We were outplayed all round – Todd

BATH director of rugby Todd Blackadder was unhappy that a great opportunity to qualify had been thrown away. He said: “It’s...

Super Scarlets pull plug on Bath hopes

By ROGER PANTING Bath 17pts Tries: Banahan 57, Mercer 73 Conversions: Burns 57, 73 Penalties: Burns 21 Scarlets 35pts Tries: Beirne...

Scarlets in talks to bring North back

NEWS EXTRA By ALEX BYWATER SCARLETS are in talks to re-sign George North for the start of next season after the...

Ashton hunts bonus

Preview… Toulon v Benetton Today, Kick-off 1pm CHRIS Ashton starts on the left wing for Toulon as they look to earn...

Sarries are hanging on after penalty shoot-out

By ALEX BYWATER Ospreys 15pts Penalties: Biggar 31, 40, 44, 72, 80 Saracens 15pts Penalties: Farrell 6, 20, 34, 48, 76...

‘We’ve gone back to basics’

DYLAN Hartley reckons a “back to basics policy” has helped Northampton turn the corner under veteran Australian coach Alan Gaffney. Hartley...

Fabulous Foden in overdrive for Saints

By ROB WILDMAN Northampton 34pts Tries: Harrison 13, Tuitavake 32, Foden 45, Pisi 64, Reinach 73 Conversions: Mallinder 45, 65, 74...

Patchell set for Six Nations entrance

By PETER JACKSON RHYS Patchell is heading towards a Six Nations debut as part of Wales’ 23 against Scotland in Cardiff...

‘Sort out season to end injury mayhem’

By NEALE HARVEY Warning: Toby Booth BATH coach Toby Booth has urged Premiership Rugby to come clean over season structure changes...

FREE Rugby Turf Workshop next month!

A free to attend workshop on Rugby Turf is taking place at Royal Holloway University of London Sports Centre on 8...

Guscott column: Danny Cipriani is capable of pulling the strings

Jeremy Guscott is willing Danny Cipriaini on to add to his 14 Test caps for England

Dream Team: Bedford Blues and former Northampton scrum-half Lee Dickson

The ex-England international picks his best XV based on players he's played with and against

Williams column: George North blow means we’ll rely more on Steff Evans

Shane Williams explains why George North is a 'world-class' player and why he is vital to Wales

No X-Factor, but captain Hartley’s still the right man to lead out England

Nick Easter says the Northampton Saints hooker is still the man for England despite Jamie George no longer being his main...

Jackson column: Why has the drop goal gone the way of the dodo?

They have provided the sport with some of its most defining moments, so why are drop goals fading from the field...

Barnes column: Rory Teague’s rise just goes on and on in France

David Barnes on the former Gloucester man's growing influence with Top 14 side Bordeaux-Begles

Bath stalwart Banahan completes switch to arch West Country rivals Gloucester

Banahan ends 12-year stay at the Rec and will move to Kingsholm at the end of the season

Leinster and Ireland dealt injury blow as Ringrose ruled out for over a month

Centre out for remaining Champions Cup pool matches and first two Six Nations matches

Dragons recruit Worcester forward Huw Taylor

Welsh-qualified back row completes switch from Sixways to Rodney Parade

Manu will need ten games says Ford

TIGERS skipper George Ford saluted Tuilagi’s display. He said: “It’s great for him. He’s building his way back into the game...

Brute force comes out on top for Tuilagi and his Tigers

By NEALE HARVEY MANUTuilagi bagged an opportunistic try in his fourth match back from injury as Leicester quelled brave London Irish...

That soft penalty cost us – Glos boss

ACTING Saints boss Alan Gaffney praised his players and believes Saints can now turn the corner. “I’m absolutely delighted with the...

Gaffney gets his lost Saints back in step

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Northampton……22pts Tries: Pisi 7, Groom 56, Penalty 80 Conversions: Mallinder 25, penalty try 80 Penalties: Mallinder 27 Gloucester...

Cipriani is capable of pulling all the strings

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Eddie Jones’ comments this week regarding Danny Cipriani and the England fly-half situation are to...

DREAMTEAM

LEE DICKSON, THE BEDFORD AND FORMER NORTHAMPTON AND ENGLAND No.9, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Sir Clive’s right – Some Tests have become dross

COLIN BOAG Sir Clive Woodward has dared to challenge one of rugby’s greatest myths, that international matches are still automatically the...

