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

Ashley Johnson is hooking up to a whole new ball game

28 August 2015 1 comment

Barnstorming South African will not settle for the No.16 shirt.

Openside duo key for Wallabies says George Smith

27 August 2015 0 comments

Breakdown master George Smith has backed Australia to cause England and Wales no end of trouble in the ‘Pool of Death’ if they continue picking […]

Catherine Spencer blasts RFU for ‘wasting’ World Cup win

26 August 2015 0 comments

Former England captain Catherine Spencer has launched a stinging attack on the RFU for wasting legacy opportunities from the 2014 World Cup win. Spencer says […]

Hair Bear Adam Jones hungry for Harlequins starting jersey

25 August 2015 1 comment

Former Wales star has “nothing to prove” at Harlequins.

Carl Fearns: French leave will ease my frustration

22 August 2015 1 comment

Bath’s decision to move Sam Burgess into their back row contributed to shock summer move to France.

New boy Dan Robson relishing battle for Wasps No.9 shirt

21 August 2015 0 comments

Former Gloucester player cannot wait to go head-to-head with England hopeful Joe Simpson.

Mike Friday: England have no midfield X-factor without Kyle Eastmond

20 August 2015 0 comments

Kyle Eastmond’s World Cup omission betrays a startling lack of England ambition, according to former Sevens boss Mike Friday. Friday says he is struggling to […]

Pool of Death holds no fear for Nikola Matawalu’s classy Islanders

19 August 2015 0 comments

“Fiji mean business at this World Cup”

Outsiders Fiji will take a big scalp warns Bob Dwyer

18 August 2015 0 comments

1991 winning coach adamant Fiji will be England or Wales at World Cup.

Ambitious London Welsh demand clarity on promotion plan

14 August 2015 2 comments

London Welsh head coach Rowland Phillips has called for clarity over promotion arrangements before the new Championship campaign kicks-off on September 5. With Premiership proposals […]

Marcus Watson eyes Newcastle Falcons’ No.13 shirt

13 August 2015 2 comments

While Anthony Watson contemplates helping England on the road to World Cup glory, older brother Marcus has his own challenges to face at Newcastle. Three-and-a-half […]

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne Is the man for Scotland – Scott Hastings

12 August 2015 1 comment

Scott Hastings says it is time Scotland ditched skipper Greig Laidlaw to give Sam Hidalgo-Clyne his chance at scrum-half. Hidalgo-Clyne, 21, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign […]

Wing king Anthony Watson has hero Quade Cooper in his sights

12 August 2015 2 comments

Anthony Watson could face one of his boyhood heroes when England clash with Australia in their crunch World Cup qualifier at Twickenham this October. Watson […]

‘Phenomenon’ Samu Manoa can be even bigger in France

11 August 2015 0 comments

USA Eagle is already proving a big hit with fans in Toulon.

Jamie George is England’s form hooker, says Alistair Hargreaves

7 August 2015 0 comments

Alistair Hargreaves has backed Jamie George’s World Cup bid, claiming boss Stuart Lancaster would “make a huge mistake” if he omits the uncapped Saracens hooker. […]

England in need of big Semesa Rokoduguni’s physicality says Matt Banahan

7 August 2015 0 comments

Semesa Rokoduguni deserves a shot at World Cup glory according to Matt Banahan, who insists his Bath colleague would offer England “something different”. Red Rose […]

Dean Mumm opens up about World Cup dream

5 August 2015 0 comments

Dean Mumm is nothing if not determined. Having packed away his boots after leading Exeter Chiefs to a resounding victory over Sale Sharks in mid-May, […]

Leigh Halfpenny told: Play for Toulon or face axe

4 August 2015 1 comment

European Champions threatening to sack full-bakc over the club-or-country clash looming at the end of the new season.

Mike Brown fit and firing says Andy Farrell

31 July 2015 2 comments

Mike Brown is winning his fitness battle ahead of England‘s opening World Cup warm-up game after emerging unscathed from his first full week of contact […]

Richard Haughton targeting World Cup… as a referee!

30 July 2015 0 comments

Former Saracens and Wasps winger Richard Haughton is aiming to follow the Glen Jackson route to refereeing stardom after taking up the whistle in France. […]

Fury over ‘ban’ on World Cup heroines

29 July 2015 0 comments

The legacy of England women’s 2014 World Cup win is being wrecked according to England’s top clubs who have reacted furiously to an RFU edict […]

England and Wales stars being ‘shot to bits’

28 July 2015 2 comments

England and Wales have been warned that their players will be ‘shot to pieces’ before their three-Test series in Australasia at the end of the […]

Hooper cited for incident in Wallabies’ win over Argentina

26 July 2015 1 comment

Australia openside alleged to have struck opponent in the lead-up to Dean Mumm’s superb try

