Features

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

20 Questions: Olly Barkley – Bath and England fly-half

10 July 2012 0 comments

Been anywhere nice on holiday? I went to Portugal with my girlfriend and then to LA and Las Vegas for 10 days with the lads. […]

Dream Team: Steven Shingler – London Irish and former Scarlets centre

10 July 2012 0 comments

1. Alex Corbisiero – A really good player around the loose and has become a world-class loosehead, although he is cutting back on his rapping […]

Room 101: Lee Blackett – Rotherham winger

10 July 2012 0 comments

1. 50mph roadworks on a Motorway Travelling across the Pennines on the M62, as I do fairly frequently because my family lives in Lancashire, you […]

Young Gun: Callum Braley – Bristol scrum half

10 July 2012 2 comments

As a West Country boy Callum Braley would like nothing more than to stamp his mark on Bristol‘s first team. But with a trip to […]

Promoted London Welsh will take look at Gavin Henson

3 July 2012 0 comments

London Welsh boss Lyn Jones has been armed with a war-chest to sign eight “headline players” who will underpin the club’s first ever Aviva Premiership […]

Toby Booth’s snub made Guy Armitage turn his back on London Irish

3 July 2012 0 comments

Guy Armitage has opened the door to one day playing for France after revealing that Toby Booth’s snub at London Irish forced him to quit […]

We’ll get Cipriani settled in – then it’s up to him

3 July 2012 0 comments

Steve Diamond is not a man for standing still. Since returning to Sale as executive director of sport in January 2011, life under the former […]

Look out, Leicester Tiger Tom Croft wants his England jersey back

3 July 2012 2 comments

Tom Croft’s mild manner on the pitch might fool some but several months on the sidelines have brought out the fierce competitor in the Leicester […]

New Gloucester coach Nigel Davies reckons Mike Tindall will help make Gloucester great

3 July 2012 2 comments

Nigel Davies, Gloucester‘s new director of rugby, is banking on the experience of Mike Tindall to help fire the club towards domestic and European glory. […]

Northampton Saints winger Vasily Artemyev can help take Russia towards the top of world game

3 July 2012 0 comments

Henry Paul has hailed Northampton wing Vasily Artemyev as an inspiration for aspiring Russian stars and reckons the country can become a major rugby power. […]

Give our tier-two English coaches a chance says coaching guru Kevin Bowring

3 July 2012 0 comments

The RFU’s Head of Elite Coach Development, Kevin Bowring, wants to see more English-qualified coaches follow Glenn Delaney’s example and make the step up from […]

Nottingham fly-half James Arlidge plans farewell to remember

3 July 2012 0 comments

James Arlidge wants to set alarm bells ringing in opposition defences, as well as airport security. The 32-year-old Nottingham fly-half is refreshed ahead of what […]

Moment in Time: Harlequins and the 2004 Challenge Cup Final

3 July 2012 0 comments

They enjoy dramatic finishes at Harlequins. And there was none more thrilling than the 2004 Parker Pen Cup final at Reading, where for all the […]

My Life in Rugby: Andy Titterrell – former Lions, England, Sale, Gloucester and Leeds hooker

3 July 2012 2 comments

Sale became the first team to finish top of the league and win the Premiership final in 2006 and we could have played for another […]

Dream Team: Tristan Roberts – Bristol fly-half

3 July 2012 0 comments

1. Nathan Williams – A good strong ball carrier. He was an important part of the pack when I was at Moseley with him and […]

Young Gun: Gareth Evans – Gloucester No.8

3 July 2012 0 comments

Gloucester No. 8 Gareth Evans hasn’t told his Welsh father yet but he considers himself English and if things go to plan at Kingsholm this […]

20 Questions: Paul Diggin – Northampton winger

3 July 2012 1 comment

Been anywhere nice on holiday? No. We had our first baby, Isla, nine weeks ago and we’ve been trying to work how to be parents. […]

Room 101: Nick Kennedy – Toulon, former England and London Irish lock

3 July 2012 1 comment

1.Short people who sit in the exit seats on airplanes. Being 6ft 8in is not good when you’re flying at the best of times. The […]

London Irish new signing Shane Geraghty hoping to get back in England picture

26 June 2012 0 comments

Shane Geraghty declared he has “unfinished business” with club and country after revealing that Brian Smith’s plans for London Irish persuaded him to cut short […]

New Newcastle Director of Rugby Dean Richards is hunting for Heineken Cup Glory

26 June 2012 0 comments

The despair, the darkness, the doubts have been lifted from Dean Richards’ shoulders since his appointment as Newcastle director of rugby, replaced by a familiar […]

Sale Sharks’ pack has bulked up and ready to front up

26 June 2012 0 comments

Sale’s pack is ready to front up and make its mark in the Premiership next season, according to Henry ‘Meathead’ Thomas. The Sharks’ set-piece endured […]

Miles Benjamin aims to become a Test winger with Leicester Tigers move

26 June 2012 0 comments

Leicester Tigers new boy Miles Benjamin admitted it was a wrench to cross the Midlands from Worcester but is adamant he needed a new environment […]

Luther Burrell became a Saint for Premiership recognition

26 June 2012 2 comments

Luther Burrell reckons his move to Northampton will allow him to finally establish himself as a proven Premiership player. The imposing 6ft 3in centre has […]

New centre of excellence plans agreed for London Irish

26 June 2012 1 comment

London Irish chief executive Andy Martin has revealed that the successful planning application for a centre of excellence in Sunbury will go a long way […]

