Rob’s plan will exploit any flaws – Slade

HENRY Slade knows Wasps will be smarting after defeat to Quins last week but has backed his boss to come up...

Cipriani injury will not affect Wasps’ focus

By NEALE HARVEY PREVIEW… WASPS hooker Tom Cruse insists neither last week’s disappointing home defeat to Harlequins nor the loss of...

Winless Warriors require fast fix

HEAD coach Carl Hogg was frustrated by Warriors’ inaccuracy but praised the spirit of their fightback. “We showed a huge amount...

Gloucester ride out second half wobble

By TOM BRADSHAW On their way: Ollie Thorley rounds Ben Te’o to score the opening try for Gloucester PICTURES: Getty Images...

French horse out in front with £140m of prize money

FRANCE have emerged as early favourites in their three horse race with Ireland and South Africa to host the 2023 World...

O’Brien’s wrong but I defend his right to say it

NICK CAIN READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK SEAN O’Brien is one of the fiercest competitors in the game, yet his...

Not good enough, blasts boss Todd

BATH supremo Todd Blackadder blasted his weak-minded side. “We weren’t there mentally,” he said. “We knew what was at stake, knew...

Snubbed Wilson shows Eddie what he’s missing

By NEALE HARVEY MARK Wilson climbed off his sick bed to bag the winning try for Newcastle at the end of...

Cotton stands by Gatland in Lions rift

By PETER JAKSON ONEof England’s greatest Lions, Fran Cotton, has rebuked Sean O’Brien for going public with his criticism of Warren...

Billy’s hurt again as long-season row grows

By NEALE HARVEY BILLY Vunipola was back on the injured list last night, helped off during Saracens’ victory over Sale with...

Young Gun: Fraser Dingwall – Northampton centre

Biding his time is not the easiest thing to do for Fraser Dingwall who is desperate to break into professional rugby...

Young girls inspired to take up sport

2017 has been a great year for women in sport, with the England rugby team reaching the final of the World...

Shane Williams: Sam’s a huge loss but it may work out well for the future

Sam Warburton‘s injury is a huge blow for Wales. I thought he was outstanding on the Lions tour and his displays...

Three Lions miss out on England training camp

England head coach Eddie Jones has named the 33 players who will convene in Oxford on Sunday 24 September for the...

Give Jonathan chance to lead Wales, Williams urges Gatland

Wales legend Martyn Williams has urged Warren Gatland to use the November series to test the captaincy credentials of Jonathan Davies....

Room 101: Arthur Ellis – Ealing Trailfinders flanker

1. Arsene Wenger Wenger’s departure from the club is long overdue; he is just ruining his own legacy by staying on....

Nick Cain: It’s wrong Eddie must wait a year to face those NZ bullets

Eddie Jones was in full ogre-slaying mode this week, sounding like the armour-plated incarnation of St George as he talked about...

Peter Jackson: Top Cat still carries the bruises from Meads’ knee

Clive Rowlands woke up yesterday with the same ache in his lower back, just as he has woken up every Saturday...

Carnegie scrum-half banned for stamping

Yorkshire Carnegie scrum-half Max Green has received a three-week ban for stamping. The player pleaded guilty to the charge for an...

Trio signed by Leicester

Leicester Tigers have added three new players to their squad as Tongan international back Afa Pakalani, former Scotland international prop Kyle...

FEATURE: The twin terrors of Sale pack a punch

Identical twins Ben and Tom Curry are like-for-like replacements in every sense of the word. But Ben, the older of the...

20 Questions: Alex O’Meara – Cornish Pirates wing

How was your opening game at Ealing Trailfinders? We played pretty well and we thought we did enough to win but...

Who will fight for a play-off spot in the Premiership?

The new Aviva Premiership season is well underway, with many fans asking just who will be lifting the trophy at the...

Leicester scrum-half joins Worcester on short-term loan

Worcester have signed scrum-half Jono Kitto on a short-term loan deal from Leicester Tigers with immediate effect. With scrum-halves Luke Baldwin...

Canada fly-half joins Ealing Trailfinders

Ealing Trailfinders have confirmed the signing of Canadian international Shane O’Leary from Connacht. The fly-half arrives at Vallis Way with four...

