Rob Baxter: Tom Hooper will be the first of a few big-name signings for Exeter Chiefs

By Paul Rees Tom Hooper is the first of a number of big signings Exeter intend to make before the end...

Will Wand enjoying life as a Leicester Tiger

By Paul Rees Will Wand is living his dream with Leicester, the club he supported as a boy, having become a...

Lam on the lookout for cover at No.10

PAT Lam is looking to add an outside-half to Bristol’s squad with only one fit 10 on the books. AJ MacGinty...

The seven best head-to-head matchups in the Champions Cup this weekend

By Charlie Elliott The Champions Cup pool stage is at the business end now, with plenty still to play for going into the final...

Champions Cup: Permutations of Final Pool Games 

By Charlie Elliott The Champions Cup enters its final round of fixtures in the pool stage over the course of the...

Max Llewellyn snub from Six Nations sums up everything wrong with Welsh Rugby

By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports The Wales squad has officially been announced, and Welsh fans will likely have mixed emotions when...

Anthony Watson announces retirement after injury struggles

England and Leicester wing Anthony Watson has been forced to retire from professional rugby on medical grounds. The 30-year-old has had...

Donnacha Ryan reflects on career and life coaching La Rochelle

By Brendan McGilligan There are some people that have people who look so alike you could be forgiven for thinking that...

Levani Botia – My wife didn’t know I played rugby until she saw me on TV

By Brendan McGilligan Flicking between the channels on the television, Emele Veivuke landed on a rugby match. Not being a rugby...

Ilona Maher: Rugby union needs culture shift to create stars and grow the game

Ilona Maher says that rugby union has to shift culture and mindset if it is going to evolve as a sport....

Simon Easterby welcomes return of Leinster quartet for Ireland’s Six Nations title defence

Interim head coach Simon Easterby believes the availability of Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Jimmy O’Brien “massively increases” Ireland’s...

Uncapped prop Jack Boyle named in first Ireland squad under Simon Easterby

Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has named uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle in a 36-man squad for the Guinness Six...

Gregor Townsend hoping Kyle Steyn can still feature for Scotland in Six Nations

Gregor Townsend is hopeful that Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn can still play a big part in the Six Nations despite being...

Lock Jonny Gray and hooker Dave Cherry recalled by Scotland for Six Nations

Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray and Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry have been recalled to the Scotland squad for the Guinness Six Nations....

How South Africa Will Lead Online Casino Trends in Africa in 2025

The online casino industry in Africa is poised for rapid growth in 2025, and South Africa is at the forefront of...

Steve Borthwick backs new skipper Maro Itoje to lead England at 2027 World Cup

Steve Borthwick insists Maro Itoje can lead England into the next World Cup after appointing him captain for the upcoming Six...

George Skivington surprised by Gloucester duo’s absence from Wales’ Six Nations squad

Gloucester rugby director George Skivington has admitted his surprise at the omission of Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn from Wales’ Six...

S4, E18: Maro Itoje England captaincy reaction and Niko Matawalu madness

Join Ollie Little, Brendan Gallagher and Chris Hewett for this week’s Rugby Paper Podcast edition, recorded just half an hour after...

Legendary Sports Comebacks: Moments That Defined Resilience

Sports have an unmatched ability to showcase the triumph of the human spirit. Among the most memorable moments are incredible comebacks...

Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as England captain for Six Nations

Maro Itoje will lead England into the upcoming Guinness Six Nations after replacing Jamie George as captain. George has been in...

When Was the Last Time Each Team Won the Six Nations?

The Six Nations Championship has long been Europe’s premier rugby tournament, and in a matter of weeks, the action gets underway...

How iGaming Operators Are Ensuring Transparency with Provably Fair Games

In the rapidly expanding world of online gaming, transparency and trust have become key factors for players when choosing a platform...

The Connection Between Online Gaming and Cryptocurrency

You’ve probably noticed how online gaming has become incredibly popular lately. With technology advancing at breakneck speed, gaming experiences are getting...

Teddy Thomas reflects on career success, fatherhood

Lifting the most prestigious European competitions within rugby is only achieved by a small percentage despite the countless number of children...

Philippe Saint-Andre challenges Sale Sharks to win something

Philippe Saint-Andre has assessed Sale’s title prospects and declared: "It’s about time they won something again."

