We’re hungry for that title again says Hepher

By ROGER PANTING EXETER ruthlessly exposed the gulf in class between top and bottom of the Premiership as they walloped Worcester...

Mallinder: We were hurt by the critics

EMOTIONAL Saints supremo Jim Mallinder took a swipe at critics who called for his head after the opening day thrashing by...

Ribbans shows Eddie he could make grade

By NEALE HARVEY SAINTS lock David Ribbans chose the right night to demonstrate his England potential with a barnstorming display in...

Bok ace Habana ready for last hurrah

EXCLUSIVE By NEALE HARVEY SOUTH Africa try scoring legend Bryan Habana has given his broadest hint yet that this season will...

Vunipola’s warning over strike splits stars

By SAM JACKSON BILLY Vunipola’s warning of strike action if the rugby season is not shortened has brought a mixed reaction...

Young Gun: Kaleem Barreto – Glasgow scrum-half

Kaleem Barreto is not sure which version of the game he will be playing this season just yet but one thing...

Brendan Gallagher: Philadelphia is next stop on rugby’s world tour

Globalisation is one of the modern day buzzwords and although sometimes I’m not exactly sure what it means the fact that...

Jeff Probyn: New RFU boss has a big job – save our game!

The news that the RFU have appointed Steve Brown as CEO should bring a sigh of relief from the whole game...

Slater glad to be back among the heavy mob

Ed Slater insists he left Leicester on his own terms after agreeing to be part of the controversial swap deal that...

Room 101: Phil Nilsen – Coventry hooker

1. Paperwork I’m currently applying for voluntary roles to strengthen my CV ahead of seeking a regular job outside of rugby...

Leinster Statement following visa issues

Leinster have released the below statement on behalf of Guy Easterby, Head of Rugby Operations, who is in South Africa with...

CONFIRMED: Northampton sign Springbok back rower

Northampton Saints have confirmed the signing of Heinrich Brussow from January. As revealed in Blindside on September 3, the Springboks flanker...

Shane Williams: Dan’s a big loss but Ospreys do have Sam

Dan Biggar is a colossal loss to Welsh rugby. It was no surprise to see his move to Northampton Saints confirmed...

Peter Jackson: Welsh rugby ticket prices are a tweeting disgrace

Ever since William Webb Ellis did his runner at Rugby School, there have been obvious differences between the football codes.  In...

Catherine Spencer: Litchfield will get new chance to join in 2019

As the dust settles on the World Cup and we see the trophy sail to New Zealand to sit proudly alongside...

Titan Maddison banned but Henry is cleared

Rotherham Titan Charlie Maddison received a three week suspension for verbally abusing the match officials in the second half of the...

Harlequins ladies warn rivals: We’re only going to get better

Harlequins surpassed all expectations last season, but head coach Karen Findlay has warned the rest of their Premier 15s rivals that...

20 Questions: John Barnes – Hartpury College Director of Rugby

How did pre-season go? We came back earlier than we normally do but we had to given the step up to...

Nick Cain: Brits is best of all the imports into Premiership

The Schalk Brits masterclass against Northampton that lit up the Twickenham double-header last weekend made up my mind that he is...

Daly has the towering talent to lift Wasps to title – Jeremy Guscott

Elliot Daly is the most gifted individual Northern Hemisphere three-quarter because he has the whole package in terms of skill set....

England’s 2018 Autumn Tests confirmed

England to play world champions New Zealand for the first time since 2014 as their fixtures for the 2018 Old Mutual...

Sale coach tells his young England wannabes to up their game

Sale coach Jon Callard has warned the club’s rising stars to up their performances away from home or risk jeopardising their...

My Life in Rugby: Jamie Noon – former England, Newcaslte and Brive centre

Scoring a hat-trick against Scotland in my first Six Nations campaign – I think I was the first England player to...

Farrell’s signature is worth weight in gold

Owen Farrell‘s statement of intent by signing a five-year contract at Saracens will ensure the rest of the club’s highly prized...

Dream Team: Tim Visser – Harlequins wing

1. Joe Marler – He’s a formidable man and a very good player. He’s very strong as a ball carrying prop...

Matson: What a way to go out!

EMOTIONAL Bath head coach Tabai Matson was close to tears after his last match at the Rec. The New Zealander, who...

