Time to start the fine-tuning two years out from Japan

BRENDAN GALLAGHER sets the scene for another intriguing autumn and picks his stars to watch Giant-killers: Scotland beat Australia in the...

O’Callaghan to call time in summer

WORCESTER lock Donncha O’Callaghan will retire at the end of the season to spend more time with his family. O’Callaghan, 38,...

Tough-tackling Falcons realising true potential

By NEALE HARVEY Improving: Newcastle lock Calum Green NEWCASTLE forwards coach Micky Ward reckons competition for places and a rock solid...

Let’s rejoice that Joy is unconfined

NOBODY’S star can have taken off on a steeper trajectory in recent months than Joy Neville’s. In reaching ever skyward, Ireland’s...

How do refs miss so much?

THE first two rounds of European competition led to a grand total of 12 players being put in the dock. Each...

Why Kiwi Parkes will feel at home

HADLEIGH Parkes will be following a well-trodden path when he makes his bow for Wales against South Africa on December 2...

Shameful that Newport’s big day is in cold storage

Winners: Brian Jones and, below, ‘Dick’ Uzzell’s dropgoal goes over Only four club teams have ever beaten the All Blacks and...

Subscriptions…

You can subscribe to The Rugby Paper. Just fill out the form below and send your cheque for £20, £40 or...

Edwards: No more excuses, we have to get up to speed

By STEFFAN THOMAS TOUGH-TALKING Shaun Edwards has fired Wales an early autumn warning, insisting they can’t afford yet another slow start...

Give Owen the reins to drive brave new dawn

Deserves a chance at 12: Gloucester centre Owen Williams PICTURE: Getty Images Finally, my prayers have been answered! I’ve banged on...

Springbok back rower joins Wasps

Cavalry: Nizaam Carr WASPS have completed a deal that will see them sign Stormers back rower Nizaam Carr on a short...

Quins target Savea to replace Yarde

All Black ace: Julian Savea JULIAN SAVEA could be heading to the Premiership and joining Harlequins on a short term contract...

Lam keen to recruit prop star Afoa

Wanted man: John Afoa BRISTOL could be set to further upset the apple cart in the South West by pinching World...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler LEICESTER want Steve Mafi to return to Welford Road when his contract with French...

ROOM 101

THE CALDY SECOND ROW TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND TOM SANDERS 1. Bad manners...

Conway red opens door for Connacht fightback

Connacht 20 Munster 16 By DECLAN ROONEY ANDREW Conway’s red card 18 minutes from time cost Munster as Tom Farrell scored...

Warriors maintain their winning run

Glasgow 43 Kings 13 By GARY HEATLY GLASGOW made it seven league wins from seven with a comfortable victory over the...

Zeilinga’s late strike sinks battling Zebre

Zebre 23 Cheetahs 24 By SAM JACKSON CHEETAHS fly-half Fred Zeilinga broke Zebre hearts with a last-minute penalty to secure a...

Ospreys bring home bonus but Giles leaves in a brace

Ospreys 28pts Tries: Biggar 23, Parry 32, Leonard 63, Fia 70 Conversions: Biggar 70 Penalties: Biggar 37, 42 Dragons 14pts Tries:...

Parkes and celebration for Wales’ new recruit

Scarlets 30pts Tries: Parkes 6, Elias 33, J Evans 60, S Evans 69 Conversions: Halfpenny 34, Patchell 70 Penalties: Halfpenny 1,...

Sensational Larmour try lights up Kingspan

Ulster 10pts Tries: Reidy 27 Conversions: Leali’ifano 28 Penalties: Leali’ifano 7 Leinster 25pts Tries: Larmour 16, L McGrath 59, 79 Conversions:...

Try-double from Fife completes Edinburgh salvage job

Benetton 13 Edinburgh 24 By TONY EVANS DOUGIE Fife ran in two tries to help haul Edinburgh back from a 13-7...

Aumua is surely destined to be an All Black star

I CAN scarcely remember more excitement over a young player than Kiwi hooker Asafo Aumua, and rightly so. He is a...

RUGBY MATTERS

Genius Van Vollenhoven, the master of both codes BRENDAN GALLAGHER A new weekly look at the game’s other talking points WHEN...

