Former England captain Day to join RFU board

ENGLAND’S record try scorer Sue Day will join the RFU board in the spring after being appointed their new chief financial...

Ward in blast at 13-team Premiership discussion

By NEALE HARVEY BEN Ward, rugby director of high-flying Ealing, has slammed Premiership proposals for a 13-team, ringfenced Premiership and claims...

Unbeaten Pau lead way with classy win over Agen

ROUND-UP BORDEAUX-BEGLES kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive on Friday evening as they claimed a 36-27 triumph over...

Thorley stars as Gloucester zap Zebre in 11-try romp

By STEFFAN THOMAS OLLIE Thorley scored four tries as the Cherry and Whites thrashed Zebre to keep the heat on Pool...

Brive have no answer to Healy’s brilliant four-timer

By DECLAN ROONEY Connacht …….55 Brive …………….10 INSPIRED Matt Healy ran in four tries to help Connacht maintain their unbeaten start...

Bonus point keeps Warriors in contention

By GEORGE LAWRENCE WORCESTER managed to earn a late bonus point against Oyonnax at a freezing Stade Charles-Mathon which could prove...

Exiles fall as Stade finish with a flourish

By NEALE HARVEY TONY Ensor’s lastgasp try ended London Irish’s Challenge Cup hopes as holders Stade Francais edged a sixtry thriller...

Referee was like Dick Turpin says Dragons boss Jackman

By ROGER PANTING NEWCASTLE virtually sealed a quarter-final spot by completing the double over Dragons but the controversial finish left the...

Kinghorn shines as Edinburgh prepare for big clash

By GARY HEATLY European Challenge Cup Edinburgh ……78 Krasny Yar …….0 AFTER thumping Krasny Yar at Murrayfield on Friday, Edinburgh captain...

I fear Wales will struggle to cope without Faletau

I WAS already concerned last week about Wales’ Six Nations chances given the huge number of injuries they’ve been sustaining, specifically...

WRU must reverse this talent drain

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND WE’VE known for a while Danny Wilson is leaving Cardiff Blues at the end of...

Davies banks on big result in front of the home faithful

Challenge Cup By ALEX BYWATER THE scoreboard may have looked bad, but Seb Davies doesn’t believe Cardiff Blues were too far...

Goode’s braced for Clermont couldron

By NEALE HARVEY European Champions Cup ALEX Goode admits injuries are killing Saracens, but insists they are still capable of bouncing...

Lydiate ready for big Saints response after Mallinder exit

By STEFFAN THOMAS DAN Lydiate has told Ospreys fans he is slowly getting back to his choptackling best. The blindside flanker...

Hughes returns to bolster pack power

By NEALE HARVEY WASPS are boosted by the return of England No.8 Nathan Hughes for a match they must win to...

Back to basics did it for us says Kiss

ULSTER coach Les Kiss said his side needed to be reminded to return to basics at half-time in order to find...

Kid Smith sparkles but Quins swamped after break

By RONAN O’BRIEN European Champions Cup JOHN Cooney scored 27 points as six-try Ulster punished Harlequins late on at Kingspan Stadium...

Rolling subs rock the boat

THE correspondence we received on rolling substitutes missed a crucial point. Namely, that those advocating them in the pro game are...

RFU must Scotch this idea of tartan Warriors

THE notion of Worcester Warriors being bought by the Scottish Rugby Union is one that the RFU, the Premiership, and European...

Oh, for the leadership of Lawrence or Johnno

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Alack of leadership was an area that Eddie Jones identified immediately as being...

Tuilagi starts as O’Connor demands reaction

LEICESTER Tigers fullback Telusa Veainu is set to be out for at least eight weeks after sustaining a double fracture of...

Tigers told to stand up to Irish bullies

By JON NEWCOMBE Looking for response: Luke Hamilton in action against Racing 92 PICTURE: Getty Images BACK rower Luke Hamilton believes...

Imhoff’s red for headbutt can’t stop slick Racing

By STEVE EVANS European Champions Cup RACING 92 kept themselves in the hunt for a quarter-final place after overcoming Castres despite...

