Nick Cain

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Nick Cain news, views, opinion and other content.

You lot are subs right? | Nick Cain

23 December 2020 1 comment

Nick Cain looks at how squads attempting to build an atmosphere at empty stadiums can cross the line

Japan and Fiji could spring the big surprise at 2023 Rugby World Cup

22 December 2020 1 comment

Nick Cain examines the winners and losers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup draw

Will Melville be able to stick with his no ring-fence stance?

20 December 2020 0 comments

THE arrival of Nigel Melville in a new role as executive chairman of Premiership Rugby’s investor board is a welcome appointment – not least because […]

RFU must not cave in to Prem pressure

6 December 2020 0 comments

WITH strong rumours of an attempt to ring-fence the top league at the end of this campaign persisting, it is time for the RFU to […]

Cain column: The control freaks will stifle rugby fans’ interest

2 December 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain responds to Eddie Jones’ calls for an end to the ‘archaic’ rule of naming a squad 48 hours before a contest

Wounded Welsh Lions face battle for survival

27 November 2020 0 comments

The plight of Wales this autumn could hinder the number of Lions tourists selected by Warren Gatland, should their faults not be fixed

Cain column: King Sam Cane belittles his subjects – and his All Blacks captaincy

25 November 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain writes on Sam Cane disparaging his own captaincy with criticisms of All Blacks fans

Cain column: Geordan Murphy was laid out like a lamb headed for slaughter

18 November 2020 0 comments

Geordan Murphy is a victim of long-standing mismanagement by Leicester chairman Peter Tom and the Tigers board, writes Nick Cain

Let’s blood the newcomers against Georgia

12 November 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain suggests the team that England head coach Eddie Jones should test against the Lelos

Cain column: Italy are hanging over the cliff edge in face of no coaches

11 November 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain looks at how the development of Italian coaches in the professional era is virtually non-existent

Cain column: Irish prudence poses more questions to the RFU

6 November 2020 0 comments

Now is the time that unions are releasing their financial accounts – Nick Cain looks at the numbers and finds disparity between the RFU and IRFU

Eddie Jones needs tries to make up ground on Ireland in Six Nations finale

27 October 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain shines the spotlight on England’s midfield being the main area requiring clear thinking in selection ahead of facing Italy

Cain column: Justin Marshall was lone voice in the call for fair play

21 October 2020 0 comments

A blatant penalty from Game 1 of the Bledisloe Cup has ben purged from highlights of the 16-16 draw

Cain column: Will Eddie’s big smile embrace the new caps?

15 October 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain believes England head coach Eddie Jones could have better utilised his training camp to whet the midfield options available

Cain column: How did a £91m sink hole open up to swallow RFU?

7 October 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain questions where the RFU cash reserves have been spent, and how the government will be asking the same

Cain column: Why can I mingle in a shop but not at rugby?

30 September 2020 0 comments

It’s time for Bill Sweeney to rattle the government’s cage, writes Nick Cain

Premiership play-off race going down to the wire

28 September 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain looks at the Premiership run-in with three play-off places still up for grabs

Cain column: Crafty Boks try to get the best of both worlds

24 September 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain analyses looks at SA Rugby’s attempts to ford a bridge between hemispheres

Jimmy Gopperth is having a blast at youth-inspired Premiership challengers Wasps

18 September 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain discusses Wasps revival under Lee Blackett and his hopes for the future now he is 37

Cain column: Even being charitable, the Farrell-on-Atkinson tackle was a disgrace

16 September 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain analyses the five-match ban given to Owen Farrell, halved thanks to positive character references

‘With every try I score I honour my best mate who died’ – Stuart Hogg

3 September 2020 0 comments

The Scotland captain was involved in a car accident which he was fortunate to escape from a decade ago

Cain column: Flattery can even help you win the Rugby World Cup

2 September 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain shares his view on the report highlighting how the Springboks got on the right side of World Cup final referee Jerome Garces

Cain column: No room for ‘Razor’ in Gatland’s Lions

28 August 2020 0 comments

Scott Robertson is looking for an out after being overlooked for the All Blacks job by NZ Rugby, writes Nick Cain

Nick Cain names his England team to claim 2023 Rugby World Cup glory

26 August 2020 0 comments

Plus five players who Eddie Jones needs to take a look at this autumn

Is record-setting Test prop Owen Franks off the pace in northern hemisphere scrums?