Strange direction taken by Canada

Top class: Jason Strange IN the dog-eat-dog world of international rugby it’s heartening to see the WRU offer Canada a little...

When Boris battled for Obolensky tour date

HALLOWEEN is upon us and there has surely never been anybody to match Boris Karloff in the horror stakes, but it...

Richards: Sell-out Kingston Park will be rocking

KINGSTON Park should be a 10,200 sell-out for the first time since May 2008, and Newcsastle supremo Dean Richards said: “It...

Focused Tait will ignore family ties

PREVIEW… Newcastle v Leicester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Kingston Park By GARY FITZGERALD On the charge: Mathew Tait takes the ball up...

Booth looking forward to ‘West Country arm wrestle’

PREVIEW… Bath v Gloucester Today. Kick-off 3pm, Recreation Ground By SAM JACKSON Anticipation: Toby Booth BATH’s first-team coach Toby Booth is...

Eddie’s after excellence

ELLIS Genge played like a runaway bull last weekend, scattering Castres tacklers like chaff. Was Eddie Jones impressed? Not entirely. The...

TMO must be called on if there is any doubt

TO use the TMO, or not to use the TMO? That is the question that was raised (again) during Wasps win...

American ‘partnership’ will be far from friendly

This afternoon Twickenham is once again opening its doors to American Football by hosting the NFL “international series” game between the...

Diamond blasts ref over late decision

STEVE Diamond was frustrated with the final penalty which potentially cost Sale the chance of winning the game. Craig Maxwell-Keys deemed...

Chiefs remain patient to grab Turner prize

Sale Sharks 6pts Penalties: De Klerk 34, 57 Exeter 10pts Penalties: De Klerk 34, 57 Tries: Turner 44 Conversions: Steenson 45...

Kingston: Not in our interest to pick Yarde

HARLEQUINS rugby director John Kingston clarified the position of absent England wing, Marland Yarde. “I have to make a decision for...

Care proves the key in Quins turn around

Harlequins 41pts Tries: Smith 3, Luamanu 39, Care 45, Roberts 56, Walker 64 Conversions: Smith 3, 39, 45, 56, 64 Penalties:...

GiveWebb a reprieve demands Rowlands

By PETER JACKSON On the up: Christian Wade celebrates his try for Wasps in their defeat of Northampton PICTURE: Getty Images...

England set for live scrum test with Wales

By GEORGE LAWRENCE EDDIE Jones will prepare his squad for the rigours of the autumn schedule with live scrummaging sessions against...

Danny Hearn – 50 years on: No regrets for the man of steel who beat the odds to walk again

50 years on from breaking his neck against New Zealand, The Rugby Paper meets the England centre to see how that...

Joe Marler available for England selection after ban for striking changed

Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston gives evidence to EPCR which overturns ban period

It’s time the RFU honoured first black international

Brendan Gallagher takes a look at the distinguished moment in history set by Plymouth player Jamie Peters

See the stars of the future in action as Harlequins take on Worcester!

You can see the stars of the future at The Stoop on Sunday 12th November when Harlequins face Worcester Warriors in the...

Cain column: Gatland scorched by heat in Lions kitchen

Nick Cain looks at whether being head coach of the British & Irish Lions is more trouble than it's worth given...

Nathan Hughes banking on the real Wasps to front up

The England number 8 on wanting to improve club results and filling in for Billy Vunipola with England

Win tickets to see the Barbarians take on New Zealand!

The latest instalment of one of rugby’s greatest rivalries takes place at Twickenham next Saturday, November 4 when the Barbarians face...

Jackson column: What ever happened to that war on gouging?

By Peter Jackson Sven Cronk knows how it feels to be poked in the eye as the innocent victim of a...

Guscott column: Lions will find that Gatland is a hard man to replace

Jeremy Guscott looks at Warren Gatland's Lions record and what could be on the horizon for the Kiwi

Julian Savea to play for Barbarians against New Zealand

The Barbarians will take on New Zealand with one of the All Blacks‘ greatest-ever try scorers in their ranks. World Cup...

Harry Mallinder signs new deal with Northampton Saints

Mallinder junior says Northampton is his 'only club' in penning a new a contract extension

Denny Solomona on a soul mission to add variety

The Sale wing talks about how life could have taken a wrong turn after his upbringing in an area of Auckland...