De Villiers may come calling for Ewers

Boss: Pieter De Villiers NEW Zimbabwe coach Pieter De Villiers, who led South Africa to a Lions and Tri-Nations success in...

Nadolo gets behind bid for Pacific Islanders franchise

ISN’T it odd how things come full circle. Back in the supposedly bad old amateur days, the Super Ten competition was...

Irish remain defiant despite 16pt gap

Spencer, Cox, Arr, Hammond Back in the lineup: Johnny Williams ENGLAND midfield prospect Johnny Williams returns as London Irish aim to...

Spencer eager to capitalise on big chance to impress

By NEALE HARVEY Aiming for impact: Ben Spencer PICTURE: Getty Images POPULAR hooker Schalk Brits makes an eagerly-awaited return as Saracens...

We must be more clinical admits disappointed Diamond

STEVE Diamond, Sale Sharks’ director of rugby, admitted his team need to be more clinical when they get into winning positions....

Amazing Mr Wilson gives Bath last word

By ANDY BABER Shark attack: Denny Solomona scores Nervless: James Wilson kicks the winning points PICTURES: Getty Images MAKESHIFT fly-half James...

Gloucs rue 34 missed tackles

GLOUCESTER head coach Johan Ackermann rued a frustrating secondhalf and wants to see his side make amends next week against Newcastle...

Gopperth’s pressure kick saves the day

By JAMES LLOYD Pack power: Gloucester celebrate their first try PICTURES: Getty Images In the thick of it: Wasps ace Jimmy...

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Carnegie swoop for ex-Pirates boss Stirling

By JON NEWCOMBE FORMER Cornish Pirates boss Chris Stirling is set to return to the UK with Yorkshire Carnegie in a...

Saxons on schedule again ahead of World Cup 2019

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND’S second string Saxons will be revived next year with World Cup preparations in mind. Planning is at...

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Kingston: We have to get our pride back

HARLEQUINS boss John Kingston struggled for positives He said: “We defended manfully for long periods and it was fantastic to see...

Falcons show they are really in this title challenge

By NEALE HARVEY Not to be denied: Sinoti Sinoti powers over for Falcons PICTURES: Getty Images Early hope: James Horwill scores...

Olly burst changed it all says Dickens

ALAN Dickens, Saints’ interim coach, lamented: “For 70 minutes we were in control. Then Olly Woodburn makes a fantastic break. “That...

We’re scared of losing the title admits Baxter

By MIKE SINCLAIR Held up: Luke Cowan Dickie is stopped by the Northampton defence short of the try line PICTURES: Getty...

Scott set to embark north again

MATT Scott will return to Edinburgh at the end of the season after two years with Gloucester. The 27-year-old Scotland centre...

Lions tamer Brussow out to show new tricks

By NEALE HARVEY HEINRICH Brussow, scourge of the British Lions in 2009, is ready to pump heart and soul into what...

DREAM TEAM

GARETH OWEN, LEICESTER AND FORMER OSPREYS & SCARLETS CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Duncan...

Cash needed to halt the exodus from south

COLIN BOAG Talking ahead of yesterday’s Six Nations encounter with Scotland, Eddie Jones responded to criticism of England’s style of play...

Follow NFL stance over poor conduct

I AM pleased that Colin Boag has raised the below issue again as I did several months ago. American football has...

Premiership should support home-grown coaches and players

WHAT a mess our game is getting itself into. Huge amounts of money are being thrown at the top tier so...

Back row stalwarts past their prime

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk AGREE with Ian Carrick...

First start for Wales full-back Neumann

PREVIEW Ireland v Wales Today. Kick-off 3pm IRELAND secured a narrow 12-7 win in Cardiff last seasonto keep them on course...

Early try to Waterman opens Scots’ floodgates

By GEORGE LAWRENCE ENGLAND Women ran in seven tries as they beat Scotland 43-8 to make it three wins from three...

Ireland leave flourish too late after Botham’s double strike

Ireland U20 …38 Wales U20 …41 JAMES Botham’s double inspired Wales to victory in Donnybrook but they had to hold on...

