Germans set to get club into PRO12

By PETER JACKSON A Swiss-based billionaire is in talks with the PRO12 aimed at catapulting a German club into what started...

Farrell lays Test claim as stuttering Lions misfire

From NICK CAIN in Whangarei WARREN GATLAND praised Owen Farrell after the fly-half put down an early marker for the Lions...

Young Gun: Ali Crossdale – England U20s full-back

Ali Cossdale is living the dream by training with the best team in Europe every day and has learned that rubbing...

Peter Jackson: Size didn’t matter in 1971, just pure ability

When they line up for the first Test, the Lions‘ backs will be three inches taller on average than their historic...

Jeff Probyn: My Lions dream knocked out by a real McCoy from Jimmy

Twenty-eight years ago I was playing in a Five Nations tournament that was, in effect, a selection trial for the 1989...

Quartet on their way to Leicester

Leicester have announced the signings of Dominic Ryan, Sione Kalamafoni, Joe Ford and Jonah Holmes. As revealed in TRP back in...

Exiles bring in Top14 star wing and six others

London Irish have landed Top 14 winger Napolioni Nalaga from Lyon ahead of next season. Nalaga, 31, who racked up 105...

James Haskell on track for a Hollywood ending!

Lions tours usually include a fairytale story along the way and Welsh legend Scott Quinnell reckons the 2017 version will have...

Farrell is Lions’ key man, not Sexton

Permutations for the Lions back line are pretty extensive but Owen Farrell must be given a jersey regardless of the number,...

Room 101: Sam Moss – Macclesfield hooker

1. Poor lineout lifts/jumps At Macclesfield we pride ourselves on our set-piece and lineout and in what has been a difficult...

Nick Cain: Of course Billy’s a loss, but others will step in

The wailing and gnashing of teeth over Billy Vunipola’s withdrawal from the Lions tour party to New Zealand due to a...

Brendan Gallagher picks his all-time Lions XV

15. JPR Williams Ever present in 1971 and 1974 and a player who took the fight to the ‘enemy’ more than...

Warburton fit to lead Lions in tour opener

Sam Warburton has recovered from his knee injury and will captain the British and Irish Lions in their opening match against...

England lose front row pair for tour

Tommy Taylor and Nick Schonert have been ruled out of England‘s tour of Argentina. Wasps hooker Taylor picked up a knee...

20 Questions: Max Clark – Bath centre

Enjoying the off-season? It came a bit earlier than we were expecting as we missed out on the Premiership play-offs so...

Wallaby leaves Leicester for Clermont

Peter Betham has left Leicester Tigers in order to join Clermont next season. Australia international Betham, 28, arrived at Welford Road...

Wood suspended for six weeks

Tom Wood has been suspended for six weeks for the stamp on Djibril Camara’s last Friday Champions Cup Play-off final against...

TRP’s National Two North Dream Team

Caldy were beaten just twice all season as they earned promotion to National League One with a very impressive campaign and...

CONFIRMED: Picamoles leaves Northampton

Northampton Saints have announced that Louis Picamoles will be leaving the club to rejoin Montpellier. The France No.8 only moved to...

Brendan Gallagher: Exeter prove patience can be greatest virtue

It was Leo Tolstoy – who doesn’t offer appear on the sports pages – who once remarked that the two most...

Jeremy Guscott: Set Faletau loose and he can cause havoc for Lions

Taulupe Faletau is in the spotlight following Billy Vunipola’s withdrawal from the Lions tour because No.8 is such an influential position....

Shane Williams: Breathtaking, now let’s hope all regions can build on success

What a win, what a performance, what a team! Hats off to everyone at the Scarlets because they’ve managed to do...

Newcastle sign England Sevens flyer

Newcastle Falcons have signed England Sevens international Cameron Cowell to their senior academy squad. The 21-year-old can play at full-back, wing...

Eddie’s in need of a big rethink says Lamb

France-bound fly-half Ryan Lamb says Eddie Jones‘ decision to exclude Freddie Burns, Danny Cipriani and Christian Wade from the tour to...

My Life in Rugby: Jimmy Richards – former Harlequins hooker

Growing up in a small fishing village in North Pembroke-shire, it wasn’t unusual for me be up at 2am and spend...

