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

British and Irish option is Heineken alternative

9 January 2014 1 comment

A fresh attempt is being made to salvage a substitute tournament from the wreckage of Europe – a revised British and Irish Cup.

Championship clubs’ rage over Anglo-Welsh proposals

8 January 2014 2 comments

Championship chair- man Geoff Irvine believes it is highly unlikely the Rugby Football Union will sanction a 16-team Anglo-Welsh league, describing plans as “scandalous.”

WRU ‘will move their top stars to England’

7 January 2014 0 comments

The Welsh Rugby Union is proposing to sign six players and loan them to English clubs as a consequence of the war with their regions.

Sorry, but I’m happy on the wing says George North

3 January 2014 0 comments

George North is not planning on making his switch to the centres permanent any time soon – even if life on the wing restricts him to a career of cameos.

Sporting all-rounder Hayden Smith back ‘home’ at Saracens

2 January 2014 0 comments

He grew up playing basketball in Australia and discovered rugby in the USA. And now Hayden Smith has returned from a stint in the NFL to his spiritual home at Saracens.

Dead-eye Stephen Myler has England in his sights

1 January 2014 0 comments

Northampton’s marksman Stephen Myler has revealed his burning to desire to represent England during the forthcoming RBS Six Nations.

Freddie Burns will replace Toby Flood at Leicester Tigers next season

31 December 2013 2 comments

Freddie Burns will be playing for Leicester next season as the Tigers’ goal-kicking successor to Toby Flood.

Welsh will be safe from Aviva Premiership relegation

30 December 2013 2 comments

The Welsh regions have struck a deal guaranteeing three of their four teams immunity from relegation as a condition of joining the English Premiership.

‘Ryan Giggs’ tribute for record man David Jackson

27 December 2013 0 comments

David Jackson has been hailed as the “the Ryan Giggs of Nottingham Rugby” by club CEO Simon Beatham after the record-breaking wing’s playing career came to a premature halt last week.

Gamble on Leicester Tigers exit has paid off says George Ford

26 December 2013 3 comments

It is hard to avoid drawing comparisons between George Ford and Owen Farrell – two of the brightest young things in England at present.

‘Class act’ James O’Connor can inspire Irish return to top

25 December 2013 0 comments

Mick Crossan, leader of the consortium who own London Irish, wants Australian star James O’Connor to be the talisman for a return to the forefront of domestic and European rugby.

Breakaway or die, Welsh regions are warned

24 December 2013 1 comment

The man who created the Welsh regions is urging them to break away and join the English Premiership or face destruction.

Graham Kitchener can be England lineout king says Louis Deacon

20 December 2013 0 comments

Louis Deacon has backed Leicester second row partner Graham Kitchener to break into the England team.

Steve Meehan fears for Bath after Gary Gold’s shock exit

19 December 2013 0 comments

Former Bath head coach Steve Meehan fears the club could be in danger of being “sent off the rails” unless its management settles on a coaching team and gives it time to deliver.

Alex Goode: Well played Mike Brown, but I still want your place

19 December 2013 2 comments

While Alex Goode admits Mike Brown’s current form makes him deservedly England’s No.15, that does not mean the Sarries man is letting up in his pursuit.

Freddie Burns: Doubt over my future is getting to me

18 December 2013 1 comment

Freddie Burns has revealed the full extent of the emotional turmoil he is enduring as he grapples with deciding whether to stay at Gloucester, his club of six years, or join a higher-placed Premiership rival in the hope of furthering his career.

I could play on for one more year, says Jonny Wilkinson

17 December 2013 1 comment

Jonny Wilkinson came off the bench on Saturday to score the bonus-point try that helped put champions Toulon firmly in control of their Heineken Cup pool and then announced he could play on for another year after all.

Dominant Courtney Lawes takes game to another level

13 December 2013 0 comments

Courtney Lawes has established himself as one of world rugby’s foremost locks, insists his Northampton second row partner Christian Day.

I can change Saracens’ luck at 13 says Marcelo Bosch

12 December 2013 1 comment

Argentina’s Marcelo Bosch aims to be the perfect replacement for Joel Tomkins at Saracens after the England centre was sidelined with a knee injury that is likely to keep him out of the Six Nations.

Billy Twelvetrees: It’s my fault if England drop me

11 December 2013 1 comment

The longer that Gloucester’s struggles continue, the more Billy Twelvetrees knows his England place is under threat.

Nick Easter: My pal Mike Brown’s always been this good

6 December 2013 1 comment

While Mike Brown’s autumn form has solved one of England’s selection headaches, Nick Easter claims the answer has been staring Stuart Lancaster in the face for far too long.

English clubs to boycott Heineken Cup

5 December 2013 0 comments

Premiership Rugby tonight confirmed that the English clubs will NOT take part in the 2014-2015 Heineken Cup following a meeting in London.

Cornish Pirates stay on top by reading The Rugby Paper…

5 December 2013 0 comments

Cornish Pirates are again punching above their weight in the Championship and head coach Ian Davies has revealed how The Rugby Paper is playing a part in ensuring National League rugby’s westernmost club stays ahead of the game.

Don’t just look at my power, says Luther Burrell

5 December 2013 1 comment

Luther Burrell is determined to keep knocking on the England door – rather than smash it down – after being overlooked for the Autumn Internationals.

Now Welsh regions can join the Aviva Premiership says Nigel Wray

4 December 2013 9 comments

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray claims that the embattled Welsh regions want to join the English Premiership as a move towards long-term salvation.

