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

Stuart Lancaster must dare to dream, says Brian Ashton

26 July 2013 0 comments

Brian Ashton hopes that England‘s new-found attacking style will be no passing ‘fad’. A young England team destroyed Argentina with some stunning running in the […]

Mike Catt input can steer me to top says Luther Burrell

25 July 2013 0 comments

Luther Burrell racked up a Premiership final appearance and an England debut in his first season with Northampton – but the centre insists working with […]

Why Charlie Sharples may be on fast-track for recall

24 July 2013 0 comments

England discard Charlie Sharples has put the pain of rejection behind him and wants to prove the selectors wrong by starring for Gloucester next season. […]

Tiger Niall Morris aiming to be an Irish Wolfhound

23 July 2013 1 comment

Niall Morris, having impressed with Emerging Ireland in Georgia this summer, hopes to get another crack at international rugby. Leicester winger Morris was called up […]

Mike Ford puts his focus on reviving up Bath attack

19 July 2013 1 comment

He’s masterminded the defence for the Lions, England and Ireland, not to mention Premiership clubs. But now newly-promoted Bath coach Mike Ford is looking forward […]

Andy Goode: I’m here to help make Wasps great again

18 July 2013 0 comments

Fly-half Andy Goode is out to prove there is life in the old dog yet by marshalling Wasps young guns into the Heineken Cup. When […]

“I feel a bit sorry for Gavin,” says Bath legend Duncan Bell

17 July 2013 3 comments

Bath legend Duncan Bell says he “feels sorry” for Gavin Henson following the storm surrounding his public bust up with team-mate Carl Fearns on a […]

Leigh Halfpenny is a £1m target for the French clubs

16 July 2013 1 comment

Leigh Halfpenny’s Welsh future is to be thrashed out in London this week as three French clubs prepare to make him offers worth £1m. The […]

Matt Banahan sets his sights on main prize

12 July 2013 1 comment

Matt Banahan refuses to give up on his England dream but knows a successful season with Bath is non-negotiable if he is to force his […]

Chris Robshaw may have to switch to six says Nick Evans

11 July 2013 0 comments

Luke Wallace’s all-action displays in the Quins No.7 shirt last season will force England captain Chris Robshaw to move to blindside in the near future. […]

No Cockerill, no problem for well-drilled Tigers says Anthony Allen

10 July 2013 0 comments

Anthony Allen has played down the significance of Richard Cockerill’s impending nine-week ban, insisting it will make little difference to Leicester‘s experienced squad. An RFU […]

Mako Vunipola will be best prop in world says Saracens coach

9 July 2013 1 comment

Public opinion might suggest Mako Vunipola was taught a lesson in Melbourne, but Saracens forwards coach Alex Sanderson is adamant that the quick-learning prop passed […]

British & Irish Lions beat Australia to claim first series in 16 years

6 July 2013 0 comments

The British & Irish Lions have won their first Test Series in 16 years after a 41-16 thumping of Australia in Sydney. Lead from the […]

Young guns can fire us into top two – Mike Tindall

5 July 2013 0 comments

Gloucester player-coach Mike Tindall believes that the Cherry & Whites’ young guns should train their sights on a top-two finish in the Premiership this season. […]

2013-2014 Aviva Premiership fixtures revealed

4 July 2013 2 comments

Premiership Rugby today confirmed that Aviva Premiership Rugby champions Leicester Tigers will start the defence of their title at home to Dean Ryan’s Worcester Warriors. […]

Lion Leigh Halfpenny ‘could be explosive like Israel Folau’

4 July 2013 0 comments

The man who gave George North his scything sidestep and Israel Folau his kangaroo kick believes Leigh Halfpenny combines the best both of both, claiming […]

Roberts returns but BOD dropped for Lions in Series decider

3 July 2013 1 comment

Warren Gatland has dropped Brian O’Driscoll from his British & Irish Lions matchday squad ahead of the Series decider against Australia on Saturday. The Irish […]

“I’ve lost all respect for Cockerill,” says Martin Castrogiovanni

3 July 2013 1 comment

Martin Castrogiovanni, shaggy-haired prop who has just joined Toulon, has delivered a scathing verdict on the Leicester bosses he left behind. He won a drawn-out […]

Olly Morgan gives his career one more shot

2 July 2013 0 comments

Olly Morgan is making a final attempt to save his career and avoid joining a long list of international players forced to quit over the […]

Australia beat British & Irish Lions to set up Sydney decider

29 June 2013 0 comments

Rookie Christian Lealiifano kicked a last-gasp conversion for Australia as they leveled the series against the British & Irish Lions with a 16-15 win in […]

Marlan Yarde has re-written wingers’ handbook

28 June 2013 1 comment

Christian Wade‘s England form earned a shock Lions call but Marland Yarde is the country’s best, according to Brian Smith, who claims the London Irish […]

Rob Vickerman: We’re ready to emulate class of ’93

27 June 2013 2 comments

England skipper Rob Vickerman has called on his team to channel the spirit of the 1993 World Cup heroes and end a 20-year wait for […]

‘Outstanding’ Steve Borthwick to be top coach says Eddie Jones

26 June 2013 1 comment

Saracens skipper Steve Borthwick will become an outstanding coach after his playing days are over, according to Japan head coach Eddie Jones. Borthwick, 33, has […]

RFU announce 2013-2014 Greene King IPA Championship fixtures

26 June 2013 1 comment

The Rugby Football Union today announced the fixtures for the upcoming 2013-2014 Championship season. The regular season has been extended from 22 to 23 rounds […]

