Jackson column: Gregor Townsend is showing Wales the way to play

Peter Jackson on the evolution of Scotland and how they may be firmer favourites for the Six Nations than Wales

Varsity: Who was the dashing Cambridge wing in Sherlock mystery?

Brendan Gallagher investigates the man who was Conan Doyle's hero, Godfrey Staunton

Room 101: Taunton Titans winger Aron Struminski

The Titans wing explains why he has a vendetta against seagulls

Varsity women’s preview: Oxford will go on the attack to defend crown

Can Oxford produce another shock upset this time around?

Varsity: Seven-timer Briggs is Light Blues brigade history maker

Brendan Gallagher picks out the stars to watch in this week's Varsity match showpiece

Dream Team: Cornish Pirates wing Alex O’Meara

Alex O'Meara runs us through the best players he has played against in each position

Scotland have an outside chance of a Grand Slam

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT THE outright winners from the Autumn series are Scotland, especially as England and Ireland were pretty...

DREAMTEAM

PAUL TUPAI, BEDFORD AND FORMER NORTHAMPTON LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Soane Tonga’uiha –...

Eddie’s got too much talent to choose from

COLIN BOAG Now that the Autumn internationals are behind us, whose stock rose, and whose fell? Eddie Jones’ problem remains that...

Now let’s see Daly in that No.13 shirt

IT’S been another successful Autumn series for England and well done Eddie Jones for picking up the World Rugby’s coach of...

Have a Cup for Championship teams as well

REGARDING recent discussions on the Anglo-Welsh Cup, I would agree with Colin Boag that the competition certainly needs a re-vamp. The...

North deserves big finale at Saints

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk PETER Jackson got his...

Jenkins set to follow Williams to Ospreys

By STEFFAN THOMAS ELLIS Jenkins looks set to swap Cardiff Blues for the Ospreys for the start of next season. The...

Fainga’a fired up for Irish relegation fight

By NEALE HARVEY Defiant: Saia Fainga’a FIT-again London Irish hooker Saia Fainga’a is ready to take the Premiership by storm as...

Castres hit Toulouse for six in clash of day

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Castres team boss Christophe Urios went to Toulouse with the threat of suspension hanging over his head...

Hill hoping Chiefs can do repeat after injury nightmare

By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA EXETER midfield hitman Sam Hill has his heart set on a trophy clean sweep after the...

Penallta go top with a Gant treble

Welsh Division One round-up A HAT-TRICK from Rhys Gant inspired Penallta to a crushing 50-0 home victory over bottom side Abertillery...

Hardie banned for three months

EDINBURGHand Scotland flanker John Hardie has been handed a three-month suspension by Scottish Rugby for “gross misconduct” over alleged cocaine use....

Llandovery defence secures consecutive victories

By JAY BAYFORD Swansea …14 Llandovery …18 LLANDOVERY made it back-to-back wins in the Principality Premiership with victory at Swansea –...

Ravens put their claws into Neath to bag double triumph

By JON DALY Neath…8 Bridgend …15 BRIDGEND completed a Principality Premiership West league double over Ospreylian rivals Neath at the Gnoll....

Quins grab advantage as league leaders beaten

By HUW THOMAS Carmarthen Q25 RGC 1404 …22 THE top of the table clash in Principality Premiership West went the way...

Shellard seals Pontypridd comeback to down the Keys

By IWAN GABE DAVIES Cross Keys …7 Pontypridd …16 PONTYPRIDD kept up the pressure on Merthyr at the top of the...

First-half blitz seals tough success for Newport

By IAN GOLDEN Bargoed …17 Newport…25 NEWPORT did just enough in the first half to claim what in the end was...

Evans-inspired Merythr run riot in nine-try win over Vale

By JAY BAYFORD Merthyr …57 Ebbw Vale …7 MERTHYR winger Kyle Evans inspired his side to a crushing Principality Premiership victory...

Top two meet in potential league decider

By CHARLES JONES PREVIEW…Harlequins v Saracens December 3, kick-off 5.30pm A TITLE decider would not be over-stating the importance of the...

Valkyries get their first points in dramatic draw

By STUART LEE Firwood W’loo12 Worcs Valk…12 WORCESTER Valkyries secured their first points of the Tyrrell’s Premier 15s with a dramatic...