Anthony Watson gets in good Nick for World Cup

29 November 2013 0 comments

Anthony Watson admits he dreams of playing for England in the 2015 World Cup – but if he does so he knows who to thank.

How rivalry with Tom Youngs gets the best from Dylan Hartley

28 November 2013 0 comments

When Dylan Hartley bruised his lung the life was squeezed out of England’s revival against the All Blacks, such has been the form of the Kiwi-born hooker this autumn.

Make the Championship a closed shop says Kenny Logan

27 November 2013 2 comments

London Scottish director Kenny Logan has called for the Green King IPA Championship to be ring-fenced to allow professional second tier clubs time to develop their businesses.

Axe Chris Ashton now says World Cup wing Dan Luger

26 November 2013 2 comments

World Cup winner Dan Luger believes Chris Ashton has used up all of his nine lives for England, claiming his presence in the side is damaging Stuart Lancaster’s credibility.

Dave Attwood has done it all himself, says Danny Grewcock

22 November 2013 0 comments

As a bruising second row with a CV that features one or two misdemeanours, Dave Attwood has often been compared to former Bath lock Danny Grewcock.

‘Smoking’ Joe Launchbury is the new silent assassin

21 November 2013 0 comments

Ten years after lifting the World Cup alongside Richard Hill, Lawrence Dallaglio is convinced England have found their new silent assassin in Joe Launchbury.

Ton-up Warren Gatland chases a landmark success

20 November 2013 0 comments

He may have been denied a cap as a player, but on Friday Warren Gatland will become only the second coach in rugby history to take charge of 100 Tests.

WRU given four weeks to keep Sam Warburton and Co. in Wales

18 November 2013 0 comments

The Welsh Rugby Union have been given four weeks to come up with a deal to prevent another quartet of Lions departing for France.

Buck up, Matt Kvesic or lose No.7 fight – Lewis Moody

15 November 2013 2 comments

Former England captain Lewis Moody fears Matt Kvesic’s drop in form means he is losing the race to be the Red Rose openside for the 2015 World Cup campaign.

Tom Youngs’ strengths outweigh his weaknesses, says George Chuter

13 November 2013 0 comments

Former England hooker George Chuter has launched a staunch defence of Tom Youngs in the wake of the criticism directed towards his Leicester team-mate.

Mike Ford: Anthony Watson in line to get England call for Six Nations

12 November 2013 5 comments

One has worked with him for four years, the other for four months – but both Neal Hatley and Mike Ford have no doubts Anthony Watson’s England call-up last week is the first of many.

Extra place will tempt the Celts to sign up for Champions Cup

8 November 2013 11 comments

The significant change to the play-off structure has been made in response to the Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Italian Unions refusing to give their teams the green light for any competition not approved by the game’s governing body, the IRB.

Battering ram Billy Vunipola is Richard Hill’s top man

7 November 2013 2 comments

The modern loose forward can be a man of many hats: specialist, scavenger or even a six-and-a-half. But Richard Hill believes there’s no substitute for a back row battering ram, and for Billy Vunipola, the cap certainly fits.

London Welsh will say farewell to Old Deer Park home

6 November 2013 3 comments

London Welsh are preparing to end 128 years of rugby history in England’s capital city by shifting the club lock, stock and barrel to Oxford.

‘Mental block’ is stopping Wales

5 November 2013 1 comment

Wales will have to smash a ‘mental blockage’ when they go big-game hunting against the Springboks in Cardiff on Saturday.

Headless chicken days over – Courtney Lawes

1 November 2013 0 comments

Courtney Lawes knows he is in the form of his life as he looks forward to playing in his first Autumn International series for three years.

Don’t question my Scottish heritage says new man Blair Cowan

31 October 2013 4 comments

London Irish back rower Blair Cowan insists he is no ‘kilted Kiwi’ and that his shock call-up by Scotland is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

You’re out, no you’re not, Wales tell James Hook!

30 October 2013 0 comments

Wales told James Hook he had been dropped from their squad only to reinstate him barely 24 hours later.

Chase on to sponsor the £10m Champions Cup

29 October 2013 2 comments

Five global brands are in the market to sponsor the proposed Champions’ Cup at a minimum asking price of £10m-a-season.

Richard Thorpe: Time with Leicester Tigers was no waste

25 October 2013 0 comments

London Welsh flanker Richard Thorpe is desperate to forget nine months of injury hell by firing the Exiles back into the Premiership.

Consensus reached in Dublin over Heineken Cup row

25 October 2013 2 comments

A consensus has been reached over the Heineken Cup row at a meeting in Dublin today.

Francois Louw: I’m happy to split Bath with Springboks

24 October 2013 1 comment

Just seven days after playing for the Springboks in a pulsating Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand, Francois Louw was not only running out for Bath in Bordeaux but wearing the captain’s armband for the full 80 minutes.

Jacques Burger gives the credit to Billy Vunipola for flying start

23 October 2013 2 comments

He has been called the best ‘signing’ of the summer after putting two years of injury hell behind him – but Jacques Burger claims he cannot compare to wrecking-ball clubmate Billy Vunipola.

Peace set to break out over Europe

22 October 2013 5 comments

The war over Europe could be settled soon with all six nations reunited under the new Anglo-French banner, the Champions’ Cup.

Owen Farrell earns Paul Grayson vote in line-up of the No.10s

18 October 2013 0 comments

Paul Grayson cannot recall such intense competition for the England No.10 shirt but the second highest points scorer in Red Rose history believes Owen Farrell’s big-game mentality gives him the edge.

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