Champions Cup qualification process to change

The Pro12 nations have lost automatic qualification to the Champions Cup as EPCR today announced that only the best seven teams...

Mercer: I’ll prove why I should be in Argentina

Teenage back row sensation Zach Mercer aims to show Eddie Jones why he should have been on the senior tour to...

20 Questions: Will Owen – Rotherham centre

How do you look back at the season two weeks on? It wasn’t great and very frustrating. We started the season...

Brendan Gallagher: We’re going to miss you Ashton, try scoring ace

No one individual ever wins a match for Saracens, it’s not how they go about their work, but it was slightly...

Jeremy Guscott: French World Cup record is big threat to England

Every international coach ranked 1-8 wanted to avoid the 2019 RWC group Argentina were in. They are a nation that showed...

Nick Cain: World Cups need more pools of death

Here are the cold hard facts. There is only one “pool of death” in the 2019 World Cup draw made in...

Francis out to prove his versatility in Argentina

Gobsmacked Auckland Blues fly-half Piers Francis has revealed how he thought a 5am phone call from Eddie Jones advising him of...

My Life in Rugby: Peter Scrivener – former Wasps No.8

In the early days of professionalism, I was officially the highest paid player in the world which still makes the lads...

TEAMS: Championship final (first leg)

Yorkshire Carnegie Head Coach Bryan Redpath has named his side for the first leg of the Championship Play Off Final against...

Worcester tie down another Springbok

Worcester have announced that South Africa international Dewald Potgieter has signed a new contract to extend his stay at Sixways. Potgieter...

Flanker quits Newcastle for Ealing

Dan Temm will swap life beside the River Tyne for life near the Thames when he joins Ealing Trailfinders from Newcastle...

2018 and 2019 Six Nations fixtures announced

The fixtures for both the 2018 and 2019 Six Nations Championships have been announced. Rugby’s Greatest Championship will take place over...

All Blacks will need big guns firing – Franks

Double World Cup-winning Kiwi prop Ben Franks reckons the array of “world-class” talent within the Lions ranks, led by the indomitable...

Dream Team: Karl Dickson – Harlequins scrum-half

1. Joe Marler – One of the hardest men in rugby and that’s why he’s going on the Lions tour this...

NICK CAIN’S PLAYER WATCH…

CLERMONT 1. RAPHAEL CHAUME Did his duty at the scrum, and did not stint at close quarters Rating: 6 out of...

Ref Owens makes it tougher for Cup heroes

Clermont 17pts Tries: Lamerat 27, Abendanon 52 Conversions: Parra 28, 54 Penalties: Parra 60 Saracens 28pts Tries: Ashton 13, Kruis 22,...

French World Cup record is big threat to England

Developing: Fly-half Camille Lopez could be a danger in Japan 2019 PICTURE: Getty Images EVERY international coach ranked 1-8 wanted to...

DREAM TEAM

BRENDAN McKIBBIN, THE LONDON IRISH & FORMER WARATAHS SCRUM-HALF, CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST… 1. Tom...

Scotland’s shame to vote against the five-year rule

COLIN BOAG Well done World Rugby for finally getting to grips with the ridiculous three-year residency rule that led to the...

Can Laidlaw really scare New Zeland?

AS a former scrumhalf, I tend to keep an eye on how the 9s are playing at international level. I know...

Referees must stop turning a blind eye to the game’s Laws

I UNDERSTAND that even with three officials on the pitch, rugby is a difficult game to referee. However, I often feel...

English lads ahead of ‘project players’

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: The Rugby Paper, Tuition House, St Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU email: newsdesk@therugbypaper.co.uk MIKE Brown and James...

Too much rugby? No, I want to play more says Marchant

By NICK VERDIER JOHN Kingston might think Joe Marchant has played too much rugby this season, but the young Harlequins centre...

England call caps stellar six months for injury-stricken Warrior Spencer

ENGLAND new boy Will Spencer has revealed how close he came to quitting rugby before battling back from a trio of...

Blues bolter out to prove his versatility in Argentina

By NEALE HARVEY GOBSMACKED Auckland Blues fly-half Piers Francis has revealed how he thought a 5am phone call from Eddie Jones...

Tough pool perfect for knockout preparation says Eddie

ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones has given his players two years to become ‘bullet-proof like James Bond’ after his side were pitched...

