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This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s Featured news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Salary cap cheats cost Northampton trophies

4 July 2017 0 comments

Outgoing Northampton chief executive Allan Robson admits he will always remain bitter over instances of salary cap abuse that he claims denied Saints the chance […]

We proved England can reach top says Yarde

29 June 2017 0 comments

Wing ace Marland Yarde reckons England‘s impressive Test series victory over Argentina has laid down a vital marker in the quest to become the world’s […]

I’ll make up for England blow says Dunn

28 June 2017 0 comments

Highly rated Bath hooker Tom Dunn admits being “gutted” about the injury that denied him the chance of facing his Argentinian hero Agustin Creevy on […]

FULL-TIME: Yellow Lions forced to settle for draw in Wellington

27 June 2017 0 comments

A late yellow card to Iain Henderson cost the British and Irish Lions in Wellington this morning as they were forced to concede a 31-31 […]

O’Mahony to lead Lions against All Blacks

22 June 2017 0 comments

Peter O’Mahony will captain the British & Irish Lions against New Zealand in the first Test in Auckland on Saturday. Ireland flanker O’Mahony, who led […]

REPORT: Sensational tries help the Lions beat the Chiefs in Hamilton

20 June 2017 0 comments

The British and Irish Lions will go into the Test Series against the All Blacks on the back of two convincing wins as they thumped […]

James Haskell – I’m not here to drink coffee

15 June 2017 0 comments

James Haskell is a Lion who, in his own words, “got in through the back door”, but after hearing him hold court in Christchurch this […]

Love him, loathe him, SBW is deadly – Lions legend John Taylor

14 June 2017 0 comments

New Zealanders are still not sure about Sonny Bill Williams. Mention his name and, immediately, you are guaranteed a reaction – he polarises opinion like […]

REPORT: Lions go down to the Highlanders in Dunedin

13 June 2017 0 comments

Marty Banks kicked a late penalty as the Lions have suffered their second defeat of their New Zealand tour going down 23-22 to the Highlanders […]

Wonderkid Sam ready for big Test to prove solution at No7

10 June 2017 0 comments

Sam Underhill, the most talked about player yet to be capped by England, is determined to prove he has substance to go with the hype on tour of Argentina.

REPORT: Lions suffer 22-16 defeat against the Blues at Eden Park

7 June 2017 0 comments

The Lions suffered their first defeat of their tour of New Zealand as a late Ihaia West try handed the Blues a famous 22-16 win at […]

Hartley is focused on England not Lions SOS

6 June 2017 0 comments

Captain Dylan Hartley will lead England out against Argentina on Saturday fully focused on the job at hand claiming missing out on another Lions tour […]

James Haskell on track for a Hollywood ending!

2 June 2017 0 comments

Lions tours usually include a fairytale story along the way and Welsh legend Scott Quinnell reckons the 2017 version will have James Haskell in the […]

Farrell is Lions’ key man, not Sexton

2 June 2017 0 comments

Permutations for the Lions back line are pretty extensive but Owen Farrell must be given a jersey regardless of the number, says Will Greenwood. With […]

Eddie’s in need of a big rethink says Lamb

31 May 2017 0 comments

France-bound fly-half Ryan Lamb says Eddie Jones’ decision to exclude Freddie Burns, Danny Cipriani and Christian Wade from the tour to Argentina is “unbelievable”. Lamb, […]

EXCLUSIVE: London Irish need greater finance to compete warns Crossan

30 May 2017 0 comments

London Irish owner Mick Crossan has launched a plea for new backers to step forward after admitting he can no longer afford to sustain heavy […]

Harry hoping to follow dad’s lead in Argentina

26 May 2017 0 comments

Harry Mallinder is hoping for another summer where he feels on top of the world after what he admits has been “a mixed season.” Having […]

Blackadder takes swipe at below-par Bath stars

25 May 2017 0 comments

Bath rugby director Todd Blackadder has put his star players on notice after admitting standards of professionalism had fallen below his expectations. Despite a promising […]

I can’t wait to get back to Leicester says Ford

24 May 2017 0 comments

George Ford is focused on another successful summer in white before returning to former club Leicester determined to win some silverware after a barren spell […]

Genge eyes overtime as stars near game limit

23 May 2017 0 comments

Leicester prop Ellis Genge is committed to going the extra mile for England in Argentina despite the likelihood of him busting the RFU’s notional 32-game […]

Hogan calls for franchise system to save the north

20 May 2017 0 comments

Newcastle managing director Mick Hogan believes club rugby in the north faces terminal decline unless the RFU act to reverse a trend that has seen […]

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

19 May 2017 0 comments

John Kingston might think Joe Marchant has played too much rugby this season, but the young Harlequins centre is desperate for two more games to […]

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

18 May 2017 0 comments

Teenage back row sensation Zach Mercer aims to show Eddie Jones why he should have been on the senior tour to Argentina by leading England […]

Francis out to prove his versatility in Argentina

17 May 2017 0 comments

Gobsmacked Auckland Blues fly-half Piers Francis has revealed how he thought a 5am phone call from Eddie Jones advising him of his shock England call-up […]

All Blacks will need big guns firing – Franks

16 May 2017 0 comments

Double World Cup-winning Kiwi prop Ben Franks reckons the array of “world-class” talent within the Lions ranks, led by the indomitable Maro Itoje, will ensure […]

