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...

Botica’s boot propels Gogs to victory over Wizards

■By ROB COLE RGC 1404 32 Aberavon 24 ABERAVON made light work of a host of injuries to give RGC 1404...

Starlet Morgan at the double to carry Bridgend to victory

■By JAMES LLOYD Bridgend 27 Llanelli 18 RISING Wales Under-18 star Harri Morgan added to his growing reputation as he scored...

Late O’Brien penalty snatches win for Newport

■By TIM LEWIS Ebbw Vale 25 Newport 27 NEWPORT fly-half Matt O’Brien kicked a penalty deep into injury time to give...

Hat-trick hero Rees-Hole stars as Cardiff outclass Keys

By STEFFAN THOMAS Cardiff 46 Cross Keys 19 CARDIFF centre Will Rees- Hole scored a hat-trick as the Blue and Blacks...

Principality Premiership

Pontypridd 42 Merthyr 29 PONTYPRIDDscored five tries to record a 42-29 bonus-point victory over Merthyr and rise to fourth in the...

Gloucester make fast start after go-slow in traffic jam

Darlington MP 3 Gloucester 32 GLOUCESTER-Hartpury took all five points from their trip to the Northern Echo Arena in a wellrounded...

Lightning are electric in front of Hunter

Loughborough 46 Worcester 12 LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning enjoyed a thrilling start to their Premier 15s campaign with a resounding win over Worcester...

Champions Quins get started in style

Wasps 32pts Harlequins 38pts By DANIS ROBERTS Six try salute: Harlequins and the outstanding Shaunagh Brown got off to a winning...

Sarries cash in on Waterloo double yellow

Waterloo 13 Saracens 22 SARACENS made a winning start to their season beating Firwood Waterloo who paid a heavy price for...

Steff desperate to avoid second season syndrom

RISING star Steffan Evans, below, has vowed to take his game to the next level as he targets a place in...

Griffiths out to put pressure on star names

By NEALE HARVEY SARACENS midfield starlet Tom Griffiths has vowed to make up for lost time after recovering from a freak...

Wasps down the Jets to get back on track

By SAM JACKSON WASPS put their crushing defeat at the hands of Newcastle behind them by grinding out a 22-12 success...

Aussie lessons can help Tom prosper

HOME-GROWN wing ace Tom Collins is a man on a mission to prove why Northampton should bank on his try-scoring talent...