Bragging rights to Benetton as Meyer sees red

By SAM JACKSON Benetton …27 Zebre…14 BENETTON picked up their fourth victory of the PRO14 season as they battled past Italian...

Non-alcohol zone would help to keep all fans happy

I MUST applaud the Welsh Rugby Union this week after I read of their plans to introduce an alcohol-free zone at...

New Wales caps offer reasons to be cheerful

Test pedigree: Josh Navidi PICTURE: Getty Images IF I had to give Wales a mark out of 10 for 2017, it...

Wallaby tank Tatafu not here for a joyride

NEALE HARVEY talks to Tatafu Polota-Nau fresh from his Tigers European baptism against Munster Tatafu Polota-Nau gets away from Jonny Gray...

Leinster were a step up but we’re not out yet insists Hill

By NEALE HARVEY Battle cry: Jonny Hill celebrates a try for Chiefs DEFIANT lock Jonny Hill vows Exeter will put their...

ROOM 101

THE BLACKHEATH WINGER/FULLBACK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND LEO FIELDING 1. The 3-hour pre-amble...

Warriors keep hold of prized asset Mills

WORCESTER have won their battle to keep highlyrated former England U20 international Ryan Mills at Sixways next season. The 25-year-old, who...

Sopoaga ponders future in Coventry

Wanted by Wasps: Lima Sopoaga LIMA SOPOAGA is considering an offer to join Wasps when his contract with the New Zealand...

Stirzaker set to calm Saracens’ injury storm

Rebel: Nic Stirzaker SARACENS are set to sign London-born scrum-half Nic Stirzaker on a short term contract from the Rebels as...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■ TWICKENHAM has already hosted American Football this season and now Anthony Joshua could...

Saracens braced for Tigers hostility

By GARY FITZGERALD Turning point: Alex Lozowski scores Saracens second try in defeat to Clermont last weekend ALEX Lozowski is fed...

Frustrated Kalamafoni calls for composure

By NEALE HARVEY DISCIPLINE holds the key to Leicester snapping a run of four successive defeats and inflicting more misery on...

Leinster academy scrum-half Patrick is going downhill fast

THERE was a time not so long ago that Patrick McMillan was an outstanding No.9 prospect in the same Leinster Academy...

RUGBY MATTERS

BRENDAN GALLAGHER A new weekly look at the game’s other talking points Flyer: Josh Adams Try of the week: Former Scarlet...

Freddie was no flop – in fact he was simply magic!

Pioneer: French fly-half Frederic Michalak FREDDIE MICHALAK has confirmed he is retiring at the end of the season so expect some...

Hard-man Stan never backed down

Enforcer: Stan Pilecki STANPilecki, something of a cult hero at Queensland and with Australia, has died after a short illness aged...

Wallaby Ken was ‘a flash of light’

KEN Catchpole, who died on Thursday aged 78, is possibly a name that might not resonate with the modern generation but...

We didn’t fire any shots – Kennedy

IRISH boss Nick Kennedy was unhappy with his side’s dsiplay: “It was a massive game for us and we played very...

Adams hits turbos to leave Irish staring at relegation

By ROGER PANTING JOSH Adams’ two tries left London Irish with a mountain to climb to avoid relegation from the Premiership....

Deano: We want festive treble

DEAN Richards has set his Falcons an ambitious Christmas target. The Newcastle director of rugby said: “We said before the start...

Falcons hold on as it goes to the wire

By ALAN HEDLEY Breakthrough: Vereniki Goneva scores Newcastle’s try PICTURES: Getty Images NEWCASTLE’S second biggest crowd of the season were handed...

We just melted admits Bath boss

TODDBlackadder admitted little went right for his Bath side, even when they were competitive in the first half. “We didn’t build...

Sharks feast on rump of Blackadder’s squad

By COLIN NEWBOULT SALE must enjoy hosting West Country sides at the AJ Bell Stadium. First Gloucester were dispatched comfortably earlier...

