Hurrell’s looking to be more like Ma’a Nonu

BUSTLINGcentre Will Hurrell believes his loan spell at Bath can aid his bid to emulate the “world-class skills” of his hero...

Attwood tries the French correction

By NEALE HARVEY ENGLAND and Bath lock Dave Attwood has spoken candidly about the reasons behind his shock move to Toulon...

Van Breda’s class shows as Jersey edge home

By LUKE JARMYN TEAMS BEDFORD: Clements-Hill 8, Packman 6 (Lewis 72, 5), Lane 6, Hutchinson 5, Adamson 9, Le Bourgeois 8,...

Double strike from Boulton a real bonus for Hartpury

By ANDREW BEECHAM HARTPURY picked up their first five-try haul in the Championship to see off Nottingham. They took the lead...

Muddy marvels Richmond pip Titans to avoid drop

By LUKE JARMYN A JONO Woodward try in the corner early in the second half proved to be the difference as...

Bristol hold on against an Ealing onslaught

By MIKE JAMES BRISTOL ground out a crucial victory with a nail-biting victory over Ealing Trailfinders at Vallis Way. Pat Lam’s...

Scottish are denied by Foley’s late contribution

By GUY WILLIAMS A LATE penalty from replacement fly-half Charlie Foley earned Doncaster a narrow victory at Castle Park against an...

We can keep our title insist Scarlets

Preview Benetton v Scarlets Today, Kick-off 1pm JONATHAN Evans hasn’t had much game time with the Scarlets this season, but he...

Bennett lifts Scots after bench press

By GARY HEATLY Edinburgh 29 Leinster 24 MARK Bennett scored a late winner to clinch a thriller at Myreside which puts...

Kings crowned by seven-try Ulster

By RONAN O’BRIEN Ulster 59 Kings 10 CRAIG Gilroy’s hat-trick got Jono Gibbes off to a glorious start as Ulster head...

Second half is pointless as Dragons defend heroically

By ROGER PANTING WONDERFUL defence from Dragons in a scoreless second half prevented a third consecutive league defeat at Rodney Parade....

Blues taken to the limit by dynamic Cheetahs

By STEFFAN THOMAS CARDIFF Blues kept their Champions Cup qualification hopes alive with a narrow victory over the Cheetahs at the...

We won’t take a step back now say Ospreys

By JOHN FALLON OSPREYS displayed the new expansive template they will need to get back to winning ways according to interim...

Munster recover poise to swamp Zebre

Munster 33 Zebre 5 By DARAGH SMALL MUNSTER kept up the pressure on runaway leaders Glasgow at the top of Conference...

Kyle’s not a bad boy – he just gets emotional

KYLE Sinckler is back. Hamstring pulled in the Portugal training camp healed, ban served, the dynamic Harlequins, England and Lions tight-head...

Farewell to Gary, the No.8 with a golden big boot

THEY are all retired by now or close to it and the old yarns will be given another spin in Christchurch...

Newport ensure ‘Monkey’ sits at the top of the tree at last

EVEN now virtually 100 years after his death, Arthur ‘Monkey’ Gould retains a unique place in the Welsh rugby pantheon. He...

Magnificent seven of Wigan make their mark

PETER JACKSON Wigan won the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley for the eighth time in a row on Saturday...

We got kick up butt says Gaffney

NORTHAMPTON boss Alan Gaffney’s response in defeat was blunt. “That was a kick up the butt,” growled the Aussie. “We lost...

Burns brilliance puts end to Saints revival

By NEALE HARVEY Final flourish: Hooker Ross Batty goes over for Bath’s third try FORGOTTEN England fly-half Freddie Burns produced a...

Baxter: We didn’t deserve anything

EXETER’S director of rugby Rob Baxter admitted his side were second best. He said: “In the Premiership you get the result...

Warriors make history with victory at Exeter

By ROGER PANTING On target: Chris Pennell lands a penalty for Worcester PICTURES: Getty Images WORCESTER pulled off the shock of...

‘Berbatov of rugby’ resigns to give Quins a boost before big Wasps re-match

By NEALE HARVEY HARLEQUINS captain Dave Ward has hailed Tim Visser’s re-signing as a “massive boost” before a match against Wasps...

