Featured

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

Wales look for Warren Gatland stand-in as Lions wait

3 May 2016 0 comments

Warren Gatland‘s almost certain invitation to lead the Lions has led Wales to make the first move towards appointing a caretaker head coach. Eddie Jones’ […]

Anthony Watson must switch to full-back – Sinbad

29 April 2016 0 comments

Electrifying Bath star Anthony Watson can end England‘s full-back debate by taking the shirt from Mike Brown, according to former Red Rose wing James Simpson-Daniel. […]

High-octane Teimana Harrison backed for Test berth

28 April 2016 0 comments

Teimana Harrison deserves a shot in Red Rose colours according to North-ampton coach Alex King, who reckons the youngster’s mongrel spirit bears comparison with his […]

Solomon Dacres’ battling to be champion like Anthony Joshua

27 April 2016 0 comments

Solomon Dacres has given up rugby because it hurts too much and now he wants to be the new Anthony Joshua. Joshua twice won […]

Owen Farrell is best player in Europe says Eddie Jones

26 April 2016 0 comments

Eddie Jones has voiced his full support for Owen Farrell in the race to be crowned European Player of the Year. The England head coach […]

Premiership’s policy to attack is welcome surprise for Tom Marshall

22 April 2016 0 comments

Gloucester‘s Kiwi full-back Tom Marshall admits he has been pleasantly surprised by the attacking intent he has witnessed in Premiership rugby since his high profile […]

Super Maro backed to lead England by next year

21 April 2016 0 comments

Maro Itoje‘s relentless devotion to winning could see him oust Dylan Hartley as England captain as early as next year, according to former England U20s […]

EXCLUSIVE: RFU agree £220m deal for their Premiership clubs

20 April 2016 0 comments

Premiership Rugby are set to agree a stunning £220 million deal with the Rugby Football Union which will see England‘s top clubs double their money […]

Northampton Saints props ready for England scrap

15 April 2016 0 comments

Northampton tighthead Paul Hill is destined to be one of England‘s top stars, according to prop partner Alex Waller. Hill, 21, has achieved a smooth […]

Dean Ryan targets top seven finish as Worcester look to finish in style

14 April 2016 0 comments

Dean Ryan has cast admiring eyes at the Exeter Chiefs blueprint as his Worcester side look to kick on after securing Premiership survival in the […]

Wallaby ace George Smith leads race for top gong – Rob Miller

13 April 2016 0 comments

Australian superstar George Smith is a prime contender to be crowned Aviva Premiership player of the year, according to Wasps team-mate Rob Miller. Back rower […]

Referee abuse is on rise and ‘must be curbed’

12 April 2016 0 comments

A leading English match official claims referee abuse is rising sharply and has urged the RFU and Premiership Rugby to act before someone is hurt. […]

So pleased I kept the faith in Wasps, says Joe Launchbury

8 April 2016 0 comments

Joe Launchbury has been used to low key ends to seasons after returning from Six Nations duty over the years, but Wasps are in their […]

Guru Jonny Wilkinson put me back on track for Slam glory says Mike Brown

7 April 2016 0 comments

Mike Brown intends to keep working with Jonny Wilkinson after revealing how England‘s 2003 World Cup hero helped ignite his Six Nations campaign. Brown, who […]

Ben Foden eyeing road to Rio with Team GB Sevens

7 April 2016 0 comments

Northampton full-back Ben Foden would jump at the chance to represent Team GB at the Rio Olympics if boss Simon Amor came calling. Foden, whose […]

Wigan ace Josh Charnley will add swagger to Sale Sharks

6 April 2016 0 comments

Martin Offiah says Sale have swapped one box-office “maverick” for another after signing Wigan RL ace Josh Charnley for next season. Charnley will arrive at […]

England and Wales in £10m match deal

5 April 2016 0 comments

England and Wales have struck a deal worth up to £10m to play two more matches immediately before the next World Cup. The cooling of […]

I can keep London Irish up says Greig Tonks

1 April 2016 0 comments

London Irish fly-half Greig Tonks insists he has no regrets over swapping his Edinburgh comfort zone for a mud and bullets relegation battle with the […]

James Haskell defends quality of Six Nations

31 March 2016 0 comments

James Haskell has hit back at critics who accused this year’s Six Nations of being dull, unexciting and lacking in quality. The flanker, who played […]

Beers and banter got us to Grand Slam says Mako Vunipola

30 March 2016 0 comments

Mako Vunipola has revealed why being handed personal responsibility by new boss Eddie Jones helped England‘s players achieve a first Six Nations grand slam since […]

Ol’ King Dan Cole eyes Wallaby redemption

29 March 2016 0 comments

NICK VERDIER meets the England tighthead on a mission to right the World Cup wrong Down Under this summer.

Team GB Sevens has been failed by authorities says Mike Friday

25 March 2016 0 comments

Mike Friday has blasted the Home Unions, Premiership Rugby and Pro 12 officials for allowing politics and egos to ruin Team GB‘s Sevens chances at […]

Can rugby hope to take a bite of the Big Apple?

