Prop star Du Plessis has lofty ambition post rugby

By NEALE HARVEY Mentor: Petrus du Plessis PETRUS du Plessis has ambitions to fly high as a commercial pilot. First, however,...

Worley relishing challenge to be the new Foden

MATT Worley learnt his trade alongside Dan Carter – now the precocious 20-year-old has his sights set on nailing down the...

Altitude fatigue was factor in England’s tour defeat

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Under pressure: Kyle Sinckler’s scrum technique needs tuning PICTURE: Getty Images As...

Dan leading Latvia’s charge for Olympics

By JON NEWCOMBE Coach: Dan Scarbrough FORMER England wing Dan Scarbrough has been appointed head coach of Latvia’s national Sevens team...

Biggar exit offers Davies’ chance to state his claim

By STEFFAN THOMAS Stepping out of the shadows: Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies SAM Davies is confident he can emerge from Dan...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

THE FORMER NEW ZEALAND, ENGLAND AND HARLEQUINS CENTRE JAMIE SALMON Three years after being rejected by Kent at an U19 trial...

Beaumont must go into bat for smaller nations

RUGBY MATTERS BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Man in charge: World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont...

Walker’s positivity inspired Coventry

HARRY WALKER, England’s oldest surviving international, passed away earlier this week aged 103 but hopefully his ‘can do’ spirit will continue...

Cherry’s late try secures crown for Australia

WOMEN’S SEVENS DISAPPOINTING Paris campaign for England ended in anti-climax after they booked a place in the Cup quarter-finals. On the...

Two-horse race to decide World Series

By ADAM ELLIS PARIS SEVENS Class act: Fiji’s Sevuloni Mocenacagi dives in to score against Samoa FIJI and South Africa will...

Fiji triumph as Irish win surprise bronze

LONDON SEVENS WRAP FIJI made it four wins on the bounce in the Sevens World Series, overcoming South Africa 21-17 in...

Italy on the rise

Italy………………30 Argentina……26 ITALY managed their best ever finish to a pool stage with a fine victory over Argentina. The Azurrini got...

French points fest in first half

France…………46 South Africa…29 FRANCE booked their place in the semi-finals with a barnstorming 46-29 victory over South Africa to top Pool...

just too powerful

Georgia…………24 Back a penalty from 47 metres after 13 minutes, but Gela Aprasidze quickly cancelled it. Ireland were given hope when...

Welsh bid for semis falls short despite win

Wales …………18 Japan …………17 WALES needed a bonuspoint win to give them any chance of making the semifinals but Japan pushed...

Kiwis fired up to defend world crown

By ADAM ELLIS DEFENDING champions New Zealand are revved up for their semi-final clash with France after coming through a tough...

Georgia

Ireland …………20 IRELANDwere outgunned by Georgia and now go into the battle for 9th to 12th spots – with the bottom...

Spowart try secures victory

Australia ……18 New Zealand 27 NEW Zealand held off a determined Australia to move into the semi-finals as top of Pool...

Top seeds know they must step it up a gear

By NEALE HARVEY Dangerman: Winger Gabriel Ibitoye runs in a try for England SCRUM-HALF Ben White insists there is plenty in...

Ibitoye stars as England maintain their perfect record

By SAM JACKSON Yellow: James Grayson ANOTHER bonus point victory set Steve Bates’ side up for a semi-final with South Africa...

Seven-try Azzurrini bashing seals last four place

SUNDAY WRAP ENGLAND surged past Italy to extend their lead at the top of Pool B and book their semi-final place...

Argentina apart, where would rest of world be without those Kiwis?

WHEREVER you looked yesterday just about every country – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Australia, Japan – had something in...

Surely Bok reserves don’t merit cap status

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Made to wait for his cap: Wales prop Charlie Faulkner PICTURE: Getty Images...

Goneva try helps Fiji open title defence with win over Samoa

PACIFIC NATIONS CUP ROUND-UP NEWCASTLE wing Vereniki Goneva was on the scoresheet as Fiji began their Pacific Nations Cup title defence...

Boden banking on that Yorkshire grit

JON NEWCOMBE talks to Steve Boden about stepping up to the head coach role at Carnegie Making his point: Carnegie head...

