DREAMTEAM

LEE DICKSON, THE BEDFORD AND FORMER NORTHAMPTON AND ENGLAND No.9, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1....

Sir Clive’s right – Some Tests have become dross

COLIN BOAG Sir Clive Woodward has dared to challenge one of rugby’s greatest myths, that international matches are still automatically the...

‘Clanger’ Clancy has done it again

ONCE again George Clancy has endeared himself to the Cardiff crowd with another inept performance. On his last visit he enraged...

Eddie’s done a fine job but selection’s become puzzling

EDDIE Jones has turned England into potential World Cup winners in Japan. However, I agree with Brendan Gallagher (31.12.17 edition) that...

Give more authority back to the referees

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I’VE been one of...

Off-field distraction helping Spencer focus on the pitch

By LUKE JARMYN SARACENS scrum-half Ben Spencer says changes in his personal life have helped him cement a place in the...

Lightning strike six tries past winless Valkyries

■By LEWYS STEWARD Worcester……….7 Loughborough…38 Women’s Premier 15s LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning moved up to fifth in the Tyrrells Premier XVs table with...

Middleton getting his girls up to speed for Six Nations

■By SAM JACKSON NEWS EXTRA ENGLAND Women’s elite squad convened yesterday for a four-day training camp at Loughborough University as preparations...

Penallta through but injury marrs match

Welsh Division One round-up ■By CHRIS JOHNSON HOLDERS Penallta are into the last 16 of the WRU National Plate – but...

Swansea …20 Newport……….24

■By PAUL HOPKINS NEWPORT made it into the second round of the WRU National Cup with a hard-fought victory over Swansea....

Rhydyfelin ….13 Newbridge…0

■By CARL FIELD A BRACE from wing Jordan Rees inspired 14- man Rhydyfelin to victory over Newbridge in their all-Championship National...

Newcastle E ….0 Merthyr ……….59

■By JON DALY A HAT-TRICK from wing Alex Howman inspired Principality Premiership powerhouses Merthyr to a thumping over Newcastle Emlyn at...

Neath…………….13 Cardiff …………15

■By HUW THOMAS SEVEN-time winners of the WRU Challenge Cup Cardiff went battled through to the round with this edgy win...

Narberth …………0 Bedwas ……….43

■By JOEL EDWARDS BEDWAS ensured the 90- mile trip back from Narberth would be a happy one after a victory that...

Students can show talent, says coach Lewis

■By DAVID COLLINS PREVIEW… Cardiff Met v Llanelli CARDIFF Met team manager Aled Lewis has backed the students to rise to...

Hosts Pool Weakened defeat Steel

■By IAN GOLDEN Pontypool ……55 Tata Steel ……14 Determination: Aaron Coundley of Pontypool crashes over to score a try PICTURE: Huw...

Glynneath …0 Bridgend …48

■By ROGER THOMAS BRIDGENDbrushed aside the challenge of Glynneath with a strong performance to book their place in the next round....

Ebbw Vale …16 RGC 1404 …14

■By CHRIS SMART A LAST-GASP penalty from Dorian Jones saw Ebbw Vale progress to the second round of the WRU National...

Cross Keys ….21 Pontypridd ….16

■By ANDREW DEERING CROSSKeys recorded a tight victory over Pontypridd in the first round of the WRU National Cup at Sardis...

Bargoed …38 Trebanos…27

■By PETER GREENING BARGOEDand Trebanos served up a cracking cup tie with 50 points on the scoreboard by half time. The...

Aberavon …71 Skewen …3

■By HOWARD EVANS National Cup ABERAVON gained a 113th win in 47 years of the Welsh Cup, yet it was their...

Geraghty: Cipriani among top three No.10s

DANNY Cipriani would be a “big loss to English rugby” should he grow tired of being ignored by England boss Eddie...

No X-factor, but captain Hartley’s still right man to lead out England

By NEALE HARVEY Big character: Dylan Hartley has a fine record with England PICTURES: Getty Images NICK Easter believes Dylan Hartley’s...

Frustrated Ford tells Tigers fans: Give Manu time to hit peak form

By MIKE SINCLAIR Needs games: Tigers centre Manu Tuilagi GEORGE Ford has called for patience with Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua...

Rory’s rise just goes on and on in France

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Rory Teague is brandishing a torch abroad as the only English head coach in the Top 14,...

