Trip to America will help Falcons cash in for years says Hogan

By GRAHAM JENKINS in Philadelphia NEWCASTLE Falcons managing director Mick Hogan has defended the club’s decision to take their Premiership clash...

Gloucs boss hits out at ref mistakes

LEICESTER coach Matt O’Connor has warned that his team are better than their opening defeats against Bath and Northampton suggested “We...

Tigers pounce at last – then let their bonus point escape

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER TIGERS kick-started their season with an invaluable win but after three tries in the first quarter and an...

Vunipola has made a vital point that must be discussed

JEREMYGUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK If any Premiership player makes a comment containing the words ‘strike action’ it’s a big...

DREAMTEAM

SOANE TONGA’UIHA, THE BRISTOL AND FORMER SAINTS PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Craig Dowd...

Smit’s PRO14 plan is just confused thinking

COLIN BOAG John Smit is a man to be reckoned with, a former Springbok captain, and a RWC winner, but you...

Pricey for Matavesi

REGARDING the front page story of Newcastle allegedly failing to pay the full amount to Ospreys for Josh Matavesi, I’m surprised...

Beware 3G costs

JEFF Probyn wrote last week about money to help smaller clubs pay for things such as 3G pitches. I want to...

Welsh tickets are a bargain compared to Twickenham

I WAS infuriated by Peter Jackson’s article regarding Welsh ticket prices. Since I retired from playing rugby I started to attend...

‘Suits’ must heed Vunipola warning

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk I READ the comments...

Game will get faster for longer warns ref Barnes

PREMIERSHIP player fitness levels are set to be tested to their limit after leading referee Wayne Barnes revealed dramatic increases in...

Dickson targets top-flight debut in November

By NEALE HARVEY FORMER Harlequins scrum-half Karl Dickson has stated his desire to officiate at the highest level after impressing on...

Stade are on journey – but is it to relegation?

FRENCH COLUMN On the move? French fly-half Jules Plisson could be leaving Stade Fair to say that Terry Bouhraoua is better...

Damian over as Brynnawr remain joint top

SWALEC Division One round-up By JOHN WILLIAMS DAMIAN Hudd was among the try scorers as Brynmawr stripped Ynysybwl of their unbeaten...

Narberth salvage honour of away teams

SWALEC Championship round-up By JOE REES NARBERTH were the only team to come up trumps away from home in the Championship...

Quins battle past Swansea in scrappy encounter

By TIM LEWIS C’marthen Q 10 Swansea 6 CARMARTHEN Quins made it back-to-back wins in the West Conference of the Principality...

Drovers make it four from four with bonus-point triumph

By DAI REES Llandovery 29 Neath 15 LLANDOVERY continued their perfect start in the West Conference of the Principality Premiership as...

Botica’s boot propels Gogs to victory over Wizards

■By ROB COLE RGC 1404 32 Aberavon 24 ABERAVON made light work of a host of injuries to give RGC 1404...

Starlet Morgan at the double to carry Bridgend to victory

■By JAMES LLOYD Bridgend 27 Llanelli 18 RISING Wales Under-18 star Harri Morgan added to his growing reputation as he scored...

Late O’Brien penalty snatches win for Newport

■By TIM LEWIS Ebbw Vale 25 Newport 27 NEWPORT fly-half Matt O’Brien kicked a penalty deep into injury time to give...

Hat-trick hero Rees-Hole stars as Cardiff outclass Keys

By STEFFAN THOMAS Cardiff 46 Cross Keys 19 CARDIFF centre Will Rees- Hole scored a hat-trick as the Blue and Blacks...

Principality Premiership

Pontypridd 42 Merthyr 29 PONTYPRIDDscored five tries to record a 42-29 bonus-point victory over Merthyr and rise to fourth in the...

Gloucester make fast start after go-slow in traffic jam

Darlington MP 3 Gloucester 32 GLOUCESTER-Hartpury took all five points from their trip to the Northern Echo Arena in a wellrounded...

Lightning are electric in front of Hunter

Loughborough 46 Worcester 12 LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning enjoyed a thrilling start to their Premier 15s campaign with a resounding win over Worcester...

Champions Quins get started in style

Wasps 32pts Harlequins 38pts By DANIS ROBERTS Six try salute: Harlequins and the outstanding Shaunagh Brown got off to a winning...