Bath Test star off to Worcester

Worcester have completed the signing of Scotland international David Denton ahead of next season. Zimbabwean-born Denton will make the switch to...

Wasps sign Springbok centre

Wasps have confirmed the signing of South African international Juan De Jongh, who will join up with Wasps after completing the...

Harlequins appoint Nick Evans as attack coach

Nick Evans will join the Harlequins coaching team as Attack Coach following his recent retirement from the game. Following a 17...

England U20s name side for JWC opener

England have named their team for the opening match of this year’s World Rugby U20s Championship against Samoa (10am BST) in...

Armand called up by England for Argentina tour

Uncapped Exeter flanker Don Armand has been named in the England squad for next month’s tour of Argentina. Zimbabwe-born 28-year-old Armand...

EXCLUSIVE: London Irish need greater finance to compete warns Crossan 

London Irish owner Mick Crossan has launched a plea for new backers to step forward after admitting he can no longer...

Dream Team: Demetri Catrakilis – future Harlequins fly-half

1. Steven Kitshoff – His all-round skills give him the nod at loosehead. Whether scrummaging, carrying, tackling he can do it...

NICK CAIN’S PLAYER WATCH…

WASPS 1. MATT MULLAN Hard day at the scrum but kept battling, and returned in extra-time to shore it up Rating:...

Exeter live the dream and rugby’s the winner

Wasps 20pts Tries: Gopperth 41, Daly 44 Conversions: Gopperth 41, 45 Penalties: Gopperth 18, 54 Exeter 23pts - After Extra Time...

Set Faletau loose and he can cause havoc for Lions

Taulupe Faletau has a different skill set from the injured Billy Vunipola PICTURE: Getty Images TAULUPE Faletau is in the spotlight...

DREAMTEAM

TOMMY BELL, THE LONDON IRISH AND FORMER LEICESTER & WASPS FLY-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…...

Lions treadmill will leave Aviva fans short-changed

COLIN BOAG This time next week it will have started – the British and Irish Lions play their first game on...

Owners must think of their members

WE are told that Newcastle season ticket holders will be compensated for taking a match to the USA and fans can...

Inadequate recovery time spells serious trouble for the Lions

SATURDAY June 3 is the first game in NZ for the Lions, just one week after the Premiership final. This is...

Cain’s right about Brown’s omission

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

Slade has new spring in his step thanks to mentor Wilkinson

HENRY Slade has revealed how confidence gained from working with boyhood hero Jonny Wilkinson helped him deliver the kick that killed...

Cowan-Dickie eyes Test spot

By NEALE HARVEY EXETER hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has vowed to turn up the heat on England skipper Dylan Hartley during next...

Paver: Jamal reminds me of the young Dan Cole

By NEALE HARVEY ONE-TIMELeicester reject Jamal Ford-Robinson could have the last laugh by challenging Tigers star Dan Cole for his England...

Eddie’s in need of a big rethink says Lamb

By NEALE HARVEY FRANCE-BOUND fly-half Ryan Lamb says Eddie Jones’ decision to exclude Freddie Burns, Danny Cipriani and Christian Wade from...

England must try to ease pain of massacre

EDDIE Jones has told his England team to do their best to lift the mood of the country after the Manchester...

Sevens set to combine

THE Sevens teams of England, Scotland and Wales are set to combine as Great Britain to allow three opportunities for Team...

Scotland triumph in London’s grand finale

ENGLAND head coach Simon Amor says they will be a better side for the disappointment of losing to Scotland in the...

Cockerill faces his old rivals in the final

FRENCH COLUMN DAVID BARNES Richard Cockerill, Nick Abendanon and David Strettle, rivals for so long in different colours in their homeland,...

DIVISION 3 PREVIEW…

Sussex v Oxfordshire Today. Kick-off 10am By NICK VERDIER HARLEQUINS star Ross Chisholm hopes he can gives something back to Sussex...

DIVISION 2 PREVIEW…

Leicestershire v Hampshire Today. Kick-off 5.15pm By SAM JACKSON LEICESTERSHIRE will play at Twickenham for the fifth time in seven years...