Schmidt: We must discover new level

IRELAND coach Joe Schmidt admitted: “We’ll just have to dust ourselves off. It’s nothing that we didn’t expect. “They’re an unbelievably...

Captain Pocock gets Wallabies over line

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Match-winner: David Pocock celebrates his crucial try for the Wallabies PICTURES: Getty Images AUSTRALIA, mixing rock solid defence...

Phillips: I can sort out Lions problems ‘We’ve solved harder things’

WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips believes he can end the impasse between Premiership Rugby and the Lions over the 2021 tour...

Boks fans give Eddie a verbal send-off

From NICK CAIN IN Johannesburg EDDIE Jones put on a brave face after England crashed to a fourth successive Test defeat,...

England know it’s make or break for them in Johannesburg Test

Nick Cain summarises what's at stake between England and their hosts South Africa – and looks at the new players on...

Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola in England’s back row to play Boks

Full team news as Billy Vunipola starts his first Test for England in over a year

South Africa name team to take on England in first Test

Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux are in for the Boks...

Gallagher column: Hero pathfinders fought the cause of black players in Apartheid-era South Africa

Brendan Gallagher looks at the trailblazers who paved the way for Siya Kolisi to become the first black Springboks captain 24...

Polota-Nau takes summer break to repay Tigers and deliver play-off shot in 2019

The Leicester hooker wants to take a run at next year's World Cup but only after taking Leicester to the Premiership...

Foundations are in place for a long Saracens reign, says Wyles

The retiring American reflects on the club's forged dynasty

Thomas the Tank rolls out of Exeter with mission complete

Back in New Zealand after eight enjoyable years in England with the Chiefs and Leicester

Dallaglio: Eddie must give Danny Cipriani a chance at fly-half

Dallaglio says Eddie Jones is waiting on a prayer after four defeats on the bounce for England

Wales edge South Africa in Washington thanks to late Ryan Elias try

A third-straight win over South Africa for Wales, but this Test match left a lot to be desired

Gold medal coach Ryan captures all the idiosyncrasies of Fijian 7s

Golden boys: Ben Ryan with Ro Dakuwaqa IN ONE way you might think there is nothing particularly odd or special about...

England go speeding on as Ireland make history

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Held: Ryan Olowofela of England is tackled by France’s Paulin Riva PICTURE: Getty Images Evasion: England’s Dan Bibby...

England should copy the Saracens style of play

JEREMY GUSCOTT Champions: Saracens know how to win games PICTURE: Getty Images ENGLAND’S defeat by the Barbarians will have only a...

DREAM TEAM

JUSTIN BURNELL, PONTYPRIDD COACH AND FORMER BRIDGEND, PONTY, NEATH AND CARDIFF FLANKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR...

Don’t blame Eddie for all these injury troubles

COLIN BOAG Knockabout game: England v Barbarians was end of season fun It has been open season on Eddie Jones in...

Top six playoff just sounds bonkers

I’VE read some tripe over the years, but Todd Blackadder’s call to expand the Premiership playoffs to six as reported by...

RFU should make it easier to join the league structure

IT IS hard to disagree with Jeff Gage’s letter in last week’s TRP, when he writes of the alarm bells that...

Remember Adams was cut by regions

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

Francis determined to finish rollercoaster season on high

Injured: Ben Te’o and Cameron Redpath PIERS Francis believes a rollercoaster campaign with Northampton will stand him in good stead for...

Saracens job bigger than England says Sanderson

FOUR-TIME Premiershipwinning coach Alex Sanderson says he has no current aspirations to become England’s new defensive guru and would view such...

Barbarians defeat has no bearing – Launchbury

By NEALE HARVEY Experienced head: Joe Launchbury PICTURES: Getty Images JOE Launchbury has ordered England to “come out firing” in Johannesburg...

Ashton resumes place as top gun in Europe

PETER JACKSON consults his stats book to reveal Europe’s top points scorers for 2017-18 Out in front: Toulon ace Chris Ashton...

Underdogs Castres have their day again

TOP 14 FINAL Montpellier 13 Castres 29 DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN The Castres flags waved wherever you looked and those who...