Sarries cash in on Waterloo double yellow

Waterloo 13 Saracens 22 SARACENS made a winning start to their season beating Firwood Waterloo who paid a heavy price for...

Steff desperate to avoid second season syndrom

RISING star Steffan Evans, below, has vowed to take his game to the next level as he targets a place in...

Griffiths out to put pressure on star names

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS midfield starlet Tom Griffiths has vowed to make up for lost time after recovering from a freak...

Wasps down the Jets to get back on track

By SAM JACKSON WASPS put their crushing defeat at the hands of Newcastle behind them by grinding out a 22-12 success...

Aussie lessons can help Tom prosper

HOME-GROWN wing ace Tom Collins is a man on a mission to prove why Northampton should bank on his try-scoring talent...

I’m feeling so fit and fresh Louw warns rivals

By NEALE HARVEY FRANCOIS Louw reckons his first proper rest in six years will help fire Bath’s trophy bid and ensure...

Give Jonathan chance to lead Wales, Williams urges Gatland

Man of series: Jonathan Davies for the Lions WALES legend Martyn Williams has urged Warren Gatland to use the November series...

Pat Lam hands prop Alex a full-time deal

ALEX Giltrow has signed a professional contract with Bristol until the end of the 2017/18 campaign. The tighthead joined on trial...

Curtis wings it to Doncaster Knights

DONCASTER have boosted their backthree options with the signing of former Ealing Trailfinders wing Curtis Wilson until the end of the...

Leinster’s Kiwis turned away in South Africa

LEINSTERwere forced to take on the Kings without captain Isa Nacewa and Jamison Gibson-Park yesterday after the Kiwi pair were refused...

England reveal 2018 autumn Test

ENGLANDare to play world champions New Zealand for the first time since 2014 as their fixtures for the 2018 Old Mutual...

Maddison banned for abusing officials

ROTHERHAMTitan Charlie Maddison received a three-week suspension for verbally abusing the match officials in the second half of the Yorkshire derby...

Northampton sign Springboks flanker

NORTHAMPTON have confirmed the signing of Heinrich Brussow from January. The 23-time capped Springboks flanker, 31, will arrive at Franklin’s Gardens...

Folau in same-sex marriage storm on twitter

By SAM JACKSON AUSTRALIA full-back Israel Folau was at the centre of a social media storm this week after voicing his...

Cheetahs will soon be up to speed for PRO 14 insists coach

By ALEX BYWATER CHEETAHS head coach Rory Duncan believes his side can have a long-term future in European domestic rugby despite...

Cut the SA franchises to four says Smit

By NEALE HARVEY SOUTH Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning captain John Smit reckons his country’s best chance of recapturing the glory days...

All Blacks put sorry Boks to the sword

New Zealand 57pts Tries: Ioane 17, Milner-Skudder 21, 53, S Barrett 34, Retallick 37, Tu’ungafasi 64, Sopoaga 74, Taylor 80 Conversions:...

Wounded Wallabies storm home for first win

By SAM JACKSON Australia 45pts Tries: Folau 29, 53, Kepu 49, Genia 72, Phipps 76, Uelese 80 Conversions: Foley 30, 50,...

Hate to say it, but the Warriors are looking doomed already

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Easing the pain: Jonny Hill scores in Exeter’s victory over Worcester on Friday night...

Crusaders maintain their perfect record

South West Premier DINGS Crusaders remain one of three sides with a 100 per cent record in the South West Premier...

Lymm take top spot as Hull are held

Northern Premier LYMMtake over at the top of the table following a 46-5 win away at Sandal. Hull fall after being...

Tries galore as Salop cruise to third win

Midlands Premier NEWPORT Salop set the early pace as they enjoyed another try-laden victory, securing all five points for the third...

Guernsey sneak past Tunbridge Wells

London & South East Premier GUERNSEY played their get of jail free card snatching a 34-36 win away to Tunbridge Wells...

YOUNG GUNS

RHYS CARRE CARDIFF BLUES LOOSEHEAD Rhys Carre already has the size and power to play senior rugby but he is fully...

20 QUESTIONS

FREDDIE GABBITASS RICHMOND FLY-HALF What do you make of you first two games? For whatever reason we didn’t turn up against...