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

Power of six can inspire Exeter Chiefs says new boy Ollie Devoto

15 September 2016 0 comments

Exeter are banking on the Power of Six to bring them trophy success after centre Ollie Devoto revealed why being reunited with a bunch of […]

Lions set for biggest pay-day in their history

14 September 2016 0 comments

The Lions stand to make as much as £80,000-a-man in New Zealand next year if they beat the All Blacks for the first time since […]

Ben Youngs relishing Aaron Mauger learning curve at Leicester

9 September 2016 0 comments

Ben Youngs hopes trophy success and renewed confidence at Leicester will underpin his claims to the England No.9 jersey while enhancing his chances of a […]

I’ve been beating my demons says Kurtley Beale

9 September 2016 0 comments

Watching Kurtley Beale, ball in hand, whizzing past defences at full speed is one of the most beautiful sights in the game so it is […]

Gregor Townsend: Pro12 is better than Premiership

8 September 2016 0 comments

Gregor Townsend has blasted critics of the Guinness Pro12 and insists the league is of superior quality to both the Premiership and Top14. Scotland-boss-in-waiting Townsend’s […]

Billy Vunipola knows it’s not only Nathan Hughes gunning for his jersey

8 September 2016 0 comments

Rapidly-maturing Billy Vunipola says he will relish the competition from Wasps’ counterpart Nathan Hughes as he bids to take his game to new levels. No.8 […]

Lions tour schedule crazy says hero Fran Cotton

7 September 2016 0 comments

The Lions schedule in New Zealand next year has been condemned as ‘crazy’ by the only Englishman to win a Test series as both player […]

With high risk of a charge-down, the drop-goal is now a dying art

3 September 2016 0 comments

Drop goals feature heavily on the showreel of rugby‘s greatest moments: Joel Stransky and Jonny Wilkinson won World Cups with them and Rugby Paper columnist […]

Wasps will feed off last year’s hurt

2 September 2016 0 comments

Now one of the richest clubs in Europe, Wasps have assembled a star-studded squad and go into the new campaign as one of the favourites […]

Luke Wallace’s out to prove he can play the Mr Nasty role

2 September 2016 0 comments

Harlequins flanker Luke Wallace is eager to bring more explosive aggression to his work around the breakdown in a bid to break into Eddie Jones‘s […]

Will king Louis Picamoles reign for Saints?

1 September 2016 0 comments

Time will soon tell but don’t be surprised if France No.8 Louis Picamoles proves the best signing for the forthcoming season. As Saints new skipper […]

Manu Tuilagi aims to roar for Leicester and catch the eye of Eddie Jones

1 September 2016 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi is convinced he is both physically and mentally ready to prove to Eddie Jones he deserves a place in his England side for […]

Joshua Chasinga chasing his dream at Newcastle Falcons

1 September 2016 0 comments

Music producer turned professional rugby player Joshua Chisanga is on track to become the first full Kenyan international to play in the Premiership. Chisanga caught […]

Guy Mercer will keep Bath honest

31 August 2016 0 comments

So here’s a question. You’ve just jetted in from New Zealand tasked with turning around the talented but clearly underperforming rugby beast that is Bath […]

Move Six Nations to the summer says Gerald Davies

31 August 2016 0 comments

Gerald Davies today makes an impassioned plea for the Six Nations to be taken out of its winter habitat and rescheduled at the end of […]

WRU in talks to take over the Cardiff Blues

31 August 2016 0 comments

Welsh Rugby Union bosses are considering a shock take-over of Cardiff Blues. Blues chairman Peter Thomas has held talks with the WRU’s top brass over […]

James Davies up for a scrap over that Wales No.7 shirt

27 August 2016 0 comments

James Davies returned to Llanelli this week with an Olympic silver medal in his back pocket and only one thing in mind – adding a […]

Nick Easter: When you start thinking of retirement, you’re ready to retire

26 August 2016 0 comments

Not many players are fortunate enough to retire on their own terms – and knowing when to do it can be challenging – but Nick […]

Nick Williams puts his faith in Danny Wilson’s Blues rebuilding job

26 August 2016 0 comments

Nick Williams admits he hardly ever “sang the Blues” but is ready to help Cardiff hit the right note. The former All Black revealed his […]

Sean Maitland: Saracens made an offer I couldn’t refuse

25 August 2016 0 comments

Sean Maitland has described joining Saracens as “too good an opportunity to pass up” as he targets a repeat of last season’s double-winning success. Scotland […]

Simon Amor – Heart, guts and unyielding belief made my boys Olympic heroes

25 August 2016 0 comments

Team GB‘s Sevens men confounded all odds to win silver at the Olympics. Head coach Simon Amor, below, now back in charge of England Sevens, […]

Louis Picamoles out to sink Premiership big guns

24 August 2016 0 comments

Louis Picamoles is only a few weeks into his new life in Northampton but already feels at home and can’t wait to sample life in […]

Future’s looking Bright now at Ealing – Alex Codling

24 August 2016 0 comments

No nonsense Ealing head coach Alex Codling says slackers will not be tolerated as the Championship outfit bid to improve their league position. Codling, who […]

I’d suffer the pain again for England says Jack Nowell

23 August 2016 0 comments

Fearless Jack Nowell has revealed how he battled through the pain barrier to help England clinch June’s 3-0 series win over Australia. Ultra-committed wing Nowell […]

Captain Jack Lam vows to get mean in bid for survival

23 August 2016 0 comments

Rock solid new Bristol captain Jack Lam wants his side to get mean in their defence this season to avoid becoming one-hit wonders in the […]

