Latta lets rip at Gloucester ‘underachievers’

KIWI enforcer Joe Latta has revealed why a combination of Gloucester’s dithering and Pat Lam’s arrival at Bristol persuaded him to...

Twice a Knight for Bulumakaus

By JON NEWCOMBE Knighted: Junior Bulumakau in action for Glasgow PICTURES: Getty Images DONCASTER signing Junior Bulumakau has warned Championship opponents...

Mosses hopes to lead young Exiles into the promised land

On the move: Ben Mosses in action against Wasps By NICK VERDIER BEN MOSSES has revealed it was his desire for...

Longbottom back with Sarries as injury cover

SARACENShave welcomed the return of prop Kieran Longbottom on a one-year deal. The Australian-born tighthead, who comes in as injury replacement...

Leigh left in limbo after Toulon axe

Without a club: Leigh Halfpenny LEIGH HALFPENNY will now attempt to resolve his club future after yesterday’s conclusion to the Lions...

Samu set for return to Franklin’s Gardens

NORTHAMPTON have lined up their replacement for Louis Picamoles and it could mean a return to Franklin’s Gardens for Samu Manoa....

ON THE BLIND SIDE

BY NEILFISSLER Follow me on Twitter: @neilfissler LEICESTER are looking to complete the signing of Lions flanker Cyle Brink after holding...

ROOM 101

THE DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK FLY-HALF TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND GARRY LAW 1. Parking...

Barnes to head RFU disciplinary

DAVID Barnes has been appointed as the RFU’s head of discipline. He will join on July 17 taking over from Gerard...

Jet-setter Jamal aiming to make splash at Saints

By NEALE HARVEY RAMPAGING prop Jamal Ford-Robinson reckons foregoing his summer holidays was a small price to pay in return for...

DREAM TEAM

MATT WILLIAMS, THE WORCESTER AND FORMER NORTHAMPTON HOOKER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE’S PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Marcos Ayerza –...

Not convinced Warren has enhanced his reputation

COLIN BOAG Vindicated? Lions head coach Warren Gatland With the Lions tour over, the post mortems start. Writing before yesterday’s final...

Salary cap cheats should be exposed

I’M a pretty neutral fan in the Premiership but even I feel aggrieved on behalf of Northampton Saints and other teams...

Coventry should remember money will not buy loyalty

HAD to laugh while reading last week’s story that Coventry are “interested in bringing the right players to the club -...

Lions would simply tear Pumas apart

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

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Aviva renew deal as Premiership’s title sponsor

COCK-A-HOOP Premiership Rugby bosses are predicting a golden era for English club rugby after renewing their long-standing deal with title sponsors...

Mugford reveals Sale axe drove him to suicide bid

By NEALE HARVEY PLYMOUTH fly-half Dan Mugford has spoken out over how his failure to gain acceptance and win a regular...

The Fox simply oustanding in all three Tests

Player of the Tour: Wales’ Jonathan Davies, below, played every minute of the Tests and was in world class form throughout....

Tired old start but, boy, did these Lions spring to life

BRENDAN GALLAGHER reviews the last five weeks and picks out his big winners and losers Match 1, June 3: Provincial Barbarians...

Ex-pat Brit Maurice is now NZRU president

MAURICE Trapp is one of the more intriguing characters on this Lions tour. This is not just because he is has...

Spencer at war with Beaumont over shorter Lions tour schedule

Nick Cain talks to Lions manager John Spencer about the future of the touring side World Rugby chairman: Bill Beaumont Together:...

I suspect Gatland feared the Lions would lose this one

JEFF PROBYN A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME Tough call: Jerome Kaino wraps up Alun Wyn Jones after catching him...

Dream come true to wear this jersey says Itoje

LIONS skipper Warburton joked he was “getting ready for extra time” but a draw was “better than losing”. He said: “Both...

Sing-a-long fans show rugby still has romance

John Taylor, a hero of the 1971 tour, finds thousands of reasons to be cheerful in Eden Park Tributes: Tadhg Furlong...