Four year drug ban

SPARTANS lock Craig Hoare has been banned from all sport for four years after testing positive for an anabolic steroid. The...

Canucks record breaker forced to call time

NEWS EXTRA AARON Carpenter confirmed his retirement from rugby, bowing out on medical grounds following a series of head injuries. The...

Rees left in limbo until Blues announce new boss

By ALEX BYWATER NEWS EXTRA MATTHEW Rees is yet to be offered a new contract with Cardiff Blues, but he’s revealed...

Kennedy brings in Bok pair to fight off relegation

By SAM JACKSON NEWS EXTRA SOUTH African duo, scrum-half Piet van Zyl and back rower Arno Botha, have signed for London...

Red card rules Arnold out of Euro pool finale

MUNSTER centre Sam Arnold has been banned for three weeks after being sent-off for a dangerous tackle on fly-half Christian Lealiifano...

Hogg should be fit for Cardiff opener

STUART Hogg hopes to return from a hip injury ‘in the next couple of weeks’, with Scotland’s Six Nations campaign kicking...

Baxter working hard to retain Chiefs stars

EXETER director of rugby Rob Baxter says he is unlikely to make many additions to his squad. Out-of-contract players are now...

Young confirms he is staying at Wasps

WASPS confirmed TRP’s exclusive that director of rugby Dai Young has signed a new long-term deal with the club. Young, 50,...

Louw sidelined but Underhill nears return

BATH flanker Francois Louw has been ruled out for three months. The South African openside, 32, injured his knee in the...

Fagerson injury blow for Scotland

SCOTLAND will be without tighthead Zander Fagerson until at least the Six Nations meeting with Ireland on March 10 after the...

I can’t believe Eddie is still battling to keep Hartley

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME It was great to be able to watch live Premiership club rugby...

Crusaders slip up against Maidenhead

South West Premier MAIDENHEADkept their unbeaten home record alive after beating league leaders Dings Crusaders 15-12. In a closely-fought contest, tries...

Grasshoppers tighten grip on top spot

Northern Premier THE game of the day came at Lightfoot Green where league leaders Preston Grasshoppers took on second-placed Hull, the...

Bees unbeaten but Lions are chasing

Midlands Premier UNBEATEN leaders Birmingham & Solihull dug out a 20-10 victory over battling Bridgnorth in heavy conditions at Portway. A...

Leaders Guernsey keep marching on

London & South East Premier GUERNSEYstrengthened their hold at the top of the table following a bonuspoint 27-11 win at home...

Bates banking on experience to win England a second Slam

By GEORGE LAWRENCE Champions: England do the Grand Slam in 2017 ENGLAND U20s have named their 32-man Elite Player Squad to...

YOUNG GUNS

TED HILL WORCESTER BACK ROW/LOCKv The fact Ted Hill was only 17 when he was part of the England side that...

Five-star Geese ease by Chinnor

By KEN VAUGHN Chinnor …………20 London IWG….35 THREE London Irish Wild Geese tries in 20 dominant second-half minutes gave them victory...

Foresters snatch bonus point win

By ROB WORGAN Cinderford……34 Henley…………….6 CINDERFORD scored four tries after the break to blow away Henley and earn the bonus point...

Murray serves an ace as Street hold on

Broadstreet 12 Canterbury …7 ANDREW Murray and George Walsh both ran in first-half tries as Broadstreet held off the challenge of...

Old Reds’ centenary starts with a real bang

By BEN RODEN Old Redcliff’……24pts Bury St Eds……….14pts Hero: Old Reds replacement scrum-half Ben Fry is mobbed after going over for...

Dons are thrilled with a second triumph

By SOPHIE WATKISS Wimbledon ….33 Redruth…………28 WIMBLEDON earned just their second victory of the league campaign in a nailbiting encounter against...

Lawson steals the show for Juddians

By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J….17 Clifton …………10 A TIGHT game at The Slade eventually turned the way of the home side...

Rams raid is too much for Worthing

By GARY REYNOLDS Reding’sians 39 Worthing ……26 REDINGENSIANS Rams opened their New Year with three tries in 20 minutes against a...

Titans run riot in easy nine-try victory

By ANDREW JONES Barnstaple……12 Taunton T’ns 53 TAUNTON Titans blew Barnstaple away with five tries in 18 minutes before half-time. This...