ROOM 101

STEVE MCCOLL THE DONCASTER FULL-BACK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Openmouthed eaters I’m...

Woodward’s way or the highway after Tour of Hell

BRENDAN GALLAGHER looks at how the infamous tour in 1998 helped turn England into world beaters Record defeat: Ben Sturnham on...

Jackson in France

FORMER Ulster and Ireland fly-half Paddy Jackson has signed a twoyear deal with French Top 14 club Perpignan. The 26-year-old had...

Falcons’ soaring wage bill costing Kurdi dear

By NEALE HARVEY NEWCASTLE’S reliance on their Jordanianborn owner Semore Kurdi is starkly illustrated in the club’s latest accounts, which reveal...

’Quotas’ in SA rugby will soon become a distant memory

THE Springbok starting XV which faced England in the first Test at Ellis Park featured more than a handful of African...

Spencer has the complete package to star for Eddie

NEIL DE KOCK FORMER SARACENS AND SOUTH AFRICA SCRUM-HALF Star in the making: England scrum-half Ben Spencer PICTURE: Getty Images England...

Kendall takes reins

FORMER England Deaf international Jack Kendall has taken over as head coach at Ilford Wanderers. Kendall, who played for England U18s...

Rugby aiding rehabilitation

RICHMONDhave announced a partnership between their community development team and HM Young Offenders Institution, Feltham to bring the benefits of rugby...

Changes at Rockcliff

WHITLEY Bay Rockcliff have a new coaching team for next season. Darren Cunningham joins as head coach with former Scotland lock...

You haven’t heard the last of Spain insists Nava

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER High praise: King Felipe VI of Spain congratulates Nava after Spain’s victory over Germany Warrior spirit: Veteran Spain...

No-brainer for Davies to sign on with Boyd at Saints

TRANSFER WRAP NORTHAMPTON Saints have bolstered their ranks at scrum-half by snapping up former Wasps and Dragons player Charlie Davies. The...

Zulu war cry sends new Rainbow Boks into Test battle

NICK CAIN IN JOHANNESBURG SETSTHE SCENE AS THE RASSIE ERASMUS CRUSADE BEGINS Springboks’ first black captain: Siya Kolisi PICTURES: Getty Images...

Back Jenkins to be in the starting XV come Japan

AS Warren Gatland’s boys prepare for their second Test with Argentina this week, a special word on back row co-captain Ellis...

North is a winger, let him do his thing

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Best on the wing: George North PICTURE: Getty Images IT’S going to be vital for...

DREAMTEAM

DAVID SISI, ZEBRE AND FORMER LONDON IRISH AND BATH BACK ROW, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED …WITH OR AGAINST…...

Rubbish like last week won’t grow game in US

COLIN BOAG Dud: Wales clash with South Africa in Washington last weekend Did you watch the Wales v South Africa match...

Is Bok takeover at Glos necessary?

FOLLOWING the retitling of Bristol Rugby as Bristol Bears, with six out of eight of their likely first team forwards next...

Playoffs essential while clubs still lose internationals

IN response to Jeff Probyn’s article about him not understanding why there are four team play-offs at the end of the...

Brexit doesn’t seem to be affecting UEFA

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk SO Heineken will return...

Pichot is picking on wrong target in Shields

AGUSTIN Pichot wants to make the eligibility laws in rugby more stringent, so more power to his elbow. They are an...

McCafferty’s put his head in the Lions’ den

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK HAVING spent most of the season refusing to comment on matters pertaining to...

He likes a joke but Evans is no clown

ALEX BYWATER sits down in Argentina with jovial Welsh loosehead Rob Evans Coming force: Rob Evans PICTURES: Getty Images ROB Evans...

Pumas look to capitalise on Ledesma gameplan

From ALEJO MIRANDA in Argentina Changing mindset: Mario Ledesma AFTER finishing fourth at RWC2015, Argentina struggled to push on and their...

Whitelock: We must cut out mistakes!

SAM Whitelock says his All Blacks will need to “cut out the mistakes” in the remaining two Tests with France despite...

Try avalanche buries French after card row

By GARY FITZGERALD Power: Rieko Ioane scores the first of his two tries PICTURES: Getty Images NEW Zealand buried the French...