Wallabies will be force again come 2019 warns Smith

Robust: Michael Cheika By NEALE HARVEY WRITING off Australia’s World Cup chances on the back of an abysmal Super Rugby campaign...

Stade sale begins as club await new owner

Stade Francais turned the winning of the first European trophy in their history into a farewell party for some of their...

Top gong to Piutau

ULSTER’S Charles Piutau was named players’ player of the season in the PRO12. Leinster’s Joey Carbery was named young player of...

Keys hold the edge but face tricky test at Neath

By ROB COLE PREVIEW... Neath v Cross Keys Today. Kick-off 2.30pm, The Gnoll IT IS 2-1 to Cross Keys against Neath...

Prosser’s late show sees Black & Ambers snatch the win

By JAMES LLOYD A LAST-DITCHMatt Prosser try saw Newport dramatically book their place in the Premiership Tier Two final with a...

Familiar foes ready to battle with higher stakes

By ROB COLE PREVIEW... Aberavon v Bedwas Today. Kick-off 3.30pm, Talbot Athletic Ground THEY met at the Talbot Athletic Ground last...

Ironmen finally break RGC curse to maintain their title tilt

Merthyr ..........35 RGC 1404 ..........7 By ROB COLE IT WAS fourth time lucky for Merthyr as they finally beat RGC 1404...

Village heading for the Champ in style

SWALEC Division One round-up By JAMES LLOYD RHYDYFELIN booked their place in the National Championship for next season after they spectacularly...

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

SIMON BINNS THE FORMER LEICESTER, ROTHERHAM, LONDON SCOTTISH AND OTLEY FLY-HALF Iexperienced some memorable wins as a player – beating Bath...

Flood back to Falcons after nine-year hiatus

By NICK VERDIER TOBY Flood will be returning to Newcastle this summer after Toulouse agreed to release him from his contract...

Let’s help Paul in his greatest battle

PAUL ACKFORD played alongside Paul Curtis in the Harlequins side that won the 1988 John Player Cup final. Here the England...

Crossword

ACROSS 1. Romania’s 1999 World Cup scrum-half who also captained the Oaks (4) 3. Montpellier’s Syrian billionaire chairman eyeing Gloucester investment...

Gopperth wins players’ player

WASPS Jimmy Gopperth was named RPA’s Player of the Year, while Dan Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Gopperth...

Moseley go for Cross

SIMON Cross is the new head coach at Moseley, replacing Kevin Maggs. Cross will combine the role with his job as...

WRU take control over Dragons

NEWPORT RFC shareholders overwhelmingly voted in favour of a Welsh Rugby Union takeover of Newport Gwent Dragons. 81.09 per cent voted...

England stay on course for silver

Paris By NICK VERDIER ENGLAND finished Day One unbeaten in Paris to set up a quarter- final clash against the USA...

Player of the year’s eyes fixed on 2020

AWARD-WINNING England 7s star Richard de Carpentier has set his heart on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after missing out on medal...

Essex given a big scare after the interval

Division Three Round-up By CHRIS HUGHES ESSEX moved top of the Pool One table in Division Three as they held off...

Banks impresses in Herts demolition

By TONY FIELDING Hertfordshire 46 Gloucs ..............19 HERTFORDSHIRE overpowered Gloucestershire as they ran out comfortbale winners at Hertford. Sam Barnes grabbed...

Tom Terrific helps Kent edge thriller

Surrey ..............17 Kent ..................18 By GRAHAM COX AN ENTHRALLING finale to a tight match saw Kent overturn a ninepoint lead to...

Epic finale beckons as Cornwall cruise

Devon ............11 Cornwall........56 By NIGEL WALROND CORNWALL set up a winners- takes-all showdown with Hertfordshire next Saturday as they ruthlessly swept...

Crowe soaring high to help Cheshire bounce

Cheshire ..............32pts East Midlands ..24pts By JAMIE RUSSELL Speedy service: Alistair Baker gets the Cheshire back line moving. Right: Joe Daniel...

Pete at the treble to Swat Yorkshire

Northum’land 22 Yorkshire........34 By BEN PICKIN PETE Swatkins scored a second half hat-trick to inspire Yorkshire to a tight victory over...

Lancs find their form to triumph

Eastern Coun..15 Lancashire ....38 By STEVE JACKSON DESPITE a solid firsthalf display, Eastern Counties were ground down and eventually overwhelmed by...