My love of risk-taking has landed me in U.S.

Big oak: Toulon’s Mathieu Bastareaud PICTURE: Getty Images The opportunity to try something new appealed to me when Dallas Griffins owner...

Baxter bolsters lock stock with Kings enforcer

TRANSFER WRAP PREMIERSHIP champions Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their squad ahead of the new season with the acquisition of South African...

Welsh Union set to step in for Halfpenny

LIONS full-back Leigh Halfpenny could be on the verge of finding a new club according to Blindside sources in South Wales....

Tigers swoop for England star May

BY NEIL FISSLER Tigers target: Jonny May ENGLAND wing Jonny May will this week complete his switch from Gloucester to Leicester...

ROOM 101

BRETT DAYNES THE COVENTRY BACK-ROWER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND 1. Literally Using literally...

Scarratt: We’re not champions, just contenders

Breaking through: Emily Scarratt takes on the Italians It seems like yesterday that Emily Scarratt was thrust into the rugby limelight...

Black Ferns became the domimant force after early success for the U.S.

IN the early years the USA were a powerhouse and they duly won the inaugural World Cup in 1991, beating England...

Past glories will count for nothing say England

The memory of 2014 in France might still be fresh with us but women’s rugby has moved on apace and, a...

Jones wants Tour to help England go the distance

Rupert Guinness, rugby writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, finds the England coach in the Alps Eddie Jones is back at...

Ackermann has wish come true

By NICK VERDIER Back to back: Kwagga Smith scores to secure a a second consecutive final for the Lions THE Lions...

Ruthless Crusaders march into final with Tamanivalu at double

By NICK VERDIER Match-winner: Seta Tamanivalu scored twice to give the Crusaders the win Out: Brodie Retallick picked up the only...

YOUNG GUNS

MATT WORLEY RACING 92 FULL-BACK It was a PR stunt that took Matt Worley from Hong Kong to Racing 92, but...

Why help Kiwi coaches? They wouldn’t dream of helping us!

Q&A ALI HEPHER ON THE RECORD Recently promoted Exeter head coach Ali Hepher tells NEALE HARVEY how the Premiership champions are...

Handling of expansion has become a shambles

I COVERED the expansion of the Guinness PRO12 in my column last week, but seven days later we’re no closer to...

Break the bank to keep Dan at Ospreys

Key man at Ospreys: Dan Biggar PICTURE: Getty Images HERE’S MY message to the Welsh Rugby Union; you have to try...

Old pals Catrakalis and Swiel set to battle it out

By NEALE HARVEY Order of the boot: Demetri Catrakilis shows his kicking repertoire for Montpellier against Quins PICTURES: Getty Images NEW...

Robinson: I couldn’t quit even after club axed Dad

BRISTOL flanker Olly Robinson has revealed why he decided to stay at the club in the wake his father’s sacking as...

Lydiate ready for action at Ospreys

By PETER JACKSON Gimme some skin: Christian Wade, left, and Dan Robson helped Wasps retain their Premiership Sevens title PICTURE: Getty...

Top Boks will follow ‘exodus to Europe’

By NEALE HARVEY Views: Edward Griffiths SUPER Rugby’s fading appeal is likely to provoke South Africa’s major provinces to follow the...

The History of the Six Nations Championship

The Six Nations is an annual competition in the sport of rugby union that is contested between six teams, England, France,...

Nick Cain: Baxter must join Eddie’s team if he’s to succeed

One of the most vexing issues that all four Home Unions have had to face over the last eight years is...

Andy Goode: You’ve got to be a big noise now, Demetri!

The fly-half merry-go-round has been in full swing throughout a frenetic last few months with a host of No.10s switching clubs in...

Dan Leo: Samoa left with mountain to climb after All Blacks error

After a brutally long season the ever-dwindling holiday period is finally upon us. Four weeks to rest those aches and pains,...

Signing winners shows Falcons mean business

says that Newcastle‘s ambition to be a real force in English rugby was one of the main factors in persuading him...

Jeff Probyn: Baa-baas ‘Test’ would solve the Lions tour conundrum

Sometimes you have to ask why people ask questions when something has already been decided upon and accepted by all. I...