Jeff Probyn: Hate to say it, but Worcester are looking doomed already

There is no substitute for playing the game, try as you might and no matter what you do, nothing matches actually...

Jeremy Guscott: Vunipola has made a vital point that must be discussed

If any Premiership player makes a comment containing the words ‘strike action’ it’s a big statement, but it’s gigantic when it’s...

EXCLUSIVE: Springbok legend Habana ready for last hurrah

South Africa try scoring legend Bryan Habana has given his broadest hint yet that this season will be the last of...

My Life in Rugby: Garath Archer – former Newcastle, Bristol and England lock

Despite the fact my dad played on the wing for Gosforth when they were in their hey-day in the 70s, I...

Are the RFU players asked to play too many games?

The hottest debate happening right now is a number of games professional RFU players have to play each season. The Rugby...

Leinster statement on Cian Healy

Leinster Rugby can confirm that Cian Healy was asked to leave yesterday (Sunday) afternoon’s flight from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town....

Dragons sign Bristol centre

Dragons have announced the signing of back Thretton Palamo from Bristol on a short-term loan. The 28-year-old linked up with the...

Dream Team: Francis Saili – Harlequins centre

1. Tony Woodcock – He played in the Blues front row for so many years and then I was lucky to...

Trip to America will help Falcons cash in for years says Hogan

By GRAHAM JENKINS in Philadelphia NEWCASTLE Falcons managing director Mick Hogan has defended the club’s decision to take their Premiership clash...

Gloucs boss hits out at ref mistakes

LEICESTER coach Matt O’Connor has warned that his team are better than their opening defeats against Bath and Northampton suggested “We...

Tigers pounce at last – then let their bonus point escape

By BRENDAN GALLAGHER TIGERS kick-started their season with an invaluable win but after three tries in the first quarter and an...

Vunipola has made a vital point that must be discussed

JEREMYGUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE… EVERY WEEK If any Premiership player makes a comment containing the words ‘strike action’ it’s a big...

DREAMTEAM

SOANE TONGA’UIHA, THE BRISTOL AND FORMER SAINTS PROP, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Craig Dowd...

Smit’s PRO14 plan is just confused thinking

COLIN BOAG John Smit is a man to be reckoned with, a former Springbok captain, and a RWC winner, but you...

Pricey for Matavesi

REGARDING the front page story of Newcastle allegedly failing to pay the full amount to Ospreys for Josh Matavesi, I’m surprised...

Beware 3G costs

JEFF Probyn wrote last week about money to help smaller clubs pay for things such as 3G pitches. I want to...

Welsh tickets are a bargain compared to Twickenham

I WAS infuriated by Peter Jackson’s article regarding Welsh ticket prices. Since I retired from playing rugby I started to attend...

‘Suits’ must heed Vunipola warning

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

Game will get faster for longer warns ref Barnes

PREMIERSHIP player fitness levels are set to be tested to their limit after leading referee Wayne Barnes revealed dramatic increases in...

Dickson targets top-flight debut in November

By NEALE HARVEY FORMER Harlequins scrum-half Karl Dickson has stated his desire to officiate at the highest level after impressing on...

Stade are on journey – but is it to relegation?

FRENCH COLUMN On the move? French fly-half Jules Plisson could be leaving Stade Fair to say that Terry Bouhraoua is better...

Damian over as Brynnawr remain joint top

SWALEC Division One round-up By JOHN WILLIAMS DAMIAN Hudd was among the try scorers as Brynmawr stripped Ynysybwl of their unbeaten...

Narberth salvage honour of away teams

SWALEC Championship round-up By JOE REES NARBERTH were the only team to come up trumps away from home in the Championship...

Quins battle past Swansea in scrappy encounter

By TIM LEWIS C’marthen Q 10 Swansea 6 CARMARTHEN Quins made it back-to-back wins in the West Conference of the Principality...

Drovers make it four from four with bonus-point triumph

By DAI REES Llandovery 29 Neath 15 LLANDOVERY continued their perfect start in the West Conference of the Principality Premiership as...