Faletau came of age, going toe to toe with Read

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK Consistently brilliant: Taulupe Faletau IT’S been one hell of a series and no-one involved...

Slammin’ Sam finds true form in the end

Setting example: Captain Sam Warbuton got stronger throughout the series PICTURES: Getty Images NICK CAIN’S RATINGS 1. MAKO VUNIPOLA Back in...

There’s a word for this great pride of Lions – Remarkable!

From NICK CAIN at Eden Park, Auckland Unapposed: Jordie Barrett scores the All Blacks’ second try Lethal: Owen Farrell kicks a...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

ADAM POWELL THE FORMER SARACENS, NEWCASTLE AND ENGLAND SAXONS CENTRE Inever envisaged that my career would come to an end during...

Ashton signs on to mixed reception

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Show-off? Chris Ashton dives to score PICTURE: Getty Images The headline writers in Toulon are giving Chris...

Tough schedule no concern for Gloucester starlet

By NICK VERDIER ENGLAND U20s scrumhalf Harry Randall has defended World Rugby’s format for the Junior World Cup despite ongoing criticism...

Volavola secures Fiji’s place in Japan

FIJI qualified for the 2019 World Cup in Japan with a second-half rally to beat Tonga in their Pacific Nations Cup...

Aussie franchises await judgement

SUPER RUGBY By SAM JACKSON THE cuts have officially begun in Super Rugby, with the Cheetahs and Kings being chopped by...

YOUNG GUNS

SAM LEWIS LEICESTER LOCK Sam Lewis faced the daunting task of integrating himself into Leicester’s fearsome pack last summer but having...

Playing ‘tour’ games at home will solve problems saysWray

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS chairman Nigel Wray reckons staging Lions ‘tours’ within the British Isles would offer a radical solution to...

Lionhearted Saracens won’t buckle

By JON NEWCOMBE Saracens Six: Super Maro Itoje and insets Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, George Kruis and new signing...

20 QUESTIONS

RICH LANE BEDFORD WING When did pre-season start for the Blues? We kicked things off on June 12 so it’s been...

Captain Horwill humbled to be leading charge for silverware

Q&A JAMES HORWILL ON THE RECORD Quins’ lion kings: Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler PICTURES: Getty Images New Harlequins captain James...

Hooley seeks fresh start after Luamanu setback

By NEALE HARVEY FORMER Exeter fly-half Will Hooley insists he bears no malice towards Mat Luamanu despite last November’s clash with...

2017/18 Greene King IPA Championship fixtures

BRISTOL return to the competition after their short stay in the Premiership and face debutants Hartpury College in the opening round...

Hogg signs on to help Falcons’ revival

By NEALE HARVEY Veteran: Newcastle back rower Ally Hogg STALWART Newcastle back rower Ally Hogg believes the club’s startling summer transfer...

Farewell to Albie, the wonder who kept on giving

A WONDERFUL, wonderful man’ will be laid to rest this week in his 90th year, one who spent his life helping...

See-no-evil culture is shown red by Garces

PETER JACKSON THE MAN TRULY IN THE KNOW Sonny Bill Williams probably thought he would get away with it just as...

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...