Fight to the death will bring best out of Billy Twelvetrees

18 July 2015 1 comment

Billy Twelvetrees insists he is excited rather than daunted by the battle raging around England‘s coveted No.12 jersey as the clock ticks down on Stuart […]

Versatile Henry Slade is ready to mash the monsters

17 July 2015 28 comments

Henry Slade insists taking on world rugby‘s midfield monsters would not faze him, with the versatile England back saying he would relish the opportunity of […]

Flyer Josh Drauniniu on crusade to shake off Dean Ryan rejection

16 July 2015 0 comments

After a season to forget with Worcester Josh Drauniniu returns to London Welsh with one goal, to play rugby again. The winger, 29, spent the […]

Calum Clark takes Richie McCaw as his World Cup inspiration

16 July 2015 0 comments

Northampton flanker insists his days of worrying are over and he will let his performances do the talking

Six Nations snub made David Strettle decide to go

15 July 2015 1 comment

David Strettle admits his decision to refuse a place in England’s World Cup training squad might have been different had boss Stuart Lancaster included him […]

Premiership plans for expansion go on hold

14 July 2015 0 comments

PRL plans to expand and impose a moratorium on promotion and relegation from 2016 are in doubt.

Ben Morgan’s reaping rewards of lay-off

10 July 2015 0 comments

Ben Morgan admits he feared for his rugby future before making a Lazarus-like recovery to be included in England‘s World Cup training squad. Six months […]

Matt Kvesic desperate for trip to Denver to show he is the breakdown king

9 July 2015 0 comments

Matt Kvesic accepts he faces a huge battle to break into England‘s World Cup squad ahead of experienced campaigners like Chris Robshaw and James Haskell. […]

George Lowe backs Jamie Roberts to hit heights at Harlequins

8 July 2015 1 comment

Harlequins centre George Lowe is desperate to hook-up with new signing Jamie Roberts, whose impending arrival he describes as a “massive coup for the club.” […]

‘One more blow and George North has to quit’

7 July 2015 1 comment

One of world rugby‘s leading medical figures is advising George North to retire should he suffer another head injury. The Welsh Lion is due to […]

Tom Youngs backed to become the best hooker in world

3 July 2015 2 comments

England man now rivals Bismarck du Plessis as the world’s best hooker according to Lee Mears.

Why Danny Care is gearing up for the father of all battles in pursuit of his World Cup dream

2 July 2015 0 comments

Quins star is on a mission to re-establish himself as England’s first-choice scrum-half for the World Cup.

Play-offs? Not Jersey says cagey boss Harvey Biljon

2 July 2015 1 comment

Jersey rugby director has poured scorn on Justin Burnell’s belief that his side can be Championship play-off candidates next season.

Anthony Allen’s dazzling ride on whirlwind ends too soon

1 July 2015 0 comments

Leicester Tigers centre reflects on the ‘whirlwind’ of his rugby career that promised so much yet ultimately ended last week at the age of just 28 with a wrecked knee.

George Ford is key to England success – Martin Johnson

30 June 2015 0 comments

Martin Johnson believes Stuart Lancaster should build a successful World Cup winning side around George Ford. Johnson, who lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy in Sydney […]

Glasgow’s stardust can light up Scotland says Gregor Townsend

26 June 2015 0 comments

Scotland will prosper at this year’s Rugby World Cup, according to Gregor Townsend, who believes the dark blues can capitalise on the feel-good factor surrounding […]

Stephen Myler will be my guru but I want his place, says JJ Hanrahan

25 June 2015 4 comments

JJ Hanrahan has fired the first warning that he will be snapping at the heels of Stephen Myler next season. Hanrahan will join Northampton this […]

Sam Burgess is pure gold to have in the camp says Dave Attwood

24 June 2015 0 comments

Cross-code star is a “live contender” to make England’s final World Cup squad according to Bath teammate.

Wales MUST hold onto Alun Wyn Jones warn Ospreys

23 June 2015 0 comments

Wales urged to secure the longer-term future of their ‘most valuable asset’

Inside this week’s edition of TRP

19 June 2015 1 comment

Another busy week in the world of rugby, another brilliant issue of The Rugby Paper! TRP will have all the action and reaction from the U20s […]

Iain Grieve: RPA must do far more for us in tier two

19 June 2015 1 comment

Former Plymouth Albion captain believes it is imperative Championship players are properly represented by the RPA.

Do Team GB have the athletes to win gold?

19 June 2015 0 comments

Mike Friday warns Team GB that they need “to get their house in order” if they are to win a medal at Rio 2016.

Stuart Lancaster’s got a mess in midfield warns Dean Ryan

18 June 2015 1 comment

England midfield remains the most urgent concern according to Worcester boss.

If Manu Tuilagi needs a bodyguard on a night out he just has to ask, says Billy Vunipola

13 June 2015 0 comments

Manu Tuilagi deserves to be cut some slack, according to his England pal Billy Vunipola, who is backing the errant Leicester centre to overcome his […]