Latest News

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

James Comben banned for doping

19 April 2013 0 comments

Henley Hawks centre James Comben has been suspended for six months for an Anti Doping violation by the RFU. The National League Two South player […]

ERC name European Cup semi-finals referees

19 April 2013 0 comments

The ERC has today named the men in charge for the upcoming Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge semi-finals to take place next weekend. As it […]

Exiles sign Tigers trio but Gibson leaves

19 April 2013 0 comments

London Irish confirmed today that Jamie Gibson will leave London Irish at the end of the season. The flanker joined the Exiles Academy in 2009 […]

Jason Robinson picks his Lions XV

18 April 2013 0 comments

Ahead of the squad announcement on April 30, HSBC Ambassador and Lions legend Jason Robinson has selected his starting XV for the upcoming British & […]

Max Lahiff off to Melbourne

18 April 2013 0 comments

Neil Fissler revealed the first contacts in The Rugby Paper months ago but London Irish confirmed today that Max Lahiff will join the Melbourne Rebels […]

Andy Saull joins Newcastle

18 April 2013 2 comments

Newcastle, who are favourites to get promoted from the Championship, have announced the signing of Saracens flanker Andy Saull for next season. The 24-year-old made […]

Streather, Rouse and Parr to make the step up

18 April 2013 1 comment

Three Nottingham players will have a crack at the Aviva Premiership next season after it was announced Tim Streather is joining Saracens while Matt Parr […]

Richard Hill out, Dean Ryan in

17 April 2013 1 comment

Following speculations yesterday, Worcester Warriors confirmed that Richard Hill will be leaving his post as head coach with immediate effect. Hill will be replaced next […]

End of season for Josh Matavesi

17 April 2013 0 comments

Josh Matavesi has finished his Premiership season after the Worcester‘s centre picked up a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Saracens Neil de Kock. Matavesi […]

Eifion Lewis-Roberts not guilty of doping

16 April 2013 1 comment

Sale prop Eifion Lewis Roberts has been found not guilty of doping following an ongoing case which was open after the French Top 14 final […]

Jonny Wilkinson pens new deal

16 April 2013 0 comments

It was announced two weeks ago but Jonny Wilkinson as officially put pen to paper and signed a one-year contract extension with French powerhouse Toulon. […]

Exeter v London Irish Exeter: Arscott; Nowell, Dollman, Shoemark, Jess; Steenson, Thomas; Sturgess, Yeandle, Tui; Mumm, Welch; White, Scaysbrook, Baxter (Capt.). Replacements: Whitehead, Rimmer, Mitchell, […]

RaboDirect Pro12 round 20: teams

12 April 2013 0 comments

Cardiff Blues v Zebre Cardiff Blues: Halfpenny; Williams, Evans (Capt.), Roberts, Robinson; Patchell, Jones; Filise, Breeze, Andrews; Reed, Paulo; Paterson, Copeland, Warburton. Replacements: Dacey, T. […]

Folau in, Beale and Cooper out for Wallabies

12 April 2013 3 comments

Israel Folau has been included the Wallabies‘ logistics camp ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour this summer. The Waratahs full-back, who has only […]

Quins to investigate their “supporters”

12 April 2013 1 comment

Harlequins are to investigate how Munster supporters managed to have “a presence in the stadium that exceeded the number of tickets officially allocated to them” […]

Jamie Roberts to kick-off tribute to Dr jack Matthews

12 April 2013 1 comment

Jamie Roberts will get a chance to ease his pre-British & Irish Lions squad selection nerves when he kicks-off a special tribute match to one […]

14-week ban for Jerome Fillol

11 April 2013 1 comment

Jerome Fillol has been handed a 14-week ban for spitting at Bath scrum-half Peter Stringer in last Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final. Stringer complained to Nigel […]

Another Championship player joins London Irish

11 April 2013 0 comments

London Irish have signed hooker Mike Mayhew on a three-year contract from Newcastle Falcons. Mayhew joined the Sunbury-based side as injury cover earlier in the […]

Michael Claassens leaves Bath

10 April 2013 0 comments

As expected and reported by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper weeks ago, Michael Claassens has today confirmed that he will be leaving Bath at the […]

London Irish sign Rotherham duo

10 April 2013 0 comments

London Irish added depth to their back-line option with the signings of Eamonn Sheridan and Fergus Mulchrone from Championship side Rotherham on two-year deals, it […]

Peter Stringer commits to Bath

9 April 2013 0 comments

Irish scrum-half Peter Stringer has signed a contract extension and will remain with Bath next season. The 35-year-old, who has been capped by Ireland 98 […]

Jerome Fillol cited for spitting incident

9 April 2013 2 comments

Jerome Fillol has been cited for allegedly spitting at Peter Stringer during their Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Stringer complained to referee Nigel Owens […]

Sam Jones signs up for more

9 April 2013 2 comments

Sam Jones has become the latest young English talent to commit his future to London Wasps, signing a new contract with the Club this week. […]

Heineken Cup quarter-finals: teams

5 April 2013 0 comments

Clermont v Montpellier Clermont: Byrne; Sivivatu, Rougerie (Capt.), Fofana, Nalaga ; Radosavljevic, Parra; Domingo, Kayser, Zirakashvili; Cudmore, Hines; Vosloo, Bardy, Bonnaire. Replacements: Paulo, Bedaty, Kotze, Pierre, […]

Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals: teams

5 April 2013 1 comment

Wasps v Leinster London Wasps: Daly; Wade, Masi, Bell, Varndell; Robinson, Simpson; Taulafo,Thomas, Swainston; Palmer, Wentzel (Capt.); Launchbury, Sa. Jones, Johnson. Replacements: Lindsay, Payne, Taylor, […]