Foundations in place for long Saracens reign says Wyles

By GARY FIZGERALD AS Chris Wyles heads into rugby retirement, the American flier is convinced the rock-like foundations now in place...

Thomson: Brad will take fast route to the top

By ALEX BYWATER BRAD Shields has been tipped to quickly become an England star. The Hurricanes and former New Zealand U20...

Tank rolls out of Exeter with mission complete

By NEALE HARVEY Off Down Under: Thomas Waldrom is heading back to New Zealand PICTURE: Getty Images PREMIERSHIP crowd favourite Thomas...

Barbarians put the brakes on a few England careers

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Poor preparation: England were humbled by the Barbarians last weekend PICTURE: Getty...

It’s no home comfort yet for Umaga’s woeful Blues

By ADAM ELLIS Bad day at the office: Jerome Kaino of the Blues PICTURE: Getty Images MELBOURNE Rebels heaped more woes...

Sonny Bill knee op a success – but he’s out of Test

By SAM JACKSON NEWS EXTRA ALL BLACKS centre Sonny Bill Williams has said that the surgery he undertook for a knee...

Loyal Ojo signs up for Irish fightback

By SAM JACKSON Staying: Scott Steele LONDON Irish’s record try-scorer Topsy Ojo has signed a contract extension with the club, and...

Thompson told to get some ring time under his belt

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Newcastle hooker Matt Thompson has something in common with Rio Ferdinand – their professional boxing careers have...

Woolmore ready for top flight after Jersey blooding

HUNGRY prop Jake Woolmore insists Bristol’s collection of Championship recruits will prove their critics wrong in next season’s Premiership. While Charles...

Greedy Lancashire make it nine wins under Nelson

DIVISION 1 Lancashire 32 - 16 Hertfordshire By SAM JACKSON Done it again: Lancashire captain Adam Lewis lifts the trophy FLY-HALF...

ROOM 101

THE PRESTON HOOKER AND CAPTAIN TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND PAUL ‘PJ’ MELIA 1....

YOUNG GUNS

JORDAN OLOWOFELA LEICESTER FULL-BACK Atry-double in the Junior World Cup opener against Argentina continued the recent run of success for England...

France edge 50-point thriller

France U20s…26 Ireland U20s…24 UNDER-20 Six Nations champions France were run close by Ireland as they held on to claim a...

Wales seek upset against favourites

WALES Under-20 head coach Geraint Lewis has told his charg es they can’t rest on their laurels after their 26-21 win...

Wales earn their revenge

Wales U20s ………26 Australia U20s…21 WALES got revenge for last year’s last-minute Pool defeat to Australia with a tight victory on...

Late mistakes cost Scotland

Italy U20s ……27 Scots U20s……26 ITALY face England today full of confidence after they overcame Scotland with a dramatic lastminute pushover...

Big defence energising our attack – Ponton

By NEALE HARVEY PREVIEW… England v Italy Today. Kick-off 3.30pm, Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan ROCK solid defence and adaptability under pressure are...

Olowofela’s early double sets England on their way

By SAM JACKSON England U20s ….39pts Tries: Olowofela 7, 36: Walker 16, 45, Smith 79 Conversions: Grayson 8, 17, 46; Smith...

Pontypool wear crest with rightful pride

THE year 1868 marked the debut of the Trades Union Congress, the installation of the first traffic lights in London and...

Sexton, driving force of the Irish All Blacks

AS THE bars in Ballsbridge began to thin out in the early hours of Sunday morning, a welloiled, middle-aged Leinster supporter...

Brock goes on and on as others cry enough

Ageless: Brock James has scored more than 3,000 points IN FRANCE, a whole host of grand old warriors are slowly trying...

What a joke to call this reserve clash a Test match

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Bill Beaumont knows the definition of a Test match better than most, a...

Knight has point to prove after joining Rouen

French leave: Shaun Knight Return: Dan Mugford FORMER Bath prop Shaun Knight says the prospect of being third or fourth choice...

Bordeaux job just too good to turn down

By NEALE HARVEY Coaching role: Luke Narraway in action for Coventry PICTURE: Nick Meredith FORMER England No.8 Luke Narraway says the...