New Year discussion to reduce bench size

WORLD Rugby are to consider reducing the number of substitutes per game in an attempt to tackle the escalating injury toll....

Wales miss out as Dai commits to Wasps

By PETER JACKSON DAI Young is set to sign a long-term contract with Wasps that will effectively rule him out of...

Jackson column: Ironmen Number 8s fall to injury after showing feats of fitness

Peter Jackson pays homage to the international stars Taulupe Faletau, Jamie Heaslip and Kieran Read who have all made a rare...

Bulldozer Bothma at Stoop to put Harlequins in the title mix

The Namibian number 8 wants to build on a strong finish in the league as Quins' European hopes fade

Cain column: Oh, for the leadership of Lawrence and Johnno

Nick Cain examines the validity of Eddie Jones claiming English rugby lacks depth in leaders

France becoming second home for rising number of Fijian fliers

Brendan Gallagher counts the rise of Fijian wide men heading to the Top 14

David Strettle could return for Premiership swansong as Top 14 make rule changes

"I've got a few other offers from France, but I haven't made up my mind" says the former Saracens wing

Cory Hill signs two-year contract extension with Dragons

Dragons captain becomes latest player to commit to the PRO14 side

The reasons behind Jim Mallinder’s sacking at Northampton Saints

A former Saints player recalls the debacle that led to Victor Matfield's sudden exit from Franklin's Gardens

Gordon Reid ready to play catch-up in Scotland ranks after concussion woe

'If I play well for London Irish rewards will come' says Scotland loosehead

Guscott column: Saints need Dean Richards to turn them into a big-time club

Jeremy Guscott on the Newcastle Falcons director of rugby being to man to replace Mallinder

Mike Haley’s honing basics for next England shot

Jon Newcombe talks to the Sale Sharks full-back who hopes to catch Eddie Jones' eye by impressing in Europe

Pivac:We delivered in defence this time

SCARLETS head coach, Wayne Pivac was much happier with the overall perfomance having given his troops areas to work on in...

It’s Davies again as scorching Scarlets turn it on

By ROB COLE THE Scarlets made it back-to-back bonuspoint wins over PRO14 rivals Benetton to set-up an epic New Year trip...

Scoring that try was like the U11s

STAR man Francois Louw said: “We emptied the tanks out there. Coming off that close defeat last week we were really...

Watson hits turbos to put heat on Toulon

European Champions Cup By BRENDAN GALLAGHER BATH went to the top of an incredibly competitive Pool 5 with this vital win...

Saints need Deano to turn them into a big-time club

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JIM Mallinder has had highs and lows at Northampton, starting with winning promotion back to...

DREAMTEAM

ALEX CODLING, EALING HEAD COACH AND FORMER ENGLAND LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Jason...

England expects a big weekend of revenge

COLIN BOAG Round 3 of the Champions Cup couldn’t have been more dismal for the English clubs, with all seven losing...

Prem teams can’t live with La Rochelle panache

FRENCH international rugby is the doldrums, but they have a great club side. La Rochelle are a revelation and don’t score...

The beer swillers will make me an armchair viewer

NICK Cain is spot on with his opinion piece in last week’s TRP but alas, it’s not just internationals that suffer...

Jerry’s right, pick all teams on ability

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk HAVING read Jerry Guscott’s...

Dragons capture Thomas long term

By STEFFAN THOMAS THE DRAGONS are set to make Nicky Thomas’ loan move permanent with the Scarlets prop having agreed a...

Gatland confirms he’ll go down Super Rugby route

WALES head coach Warren Gatland has confirmed he will try to get a job in Super Rugby when he leaves his...

Haley’s honing basics for next England shot

By JON NEWCOMBE MIKE Haley is striving for more consistency in “the nuts and bolts” of fullback play in a bid...

Itoje nears fitness for Six Nations

MAROItoje will recover from a fractured jaw in time to be fit for the start of England’s Six Nations title defence...

Strettle could return for Premiership swansong

By NEALE HARVEY Saints players need a long, hard look at themselves WING wizard David Strettle has revealed why proposed changes...