Woodburn refusing to give up on England dream

13 May 2017 0 comments

In-form Exeter wing Olly Woodburn reckons being snubbed by England has only fuelled his ambition to nail down a Premiership winner’s medal. Ten-try Woodburn is […]

Freddie Burns determined to leave Tigers with winning roar

12 May 2017 0 comments

Freddie Burns is out to prove Leicester were wrong to ditch him for George Ford by leading the club to an unexpected Premiership title triumph. […]

Burgess: I’d have been worth weight, like Ardie

11 May 2017 0 comments

Phil Burgess is proud to be a Sevens player but he does regret he was never given the chance to showcase his talent at the […]

Te’o warns Farrell: I’m aiming to be a starter

10 May 2017 0 comments

Ben Te’o has warned fellow British & Lions No.12 hopefuls Owen Farrell and Robbie Henshaw he aims to be a starter during the three-Test series […]

EXCLUSIVE: Lions snub ‘gutted’ me admits an angry Brown

9 May 2017 0 comments

Raging England full-back Mike Brown has vowed to take out his frustrations on Argentina after revealing his anger at Warren Gatland’s Lions snub. Combative Brown […]

McGeechan: Lions have quality to win

6 May 2017 0 comments

No one speaks with more authority and knowledge about the British & Irish Lions than Sir Ian McGeechan, who was head coach a record four […]

Only way to beat the All Blacks is all out attack – Robbie Fruean

5 May 2017 0 comments

As a proud Kiwi, Robbie Fruean would never bet against the All Blacks, but he reckons their downfall against the Lions this summer could come […]

Tigers No.1 legacy safe with Genge says Ayerza

4 May 2017 0 comments

Leicester prop legend Marcos Ayerza has revealed how the joy of entrusting his beloved No.1 jersey to tyro loosehead Ellis Genge softened the blow of […]

Hartley’s Lions hopes ‘were stifled by Saints’

3 May 2017 0 comments

Dylan Hartley‘s failure to win a Lions call had its roots in Northampton‘s restricted game plan, according to former England and Saints hooker Andy Long. […]

Billy and I can mix it up in back row says Faletau

28 April 2017 0 comments

Taulupe Faletau insists he will have no qualms switching to flanker for the Lions if it means starting alongside his cousin and No.8 rival, Billy […]

Lozowski is ready to state case for England

27 April 2017 0 comments

Alex Lozowski has declared himself ready to stake a claim for England‘s coveted No.10 jersey on the back of a stellar first season at Saracens. […]

EXCLUSIVE: Wage bills will push clubs to the brink

26 April 2017 0 comments

By NEALE HARVEY Leicester Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen warns Premiership finances could “fall off a cliff” unless a handbrake is applied to rocketing wage […]

Richards: RFU must bring in Championship age cap

22 April 2017 0 comments

London Scottish head coach Peter Richards reckons the Championship is failing English player development and says squad age limits are the answer. Richards, who is […]

Wigglesworth staying on for more trophy success

21 April 2017 0 comments

Influential Sarries scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth has revealed his devotion to winning persuaded him to turn down big money offers from France. Wigglesworth, capped 27 times […]

All-rounder Farrell reminds McCaw of legend Carter

20 April 2017 0 comments

Richie McCaw believes Owen Farrell is turning into a Northern Hemisphere version of Dan Carter. McCaw, a double World Cup-winning captain, was on the wrong […]

Cole: Challenge of Sinckler forcing me to be a better player

19 April 2017 0 comments

England stalwart Dan Cole reckons the sound of thundering heels from young tight-head pretender Kyle Sinckler will ensure he never drops his guard in the […]

Young: Gold standard Launchbury a Lions must

18 April 2017 0 comments

Dai Young would be “hugely disappointed” to see Joe Launchbury left out of the Lions squad tomorrow and he reckons Wasps could have a big […]

Evans: These backs can test my All Blacks

14 April 2017 0 comments

Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans never bets against the All Blacks, but the Kiwi strategist reckons he can name a British & Irish Lions backline combination […]

Biljon fury as Jersey face Friday night Cup fiasco

14 April 2017 0 comments

Frustrated Jersey rugby director Harvey Biljon has blasted B&I Cup organisers for turning what should be his club’s biggest-ever day into an invisible sideshow. The […]

Exeter thrive on defying the odds says Steenson

13 April 2017 0 comments

Exeter fly-half Gareth Steenson reckons Rob Baxter’s ability to outwit big-spending Premiership rivals in the transfer market is underpinning their title charge. While West Country […]

Courtney Lawes – I’m just going to get better and better

12 April 2017 0 comments

Courtney Lawes may have looked back to his best during the Six Nations but the Saints man has warned his would-be summer opponents that he […]

Globetrotter Francis has eyes trained on England

11 April 2017 0 comments

Super Rugby star Piers Francis is determined to challenge for an England fly-half spot when he returns from New Zealand later this summer. Gravesend-born Francis, […]

‘I was close to being an LA drop-out’

8 April 2017 0 comments

Monster hooker Joe Taufete’e has been a massive hit at Sixways but it was not so long ago that the huge American with Samoan heritage […]

Cohen comes out fighting in defence of Mauger axe

7 April 2017 0 comments

Leicester chief executive Simon Cohen has defended the sackings of Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger, claiming both decisions were “robust” and revealing that players had […]