British & Irish Lions keep Melbourne Rebels scoreless

25 June 2013 1 comment

Despite an average performance, The British & Irish Lions have won their last midweek game on tour beating the Melbourne Rebels 35-0 at AAMI Park. […]

Nowell & Cowan Dickie, the Newlyn kids who took on the world

25 June 2013 1 comment

Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie first clapped eyes on each other as five-year-olds playing mini rugby at Penzance & Newlyn and have been inseparable ever […]

England Under 20s crowned Junior World Champions

23 June 2013 0 comments

Jack Nowell and Sam Hill scored two late tries as England came from behind to be crowned Junior World Champions for the first time beating […]

British & Irish Lions win first Test against Wallabies

22 June 2013 1 comment

The British and Irish Lions beat Australia 23-21 in a brutal first Test in Brisbane to take a 1-0 advantage in the three-match series. Tries […]

New Lion Billy Twelvetrees was once allowed to escape as a Tiger

21 June 2013 1 comment

Billy Twelvetrees has gone from uncapped England contender to Lions tourist in the space of five months but, remarkably, he was once considered surplus to […]

George North will be a Saints idol ‘with Stephen Myler’s help’

20 June 2013 1 comment

Former Northampton star winger Jon Sleightholme has backed Stephen Myler to load the bullets for George North to fire in the Premiership when the Lions […]

Justin Tipuric’s the flanker for me, says Jim Telfer

19 June 2013 1 comment

Warren Gatland has backed himself into a corner by naming Sam Warburton as Lions captain according to Jim Telfer, who believes Justin Tipuric is the man […]

Delon Armitage: My regret over that wave and row with Brian Moore

18 June 2013 2 comments

Being Public Enemy No.1 in one country is bad enough. But two? That takes some doing, but Delon Armitage appears to have managed it with […]

First taste of defeat for outplayed British & Irish Lions against Brumbies

18 June 2013 1 comment

The Brumbies outplayed the British & Irish Lions to claim a famous 14-12 win in Canberra today. True to their style, the Super Rugby leaders […]

British & Irish Lions beat Waratahs but lose Jamie Roberts

15 June 2013 1 comment

The British & Irish Lions overcame a plucky New South Wales Waratahs to maintain their one hundred percent record with a 47-17 win in Sydney […]

Geordan Murphy’s nerves not calmed by title haul

14 June 2013 0 comments

Geordan Murphy admits he is “scared” by the prospect of coaching Leicester. Despite making more than 300 appearances for the Tigers in a 16-year professional […]

Paul O’Connell alongside Richie Gray for me – Simon Shaw

13 June 2013 1 comment

The lack of a traditional heavyweight lock could see Richie Gray earn a spot in the Lions Test team, according to three-time tourist Simon Shaw. […]

Suffering Lions ‘should have called up wrecker Andrew Sheridan’

12 June 2013 1 comment

As Lions props drop by the day, former Wallaby front row Matt Dunning admits he cannot believe Warren Gatland has not called up Andrew Sheridan […]

Ten-try rout for sloppy British & Irish Lions in Newcastle

11 June 2013 1 comment

The British & Irish remained unbeaten in their tour of Australia with a 64-0 win over the New South Wales and Queensland Combined Country in […]

Jonny Wilkinson’s just top draw for star-struck Henry Slade

11 June 2013 1 comment

Henry Slade grew up idolising Jonny Wilkinson and always hoped to meet him. But share the same pitch? Never in his wildest dreams did he […]

British & Irish Lions overcome feisty Queensland Reds

8 June 2013 1 comment

The British & Irish Lions faced their toughest challenge since the start of their tour of Australian but they remained unbeaten with a 22-12 win […]

Water boy Jordan Crane just happy to make splash

7 June 2013 0 comments

Jordan Crane, having gone from water boy to Premiership winner in the space of 12 months, is grateful for what he has rather than what […]

Newcastle Falcons strengthen to avoid a Premiership dogfight

7 June 2013 2 comments

Dean Richards is working on building a star team rather than a team of stars as he looks to put Newcastle back on the Premiership […]

Sam Warburton returns to captain British & Irish Lions against Reds

6 June 2013 0 comments

Sam Warburton has recovered from his knee injury and will captain the British & Irish Lions against the Queensland Reds on Saturday. The Welsh openside […]

Kyle Eastmond has proved me wrong says Martin Offiah

6 June 2013 0 comments

Cross-code legend Martin Offiah admits Kyle Eastmond has already proved him wrong after his switch to Rugby Union, claiming his former protégé could yet prove […]

Tier two finalists may have to play until mid-June next year

6 June 2013 1 comment

Next year’s Championship winners may not be decided until the second week of June if plans to switch the two-legged final to a weekend slot […]

Nine-try rout for British & Irish Lions against Western Force

5 June 2013 0 comments

The British & Irish Lions have made a successful start to their tour of Australia with a convincing 69-17 win over the Western Force in […]

Wallabies have what it takes insists Dean Mumm

5 June 2013 0 comments

Dean Mumm became the first Australian to take on the Lions in 2013 last Saturday when he ran out for the Barbarians – and despite […]

Nick Walshe: Yes, England U20s have talent to win this year

5 June 2013 2 comments

England U20s head coach Nick Walshe has backed his side to create history by landing their first IRB Junior World Championship trophy. Three times England […]

James Horwill: My Wallabies won’t be punchbags

4 June 2013 2 comments

Australia captain James Horwill issued the Lions a fighting challenge last night, warning that the Wallabies will match them blow for blow. “We are not […]

Pushy England beat Consur XV before Argentina Tests

2 June 2013 1 comment

England put on a solid first-half display to beat the Consur XV 41-21 in Uruguay ahead of their two-game Test Series against Argentina. London Wasps […]

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