Q&A with Gloucester DoR David Humphreys

20 August 2016 0 comments

David Humphreys is entering a defining third season as director of rugby at Gloucester. The Ulsterman tells NEALE HARVEY why it’s time for the Cherry […]

I’m not here for a holiday says new Chief Dave Dennis

20 August 2016 0 comments

Exeter marquee signing Dave Dennis reckons a stint in the Premiership will improve him as a player as he sets out on the silverware trail […]

Kyle Sinckler sets new goal to be world’s best tighthead

19 August 2016 0 comments

Kyle Sinckler is determined to leave his promising youngster tag behind and break into Eddie Jones‘ England team en route to becoming the best No.3 […]

Meteor man Maro Itoje ready for England’s next mission

18 August 2016 0 comments

Maro Itoje claims he is mentally strong enough to cope if his incredible fairytale rugby world suddenly explodes in his face. The England giant is […]

Q&A with Pacific Rugby Players Welfare founder Dan Leo

18 August 2016 0 comments

Former Samoa, Wasps, London Irish, London Welsh and lock Dan Leo has founded Pacific Rugby Players Welfare and was recently appointed by the RPA to […]

Dan Leo’s crusade to improve deal for Pacific Islanders

17 August 2016 0 comments

Dan Leo, founder of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, reckons the contingent of England players with Island origins will rocket over the next decade. England’s latest […]

Greig Tonks to spearhead Irish bid for promotion

17 August 2016 0 comments

London Irish might be down but they are definitely not out and Scotland international Greig Tonks hopes last season’s frustration will fuel a promotion-winning season […]

Six Nations will vote on bonus points plan

16 August 2016 0 comments

The Six Nations are planning to introduce bonus points starting next year when England defend their Grand Slam. The first change to the scoring system […]

Q&A with Saracens backs coach Kevin Sorrell

13 August 2016 0 comments

Kevin Sorrell joined Saracens as a player in 1995 and has been their backs coach since 2012. He tells NEALE HARVEY how the club evolved […]

Geordan Murphy: Tigers glad to aid England but the club is first and foremost

12 August 2016 0 comments

Geordan Murphy reckons the selection of seven Leicester players in Eddie Jones‘s new 45-man squad nails the myth that his club have no interest in […]

Rory Bartle benefitting from staying English qualified

12 August 2016 0 comments

London Scottish flanker Rory Bartle describes snubbing Wales‘ U20s as “a decision I had to make” as he ramps up his bid for a Premiership […]

Marco Mama’s eyes fixed on England’s No.7 shirt

11 August 2016 0 comments

Marco Mama is on a mission this season to establish himself as Worcester‘s premier No.7 and push his case for England selection. Mama, 25, views […]

All Blacks ramp up Test price to £3m

10 August 2016 0 comments

The All Blacks have demanded an unprecedented price for playing England – 50 per cent of Twickenham’s £6m gate. New Zealand‘s fee for an out-of-window […]

Q&A with Wasps forwards coach Andy Titterrell

7 August 2016 0 comments

Two years ago, you turned to strength and conditioning but now you’re a full-time forwards coach. Why the change of direction? It’s strange how things […]

Cooper Vuna relishing Sixways link with League buddy Ben Te’o

6 August 2016 0 comments

Worcester fans’ favourite Cooper Vuna reckons the arrival of his old Rugby League buddy Ben Te’o will fire the club’s top six ambitions. As 12-year-olds […]

Saracens primed to emulate Tigers’ long period of dominance

5 August 2016 0 comments

George Kruis is confident Saracens can create a long-lasting legacy by repeating last season’s heroics to become the first Premiership side since Leicester in 2002 […]

Jono Kitto: Watch out, Tigers’ new midfield will be tasty!

4 August 2016 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi‘s line-busting power, allied to the subtle skills of new signing Matt Toomua will give Leicester the cutting edge needed to win silverware, says […]

England coaches in frame for Lions

3 August 2016 0 comments

England will make Grand Slam coaches Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard available for the Lions in New Zealand next year. Eddie Jones is understood to […]

Leicester chief slams new Premiership deal as ‘flawed’

2 August 2016 0 comments

Leicester Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen believes Premiership Rugby‘s policy of linking the salary cap to central funding is wrong and could have wider implications […]

Q&A with Harlequins head coach Mark Mapletoft

31 July 2016 0 comments

Understand you recently went on a globe-trotting expedition? Correct. I went to Sydney and Auckland and spent time with a number of different teams down […]

I’ll have to earn my place, says Matt Symons

30 July 2016 0 comments

Wasps lock Matt Symons is relieved to have been given a second Premiership chance after the nightmare of relegation at London Irish. Combative second rower […]

Tom Youngs in pledge to bring back glory days at Leicester

29 July 2016 0 comments

New Leicester captain Tom Youngs reckons the pain of three successive Premiership semi-final defeats will drive his side towards next season’s title. Tigers have reached […]

James Haskell: I’d risk my career again to beat the Aussies 3-0!

28 July 2016 0 comments

James Haskell has revealed he needed complicated surgery on his big toe to save his rugby career and now faces up to six months of […]

Team GB ‘too small to match big guys’ in Rio

27 July 2016 0 comments

Mike Friday, head coach of USA 7s, believes Team GB’s Olympic medal chances have been damaged by not picking more stars from the 15-man game. […]

Clubs face meltdown in spite of cash boom

26 July 2016 0 comments

Gloucester chief executive Stephen Vaughan fears Premiership clubs face financial meltdown unless steps are taken to curb rampant wage inflation. Vaughan’s stark warning comes as […]

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