Roko magic show stuns the champs and sends Bath soaring

By NEALE HARVEY SEMESA Rokoduguni demonstrated yet again why he deserves an England call after conjuring two scintillating late tries to...

Mallinder: Pack gave us back our pride

JIM Mallinder said his England internationals Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley had risen to the challenge to restore Northampton’s pride. “Courtney...

Colossus Courtney tames timid Tigers

By NICK CAIN COURTNEY Lawes said before this East Midlands derby that Saints would be looking for redemption after last weekend’s...

Daly has the towering talent to lift Wasps to title

JEREMY GUSCOTT OUTSPOKEN AND UNMISSABLE…EVERY WEEK ELLIOT Daly is the most gifted individual Northern Hemisphere three-quarter because he has the whole...

DREAMTEAM

FRANCIS SAILI, THE QUINS AND FORMER ALL BLACKS CENTRE, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Tony...

Premiership need plan to stop the big crash

COLIN BOAG The news, broken in last week’s Rugby Paper, that Worcester Warriors are up for sale, or in the PR...

Time’s up for Manu

I CANNOT see another outcome for Manu Tuilagi’s latest injury setback than a retirement. He is showing great mental strength to...

Don’t forget Fylde’s great contribution to North West rugby

WHILE Brendan has to be applauded for his article about Rugby Union in the North last week, I feel I feel...

Carnegie will never be same as Leinster

IN LASTSunday’s TRP Jon Newcombe quotes Yorkshire Carnegie coowner Jon Wright: “Although Yorkshire is a county, we see the team as...

Nights on town will help Blues bond like Saracens says Gill

By ALEX BYWATER RHYS Gill believes the implementation of a Saracens- style ‘wolf pack’ mentality can be the key to helping...

New laws bring try bonanza declares O’Connor

By JON NEWCOMBE LEICESTER head coach Matt O’Connor says the Aviva Premiership’s record-breaking start did not come as a surprise to...

Age won’t wither Wigglesworth bid to play again for England

By NEALE HARVEY Hoorah…the RFU have a chief executive who follows rugby SARACENS scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth is determined to prove that...

England name 17 contracted Sevens players

By NICK VERDIER NEWS EXTRA The RFU have named the 17 women who have been awarded professional Sevens contracts ahead of...

Pint-sized Gabriel cuts down Clermont

DAVID BARNES FRENCH COLUMN Gabriel Lacroix, of La Rochelle, is an unlikely lad in the muscular world of the Top 14....

Powell’s forwards put Brecon on top of the heap

By JOE REES SWALEC Division One round-up ANDYPowell’s influence on the forwards at Brecon was there for all to see as...

Students fill the bin but secure the win

By ROB COLE SWALEC Championship round-up CARDIFFMetmade light of two yellow cards in the first half to run out 32-15 winners...

Three from three for Bedwas after Jones mastery

By ALEX BYWATER Merthyr …24 Bedwas …37 BEDWAS made it three straight wins with an impressive 37-24 victory away to big-spending...

Maynard and Powell inspire Drovers to victory in the Parc

By JAKE BACON Llanelli …5 Llandovery …19 LLANDOVERY edged out their West Wales rivals Llanelli in a battling display at Parc...

Unbeaten Blues made to work by battling Bargoed

By THOMAS DAVIDSON Bargoed …17 Cardiff …21 CARDIFF maintained their perfect start to the new Principality Premiership season with a 21-17...

Keys power past Vale to get campaign up and running

By TIM LEWIS Cross Keys …20 Ebbw Vale …12 CROSS Keys kickstarted their season with a hardfought victory over local rivals...

Away day glory for RGC thanks to boot of Botica

By JAMES CANDY Neath…18 RGC 1404 …31 A COMMANDING secondhalf performance saw RGC 1404 end Neath’s unbeaten start to the season...

Super Stuckey inspires Newport to first victory of season

By STEFFAN THOMAS Newport…29 Pontypridd …27 NEWPORT secured their first win of the season as they edged past Pontypridd 29-27 in...

Principality Premiership

Swansea …22 Bridgend …6 BRIDGEN Dwere made to pay for two yellow cards in the final ten minutes as they slipped...

Crossword

ACROSS 1. Gloucester’s Kiwi-born scrum-half in England’s 2017 training squads (5) 3. US Eagles back-row man released by Cardiff Blues this...