James Stephenson to join Warriors

5 April 2013 0 comments

Worcester Warriors have boosted their backline ahead of next season with the signing of exciting Bedford Blues winger James Stephenson. Stephenson, who joins on a […]

Gloucester swept aside by Biarritz

5 April 2013 1 comment

Gloucester’s European campaign came to an abrupt end last night with a 41-31 defeat to Biarritz in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals at Kingsholm. Mike […]

Wasps snap up Bedford flyer

4 April 2013 1 comment

London Wasps have signed highly rated young winger Josh Bassett from Bedford Blues. Bassett topped the RFU Championship try-scoring charts last season with 14 and […]

Mike Tindall captains Gloucester against Biarritz

4 April 2013 0 comments

Mike Tindall returns to the Gloucester starting line up and will captain the Cherry and Whites as they welcome Biarritz to Kingsholm in tonight’s Amlin […]

Bath confirm Matt Garvey signing

3 April 2013 0 comments

As revealed by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper months ago, London Irish forward Matt Garvey will join Bath next season. Capable of covering both […]

Premiership round 19: teams

29 March 2013 1 comment

Bath v London Welsh Bath: Devoto; Agulla, Banahan, Eastmond, Rokoduguni; Donald, Stringer; James, Webber, Wilson; Hooper (Capt.), Day; Louw, Gilbert, Fearns. Replacements: Batty, Catt, Perenise, Skirving, […]

RaboDirect Pro12 round 19: teams

29 March 2013 0 comments

Cardiff Blues v Ospreys Cardiff Blues: Halfpenny; O. Williams, Evans (Capt.), Hewitt,Robinson; Patchell, L. Williams; Hobbs, Breeze, Andrews; Paulo, Reed; Paterson, Warburton, Hamilton. Replacements: Dacey, […]

Shane Williams, Sean Holley and Gareth Chilcott talk about touring with the Lions

29 March 2013 0 comments

A star studded cast of sporting heroes assembled in front of around 100 privileged audience members at the Park Plaza Hotel in Cardiff on Tuesday […]

Northampton v Leicester: preview

28 March 2013 0 comments

This weekend’s big Aviva Premiership game is at Franklin’s Gardens, where Northampton Saints play host to their local rivals Leicester Tigers. The Saints currently lie […]

England star Ollie Phillips backs Sevens to make global impact

27 March 2013 1 comment

Each year, the National School Sevens grows bigger and stronger to be the world’s largest school tournament and, with 626 teams coming from 450 schools, […]

Nikki Walker to join Edinburgh

27 March 2013 0 comments

Scotland international Nikki Walker has been released early from his contract with Worcester Warriors and will move to Edinburgh next season. The 31-year-old winger joined […]

Baxter and Gustard to tango with England

26 March 2013 0 comments

Exeter Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter and Saracens Defence and Forwards Coach Paul Gustard will join the England coaching team for the tour to […]

Referees for Lions tour named

26 March 2013 1 comment

Chris Pollock, Craig Joubert and Romain Poite have been named as the three match officials for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour. Kiwi Pollock […]

Premiership Try of the Week – Round 18

26 March 2013 0 comments

London Wasps centre Elliot Daly’s wonder-try against Northampton on Saturday has been voted the Premiership Try of the Week for the Round 18. Wasps launched […]

London Welsh can only wait

22 March 2013 0 comments

London Welsh have been heard in their appeal in the Tyson Keats case last night in London but the RFU said in a statement that […]

Premiership round 18: teams

22 March 2013 1 comment

Gloucester v London Welsh Gloucester: Cook; Sharples, Tindall, Twelvetrees, May; Burns, Robson; Wood, Edmonds, Knight; Hamilton (Capt.), James; Buxton, Hazell, Kalamafoni. Replacements: Britton, Thomas, Chistolini, […]

Tom Arscott joins Sale

21 March 2013 0 comments

Tom Arscott will leave Premiership strugglers London Welsh at the end of the season to join their closest rivals in the relegation battle Sale, it […]

Three-week ban for Brian O’Driscoll

20 March 2013 0 comments

Brian O’Driscoll has been given a three-week ban for his stamp on Simone Favaro last Saturday in Rome. The Ireland centre was initially given five weeks but the independent […]

Bath confirm Jonathan Joseph signing

20 March 2013 0 comments

As revealed months ago by Neil Fissler in The Rugby Paper, Jonathan Joseph will move from London Irish to Bath next season, it was announced […]

New two-year deal for Andrew Trimble

19 March 2013 1 comment

Andrew Trimble has signed a new contract with the Irish Federation which will see him remain at Ulster until at least the summer of 2015. […]

Wales v England: highlights

19 March 2013 1 comment

Wales retained their RBS Six Nations trophy on Saturday with a powerful display against England at the Millenium. All they needed was a seven-point win […]

Duo extend contracts with Bath

19 March 2013 0 comments

Bath duo Dave Attwood and David Wilson have extended their contracts with the Club. Lock Atwood has become an important member of the West Country side […]

Gloucester capture James Hudson

19 March 2013 0 comments

Gloucester Rugby have bolstered their second row option with the signature of Newcastle lock James Hudson ahead of the 2013-14 season. With Jim Hamilton on […]

LV=Cup final: teams

15 March 2013 1 comment

Harlequins: Ross Chisholm; Tom Williams, George Lowe, Tom Casson, Sam Smith; Ben Botica, Karl Dickson; Mark Lambert, Rob Buchanan, Will Collier; Sam Twomey, Charlie Matthews; […]