Guscott column: Saints need Dean Richards to turn them into a big-time club

Jeremy Guscott on the Newcastle Falcons director of rugby being to man to replace Mallinder

Mike Haley’s honing basics for next England shot

Jon Newcombe talks to the Sale Sharks full-back who hopes to catch Eddie Jones' eye by impressing in Europe

Pivac:We delivered in defence this time

SCARLETS head coach, Wayne Pivac was much happier with the overall perfomance having given his troops areas to work on in...

It’s Davies again as scorching Scarlets turn it on

By ROB COLE THE Scarlets made it back-to-back bonuspoint wins over PRO14 rivals Benetton to set-up an epic New Year trip...

Scoring that try was like the U11s

STAR man Francois Louw said: “We emptied the tanks out there. Coming off that close defeat last week we were really...

Watson hits turbos to put heat on Toulon

European Champions Cup By BRENDAN GALLAGHER BATH went to the top of an incredibly competitive Pool 5 with this vital win...

Saints need Deano to turn them into a big-time club

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JIM Mallinder has had highs and lows at Northampton, starting with winning promotion back to...

DREAMTEAM

ALEX CODLING, EALING HEAD COACH AND FORMER ENGLAND LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Jason...

England expects a big weekend of revenge

COLIN BOAG Round 3 of the Champions Cup couldn’t have been more dismal for the English clubs, with all seven losing...

Prem teams can’t live with La Rochelle panache

FRENCH international rugby is the doldrums, but they have a great club side. La Rochelle are a revelation and don’t score...

The beer swillers will make me an armchair viewer

NICK Cain is spot on with his opinion piece in last week’s TRP but alas, it’s not just internationals that suffer...

Jerry’s right, pick all teams on ability

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk HAVING read Jerry Guscott’s...

Dragons capture Thomas long term

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE DRAGONS are set to make Nicky Thomas’ loan move permanent with the Scarlets prop having agreed a...

Gatland confirms he’ll go down Super Rugby route

WALES head coach Warren Gatland has confirmed he will try to get a job in Super Rugby when he leaves his...

Haley’s honing basics for next England shot

By JON NEWCOMBE MIKE Haley is striving for more consistency in “the nuts and bolts” of fullback play in a bid...

Itoje nears fitness for Six Nations

MAROItoje will recover from a fractured jaw in time to be fit for the start of England’s Six Nations title defence...

Strettle could return for Premiership swansong

By NEALE HARVEY Saints players need a long, hard look at themselves WING wizard David Strettle has revealed why proposed changes...

MY TOP TEN FIJIAN WINGS OF ALL TIME

1 Rupeni Caucaunibuca Universally recognised as one of the greatest natural talents the game has seen, but enigmatic and moody to...

Time for wing king Raka to pledge his allegiance

Brendan Gallagher counts the rise and rise of Fijian wide men taking over France WITH Alivereti Raka’s name on everybody lips...

Clubs are asked: Would you sack boss Noves?

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN The job of France head coach Guy Noves hangs on an opinion poll conducted by his bosses....

Leaders Penallta slip up at home to Risca

Welsh Division One round-up BRYNMAWR are the new One East leaders after a comprehensive 29-7 victory over Blaenavon. Ethan Phillips grabbed...

Robinson agrees permanent move to Welsh capital

OLLY Robinson will leave Bristol at the end of the season to join Cardiff Blues, where he has been on loan...

Champion Pooler stretch unbeaten run to 12

Welsh Championship round-up PONTYPOOL continue their march to the Championship title after racking up their twelfth consecutive league victory. The reigning...

Breach is at it again as ‘Wood are well beaten

By JACK ZORAB F’wood W’loo 12 Harlequins ……51 JESS Breach scored a hat-trick as Harlequins kept the heat on Saracens at...

Four-star Gregson leads thrashing of Valkyries

By GEORGE WEST Bristol………….89 Worcs Valk…….0 BRISTOL made it three consecutive wins after an emphatic win over the Worcester Valkyries. Lillian...

Lucas has the force for a Wasps victory

Wasps……………….37pts Glos-H’pury……….17pts By HOLLY FOSKETT WASPS secured a hard-fought victory over Gloucester-Hartpury in a hard-fought affair in Round 11. With both...

