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...

MY TOP TEN FIJIAN WINGS OF ALL TIME

1 Rupeni Caucaunibuca Universally recognised as one of the greatest natural talents the game has seen, but enigmatic and moody to...

Time for wing king Raka to pledge his allegiance

Brendan Gallagher counts the rise and rise of Fijian wide men taking over France WITH Alivereti Raka’s name on everybody lips...

Clubs are asked: Would you sack boss Noves?

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN The job of France head coach Guy Noves hangs on an opinion poll conducted by his bosses....

Leaders Penallta slip up at home to Risca

Welsh Division One round-up BRYNMAWR are the new One East leaders after a comprehensive 29-7 victory over Blaenavon. Ethan Phillips grabbed...

Robinson agrees permanent move to Welsh capital

OLLY Robinson will leave Bristol at the end of the season to join Cardiff Blues, where he has been on loan...

Champion Pooler stretch unbeaten run to 12

Welsh Championship round-up PONTYPOOL continue their march to the Championship title after racking up their twelfth consecutive league victory. The reigning...

Breach is at it again as ‘Wood are well beaten

By JACK ZORAB F’wood W’loo 12 Harlequins ……51 JESS Breach scored a hat-trick as Harlequins kept the heat on Saracens at...

Four-star Gregson leads thrashing of Valkyries

By GEORGE WEST Bristol………….89 Worcs Valk…….0 BRISTOL made it three consecutive wins after an emphatic win over the Worcester Valkyries. Lillian...

Lucas has the force for a Wasps victory

Wasps……………….37pts Glos-H’pury……….17pts By HOLLY FOSKETT WASPS secured a hard-fought victory over Gloucester-Hartpury in a hard-fought affair in Round 11. With both...

No end in sight for Saracens’ perfect record

By RYAN STEVENS L’boro L’ning ….7 Saracens …….32 MARLIE Packer scored two tries as Saracens went over six times against Loughborough...

Aussies opt for Castle

AUSTRALIA’S Rugby Union have chosen Raelene Castle as new chief executive, the first woman to be given the job. Castle had...

Ireland wait on Ruddock

IRELANDflanker Rhys Ruddock could miss the start of the Six Nations after tearing a hamstring in Leinster’s win over Exeter on...

Extension for Hansen

HOOKER James Hanson has committed his longterm future to Gloucester. The Wallaby star, 29, arrived in September on a short-term deal...