Ugiagbe sparks the Lightning to victory

By ROSS STEPHENS Loughborough …43pts Glouc-Hartpury …33pts Powerhouse: Ofure Ugiagbe starred for Loughborough PROP Ofure Ugiagbe scored twice as Loughborough Lightning...

Sharks fail to take chances in Bristol defeat

By TOM BULMER Darling’n MPS …3 Bristol 26 A TIGHT game saw Bristol record their fourth win of the season, overcoming...

Wasps looking to close gap on superb leaders

PREVIEW…Richmond v Wasps By FRASER BOLTON December 3, kick-off 12.45pm BACK in 1987, the first women’s match to be played at...

Canucks record man forced to call time

By JON NEWCOMBE Retired: Aaron Carpenter CANADA’s most-capped international Aaron Carpenter has announced his retirement from the game with immediate effect....

Speedster Veainu on fast track to full-back success

By NEALE HARVEY Determined: Telusa Veainu evades Exeter’s Henry Slade PICTURE: Getty Images TELUSA Veainu has vowed to repay Leicester’s faith...

Bath set to submit fresh plans for Rec expansion

BATH have launched a new plan to redevelop its stadium at the Recreation Ground. The club, which leases the ground from...

Hooray for Hudson after acupuncture guru saves career

By NEALE HARVEY Second coming: Tom Hudson in action for Glouceste GLOUCESTER full-back Tom Hudson aims to make the most of...

Try-happy Bees are buzzing for crack at promotion

NEWS EXTRA By NEALE HARVEY BIRMINGHAM & Solihull head of rugby Pete Glackin insists the dark days are over as his...

Biggar relishing battle against future employers

By ROB COLE DAN Biggar isn’t giving up on reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup, even though he will have...

Apprentice Zach out to show Toulon who’s boss

By NEALE HARVEY BURGEONING Bath back row Zach Mercer intends to channel the experience from his month-long stint as a Red...

Improving Worcester want seat at Europe’s top table

BRYCE Heem believes Worcester’s revivalists can target the Premiership top six – despite the off-field ‘shambles’ surrounding the club. Stunning recent...

Women left eighth after Spain defeat

ENGLANDWomen finished eighth in Dubai after losing to Spain 14-21 in the seventh place play off. Earlier in the day England...

England kick off campaign with bronze in Dubai

DUBAI SEVENS ENGLANDwon the bronze medal in Dubai in the opening leg of the World Sevens Series after beating Fiji in...

What’s wrong with front row? It’s all in the feet!

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME JEFF PROBYN Well done Eddie Jones, coach of the year, a truly deserved accolade...

Ben’s double Bolsters Dings title march

South West Premier DINGS Crusaders stretched their advantage at the top of the South West Premier to seven points after their...

Grasshoppers march on at the summit

Northern Premier PRESTON Grasshoppers increased their lead at the top of the table with 38-10 win at bottom of the league...

Lions unable to strike down the Bees

Midlands Premier FIRST met third at Portway but Peterborough Lions were unable to end Birmingham and Solihull Bees’ perfect record as...

Hertford stay on course at top of table

London & South East Premier HERTFORDremain at the top of the table following a 33-25 win at home to Sidcup. Michael...

Exeter power pack on top in eight-try rout of Trent

BUCS ROUND-UP By JOE BYRNES LEADERS Exeter crushed rock bottom Nottingham Trent 50-7. Any hope the visitors had of avenging their...

YOUNG GUNS

HARLEQUINS TIGHT-HEAD PROP JOSH IBUANOKPE Josh Ibuanokpe will never forget his Harlequins debut. Introduced as a replacement with Quins 26-5 down...

Hawks swoop to pick off Clifton

By NICK PITSON Henley 30 Clifton 20 HENLEY Hawks claimed the spoils with a hardfought bonus-point win against spirited Clifton. The...

Wimbledon stay winless at TJs

By GARETH WITHERS TONBRIDGE Juddians ran in seven tries as Wimbledon’s winless run continued. The hosts struck first, building over several...

Maslen magic inspires super Worthing

By SALLY MATTHEWS Worthing 40 O Redcliffians…34 JACK Maslen bagged a hattrick as Worthing ensured Old Redcliffians remain struggling near the...

Defence to the fore as Titans are suffocated

By KEN VAUGHAN Chinnor 13pts Taunton 7pts Thwarted: Chinnor’s speed demon Jamil Hamilton. IF defences win championships then Chinnor are going...