Wasteful England made to pay by feisty Scots

By GEORGE LAWRENCE No way through: Sam Moore shackled by the Scotland defence TEAMS SCOTLAND U20S: Dewhirst, Rory McMichael, Stafford McDowall,...

Italians are swamped in French 12-try rout

France U20…78 Italy U20…12 FRANCE continued their perfect U20s Six Nations start with a thumping win over Italy in Gueugnon. Les...

Gaby gets a raw deal from Wood and the citing panel

GUILTY of bad judgement. That is the only way to describe the Premiership disciplinary procedure that resulted in Wasps centre Gaby...

Rassie rallies foreign legion to revive Boks

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK GIVEN South Africa’s ropey results since the last World Cup, including a record...

Guirado: We let eight tries slip away

ITALY coach Conor O’Shea remained defiant despite a disappointing performance from his Azzurri. “I’m destroyed right now because I hate losing...

Destroyer Bastareaud waiting for England

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Wrecking ball: Mathieu Bastareaud on the rampage PICTURES: Getty Images CLOSE-UP WENCESLAS LAURET French blindside V SEBASTIEN NEGRI...

Irish ‘bullies’ gave us a lesson at breakdown

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND Superb: Wales openside Josh Navidi PICTURE: Getty Images Powerplay: Bundee Aki crashes over for Ireland’s...

Gatland ready to call up new blood

By ALEX BYWATER WARREN Gatland says he’ll give Wales’ fringe players the chance to impress in the rest of the Six...

Farrell in Murrayfield tunnel row with Scots

By GARY FITZGERALD Grand Slam dream over: England’s Owen Farrell and Jonathan Joseph look dejected at the end of the match...

The biggest rugby players ever – literally

While rugby doesn’t have the following of football, for example – both sports that are called this, on both sides of...

Record-breaking ‘Rocky’ still fighting fit

Richie McCaw. Brian O’Driscoll. George Gregan.  These legends will be the only three players in history that will have played more...

TEAMS: Round Three of the Six Nations

Rest week over, here's the all the team news ahead of this weekend's rugby

Can England take the Six Nations for a third consecutive year?

After a bruising and sometimes scrappy victory over Wales at Twickenham, the Six Nations title – and the Grand Slam –...

Leicester move has taken Jonny May’s game ‘to new level’

The England international says he has no regrets about leaving Gloucester for Welford Road after bagging two game-clinching tries against Wales

Jackson column: Alun Wyn’s magnificent week on and off the field

Peter Jackson reveals the good deed done by the Wales captain for an elderly man in hospital

Allen: Unlike me, these England U20s boys will be Test ready

England U20s coach Anthony Allen profers two youngsters not far away from a senior Test berth

Guscott column: Farrell is just stratospheric, a class apart from the others

Jeremy Guscott on the Saracens fly-half proving to be a cut above

Dream Team: Former Bath and England full-back Jon Callard

Jon Callard chooses the best he has played with and against...

Can England take the Six Nations for a third consecutive year?

After a bruising and sometimes scrappy victory over Wales at Twickenham, the Six Nations title – and the Grand Slam –...

Doncaster Knights prop Ian Williams dies after collapsing at training session

(Photo: Getty Images) By Adam Ellis Doncaster Knights have announced prop Ian Williams has passed away, aged 27, after collapsing at...

Francis: I’m after SA tour place

STAR man Piers Francis has set his sights on England’s summer tour. The Saints No.10 said: “I’ve had adjustments to make...

Piers pulls the plug on Irish as North gives Wales boost

By NEALE HARVEY Flat out: Rob Horne scores Saints’ second try PICTURES: Getty Images Not enough: Alex Lewington scores his second...

Kingston: Penalty count was against us

HARLEQUINS rugby director John Kingston said his team had been hard done by: “We were the better team for first hour...

Toomua class keeps Tigers in the hunt

By NICK CAIN Reaching out: Matt Toomua scores Tigers’ first try PICTURES: Getty Images Round the legs! Quins’ James Chisholm is...