Shane Williams: Leigh needs future sorted double fast

I really feel for Leigh Halfpenny. What a situation he’s in. To be without a club at this stage isn’t ideal...

Gary Gold: Boks reborn with Venter working for the defence

The fact that the All Blacks drew the three-match series with the British and Irish Lions would have been of concern...

Why Peter Stringer is rugby’s answer to Roger Federer

Gary Gold says Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer is rugby’s equivalent to Wimbledon champ Roger Federer – inspirational proof that age is...

Longbottom returns to Saracens with unfinished business

Returning Saracens prop Kieran Longbottom insists his England ambitions remain alive after fully recovering from a foot injury that was so...

Super Rugby lock on his way to Premiership champions

Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs have bolstered their squad ahead of the new season with the acquisition of South African lock Wilhelm...

Jeremy Guscott: Liam’s electric but he must sharpen focus at Saracens

Liam Williams’ move to Saracens from the Scarlets is one of this summer’s biggest transfers, and one of the big talking...

Nick Cain: Without doubt, Ford’s found fresh gears since Bath exit

Welcome to the new, improved, Ford. In this case, however, the model is called George rather than describing the latest product...

Peter Jackson: How Leigh Halfpenny went from hero to zero offers in less than six months

Six months ago Leigh Halfpenny found himself under a veritable bombardment of offers on an ever-escalating scale over his next move....

Saili eyes silverware after turning his back on All Blacks

Gifted centre Francis Saili believes his unique brand of passing skills, embellished by gainline-busting, off-loading qualities reminiscent of Sonny Bill Williams...

Lydon plots route to Ireland, via Ealing

Peter Lydon still dreams of playing Test rugby for Ireland and he believes switching from London Scottish to Ealing Trailfinders will...

Bath and Canterbury to donate £10,000 worth of kit to local clubs

Bath and Canterbury are donating up to £10,000 to 10 grassroots clubs in the Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire area throughout the...

London Irish sign Gloucester hooker

London Irish have bolstered their front-row with the signing of hooker Darren Dawidiuk ahead of the 2017-18 Premiership season. Dawidiuk, 29,...

RFU statement over Women’s contracts

The RFU has released the following statement through its director of professional rugby Nigel Meville following the news that most of...

World Cup stars left high and dry by RFU

Rugby Football Union bosses have taken a sledgehammer to England Women‘s hopes of winning next month’s World Cup after informing stunned...

Proud Aussie but I’d love to keep working with England!

NEALE HARVEY talks to Australian backline guru Glen Ella about his recent England experiences and how Eddie Jones has inspired a...

Liam’s electric but he must sharpen focus at Saracens

LIAM Williams’ move to Saracens from the Scarlets is one of this summer’s biggest transfers, and one of the big talking...

DREAMTEAM

NICK SELWAY, THE JERSEY AND FORMER GLOUCESTER HOOKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Sam Lockwood...

Surely we can all agree on what ‘straight’ means

COLIN BOAG With six weeks to go until the start of the Premiership season, it has been announced that some Law...

No exceptions for million pound man

HERE we go. Reading of Maro Itoje’s potential wage hike to £1,000,000 per season can only lead to the financial debacle...

Let’s be honest and cut through all this guff about welfare

I AM disgusted by the comments and antics of the ‘powers that be’ in regard to Lions tours. Shame on them....

Wray seems out of touch with the fans

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

Hawk-Eye to combat concussion

THEPRO12 will try to limit the number of head injuries and concussions by implementing Hawk-Eye technology next season. As the league...

Signing winners shows Falcons mean business

By JON NEWCOMBE JOSH MATAVESI says that Newcastle’s ambition to be a real force in English rugby was one of the...

Murphy: Young coaches have Tigers daring to dream

By NEALE HARVEY LEICESTER legend Geordan Murphy reckons the energy being created by their youthful coaching team can fire the Tigers...

Longbottom returns with unfinished business

By NEALE HARVEY RETURNING Saracens prop Kieran Longbottom insists his England ambitions remain alive after fully recovering from a foot injury...