Strettle on way back to Sarries

Return: David Strettle FORMER England winger David Strettle is returning to European Champions Saracens next season. The former Rotherham Titans and...

Gloucester and Sharks scrap over Springbok

ROHAN JANSE van Rensburg is at the centre of a tug of war between Premiership rivals Gloucester and Sale Sharks to...

ON THE BLING SIDE

BY NEIL FISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■ ULSTER have sounded out former Wallaby international Quade Cooper about a potential...

ROOM 101

THE BEDFORD BLUES HOOKER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND TOM LINDSAY 1. Heelys Whenever...

Sexton: The big games start now

Preview Leinster v Glasgow Today, Kick-off 1pm JOHNNY Sexton is gearing up for a big few weeks as Leinster look to...

Donnacha will know all our secrets admits O’Mahoney

Preview Racing 92 v Munster Today, Kick-off 3.15pm SIMON Zebo starts at fullback for Munster against the club he will join...

Monkey’s gone, now Fitz wants eye of Tiger

PREVIEW… Castres v Leicester Today. Kick-off 5.30pm By NEALE HARVEY Demand: Mike Fitzgerald wants Leicester to show finishing power PICTURE: Getty...

Baxter: Woody is great finisher

ENGLAND boss Eddie Jones has yet to be convinced but Exeter boss Rob Baxter believes that Olly Woodburn and Don Armand...

Leaders of Top 14? Chiefs just blow them clean away

By MIKE SINCLAIR Hard yards: Exeter try-scorer Don Armand trucks it up PICTURES: Getty Images In the thick of it: Sam...

Tragic loss of Henley stalwart Priestley

HENLEY Rugby club are reeling from the sudden death of club stalwart Simon Priestley, who collapsed and died on the field...

RUGBY MATTERS

Hartpury production line set for more Test success BRENDAN GALLAGHER A weekly look at the game’s other talking points Making strides:...

Cold revenge not so sweet for Marler

Banned: Joe Marler NOBODY has yet pinned down the origins of the ubiquitous phrase ‘revenge is a dish best served cold’,...

Farewell to Hale, one of Cardiff rugby’s favourites

CARDIFF’S oldest player (definitely) and Wales’ most venerable player (arguably) passed away this week when Graham Hale died aged 97. Remarkably...

We were outplayed all round – Todd

BATH director of rugby Todd Blackadder was unhappy that a great opportunity to qualify had been thrown away. He said: “It’s...

Super Scarlets pull plug on Bath hopes

By ROGER PANTING Bath 17pts Tries: Banahan 57, Mercer 73 Conversions: Burns 57, 73 Penalties: Burns 21 Scarlets 35pts Tries: Beirne...

Scarlets in talks to bring North back

NEWS EXTRA By ALEX BYWATER SCARLETS are in talks to re-sign George North for the start of next season after the...

Ashton hunts bonus

Preview… Toulon v Benetton Today, Kick-off 1pm CHRIS Ashton starts on the left wing for Toulon as they look to earn...

Sarries are hanging on after penalty shoot-out

By ALEX BYWATER Ospreys 15pts Penalties: Biggar 31, 40, 44, 72, 80 Saracens 15pts Penalties: Farrell 6, 20, 34, 48, 76...

‘We’ve gone back to basics’

DYLAN Hartley reckons a “back to basics policy” has helped Northampton turn the corner under veteran Australian coach Alan Gaffney. Hartley...

Fabulous Foden in overdrive for Saints

By ROB WILDMAN Northampton 34pts Tries: Harrison 13, Tuitavake 32, Foden 45, Pisi 64, Reinach 73 Conversions: Mallinder 45, 65, 74...

Patchell set for Six Nations entrance

By PETER JACKSON RHYS Patchell is heading towards a Six Nations debut as part of Wales’ 23 against Scotland in Cardiff...

‘Sort out season to end injury mayhem’

By NEALE HARVEY Warning: Toby Booth BATH coach Toby Booth has urged Premiership Rugby to come clean over season structure changes...

FREE Rugby Turf Workshop next month!

A free to attend workshop on Rugby Turf is taking place at Royal Holloway University of London Sports Centre on 8...

Guscott column: Danny Cipriani is capable of pulling the strings

Jeremy Guscott is willing Danny Cipriaini on to add to his 14 Test caps for England

Dream Team: Bedford Blues and former Northampton scrum-half Lee Dickson

The ex-England international picks his best XV based on players he's played with and against

Williams column: George North blow means we’ll rely more on Steff Evans

Shane Williams explains why George North is a 'world-class' player and why he is vital to Wales

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

Nick Easter says the Northampton Saints hooker is still the man for England despite Jamie George no longer being his main...

Jackson column: Why has the drop goal gone the way of the dodo?

They have provided the sport with some of its most defining moments, so why are drop goals fading from the field...

Barnes column: Rory Teague’s rise just goes on and on in France

David Barnes on the former Gloucester man's growing influence with Top 14 side Bordeaux-Begles

Bath stalwart Banahan completes switch to arch West Country rivals Gloucester

Banahan ends 12-year stay at the Rec and will move to Kingsholm at the end of the season

Leinster and Ireland dealt injury blow as Ringrose ruled out for over a month

Centre out for remaining Champions Cup pool matches and first two Six Nations matches

Dragons recruit Worcester forward Huw Taylor

Welsh-qualified back row completes switch from Sixways to Rodney Parade

Manu will need ten games says Ford

TIGERS skipper George Ford saluted Tuilagi’s display. He said: “It’s great for him. He’s building his way back into the game...

Brute force comes out on top for Tuilagi and his Tigers

By NEALE HARVEY MANUTuilagi bagged an opportunistic try in his fourth match back from injury as Leicester quelled brave London Irish...

That soft penalty cost us – Glos boss

ACTING Saints boss Alan Gaffney praised his players and believes Saints can now turn the corner. “I’m absolutely delighted with the...

Gaffney gets his lost Saints back in step

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER Northampton……22pts Tries: Pisi 7, Groom 56, Penalty 80 Conversions: Mallinder 25, penalty try 80 Penalties: Mallinder 27 Gloucester...

Cipriani is capable of pulling all the strings

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK Eddie Jones’ comments this week regarding Danny Cipriani and the England fly-half situation are to...

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...