Rennie: We’ll be stronger for this

GLASGOW coach Dave Rennie believes there is still reason to smile despite their winless Champions Cup campaign. A run of four...

Glasgow monstered by unstoppable Nadalo

By JAMES CANDY GLASGOW were powerless to stop Nemani Nadolo from inspiring a European Champions Cup double as Montpellier kept in...

Leinster win after ‘refusing to panic’

LEINSTER coach Leo Cullen acknowledged that his team didn’t make things easy for themselves but was delighted to see his side...

This was international standard, says Baxter

European Champions Cup By CIARAN McGREAL LEINSTER staged a stunning fightback after the break to recover from two firsthalf sin-binnings and...

Humphreys says No to the top job with Blues

By PETER JACKSON Eye for the line: Anthony Watson breaks to score for Bath in their win over Toulon PICTURE: Getty...

Mallinder paid ‘for not axing coach West’

By NEALE HARVEY JIM Mallinder’s loyalty to “old school” forwards coach Dorian West contributed to his downfall at Northampton, according to...

Workaholic Wray aims to keep Saracens up to the job

Nick Cain talks to Saracens' Mr Consistent about Brad Barritt's captaincy and the influence of Ernst Joubert

Williams column: Ospreys would be the best fit for George North

Shane Williams offers his opinion on who is the most likely fit for the Northampton and Wales wing

Jono Ross relishing new life in fast lane with Sale Sharks

The South Africa-born back row on a turbulent meeting between the Stade Francais president and Stade players

Jackson column: Wales Euro challenge undermined by the Union

Peter Jackson on how the fourth autumn Test scheduled by Wales impacted the nation's regions and their hopes of success in...

Gary Graham glad to resume family affair with Newcastle Falcons

The former Jersey flanker on emulating his father, George, at Kingston Park

Guscott column: Springboks need to pick best XV on ability alone

Time for the SARU to be more welcoming of overseas player selection?

Kingston: ‘It’s time Danny Care showed he can be the world’s best scrum-half’

Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston has thrown down a challenge to his number 9 in the lead up to the...

All-action Gloucester back row Ludlow flying high in top tackler race

The Gloucester back row is well out in front in the Premiership's tackle count stats

Scots back in pole for takeover of Worcester

By Neale Harvey Worcester are set to agree a takeover by the Scottish Rugby Union after a bid from former Swindon...

Matt O’Connor reveals extent of injury to Leicester’s Veainu

Tigers fullback suffers double fracture to jaw in 33-10 defeat to Munster

Leinster defeat shows we’re still learning our lesson in Europe – Rob Baxter

The Exeter Chiefs boss reacts to his side's first defeat at Sandy Park in a year

Asquith late winner conjured by Evans

Last gasp: Paul Asquith scores Scarlet’s fifth and winning try By ROB COLE SCARLETS head coach Wayne Pivac punched the air...

‘Toulon favoured by ref at tackle’

TODD Blackadder said that refereeing calls at the breakdown had favoured Toulon, but that his Bath side had given a good...

Bath fall just short despite Ashton’s act of charity

From NICK CAIN at Stade Mayol Thanks Chris: Jonathan Joseph celebrates with team mates after scoring a try following a mistake...

Springboks need to pick best XV on ability alone

JEREMYGU SCOTT Selected on merit: South African back rower Siya Kolisi PICTURE: Getty Images EVER since South Africa adopted a quota...

DREAMTEAM

MATT JESS, THE NEWTON ABBOTT AND FORMER EXETER WING, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Brett...

International caps are all at sixes and Sevens

COLIN BOAG The recent Rugby League World Cup showed just what a joke the 13-man game’s eligibility rules are – basically...

Game needs the odd giant killing

TOTALLY agree with Jake Smith’s letter last week. The Championship clubs deserve more exposure and must be given regular games against...

Rolling substitutes already work well at grassroots level

I HAVE to disagree with Nick Cain’s view on rolling subtitutes, as the practice has been used successfully in the grassroots...

Ambitious clubs need a pathway

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email:newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk TRP December 3 gives examples...

Pivac eyes back row ace Wells

SCARLETS have targeted Waratahs back row Michael Wells as a solution to their No.8 problem. Wayne Pivac’s side will lose Scotland...