World Rugby made a mistake by picking Beauden Barrett as Player of the Year

Maro Itoje should have been World Rugby‘s Player of the Year by a clear margin ahead of New Zealand fly-half Beauden...

Brendan Gallagher: Germans are defying odds to climb up the rankings

So suddenly Germany are ranked 23rd in the world, hard on the heels of recent World Cup qualifiers Namibia and Uruguay...

Superstars will push Wasps up to the next level

Kurtley Beale’s instant impact and the impending arrival of Springbok superstar Willie le Roux can equip Wasps with the impetus they...

Jones joins Wales coaching set up

Former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones will join tour head coach Robin McBryde for the two-Test summer tour to the Pacific Islands,...

20 Questions: Murray McConnell – Nottingham scrum-half

How’s your season gone so far? It’s been very enjoyable. I managed to play quite a lot after Darryl Veenendaal picked...

Newcastle edges closer to host European finals

Newcastle’s desire to host the European Cup finals in 2018 has moved closer after it was confirmed that they are on...

Northampton statement on George North incident findings

Northampton Saints have issued the following statement following the publication of the Concussion Management Review Group (CMRG) regarding the on-pitch treatment...

George Earle suspended for eight weeks

Cardiff Blues second-row George Earle has been banned for eight weeks after being sent off against Bath in the Challenge Cup...

Northampton cleared over George North incident

The Concussion Management Review Group (CMRG) has concluded that George North should not have returned to play against Leicester but Northampton...

Dragons’ statement regarding Andrew Coombs

Newport Gwent Dragons have released the statement below on the comments made on a social media channel by former player Andrew...

Dylan Harltey let his country down – Jones

England captain Dylan Hartley has let “his country down” following his recent six week ban for striking an opponent according to Eddie...

Shane Williams: James Davies ban spot on but Dylan Hartley put so much at risk

There is simply no place in rugby for abusing match officials, but any talk of the Scarlets sacking James Davies for...

Nick Cain: Eddie Jones will stick with Dylan for as long as he needs to

Disciplinary wonders never cease! Two Welsh disciplinary officers – Simon Thomas and Rhian Williams, and another from Italy, Marco Cordelli –...

Jeremy Guscott: Northampton have the personnel to fight back in New Year

We have a tendency to go on autopilot when we hear that Dylan Hartley has been red-carded again. We think about...

All Blacks grab £3m jackpot at Twickenham

The All Blacks will be turning up at Twickenham next year after all for what promises to be the richest match...

My Life in Rugby: Errie Claassens – former Rotherham and Worcester wuing

Back home in South Africa it was rugby, rugby, rugby. Every break time or after school you’d be playing full contact...

James Horwill pens new Quins deal

Harlequins have been handed a big boost with the news that former Australia captain James Horwill has committed his long-term future...

Aled Brew agrees Bath extension

Bath winger Aled Brew has signed a new contract extension that will keep him at the Rec until the end of...

Haag added to Doncaster coaching staff

Doncaster have secured the appointment of former Nottingham and England U20s World Cup winning coach Martin Haag. The 48-year-old joins Clive...

Fans Shocked By Goosen Retirement

Rubgy fans worldwide received a shock when player Johan Goosen announced his retirement on December 16, 2016. Goosen is only 24...

Northampton bring in Canada prop

Northampton Saints have announced the signing of Canada international prop Jake Ilnicki until the end of the current season. The 24-year-old...

EXCLUSIVE: Premiership giants will ‘buddy up’ to save the Championship

By NEALE HARVEY Premiership Rugby could assume control of the Championship as part of revolutionary plans to overhaul the top two...

Wasps statement after Connacht blunder

Wasps have issued the following response to EPCR’s statement yesterday, which clarified that a mistake was made by match officials in...

Dream Team: Dan Mugford – Sale fly-half

1. Mako Vunipola – I don’t know a lot about pushing in the scrum but his skill set is top draw...

EPCR confirm Connacht were lucky to go for last-gasp try against Wasps

EPCR would like to clarify an issue arising from yesterday’s European Rugby Champions Cup, Round 4 match between Connacht Rugby and...

