1. Sleep jackers There is nothing I like more than a good night’s kip. However, living where I do, in a shared house, it is […]
Latest Posts
London Irish and Sale almost safe after entertaining draw
London Irish and Sale have almost secured their place in the Premiership as they drew 33-33 in a very entertaining game at the Madjeski Stadium […]
Young Gun: George McGuigan – Ireland U20 hooker
This year’s Six Nations has been a frustrating one for Ireland U20s but for Newcastle hooker George McGuigan the most important part was securing the […]
Jeremy Guscott: Don’t despair, we will come good
Stuart Lancaster has said he wants his England side to have amassed 600 caps between them before the 2015 World Cup…and yesterday in the Millennium […]
20 Questions: Rob Buchanan – Harlequins hooker
Looking forward to today’s LV Cup final? Everyone wants to play in finals and after the way we played against Bath last weekend, I think […]
Premiership round 19: teams
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
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, […]
Nick Cain: Gatland must think French
There are not many Lions coaches who go into a tour on the back of a vintage Six Nations, and Warren Gatland is no exception. […]
Shane Williams, Sean Holley and Gareth Chilcott talk about touring with the Lions
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 […]
Billy Twelvetrees has vision to perform Ma’a Nonu role for England
Brian Ashton believes that centre Billy Twelvetrees holds the key to the next stage of England‘s evolution as an attacking force. After scoring 38 points […]
My Life in Rugby: Glenn Gelderbloom – former Western Province, Leicester and Plymouth centre
I’ve got my wife Sacha to thank for two Heineken Cups and three Premiership titles because she convinced me when I was reluctant to join […]
Northampton v Leicester: preview
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 […]
Peter Jackson: Welsh will grab Lions share for Australia
After smashing the team that smashed the All Blacks, Wales will take the Lions‘ share when the Test series begins against Australia this summer. No […]
The inside story on fearsome Maurie Fa’asavalu
When flanker Maurie Fa’asavalu signed for Harlequins in 2010, director of rugby Conor O’Shea knew what he was getting: a hard man, an enforcer, someone […]
Dream Team: Dan Montagu – Nottingham No.8
1. Mark Irish – He is a great hard-working forward, who gets around the field. He is a rock and has a solid ability at […]
England star Ollie Phillips backs Sevens to make global impact
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, […]
Jeff Probyn: End this cult of ‘superstar’ refs and sort out the scrum
If there is one thing that has made this Six Nations Championship more memorable than most, it is the controversy that has surrounded the referees. In almost […]
Nikki Walker to join Edinburgh
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 […]
Northampton Saints will pay £250k to sign big George North
Northampton Saints have offered the Scarlets £250,000 for George North and the deal could be completed within the next seven days. It would be the […]
Baxter and Gustard to tango with England
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
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
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 fail appeal
London Welsh have failed their appeal against the five-point deduction and £15,000 fine they received for fielding an eligible player. They were found guilty earlier […]
Revealed: Major gulf in funding of top clubs
Premier Rugby Ltd is facing serious questions over the huge differences between the funding provided to its ‘founder’ clubs compared to promoted clubs. The Rugby […]
Room 101: George Skivington – London Irish lock
1. Man of the Match nominations There’s a few times when I’ve played in games and thought I’d be in contention for the MOM award […]
Nick Cain assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of England and Italy
Italy have yet to beat England in the Six Nations, and, given that their only away win in the tournament since they joined it 13 […]
Young Gun: Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi – Northampton prop
Being picked to start for England U20s on home soil at Franklin’s Gardens against Italy – Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi admits he could not have asked for […]
Jeremy Guscott: Grand Slam won’t faze this England
Wales are a dangerous side if they bring their best game to Cardiff on Saturday against England because they have ability man-for-man in their backline. […]
20 Questions: James Gaskell – Sale lock/flanker
Tough season to date? Very, both physically and mentally. But as a younger player you might as well learn the hard way and hopefully it’ll […]
Nick Cain: Let Welsh go Scott-free and return their points
Tyson Keats is innocent. Mike Scott is not. That was the only verdict that was clear in the Friday night disciplinary fog as the RFU […]
London Welsh can only wait
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
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, […]
Trigger-finger refs stamp out cynicism
Greater vigilance by referees at the breakdown and less tolerance of cynical play has led to a sharp rise in yellow cards during this season’s […]
My Life in Rugby: Mike Blair – Brive and former Scotland and Edinburgh scrum-half
I was a late call-up for the 2009 Lions in South Africa and never really felt I had the selectors’ backing. I’d been playing well […]
Tom Arscott joins Sale
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 […]
Peter Jackson: Trust me, Cardiff jinx waits for Lancaster!
At a dinner in London some years ago, the English defined their rugby relationship with the Welsh as one based on “trust and understanding”. Dudley […]
Wasps must use Tommy Bell to ring in changes for future, says Kenny Logan
Wasps‘ challenge for a top four spot has defied expectations but club legend Kenny Logan insists the focus has to be to find a long-term […]
Dream Team: Luke Arscott – Exeter full-back
1. Carl Rimmer – Came into the Chiefs team with very little experience and has done really well. His first showing away at Leinster was […]
Three-week ban for Brian O’Driscoll
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
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 […]
Jeff Probyn: These ‘hospitality’ packages are just fleecing the fans
It would seem that Nick Cain’s expose of the Lion’s tour ticket price rigging is just the tip of the ‘rip-off rugby ticket’ ice berg. […]
Matt Stevens is back to his best now he’s 20 stones!
Matt Stevens says piling on the pounds and a change of positions has contributed to him enjoying one of his best seasons. But the 30-year-old […]
New two-year deal for Andrew Trimble
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
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
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 […]
Luke Cowan-Dickie hooked on new role
Even by England‘s precocious standards loosehead prop Luke Cowan-Dickie stood out as an early developer – now the Chiefs teenager has taken the bold move […]
Gloucester capture James Hudson
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 […]
Room 101: Mike Friday – Kenya Sevens head coach
1. Cunning Cats I’m a big lover of cats from the big ones found roaming around in the jungle to those at home even though, […]
Nick Cain looks at the England build-up to Italy – and beyond to the Lions
When teams which have battled to get within reach of big prizes start to batten down the hatches and ban words like ‘Grand’ and ‘Slam’ […]
Young Gun: Owen Williams – Scalets fly-half
Man of the match on your senior league debut is what every youngster dreams of but after following it up with another star turn, Scarlets […]
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