‘Clanger’ Clancy has done it again

ONCE again George Clancy has endeared himself to the Cardiff crowd with another inept performance. On his last visit he enraged...

Eddie’s done a fine job but selection’s become puzzling

EDDIE Jones has turned England into potential World Cup winners in Japan. However, I agree with Brendan Gallagher (31.12.17 edition) that...

Give more authority back to the referees

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I’VE been one of...

Off-field distraction helping Spencer focus on the pitch

By LUKE JARMYN SARACENS scrum-half Ben Spencer says changes in his personal life have helped him cement a place in the...

Lightning strike six tries past winless Valkyries

■By LEWYS STEWARD Worcester……….7 Loughborough…38 Women’s Premier 15s LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning moved up to fifth in the Tyrrells Premier XVs table with...

Middleton getting his girls up to speed for Six Nations

■By SAM JACKSON NEWS EXTRA ENGLAND Women’s elite squad convened yesterday for a four-day training camp at Loughborough University as preparations...

Penallta through but injury marrs match

Welsh Division One round-up ■By CHRIS JOHNSON HOLDERS Penallta are into the last 16 of the WRU National Plate – but...

Swansea …20 Newport……….24

■By PAUL HOPKINS NEWPORT made it into the second round of the WRU National Cup with a hard-fought victory over Swansea....

Rhydyfelin ….13 Newbridge…0

■By CARL FIELD A BRACE from wing Jordan Rees inspired 14- man Rhydyfelin to victory over Newbridge in their all-Championship National...

Newcastle E ….0 Merthyr ……….59

■By JON DALY A HAT-TRICK from wing Alex Howman inspired Principality Premiership powerhouses Merthyr to a thumping over Newcastle Emlyn at...

Neath…………….13 Cardiff …………15

■By HUW THOMAS SEVEN-time winners of the WRU Challenge Cup Cardiff went battled through to the round with this edgy win...

Narberth …………0 Bedwas ……….43

■By JOEL EDWARDS BEDWAS ensured the 90- mile trip back from Narberth would be a happy one after a victory that...

Students can show talent, says coach Lewis

■By DAVID COLLINS PREVIEW… Cardiff Met v Llanelli CARDIFF Met team manager Aled Lewis has backed the students to rise to...

Hosts Pool Weakened defeat Steel

■By IAN GOLDEN Pontypool ……55 Tata Steel ……14 Determination: Aaron Coundley of Pontypool crashes over to score a try PICTURE: Huw...

Glynneath …0 Bridgend …48

■By ROGER THOMAS BRIDGENDbrushed aside the challenge of Glynneath with a strong performance to book their place in the next round....

Ebbw Vale …16 RGC 1404 …14

■By CHRIS SMART A LAST-GASP penalty from Dorian Jones saw Ebbw Vale progress to the second round of the WRU National...

Cross Keys ….21 Pontypridd ….16

■By ANDREW DEERING CROSSKeys recorded a tight victory over Pontypridd in the first round of the WRU National Cup at Sardis...

Bargoed …38 Trebanos…27

■By PETER GREENING BARGOEDand Trebanos served up a cracking cup tie with 50 points on the scoreboard by half time. The...

Aberavon …71 Skewen …3

■By HOWARD EVANS National Cup ABERAVON gained a 113th win in 47 years of the Welsh Cup, yet it was their...

Geraghty: Cipriani among top three No.10s

DANNY Cipriani would be a “big loss to English rugby” should he grow tired of being ignored by England boss Eddie...

No X-factor, but captain Hartley’s still right man to lead out England

By NEALE HARVEY Big character: Dylan Hartley has a fine record with England PICTURES: Getty Images NICK Easter believes Dylan Hartley’s...

Frustrated Ford tells Tigers fans: Give Manu time to hit peak form

By MIKE SINCLAIR Needs games: Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi GEORGE Ford has called for patience with Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua...

Rory’s rise just goes on and on in France

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Rory Teague is brandishing a torch abroad as the only English head coach in the Top 14,...

Four year drug ban

SPARTANS lock Craig Hoare has been banned from all sport for four years after testing positive for an anabolic steroid. The...