run riot against struggling Bridgend

By HOWARD EVANS Bedwas …41 Bridgend …14 BEDWAS ran in seven tries to take their tally to 19 and three victories...

Ford bags four as Quins continue fine home form

By CARL FIELD Carmarthen …34 Bargoed …10 WING Dale Ford helped himself to four tries as Carmarthen made it a perfect...

Gogs continue march towards the title by routing Swans

By DEAN JONES RGC 1404 …50 Swansea …21 RGC 1404 continued their pursuit of the Principality Premiership title with victory over...

McDermott takes charge of Russian World Cup bid

FORMER Munster hooker Mark McDermott has been appointed as acting head coach of Russia following the resignation of Alexander Pervukhin. McDermott,...

Gloucester hit with double wing injury

GLOUCESTER wingers Ollie Thorley and Henry Purdy will miss the rest of the season with shoulder injuries. Both players have undergone...

Castle Park in mourning after Williams tragedy

DONCASTER Knights prop Ian Williams has died at the age of 27. The Championship club said the player collapsed at training...

Diggin to call time on 15-year Saints affair

ACADEMY coach Paul Diggin is to leave Northampton after 15 years at the club. The 33-year-old back, who played 148 times...

Scarlets flyers rules out for rest of the season

FULL-BACK Johnny Mcnicholl and winger Tom Prydie are likely to miss the remainder of the season after injuries sustained in defeat...