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

New-look London Wasps give Elliot Daly licence to thrill fans

11 June 2014 1 comment

Elliot Daly looking to emulate his hero Brian O’Driscoll in a resurgent Wasps side next season.

England U20s through to JWC semi-finals with Argentina win

10 June 2014 0 comments

England U20s have recorded their third win of the Junior World Championship beating Argentina to set up a semi-final clash against Ireland.

Euro Cup place ‘will keep’ Joe Launchbury at London Wasps

6 June 2014 0 comments

Fears that England lock Joe Launchbury could be the next Wasps star pinched by Saracens have eased now that qualification for the Champions Cup has been achieved.

England boss justifies latest Steffon Armitage snub

5 June 2014 0 comments

Percentage of EQPs in Premiership justifies the rule that prevents overseas based stars from donning a red rose jersey.

Dave Ward not prepared to settle for only being No.4 at No.2

4 June 2014 0 comments

England new boy Dave Ward has revealed how he nearly quit Harlequins last summer before staying to enjoy the best season of his rugby life.

I’d no idea George North was this good, says Alex King

30 May 2014 1 comment

Northampton backs coach Alex King salutes the impact of George North.

Lewis Moody backs Luke Wallace for England No.6 role

29 May 2014 0 comments

One of the biggest gaps Stuart Lancaster has to plug for the first Test in New Zealand is at blindside flanker but former England captain Lewis Moody believes Luke Wallace is the man for the task.

Bath chief Bruce Craig will be director of new Champions Cup

28 May 2014 1 comment

An Irish soccer convert, the mayor of a village in Provence and an English multi-millionaire are to play roles in Rugby’s new European Champions’ Cup.

South Africa send for Richie Gray to get ready for Welsh collision

28 May 2014 0 comments

Richie Gray is the not-so-secret weapon South Africa have just re-employed to help them overcome Wales this summer on the way to a powerful showing in next year’s Rugby World Cup.

It’ll be a whole new ball game if Bath’s supremo has his way

23 May 2014 0 comments

The battle over Europe has been won but Bath chairman Bruce Craig believes the war over global season structure and how international and club rugby in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are aligned is only just getting started.

Ben Foden can’t wait to link up with old pal Chris Ashton

22 May 2014 1 comment

Northampton full-back Ben Foden admits he misses his pal Chris Ashton – and is thrilled at the prospect of a reunion on England duty next month.

Worcester Warriors stuck by me so I’ll stay on, says Chris Pennell

21 May 2014 0 comments

The Premiership player of the year nominee has been a model of consistency in an otherwise disastrous Warriors campaign, the only man to have played every minute of all 22 regular season games.

Gareth Anscombe told to come now or miss World Cup

21 May 2014 0 comments

Warren Gatland has opened the door for Gareth Anscombe to play his way into Wales’ World Cup squad.

Charlie Matthews making up ground on old pal Joe Launchbury

16 May 2014 1 comment

Harlequins second row Charlie Matthews believes he is finally coming of age after putting his injury hell behind him to start chasing down pal Joe Launchbury.

Ambitious Bismarck du Plessis targets Welsh scrum

15 May 2014 2 comments

Wales beware, Bismarck du Plessis says the Springboks’ front row aims to be the most formidable in the world and will use the scrum to target every team they face.

Ugo Monye backs Manu Tuilagi to wing it for England

14 May 2014 2 comments

The auditions are in full swing but Ugo Monye believes Manu Tuilagi’s X-factor means he should line up on the wing for England in New Zealand.

I’ve not won the super 8s battle yet, admits Billy Vunipola

13 May 2014 1 comment

Billy Vunipola is England’s premier ball-carrier but he knows all this could change in an instant and that any number of contenders at No.8 are ready to take his place.

Jonathan Joseph can talk his way back into EPS

9 May 2014 0 comments

Jonathan Joseph reckons his X-factor with ball in hand will boost his chances of an England recall – a claim backed by coach Toby Booth, who says the centre is now ‘mentally rebooted’ after his unhappy ending at London Irish.

Doncaster Knights’ workhorse may need to lighten his load

9 May 2014 1 comment

Having become the first coach to bounce his side back into the Championship following relegation, Clive Griffiths is now busy with the challenge of making Doncaster a true force in English rugby’s second tier.

New-style Danny Cipriani in frame for England

8 May 2014 42 comments

Danny Cipriani admits he is a different player to the one last capped by England in 2008.

Jacques Burger ‘plays every game like his last’

7 May 2014 1 comment

Saracens flanker Kelly Brown has hailed his back row partner Jacques Burger as ‘simply incredible’ after the Namibian’s display in the 46-6 Heineken Cup semi-final drubbing of Clermont Auvergne.

Relegation will hurt Worcester Warriors’ egos – Dean Ryan

6 May 2014 0 comments

Dean Ryan says relegated Worcester will continue to make the “drastic change” needed to turn them into a competitive top-flight side.

Saints great entertainers aim to shake up the rugby world

2 May 2014 0 comments

Saints bruise brothers George and Ken Pisi have a dream: to team up with older brother Tusi for Samoa at next year’s Rugby World Cup and smash England in the final.

US growth is reliant upon winning admits Chris Wyles

2 May 2014 0 comments

Chris Wyles knows qualification for the 2015 World Cup has given USA Eagles the best possible chance of breaking America but admits they must discover a winning formula to do so.