Lions win the song contest

THE reluctance of New Zealand crowds to get behind their team has always been a problem. So, knowing how vocal the...

Machete menace in ref rage

TOUCHLINE abuse has reached new heights in the Solomon Islands. Kiwi policeman and rugby referee Kevin Folau, part of the peace-keeping...

Demands for tit-for-tat bans simply clap-trap!

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK Take a bow Jerome Garces for bucking the trend of referees turning a...

Whitelock fancies another crack at Lions in November

ALL Blacks second row Samuel Whitelock admitted he’d be interested in a possible rematch with the British & Irish Lions after...

Ref Poite was wrong, but Sam handled him so well

SHANE WILLIAMS WALES AND LIONS LEGEND HIS WAS an incredible achievement by the Lions. I don’t understand those people who are...

Pub talk

Breakfast in the local… a light-hearted look at how the Lions unite the country You wouldn’t say there was an air...

Wow, what an epic as Lions hold their nerve!

From NICK CAIN IN Aukland OWEN FARRELL explained how he had kept cool to land the 47 metre penalty that earned...

Young Gun: Jacob Atkins – London Irish fly-half

Mistakes can be costly in professional rugby but fly-half Jacob Atkins reckons embracing his is the reason behind his storming season...

Nick Cain: Lions should have taken 45 players in first place

Replacement strategies are becoming the bane of Lions tours, as the furore around the ‘Geography Six’ – the late call-ups to...

Saili adds potency to Quins’ midfield blend

Harlequins head coach Mark Mapletoft insists Jamie Roberts still has a big future at the club and expects the 96-cap Wales...

Room 101: Phil Boulton – Coventry captain

1. Pointless pets I’m a dog and cat owner and I don’t understand why anyone would want to have any other...

Aaron Morris extends his contract with Harlequins

Junior World Champion full-back Aaron Morris has extended his contract with Harlequins. Joining Harlequins from Saracens in 2016, Morris, 22, made...

Shane Williams: Sexton and Farrell are certain to get better and better playing together

It was a privilege to be in Wellington to watch this thriller of a game; it was right up with the...

Jeff Probyn: One match to go, and these Lions could end up legends

With the mid-week games over and just one game to go, I am already suffering from Lions fatigue and can’t wait...

Same players trusted by Lions ahead of Series decider

The British & Irish Lions have named an unchanged starting line-up and bench for the decisive third Test against New Zealand...

Three changes for All Blacks and Read to win 100th Cap in decider

All Blacks captain Kieran Read will win his 100th Test cap in the Series decider against the British and Irish Lions...

Dennis: Proof is there, tries win you trophies!

Exeter star Dave Dennis reckons a change in attacking mindset throughout Premiership rugby has boosted England‘s chances of lifting the 2019...

20 Questions: Dougie Flockhart – Doncaster wing

Back in training yet? We’ve been back for a week now. We’re trying to ease the players in gently so I...

Odds aren’t in favour of British & Irish Lions in next All Blacks game

In an interview before the match on Saturday, 24th June, Harry Ellis praised Warren Gatland‘s talent as a coach and injected...

Brendan Gallagher: As the pressure ramped up, so cool Gatland kept his nerve

This Test was not only a compelling thriller which instantly claims its place in Lions folklore but a game which neatly...

Jeremy Guscott: Lions prove they have stomach for the battle

To beat an All Blacks side that have lost only six games since the World Cup in 2011 – and not...

Richmond captain Warden on full alert for next test of endurance 

Richmond retained their Championship status last season but club captain Will Warden reckons doing so again will pose a greater challenge....

My Life in Rugby: Tom Johnson – former England and Exeter flanker

I was a bag of nerves before my first Test against South Africa in 2012. Geoff Parling told me afterwards that...

Harlequins rising star pens new contract

Harlequins have received a big boost ahead of next season with the news that highly-rated centre Joe Marchant has extended his...

BT Sport wins exclusive European rugby TV rights

BT Sport has secured the rights to screen the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup in the United Kingdom and Ireland from...