20 August 2020 0 comments

The Northampton Saints loosehead and All Blacks centurion Franks is operating at a ‘3 out of 10’ by his admission

Cain column: Battered Dylan Hartley bitter ode to the dying of the light

20 August 2020 0 comments

Dylan Hartley’s new book will detail the rigours of intense training under England head coach Eddie Jones

Cain column: Workload too heavy? Get players to lose bulk

14 August 2020 0 comments

Super Rugby Aotearoa format gives an idea of Northern Hemisphere rugby’s fast and furious calendar structure, writes Nick Cain

Why won’t Eddie pick Alex Dombrandt? It’s a mystery to Winterbottom

14 August 2020 0 comments

England and Harlequins great Peter Winterbottom deliberates why Dombrandt is being overlooked by the England head coach

Cain column: Ed Griffiths must bin four-year promotion-relegation moratorium in proposal

4 August 2020 0 comments

The 76-page Championship revamp proposal drafted by Ed Griffiths would see promotion to the Premiership offset for four years

Cueto and Hodgson believe Manu Tuilagi can banish any doubts over Sale’s staying power

22 July 2020 0 comments

Sale Premiership winners Mark Cueto and Charlie Hodgson offer their two cents on the boost Tuilagi offers the Sharks

Cain column: Sotutu for England? Has Eddie Jones forgotten Dombrandt?

21 July 2020 0 comments

Blues No.8 Hoskins Sotutu has been one of the breakthrough players in Super Rugby Aotearoa, and Eddie Jones has been watching

Ollie Devoto the new Will Greenwood? There is still time to find out

17 July 2020 0 comments

The Exeter Chiefs centre’s blighted England career doesn’t have to be remembered as such, writes Nick Cain

Cain column: Kiwi knives are out for ‘dud’ Gatland

15 July 2020 0 comments

The Chiefs remain winless in Super Rugby Aotearoa, faring little better than before lockdown

The multiple talking points of Gloucester’s summer so far

10 July 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain looks at the change in direction taken by the Gloucester boardroom over the summer

Exclusive: ‘Iron Mike’ Teague cuts ties with Gloucester

7 July 2020 0 comments

Mike Teague shares how he has become disenchanted with the change of core values at Gloucester

Lions contenders RANKED – Stuart Hogg can finally show his credentials

7 July 2020 0 comments

The Scotland captain can fulfill what was taken away from him by injury in 2017

Cain column: Shielded Childs leaving a long wait for Premiership’s return

7 July 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain looks at the many questions arising from the Premiership’s plan to return to rugby

Cain column: Clubs hold the aces in global power struggle

1 July 2020 0 comments

EPCR have long be banging the drum for a seat on World Rugby’s council – not unreasonable, but is it realistic?

Lions contenders RANKED – Adams and May lead the way for wing combination

29 June 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain offers the five wings ready to make life difficult for the Boks’ defence in 2021

Lewis Ludlam interview – I was called some bad names but it never held me back

26 June 2020 0 comments

The England and Northampton flanker talks in-depth about his experience as a mixed-race British man and his education at St Joseph’s

Cain column: Tell the south to keep their hands off our jewels

24 June 2020 0 comments

Moving the Six Nations and domestic leagues towards the summer would see rugby’s exposure diminish, not be enhanced, writes Nick Cain

Tell the south to keep hands off our jewels

21 June 2020 0 comments

WHERE World Rugby’s plans for a global season are concerned there is a growing sense that the tail is wagging the dog, and that it […]

Will RFU use snatch squads over Swing Low?

21 June 2020 1 comment

THE decision by the RFU to launch a review of the historical context of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot shows how inept the current administration is. […]

Lions contenders RANKED – Jon Davies can still ruffle Bok feathers

19 June 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain pins Wales centre Jon Davies as the main man for the Lions No.13 shirt

Shaun Edwards interview – Coming to France has probably taken me out of the Lions job

19 June 2020 0 comments

In such little time, Shaun Edwards has helped France deal with the intensity of sporting cauldrons

Cain column: 2023 Rugby World Cup draw can’t be held amid the chaos

17 June 2020 0 comments

Set to be held in November 2020, Nick Cain explains why it wouldn’t be moral timing to hold the RWC2023 draw

Lions tour contenders RANKED – Tuilagi has the power to trouble de Allende

12 June 2020 0 comments

Irish duo in tow for battle of Lions No.12 shirt for tour of South Africa

Luke Cowan-Dickie interview – Hooked on being the best for England

11 June 2020 0 comments

Is the gap closing on Jamie George after the Exeter hooker’s form this season?

Cain column: Sam Burgess gets his own back in the end

9 June 2020 0 comments

Nick Cain reacts to Sam Burgess finally giving his account of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, after staying silent until last week

RFU facing new round of staff cuts in cash crisis at Twickenham

9 June 2020 0 comments

The financial accounts for 2019 show the RFU have next to no reserves

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