24 March 2016 0 comments

Matthew Emery reports on the experiment of taking a Premiership match to the American market. George Best and Pele tried to crack the American sports market with […]

Charles Piutau has no regrets at losing World Cup chance

23 March 2016 0 comments

His move to Europe cost him a World Cup winners medal but Charles Piutau reckons he is a better player for it. Back in April, […]

Maro Itoje told to back up high octane introduction

22 March 2016 0 comments

England and Saracens scrum guru Ian Peel has challenged Maro Itoje to keep producing his high standards following his meteoric rise. Former Newcastle prop Peel […]

Just call me Sir, says Olympic hopeful Sara Cox

18 March 2016 0 comments

Sara Cox has her sights firmly set on representing England at the Olympics as the RFU‘s first ever contracted referee. With rugby preparing to make […]

Keep working and you’ll earn England call, Matt

17 March 2016 0 comments

Matt Kvesic must bury his England frustration and keep working on his game, according to Gloucester forwards coach Trevor Woodman. Kvesic, a genuine openside groundhog, […]

The WRU is to blame for missing out on the Vunipola brothers

16 March 2016 0 comments

Billy and Mako Vunipola may have slipped through Wales‘fingers, but their first rugby coach is making sure that does not happen again. Pontypool & District […]

Graham Price: Don’t let Jamie Roberts become Gravell Mk II

11 March 2016 0 comments

Jamie Roberts has been warned not to fall into the same trap as legendary predecessor Ray Gravell. Prop forward Graham Price was part of a […]

Chris Robshaw: I’ll blank out RWC pain to beat Wales

10 March 2016 0 comments

Chris Robshaw has more reason than any player on the planet to bear a grudge against Warren Gatland‘s Wales. The two biggest and most costly […]

I’m relishing clash with spiky Mike Brown says Liam Williams

9 March 2016 0 comments

Liam Williams wants to stick the boot into England after Tom Wood’s kick left him seeing stars. Williams was part of Wales‘ epic World Cup […]

Dusty Hare calls for Eddie Jones to help kids get game time

8 March 2016 0 comments

Dusty Hare has urged England boss Eddie Jones to lend his support for a radical overhaul of the playing programme for Premiership youngsters after branding […]

Elliott Stooke determined to prove his worth at London Irish

5 March 2016 0 comments

Elliott Stooke says he had to leave Gloucester for bitter West Country rivals Bath in order to reignite his faltering career. A World Cup winner […]

Resurgent Dan Robson won’t be giving up his place without a fight

4 March 2016 0 comments

It has been 18 months in the making but Dan Robson is finally enjoying a good run of games and is determined to prove he […]

Freddie Burns: I know what departing Danny Cipriani is going through

3 March 2016 0 comments

Leicester‘s Freddie Burns has backed fellow England fly-half Danny Cipriani to come through his contract sideshow unscathed. Burns knows how damaging protracted contract speculation can […]

Francois Hougaard could return to Worcester after Rio

2 March 2016 0 comments

Worcester‘s loan signing Francois Hougaard says he is open to extending his stay at Sixways after making an immediate impact with the west Midlands outfit. […]

I’ll never give up on England says Geoff Parling

1 March 2016 0 comments

Exeter lock refuses to accept his England career is over.

Former England Sevens star Nick Royle makes history

27 February 2016 0 comments

Nick Royle’s late try on January 24 helped Caldy snatch victory at Broadstreet, but little did he know it also made him the most prolific […]

Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade are England dream duo

26 February 2016 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade represent England‘s midfield future according to former Leicester centre Anthony Allen. He reckons the pair can generate greater attacking options […]

Ed Slater: We need proof plastic pitches are safe

25 February 2016 0 comments

Leicester lock Ed Slater believes more research into artificial grass pitches is needed in order to convince players the controversial surfaces are safe. Slater, who […]

Signing Cipriani will help Wasps conquer Europe

24 February 2016 0 comments

Fly-half’s long-awaited homecoming can help Wasps cement place among European rugby’s elite – Ashley Johnson.

Why Sam Warburton really stayed in Wales

23 February 2016 0 comments

Modest Sam Warburton insists he is not guaranteed his place against France next weekend and revealed how a dog kept him firmly at home in […]

Scotland flanker Roddy Grant proving a big hit for Exiles

19 February 2016 0 comments

Roddy Grant has been the catalyst behind London Scottish‘s rise up the Championship table this season according to head coach Peter Richards. Last week’s 19-17 […]

Shane Williams: So good to see mighty George back among tries

18 February 2016 0 comments

Watching Wales win is great but seeing George North in that sort of form is even better. George gave everyone a reminder of just what […]

Rejuvenated Christian Wade looking to make up for lost time

17 February 2016 0 comments

Flying wing says his mind is as fresh as his body after returning from a three-month lay-off last week.

Philippe Saint-Andre: England undone by arrogance

16 February 2016 0 comments

Former France boss puts England’s World Cup fiasco down to arrogance and pressure.

Itoje set for England debut as Eddie Jones change three for Italy trip

12 February 2016 0 comments

Maro Itoje should make his England debut in Italy on Sunday after being named on the bench by Eddie Jones. The Saracens lock takes the […]

Intense competition at Bath will make Taulupe Faletau even better – Luke Charteris

11 February 2016 0 comments

Luke Charteris reckons Bath can bring the best out of Taulupe Faletau. The Wales pair and former Newport Gwent Dragons team-mates will be reunited at […]