Wales Euro challenge undermined by the Union

PETER JACKSON Flogged: Scott Williams touches down for Wales in their final Autumn Test against South Africa PICTURE: Getty Images No...

Springboks repatriation tops agenda

THE South African Rugby Union’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has been hitting the phones in an attempt to lure players...

Toulon in £500k bid for Taulupe

Wanted in France and Wales: Bath No.8 Taulupe Faletau TOULON are ready to join the race to land Wales and British...

Ex-Pirates supremo on Warriors short-list

FORMER Cornish Pirates high performance manager Chris Stirling is in the running to be Worcester Warriors’ new director of rugby. Kiwi...

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler ■ GLOUCESTER head coach Johan Ackermann has seen off the challenge of Wasps to...

ROOM 101

ROB KIRBY THE RICHMOND FULL-BACK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Station toilets I...

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Ubogu company told to cease trading at Twickenham

THE RFU have taken action in the High Court against former England international Victor Ubogu and VU Ltd – his hospitality...

Relentless Chiefs thrive on giving rivals the runaround

By NEALE HARVEY EXETER’S unrivalled ability to keep the ball allied to new laws that favour attacking teams are keeping Rob...

Warburton will return in shape of his life for World Cup

IT’S a huge blow for Wales to lose Sam Warburton for the rest of the season. He just doesn’t seem to...

Quade may be risky investment

I’M ON holiday in Barbados at the moment enjoying a bit of pre- Christmas sun and I nearly fell off my...

Ospreys would be best fit for George

SHANE WILLIAMS Decision time: George North must choose a region PICTURE: Getty Images AS WE approach Christmas, George North has a...

Young Falcons put Bordeaux to sword

By ALAN HEDLEY Crashing over: Alex Tait scores Falcons seventh try PICTURE: Getty Images NEWCASTLE tightened their grip on Pool 1...

Dragons still in the frame after Warren double strike

By STEFFAN THOMAS DRAGONS stuttered to an unconvincing victory over Russians Enisei- STM at Rodney Parade. Two tries from centre Adam...

Super-sub Thorley helps Gloucester stay on track

By GEORGE LAWRENCE TWOtries from Ollie Thorley helped Gloucester fight back from 14-0 down to clinch the all-important bonus point in...

Yobo’s try double helps TEAMS champions to first win

ROUND-UP CHAMPIONS Stade Francais gained revenge some over Krasny Yar, 39-24, after the Russian outfit had shocked Greg Cooper’s men in...

Ice-cool Edinburgh put the heat on Exiles

By ALEXANDER McLEMAN SUB-ZERO temperatures meant a late change in venues for this clash – and the grandeur of the new...

Tenacious Sale grab lifeline to put squeeze on their rivals

By COLIN NEWBOULT Triple teamed: Gareth Anscombe is tackled by Cameron Neild, AJ MacGinty and Ben Curry SUDDENLY, Sale have made...

Howe double gets rusty Warriors on the front foot

By STEFFAN THOMAS WORCESTER head coach Carl Hogg was delighted with his side’s bonus point win over Oyonnax. A brace of...

Hartley: We must all work harder

STEVE Tandy toasted his Ospreys after they rediscovered their winning wings and claimed a first ever European success at Franklin’s Gardens....

Pressure on Mallinder as Saints crash out

By GARY FITZGERALD Winging in: Jeff Hassler scores for Ospreys despite the efforts of Ben Foden PICTURES: Getty Images JIM Mallinder...

Strettle knows French champions face stern test despite Saracens injury list

By GEORGE LAWRENCE DAVID Strettle returns to Allianz Park to face his former employers in a crucial clash at the top...

Warriors undone by double sin-binning

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER On the line: Kelian Galletier of Montpellier scores the opening try PICTURES: Getty Images MONTPELLIER breathed life back...

Chiefs look for repeat of last week’s first half blitz

By NEALE HARVEY EXETER are hell-bent on underlining their European credentials by blitzing Leinster from the off, according to fit again...