Deano: They still had bit of stardust

MARK McCall heaped praise on his Sarries stand-ins after they put pressure on Exeter Chiefs at the top of the table....

Depleted Sarries still too good for Falcons

By GARY FITZGERALD Victory complete: Max Malins slides over to score Saracens’ final try PICTURES: Getty Images SARACENS are breathing down...

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Pisi: We were going through motions at Saints

WINGER Ken Pisi admits Northampton’s players had been “going through the motions” before Jim Mallinder’s pre-Christmas dismissal. An instant revival under...

Ring-fencing is no cure-all says Bath director Hooper

By NEALE HARVEY RING-FENCING the Premiership would not provide a silver bullet for slashing the number of overseas journeymen and improving...

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Kennedy: We have to beat Saints

IRISH trail Worcester by 12 points with just eight games remaining. Boss Nick Kennedy admitted: “It’s at the stage now where...

De Klerk keeps Sale in the hunt for a top six finish

By NEALE HARVEY SALE boosted their prospects of a top four finish with a hardfought victory in atrocious conditions that was...

Tigers find solace in case for defence

LEICESTER head coach Matt O’Connor was pleased by his side’s defensive labours, despite the loss. “The result was frustrating but the...

Ackermann: Now let’s beat our travel bug

By TOM BRADSHAW GLOUCESTER preserved their 100 per cent home Premiership record – but head coach Johan Ackermann immediately insisted that...

Cheetahs’ coach in at Worcester

PREMIERSHIP strugglers Worcester have appointed South African Rory Duncan to replace Carl Hogg as head coach when he leaves at the...

Time I pulled my weight admits 22-stone Skelton

By NEALE HARVEY GIANT Saracens lock Will Skelton has vowed to turn up the power after admitting his contribution over the...

DREAM TEAM

ROB MILLER, THE WASPS AND FORMER NEWCASTLE AND SALE FULL-BACK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Eddie was so right to moan about Alun Wyn

COLIN BOAG Eddie Jones’ mission to provide good copy is relentless, and he starred yet again during the week when he...

RFU should build 24-club pro league

LOSSES of £21.1m, dependency on benefactors, excessively high wages for players, at most only 13 clubs capable of continuing in business...

Sort out the crooked feeds and backchat

WHY is it beyond the capabilities of most scrum-halves to roll a ball straight for a metre and why are more...

Neutral doctors will retain HIA integrity

WE ARE all fully supportive of the HIA protocol, but abuse raises significant issues. Nigel Owens, clearly aware from the several...

What a great start to the Six Nations

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk FROMthe feast of tries...

PREVIEW Ireland v Italy

Today. Kick-off 1pm IRELAND welcome Italy looking to bounce back from the 24-0 defeat to France last weekend and coach Adam...

Free-scoring France get another try bonus

Scotland W …3 France W …26 WINGER Cyrielle Banet scored a wonder try as France beat Scotland 26-3. Sarah Law’s penalty...

Red Roses romp in as Wales draw blank again

DEFENDING champions England made it two wins out of two with an eight-try thumping of Wales. The hosts scored four tries...

Nine-try France fire warning but Scots grab bonus

Scotland U20…19 France U20…69 FRANCE U20s laid down a marker with a dominant performance at Broadwood Stadium as they comfortably saw...

Classy cameo by Ibitoye adds gloss for England

By SAM JACKSON On the charge: Gabriel Ibitoye tackled by Cai Evans of Wales PICTURES: Getty Images TEAMS ENGLAND: Parton (Ldn...

Irish hold on against 14-man Italians

Ireland U20 ….38 Italy U20 ….….34 ITALY gave Ireland an almighty scare as their 14 men narrowly lost in Donnybrook. The...

Auld Alliance highlights in Scotland

Headline man: Michael Dods celebrates scoring for Scotland in 1996 1925: Scotland 25 France 4 (Inverleith): The opening game of what...

In comes Laidlaw as Townsend decides to take a more pragmatic approach

Recall: Greig Laidlaw SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend has made six changes from the side that lost so badly to Wales...

No laughing matter, Finn – get it right!

IT’s not going to be the game either coach, or indeed set of fans, dreamed of – but this afternoon’s ‘auld...