Handre Pollard: Argentina will test Steve Borthwick’s England

England have been warned to expect “tough battles” when they enter the backyard of the Pumas later this year.

Newcastle Falcons to open player contract talks despite relegation worry

Steve Diamond is set to start contract talks this week with players he wants to retain, although the threat of relegation...

Bill Sweeney facing SGM following Six Nations

The RFU will hold a special general meeting after the men’s Six Nations with chief executive Bill Sweeney facing demands for...

‘Je ne regrette rien’: Lewis Ludlam loving life at Toulon

Lewis Ludlam insists he will return to Northampton one day but has no regrets about leaving the town or England behind...

Sam Underhill to undergo surgery and miss Six Nations

England flanker Sam Underhill is an injury doubt for the Six Nations after Bath announced that he requires ankle surgery.

New signing Regan Grace out to seize his chance at Cardiff

Cardiff have revealed how the signing of Regan Grace was made possible by an injury to one of their Wales stars.

Jack Singleton on breaking into the England set-up, again

Much time has passed since Jack Singleton's leg break sustained against Northampton two years ago and the hooker is looking to...

James Ramm: Player rivalry is pushing Northampton to success

James Ramm believes the rivalry among Northampton’s backs off the field can help inspire the club to more silverware on it.

Sorry, Nick, but it’s different in France

NICK Cain has spent several issues arguing the case for promotion from the Championship and made an unfavourable comparison with French...

No room for Gerald

PETER Jackson’s excellent tribute to rugby’s latest knight in last week’s paper gave rise to the thought: Would Gerald Davies get...

Flag of inconvenience

I AM glad to see the authorities have finally caught up with Kirill Gotovtsev and the Russian flag that has been...

Is Bill Beaumont the right man for the job?

Rugby Union’s dire inability to handle the crisis threatening a great sport’s future is reflected in Sir Bill Beaumont’s hasty appointment...

Dream Team – Matt Corker

MATT CORKER, THE CANTERBURY HEAD COACH AND FORMER WASPS, LONDON WELSH & RICHMOND PLAYER, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED...

Jeremy Guscott: Four changes to fire up England

Whoever makes the England Six Nations squad, to be announced on Tuesday by Steve Borthwick, I cannot imagine much in the...

Stade Francais 45-35 Northampton Saints: Henry Pollock power show can’t rescue Saints

By Adam Hathaway at Stade Jean Bouin Stade Francais- 45 Tries: Dakuwaqa 22, Van der Mescht 29, Tanga 40+2, 57, Penalty...

Phil Dowson: Henry Pollock is ready for England

Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson insists Henry Pollock is ready for an England call-up if it comes on Tuesday when their...

Rampant Stormers too good for Sharks

By LUKE JARMYN Stormers ……………………… 40pts Sale ………………………………… 0pts Tries: Schickerling 21, Libbok 25, Sithole 45, Gelant 54, De Wet 63,...

Alex Sanderson – We were taught a lesson

Alex Sanderson said his Sale side will “own it” after suffering their biggest defeat in 15 months. It’s the first time...

Munster 17-12 Saracens: Saracens miss out but still in contention

Saracens – high in effort, determination and ticker but low in poise, finesse and attacking nous – missed a golden opportunity...

“We’re in good shape to take on Northampton” , says Tadhg Beirne

Star man Tadhg Beirne wants Munster to take this form into the clash at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday to secure a...

11-try blitz as Chiefs suffer record defeat

By MARK STEVENS Exeter Chiefs ................... 17pts Tries: Brown-Bampoe 8, 48, Hammersley 70 Conversion: Slade 49 Bordeaux Begles ........... 69pts Tries:...

Baxter: It looks like a bit of a stuffing

EXETER director of rugby Rob Baxter could not hide his disappointment after watching his side slip to a record Champions Cup...

Glasgow Warriors 29-19 Racing 92: Sione Tuipulotu helps set up Harlequins showdown

Glasgow will head to Harlequins on Saturday on a mission to avenge last year’s round-of-16 loss and seal their first home...

Leicester Tigers 38-10 Ulster: Josh Bassett shines to make sure for Leicester

Josh Bassett warmed the hands and hearts of the Welford Road faithful with a fine hat-trick as Tigers cruised into the...

Sharks 8-20 Toulouse: Toulouse on easy street as the sun beats down

This match proved more of a damp squib rather than a tournament classic as reigning champions Toulouse showcased their class by...