De Klerk keeps Sale in the hunt for a top six finish

By NEALE HARVEY SALE boosted their prospects of a top four finish with a hardfought victory in atrocious conditions that was...

Tigers find solace in case for defence

LEICESTER head coach Matt O’Connor was pleased by his side’s defensive labours, despite the loss. “The result was frustrating but the...

Ackermann: Now let’s beat our travel bug

By TOM BRADSHAW GLOUCESTER preserved their 100 per cent home Premiership record – but head coach Johan Ackermann immediately insisted that...

Cheetahs’ coach in at Worcester

PREMIERSHIP strugglers Worcester have appointed South African Rory Duncan to replace Carl Hogg as head coach when he leaves at the...

Time I pulled my weight admits 22-stone Skelton

By NEALE HARVEY GIANT Saracens lock Will Skelton has vowed to turn up the power after admitting his contribution over the...

DREAM TEAM

ROB MILLER, THE WASPS AND FORMER NEWCASTLE AND SALE FULL-BACK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Eddie was so right to moan about Alun Wyn

COLIN BOAG Eddie Jones’ mission to provide good copy is relentless, and he starred yet again during the week when he...

RFU should build 24-club pro league

LOSSES of £21.1m, dependency on benefactors, excessively high wages for players, at most only 13 clubs capable of continuing in business...

Sort out the crooked feeds and backchat

WHY is it beyond the capabilities of most scrum-halves to roll a ball straight for a metre and why are more...

Neutral doctors will retain HIA integrity

WE ARE all fully supportive of the HIA protocol, but abuse raises significant issues. Nigel Owens, clearly aware from the several...

What a great start to the Six Nations

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk FROMthe feast of tries...

PREVIEW Ireland v Italy

Today. Kick-off 1pm IRELAND welcome Italy looking to bounce back from the 24-0 defeat to France last weekend and coach Adam...

Free-scoring France get another try bonus

Scotland W …3 France W …26 WINGER Cyrielle Banet scored a wonder try as France beat Scotland 26-3. Sarah Law’s penalty...

Red Roses romp in as Wales draw blank again

DEFENDING champions England made it two wins out of two with an eight-try thumping of Wales. The hosts scored four tries...

Nine-try France fire warning but Scots grab bonus

Scotland U20…19 France U20…69 FRANCE U20s laid down a marker with a dominant performance at Broadwood Stadium as they comfortably saw...

Classy cameo by Ibitoye adds gloss for England

By SAM JACKSON On the charge: Gabriel Ibitoye tackled by Cai Evans of Wales PICTURES: Getty Images TEAMS ENGLAND: Parton (Ldn...

Irish hold on against 14-man Italians

Ireland U20 ….38 Italy U20 ….….34 ITALY gave Ireland an almighty scare as their 14 men narrowly lost in Donnybrook. The...

Auld Alliance highlights in Scotland

Headline man: Michael Dods celebrates scoring for Scotland in 1996 1925: Scotland 25 France 4 (Inverleith): The opening game of what...

In comes Laidlaw as Townsend decides to take a more pragmatic approach

Recall: Greig Laidlaw SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend has made six changes from the side that lost so badly to Wales...

No laughing matter, Finn – get it right!

IT’s not going to be the game either coach, or indeed set of fans, dreamed of – but this afternoon’s ‘auld...

Welcome to Boyd – now let NZ take one of ours

CHRIS Boyd’s track-record is impressive enough to suggest that a Northampton resurgence will be on the cards when the New Zealander...

Simmonds proves we need strong second tier

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK THE vapour trail left by Sam Simmonds on his Six Nations debut in...

Injuries could be key, says Schmidt

JOE Schmidt admits injuries could be a factor for Ireland after Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw both left the field early...

Ireland’s Italian romp marred by injury fears

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER IRELAND duly accumulated an impressive total against Italy which helped boost their points difference immeasurably – but it...

Judo horror injury will force Sam to quit at 26

By NEIL FISSLER SAM JONES is set to hang up his boots after failing to recover from an horrendous injury he...

Gatland raps TMO as ‘no try’ row rages

By GARY FITZGERALD WARREN Gatland hit out at the Twickenham TMO last night after his Welsh team were denied a crucial...