Yellow cards are not as threatening as we think

26 June 2012 3 comments

When Israel Dagg clattered into Rob Kearney in Christchurch last weekend, Ireland rubbed their hands at the imminent prospect of binning the century-old New Zealand […]

Former Lion tourist Andy Titterrell still has what it takes

26 June 2012 0 comments

Former Lion Andy Titterrell insists he hasn’t given up hope on his playing career despite finding himself without a club in pre-season. The 31-year-old captained […]

Man Behind the Match: Richard Hill and the 2002 November test against Australia

26 June 2012 0 comments

England victories over the Southern Hemisphere giants are cherished as rare happenings these days but a decade ago they came along as frequently as London […]

South Africa Memories: Mike Burton and the 1972 tour

26 June 2012 0 comments

There was a lot of pressure on us not to tour South Africa in 1972. The apartheid regime had attracted worldwide condemnation and I remember […]

Moment in Time: Birmingham and the 2004 Powergen Cup quarter-final

26 June 2012 1 comment

No one gave Pertemps Bees a prayer before this Powergen Cup quarter-final. Wasps, the English champions, were well on course to defend their title and […]

Young Gun: Will Robinson – Wasps fly-half

26 June 2012 0 comments

The similarities are striking: a confident young Wasps fly-half not afraid to play what’s in front of him, schooled at Whitgift and developed at Rosslyn […]

Dream Team: Jamie Lennard – Doncaster and former London Irish and Bedford fly-half

26 June 2012 1 comment

1. Tom Davies – A very mobile prop at Doncaster who has fantastic hands and is great at offloading. Solid in the scrum and has […]

My Life in Rugby: Michael Owen – former Wales captain & Saracens No.8

26 June 2012 0 comments

You start every Six Nations thinking you’re in with a chance.We were no different in 2005 but it’s still remarkable we won the Grand Slam […]

2O Questions: Andy Hazell – Gloucester and England flanker

26 June 2012 1 comment

Been anywhere nice on holiday? I went to Portugal with the wife and kids, which was nice and quiet. Then I went to Ibiza for […]

Room 101: Russell Earnshaw – England Sevens Assistant Coach

26 June 2012 0 comments

1. Not coaching people There’s a fantastic quote by ex-England coach Geoff Cooke (below) that ‘good coaches coach activities, great coaches coach people’. Putting down […]

Room 101: Richard Hill – Worcester head coach

22 June 2012 1 comment

1. Dog owners As a keen walker and rambler I come across quite a few dog walkers. It really winds me up when they let […]

Young Gun: Shaun Moulton – London Irish hooker

22 June 2012 1 comment

South African hooker Shaun Malton is a man in a hurry and wants to make his mark at London Irish in double-quick time. A former […]

My Life in Rugby: Peter Short – former England Saxons and Exeter lock

22 June 2012 1 comment

Bath felt like champions the day we beat Tigers Winning away at Leicester in the Heineken Cup quarter-final with Bath in 2006 was an incredible […]

20 Questions: David Barnes – ex-Bath and Harlequins prop

22 June 2012 0 comments

Are you missing rugby? I thought I would, but I’m happy as RPA chairman. You miss the camaraderie with the guys but I’m still involved […]

I always wanted to be a Bok admits Australia captain David Pocock

22 June 2012 2 comments

With under 12 months to go until the Lions tour Australia, it has become abundantly clear that the tourists’ success will hinge on finding a […]

Alistair Hargreaves excited to join old friends at Saracens

22 June 2012 1 comment

South Africa second row Alistair Hargreaves has revealed that it is the link between Saracens and his native Sharks which convinced him to swap Durban […]

England legend Jonny Wilkinson still living for kicks after all these years

22 June 2012 0 comments

A campaign which began on England duty against Wales before 80,000 at Twickenham in early August ended ten months later for Toulon’s favourite émigré before […]

Newcastle head coach Peter Russell ready to get Falcons on the attack

22 June 2012 2 comments

Kiwi Russell, an electrical engineer by trade, had hoped to start work at the Falcons on Monday when the players reported back for pre-season training. […]

Chris Whitehead ready to make most of Heineken Cup

22 June 2012 0 comments

But Exeter’s all-action hooker has vowed to put the pain of rejection behind him by proving his worth in next season’s Heineken Cup. Whitehead pressed […]

Moment in time: Leicester and the 2002 Heineken Cup final

21 June 2012 0 comments

Leicester Tigers arrived at the iconic home of Welsh rugby seeking to complete an historic league and Heineken Cup ‘double-double’. A fortnight earlier, Dean Richards’ […]

Man behind the match: Lawrence Dallaglio and the 2008 Premiership Final

21 June 2012 1 comment

How do you organise a send-off for a man who has won everything? Arrange a world record crowd at Twickenham to see him lead his […]

South Africa Memories: Paul Hull and the 1994 tour

21 June 2012 1 comment

I’d been around the England squad for four years and had been on the outer 1991 World Cup squad, but it was a tough team […]

Danny Cipriani is ‘ready for an England comeback’

21 June 2012 0 comments

O’Connor played outside the former London Wasps talisman in Super Rugby and is a self-confessed admirer of the outside-half’s full range of skills. Cipriani is […]

Dream Team: Jim Hamilton – Gloucester and Scotland lock

21 June 2012 0 comments

1. Cian Healy – He is everything you look for in a modern-day loosehead – he can scrummage and carry the ball all day long. […]

Man Behind the Match: Brian O’Driscoll and the 2000 Six Nations’ France Ireland

10 June 2012 1 comment

There are certain moments in sport when a realisation dawns that what you are watching is not run-of-the-mill; an extraordinary talent announces itself on the […]