King joins Wales coaching staff

Wales have named Alex King as their attack coach in a temporary role for the 2017 Six Nations before he joins...

Young Gun: Dylan Moss – Wellington College full-back

Dylan Moss might have a confidence-boosting contract with the Ospreys awaiting for next season but he is under no illusion the...

Newcastle sign London Welsh centre

Newcastle have signed London Welsh centre Nick Reynolds on a short-term deal until the end of the season. The 27-year-old will...

Bath release Rec statement

Bath have released a statement updating fans about their situation with regards to redevelopment at the Recreation Ground. Bath Rugby is...

Gloucester respond to EPCR statement about takeover

In the light of this morning’s statement from EPCR regarding an application for consent for the acquisition of a majority stake...

Jeff Probyn: Rather than bonus points, let’s regulate the kickers

Reading Nick Cain’s article in last week’s paper, got me thinking about the Six Nations and why the committee think it...

Peter Jackson: Billy Boston’s old club being left for dead by the Union

The world’s first multi-racial rugby club, the one in Cardiff docks made famous by Billy Boston, is fighting for its life....

EPCR statement regarding Gloucester

EPCR has received an application for consent for the acquisition of a majority stake in Gloucester Rugby by Altrad Participations –...

Jack Clifford’s back to press his claim for a starring role

Jack Clifford believes he has returned stronger and fitter than ever following an eight-week injury lay off that forced him to...

Room 101: Luke Charteris – Bath lock

1. Artifical pitches I’ve been called many things in my time but agile isn’t one of them. So, I’m not a...

Promising lock commits to Harlequins

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper on December 4, Harlequins have managed to keep hold of George Merrick...

World Rugby gets tougher on head contact

World Rugby has further strengthened its commitment to injury prevention by announcing details of a zero-tolerance approach to reckless and accidental...

Solomona to make controversial Sale debut on Sunday

Denny Solomona will make his controversial Sale debut on Sunday as the Sharks take on Saracens in the Champions Cup. The...

Brendan Gallagher: Lamentable affair which left the Lions in doldrums

From the outside looking in, the 1966 Lions visit to New Zealand seems like a calamitous affair. A first ever Test...

Nick Cain compares England’s world beaters of 2003 with Eddie Jones’ current crop

1. Trevor Woodman v Mako Vunipola Vunipola has improved as a scrummager to the extent that there is little between him...

Shane Williams: Get off Howley’s back, he’s proved a winner at top level

The worst kept secret in rugby is out. Warren Gatland‘s selection of Rob Howley, Steve Borthwick and Andy Farrell as his...

‘Pool of Death’ set to become a World Cup regular

The group-stage elimination of England in the 2015 Rugby World Cup came about, in part at least, as a result of...

Kruis will keep his foot down in quest to be Borthwick’s man Down Under

British & Lions hopeful George Kruis is adamant there will be no favouritism from Steve Borthwick despite his former Saracens colleague’s...

Dylan Hartley hit for six

Dylan Hartley had been hit with a six-week following his red card in the Champions Cup last Friday. The England captain...

20 Questions: Chris Davies – Richmond No.8

How good was it to beat London Scottish the other week? It was a great day for the players and everyone...

VIDEO: Pascal Pape warned for farcical dive

Former France lock Pascal Papé has been issued with a warning following Stade Francais’ match against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Saturday....

England announce 2017 autumn series

England have announced their opponents for the 2017 Old Mutual Wealth Series. First, an England XV will take on the Barbarians...

Jeremy Guscott: Lions must borrow Ireland blueprint to reign supreme

Warren Gatland is the right man to be head coach of this Lions tour to New Zealand because of the success...

Nick Cain: Clear this fog over North for the sake of others

Northampton‘s attempt to shroud the crucial issue of George North being knocked out against Leicester last weekend in a fog of...

Quit now George, says top brain doctor

George North must consider retiring rather than run further risk of brain damage, according to an expert on concussion. “George does...