Gregor Townsend names Greig Laidlaw among six changes to Scotland team

Scotland head coach makes three changes to the backs and three to the forwards for clash with France

Eddie Jones names England team to play Wales and plays mind games with Rhys Patchell

The England head coach warns Patchell to expect a more robust defence when he sees England players running to tackle him

Ealing Trailfinders are on the long trek towards Premiership

By Brendan Gallagher Could Ealing Trailfinders be the next Exeter Chiefs?  Both clubs were founded in 1871, both have long rugby...

Jackson column: Shaun Edwards knows how to win at Twickenham

Peter Jackson recalls an extraordinary classic at Twickenham ten years ago

Dallaglio: Move might help James Haskell find his best form

Lawrence Dallaglio talks of his former Wasps team-mate's next move when his contract at the Ricoh expires at the end of...

Former All Blacks great Conrad Smith drops hint on when he will retire

Now 36, the Pau centre has spoken about his future ahead of the Brisbane Tens tournamant

Guscott column: Jonathan Joseph must stop ambling through and get positive

'Ben Te'o could be the Billy Vunipola in the backs' writes former England centre Jeremy Guscott

Top international rugby referee has say on football’s VAR teething problems

The Northern Hemisphere's first professional referee, Ed Morrison, talks about the evolution of the TMO in rugby

Sale Sharks flanker Dave Seymour retires from rugby

Former Sale captain calls time on career to focus on business interests

Warren Gatland names unchanged team to face England at Twickenham

Gatland confirms Liam Williams will be allowed to play for Saracens this weekend as he recovers from injury

Ben Youngs suffers suspected ligament damage

Leicester Tigers scrum-half to have a scan on Monday

Johnny’s so glad he got last chance…

IRELAND’S Grand Slam remains on track thanks to Johnny Sexton’s lastgasp winner. The fly-half said: “It was one of those moments...

Sexton sets Irish eyes smiling with one of the great drop goals

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER JOHNNY Sexton broke French hearts in Paris last night with a match winning 45 metre dropped goal with...

Halfpenny is class on another red-letter day for Scarlets

PETER JACKSON VERDICT Marksman: Leigh Halfpenny kicks more points One day soon the scoreline will be enshrined in clubhouses all over...

Momentum will carry us to Twickenham with belief

SHANE WILLIAMS Midfield maestro: Centre Hadleigh Parkes That was more like it! I’ve said for a long time that Wales have...

Beckett’s score earns maiden win for Firwood

By STEVE BROOKS Five tries: Hartpury-Gloucester’s Kelly Smith SARAH Beckett helped secure Firwood Waterloo’s first victory in the Tyrrells Premier 15s...

France find it difficult to feel love for Altrad

DAVID BARNES Montpellier chairman Mohed Altrad, born to a Bedouin tribe in the desert, has built a global empire that turns...

Double break-in horror shocks Talywain

By LUKE JARMYN NEWS EXTRA A SOUTH-EAST Wales rugby club has been left devastated after being broken into twice within five...

Gatland: Don’t pick a Welshman

WARREN Gatland says it will be hard for a Welshman to follow him as Wales national coach after the 2019 World...

We must replace Cup says Connacht coach

NEWS EXTRA By LUKE JARMYN CONNACHT Academy coach Mossy Lawler has called on the Irish Rugby Football Union and other governing...

Woods can’t wait to see Ebbw in action after delay

PREVIEW Newport v Ebbw Vale Sunday. Kick-off 2.30pm By DANIEL WILSON NEW Ebbw Vale head coach Greg Woods takes charge of...

Hughes double gives coach Stoddart second win in row

Neath 15 Cross Keys 41 By CARL FIELD HOOKER Darren Hughes scored a double as Cross Keys hit Neath for six...

Ponty turn on the style in march towards the title

Pontypridd 59 Llanelli 14 By ANDREW DEERING PONTYPRIDD once again demonstrated their Premiership title credentials by romping to victory. Llanelli had...

Merthyr dig out victory after injuries disrupt Bedwas drive

Bedwas 23 Merthyr 34 By JAY BRAYFORD MERTHYR extended their winning run to 14 games with a hard-fought victory at the...