How Will Fraser has grown into the job at Saracens

1 May 2014 0 comments

Super-sized Will Fraser has revealed how piling on the pounds during his recent injury lay-off can help boost his England chances.

Lightning Tyson Lewis fires Doncaster Knights to promotion

1 May 2014 0 comments

Carlin Isles may be the world’s quickest rugby winger – but he is not as fast as Tyson Lewis when it comes to scoring tries.

I must play like John Afoa to keep place says Joe Marler

30 April 2014 0 comments

Joe Marler admits he still has a way to go before he can aspire to the level of consistency achieved by his prop idol, New Zealander John Afoa.

Semesa Rokoduguni is aiming to roll his tank onto England’s lawn

29 April 2014 0 comments

Former tank driver Semesa Rokoduguni has destroyed all-comers this season in the Premiership and the Bath speedster has a new target in his sights: the England No.14 jersey.

Steve Diamond leads Premiership’s Director of Rugby of the Season shortlist

28 April 2014 1 comment

Steve Diamond has been shortlisted to be named Director of Rugby of the Season on the back of a sensational season with the Sale Sharks.

Old Warhorse Nathan Hines desperate to avenge Toulon ‘body blow’

25 April 2014 0 comments

Clermont second row Nathan Hines believes multi-tasking Saracens are a bigger threat to his side’s league and cup double-winning ambitions than Leicester were ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final showdown at Twickenham.

Mike Brown has his heart on sleeve, just like Roy Keane

24 April 2014 0 comments

It is Tuesday afternoon at the Surrey Sports Park and Harlequins’ training finished 45 minutes ago. While the majority of players have showered and made […]

Courtney Lawes still dishes it out but is not so hit and miss

23 April 2014 0 comments

If anyone was in doubt that Courtney Lawes can still deliver big hits with the best of them, then look no further than Owen Farrell’s ribcage.

Barbarians match bid snubbed by Wales

22 April 2014 0 comments

The Barbarians have been snubbed by Wales after offering them a home match as preparation for their Test series in South Africa in June.

EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Noon calls for leniency on England’s selection policy

21 April 2014 1 comment

Former England centre Jamie Noon believes the RFU should take a more relaxed stance when it comes to picking France-based players.

Don’t pick Steffon Armitage for England, says Nick Easter

18 April 2014 0 comments

Nick Easter is a fully paid-up member of the Steffon Armitage fan club but is not clamouring for the openside to be given an England recall.

English kids can end Gavin Henson’s Wales dream

17 April 2014 0 comments

Gavin Henson hopes a fresh contract and new found stability at Bath can pave the way for a Wales recall before the 2015 World Cup.

Bristol’s big guns ‘will fire them to promotion’

17 April 2014 0 comments

Bristol’s experience on and off the field will carry them across the Championship promotion line to the Aviva Premiership, according to Cornish Pirates boss Ian Davies.

Now the Turks want to get slice of new European Cup

16 April 2014 0 comments

The new European Rugby Champions’ Cup is preparing for take-off with the airline who signed Lionel Messi during their sponsorship of FC Barcelona and Manchester United.

Memo to Stuart Lancaster: Michael Paterson’s available

11 April 2014 0 comments

Not many outside of Wales realised quite what an exceptional bit of business Sale supremo Steve Diamond had done last summer in signing second row Michael Paterson – but they certainly do now.

Mark Bright became exile after his hopes were dimmed by Thomas Waldrom

11 April 2014 0 comments

London Scottish No.8 Mark Bright has few regrets, but he can still recall how Thomas Waldrom once cost him the chance of a contract with the Super Rugby giants, Crusaders.

European Rugby Statement

10 April 2014 2 comments

After months of negotiation, the future of European rugby has been decided today with the release of the following statement from the European Professional Club Rugby.

“Year long slog left me in dip,” says Mako Vunipola

10 April 2014 1 comment

Mako Vunipola has revealed how post-Lions fatigue caused his form to dip dramatically.

Anthony Watson will be star for England says Nick Abendanon

9 April 2014 0 comments

Nick Abendanon admits that Anthony Watson’s emergence proved a decisive factor in taking the plunge with European giants Clermont.

RFU fail in bid to get All Blacks Test switch

8 April 2014 1 comment

Concerted attempts by the RFU to change the Test schedule for England’s summer tour of New Zealand in June have failed.

James Hook can freshen up Warren Gatland’s game-plan

4 April 2014 1 comment

Sonny Parker believes Wales are going stale under head coach Warren Gatland and calls for a return of James Hook.

Sir Ian McGeechan urges SRU To nurture talent with London Scottish

4 April 2014 0 comments

Sir Ian McGeechan has called on Scotland Rugby to utilise London Scottish in order to create greater depth in its national talent pool.

Size no problem for elusive Kyle Eastmond

3 April 2014 1 comment

Kyle Eastmond is confident size will not count against him as he targets a place in England’s increasingly congested midfield.

Ben Morgan: We can storm All Blacks stronghold

2 April 2014 0 comments

Bullish No.8 Ben Morgan has backed England to send out a pre-World Cup statement of intent by beating mighty New Zealand in June.

Dan Hipkiss warns England not to put Manu Tuilagi on the wing

1 April 2014 0 comments

One of the few headaches facing Stuart Lancaster after the Six Nations is one he has encountered before – how to solve a problem like Manu?

Apprentice Maro Itoje ready to replace the grand master

28 March 2014 0 comments

Maro Itoje could barely pluck up the courage to speak to Steve Borthwick when the pair first met at Saracens four years ago.

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