No end in sight for Saracens’ perfect record

By RYAN STEVENS L’boro L’ning ….7 Saracens …….32 MARLIE Packer scored two tries as Saracens went over six times against Loughborough...

Aussies opt for Castle

AUSTRALIA’S Rugby Union have chosen Raelene Castle as new chief executive, the first woman to be given the job. Castle had...

Ireland wait on Ruddock

IRELANDflanker Rhys Ruddock could miss the start of the Six Nations after tearing a hamstring in Leinster’s win over Exeter on...

Extension for Hansen

HOOKER James Hanson has committed his longterm future to Gloucester. The Wallaby star, 29, arrived in September on a short-term deal...

Turner gets four weeks

GLASGOWhooker George Turner has been banned for four weeks for a shoulder charge on Montpellier No.8 Louis Picamoles. Turner, who won...

Buttress to take charge

STUART Davies is stepping down as chief executive of the Dragons with David Buttress becoming executive chairman. Davies, 52, has been...

Leinster tie up Furlong

LEINSTER tight-head prop Furlong has signed an IRFU contract extension which will keep him at the province until 2021. He has...

Costello to join Wilson at Wasps

CARDIFF Blues head coach Danny Wilson has been appointed forwards coach at Wasps for next season. Nottingham head coach Ian Costello...

England crash out after costly yellow to Mitchell

By SAM JACKSON A LATE try saw England beaten 19-12 by Fiji in their fifth-place semi-final at the Cape Town Sevens...

Rennie factor would help Wales develop – Elliot

By STEFFAN THOMAS DAVE Rennie is the “perfect fit” to succeed Warren Gatland as Wales head coach according to Former All...

Ewels looks to power up in bid to be world’s best

By NEALE HARVEY CHARLIE Ewels has vowed to turn up the heat on England’s established second rows and bag a Six...

Top English clubs need to play with more adventure

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Last weekend was a shocker for the Premiership clubs, losing all their...

Bournemouth undone by last-gasp try

South West Premier BOURNEMOUTH lost ground in the South West Premier promotion battle after a last-gasp try for Bracknell earned them...

Grasshoppers tighten grip on top spot

Northern Premier PRESTON Grasshoppers further consolidated their hold of the top of the table beating Wirral 14-7 in an ill-tempered match...

Lions roar on as cold weather hits hard

Midlands Premier PETERBOROUGH Lions closed the gap to runaway leaders Birmingham and Solihull Bees as the weather once again had a...

Hertford keep pressure on the leaders

London & South East Premier HERTFORD are just a point behind leaders Guernsey, and with a game in hand, they have...

Loughborough put on the style to pull plug on Bath

By JOE BYRNES BUCS ROUND-UP LOUGHBOROUGH celebrated Christmas early on Wednesday with a handsome victory 35-24 over Bath. The manner in...

YOUNG GUNS

LLOYD EVANS GLOUCESTER FLY-HALF Lloyd Evans makes no bones about the fact he is frustrated. As a fly-half of considerable game-breaking...

Chinnor hit straps right from the start

By KEN VAUGHN Chinnor …………41 Canterbury…….7 CHINNOR showed their intent with almost their first touch of the ball and went on...

Dons celebrating a famous first win

By BEN RODEN Old Redcliffians 28 Wimbledon 29 WIMBLEDON claimed a first win of the season, in an exciting if somewhat...

Redruth relief as Bonds scores clincher

By SAM ROGERS Broadstreet.11 Redruth ……….21 REDRUTHcontinued their recent resurgence as they scored two late tries to help them overcome Broadstreet....

Cinderford given stern given stern points fest

By NIGEL WILCE Cinderford ……….45pts Bury St Edm…….29pts All alone: Alex Frame scores Cinderford’s opening try, CINDERFORD overcame a spirited challenge...

Skipper reveals Rams refused to panic

By CAMERON TEMPLE Redingens’s.43 Clifton ………….16 A RAMPANT Rams side stormed away from Clifton with a dazzling second-half performance. After a...

TJ fans raise glass after Jackson dash

By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J.26 Taunton ……….20 A REAL Christmas cracker of a game at the The Slade certainly entertained the...