Wasps will fight fire with fire

By NEALE HARVEY Finisher: Gabi Lovobalavu will add impact off bench WASPS centre Gabi Lovobalavu predicts fireworks at Stade Marcel Deflandre...

Pool stragglers Harlequins face Euro showdown

By NEALE HARVEY Taking his chances: Charlie Walker PICTURES: Getty Images HARLEQUINS flyer Charlie Walker says the departure of Marland Yarde...

Ackermann in a hurry

THE old mantra that it takes years to change the mindset of a team has been blown to smithereens by Gloucester’s...

World Cup ban would end abuse of Test window

ENGLAND’S decision to play four Autumn Tests in 2018 flaunts the World Rugby delineation of three weekends allocated for international rugby...

Boozing fans give true rugby lovers headache

NICK CAIN IT is rare in Rugby Union that the disciplinary focus shifts from what happens on the pitch to what...

Too easy for Munster as Tigers stir late

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER He’s over: Simon Zebo scores for Munster MUNSTER were too strong and efficient for an uninspired Tigers at...

Racing are denied by the boot of nerveless Benjamin

By JAMES CANDY Castres…16 Racing 92 …13 CASTRES stayed in the hunt for a Champions Cup quarter-final place with a 10-point...

Wales will be without Sam for a year

By PETER JACKSON WALES are resigned to being without Sam Warburton for a further eleven months following his second operation since...

Scots back in pole for takeover of Worcester

By NEALE HARVEY Failed bid: Jed McCrory WORCESTER are set to agree a takeover by the Scottish Rugby Union after a...

Jackson column: Gregor Townsend is showing Wales the way to play

Peter Jackson on the evolution of Scotland and how they may be firmer favourites for the Six Nations than Wales

Varsity: Who was the dashing Cambridge wing in Sherlock mystery?

Brendan Gallagher investigates the man who was Conan Doyle's hero, Godfrey Staunton

Room 101: Taunton Titans winger Aron Struminski

The Titans wing explains why he has a vendetta against seagulls

Varsity women’s preview: Oxford will go on the attack to defend crown

Can Oxford produce another shock upset this time around?

Varsity: Seven-timer Briggs is Light Blues brigade history maker

Brendan Gallagher picks out the stars to watch in this week's Varsity match showpiece

Dream Team: Cornish Pirates wing Alex O’Meara

Alex O'Meara runs us through the best players he has played against in each position

Scotland have an outside chance of a Grand Slam

OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK JEREMYGUSCOTT THE outright winners from the Autumn series are Scotland, especially as England and Ireland were pretty...

DREAMTEAM

PAUL TUPAI, BEDFORD AND FORMER NORTHAMPTON LOCK, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Soane Tonga’uiha –...

Eddie’s got too much talent to choose from

COLIN BOAG Now that the Autumn internationals are behind us, whose stock rose, and whose fell? Eddie Jones’ problem remains that...

Now let’s see Daly in that No.13 shirt

IT’S been another successful Autumn series for England and well done Eddie Jones for picking up the World Rugby’s coach of...

Have a Cup for Championship teams as well

REGARDING recent discussions on the Anglo-Welsh Cup, I would agree with Colin Boag that the competition certainly needs a re-vamp. The...

North deserves big finale at Saints

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk PETER Jackson got his...

Jenkins set to follow Williams to Ospreys

By STEFFAN THOMAS ELLIS Jenkins looks set to swap Cardiff Blues for the Ospreys for the start of next season. The...

Fainga’a fired up for Irish relegation fight

By NEALE HARVEY Defiant: Saia Fainga’a FIT-again London Irish hooker Saia Fainga’a is ready to take the Premiership by storm as...

Castres hit Toulouse for six in clash of day

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Castres team boss Christophe Urios went to Toulouse with the threat of suspension hanging over his head...

Hill hoping Chiefs can do repeat after injury nightmare

By NEALE HARVEY NEWS EXTRA EXETER midfield hitman Sam Hill has his heart set on a trophy clean sweep after the...

Penallta go top with a Gant treble

Welsh Division One round-up A HAT-TRICK from Rhys Gant inspired Penallta to a crushing 50-0 home victory over bottom side Abertillery...